Stop HR 620!

Federal Bill can hurt our civil rights

By Allison Donald

The tireless war on the disabled continues as the US Congress is set to vote on HR 620 this week.  HR 620 is the ADA Education and Reform Act and it will dramatically weaken the Americans with Disabilities Act by delaying requirements for businesses to be accessible for people with disabilities.

The bill would also add many additional burdens for people with disabilities to access a business by requiring them to file a complaint, specifically explain how they violated the law, and address how this is a permanent or temporary fix. H.R. 620 takes away the civil rights of people with disabilities to access the community like other citizens.  

It is troubling that anyone would support a bill that blames people with disabilities for the failure of businesses to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.  Why are people with disabilities being made the scapegoat for inaccessible places throughout the communities that we live, work, and play?  

If a person with a disability encounters an architectural barrier that prevents her from accessing the business, she has 3 options under the ADA: speak with the business, file a complaint with the Department of Justice, or file a lawsuit as provided under the law.  

The “ADA Education and Reform Act” upends a key provision of the ADA by preventing people with disabilities from immediately going to court to enforce their rights and to press for timely removal of the barrier that impedes access.  Without this critical enforcement mechanism, compliance under the ADA will suffer and people with disabilities will be denied the access to which they are entitled to under the law.

Nearly 28 years ago when the Republican President signed the ADA into law, the conservative US Congress had developed a private enforcement system that did not rely on the federal government. However; now with a conservative Congress, and US President, the Republican majority is demanding federal involvement in the private enforcement of the ADA.

This is an attack on our freedom and independence as people with disabilities.  The Americans with Disabilities Act made it possible for me to gain access to places of business where I spend money.  The Americans with Disabilities Act makes it possible for me to get into a building to go to work.  I am able to go out and enjoy my life at sporting events and concerts, because of the Americans with Disabilities Act.  The American with Disabilities Act provides a sense of security, because I know my rights are protected and my rights are human rights

This is a call to action for all people with disabilities, because your representatives need to know #HandsoffmyADA