Call 1-800-949-4ADA
for Technical Assistance
Connecting people with disabilities who are facing
day-to-day barriers with those who have overcome them.
- Hank's Story (July 14, 2015)
My goal is for people to not see the “Wheelchair.” Treat me
as you would others (I’ll ask if I need help), and the “Wheelchair” will
soon disappear.
- Sam's Story (December 30, 2014)
Sam was diagnosed with a degenerative retinal disease when he
was six years old, but it didn’t become real to him until
four or five years ago, in his early twenties, when he had
to stop driving.
- Meena's Story (September 2, 2014)
Meena was paralyzed from her Level T12 to L1 down and has been
using a manual wheelchair for 14 years. Since her injury, she
is raising three
children, one born naturally after her injury; she is writing
a children’s
book series called Mattie Has Wheels; she is a Spinal Cord Injury
Peer Coordinator for the National Spinal Cord Injury Association;
she teaches
aerobic classes; she is an activist in her community; and she
writes a blog.
- Alison's Story (July
3, 2014)
"Growing up there were a lot of things people said I would never be able
to do. I would never be able to write my name. I would never
graduate from high school. My goal was always: How can I do
X so that I get it
done, show the real skill being tested, and prevent exhaustion?"
- Beth's Story (June 23, 2014)
While being treated for leukemia, Beth received a brain injury
in the region of the cerebellum. She had an unexpected reaction
to one of the
drugs, which is extremely rare, but as Beth says she just “happened
to be one of the lucky ones.” The injury impacted her movements,
but horses and dogs helped keep her moving forward living independently.
- Peg's Story (January 13, 2014)
Peg was born with spinal muscular atrophy. She is the executive director of the Center for Research on Women with Disabilities and a professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Baylor College of Medicine. She discusses her life before and after the ADA. She gives advice on requesting reasonable accommodations for work and shares her stories about owning her own home and having live-in attendants on a 24-hour basis.
- Ayesha's Story (August
13, 2013)
"When I was born, I was completely healthy. I was able to walk
and I could do everything on my own as a child. I never, ever thought
that I might get the disease that my mom had, muscular dystrophy..."
- Jenny's Story (June 13, 2013)
Jenny has cerebral palsy, and her hips were dislocated at birth.
She is a college graduate, a very proud mother, and says, “the thing that
I’m proudest of is that from the time I was 20 years old to the
time I was 50 years old, if I wasn’t employed competitively in the
workplace, I was working as a volunteer. My resume never had a gap in
it.” Now, at 61, she is co-founder of At Your Service Animals, an
organization that promotes awareness of service dogs for people
with disabilities.
- Michael's Story (May 10,
2013)
Michael and his girlfriend have visual impairments. Before
they armed themselves with their legal rights under the ADA,
they were pushed to the back of the line when it came to grocery
shopping – “We
will help you at OUR convenience.” Knowing their rights, they
are now simply treated as any other customers in the store
- help, when needed, and in a timely manner.