Narrator: The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990,
the ADA, guarantees that Americans with disabilities
have equal access to important
parts of everyday life, like goods and services.
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There's still plenty left to do to make this a reality.
But now, rather than help increase accessibility,
the Arizona state legislature wants
to slow it down by passing a bad bill.
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Some people may think the ADA has done its job
but people with disabilities can tell you
about the many barriers they encounter every day.
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A wheelchair user tries to buy groceries at
a store without a ramp...
NOAccessAZ.
A blind customer is expected to fill out
bank paperwork that's not in Braille...
NOAccessAZ.
A Deaf parent brings their child to a hospital
that won't provide a sign language interpreter...
NOAccessAZ.
And while fire marshals protect us from fires
by enforcing fire codes,
and health inspectors protect our health
by enforcing health codes,
there are no access police to protect access
for Americans with disabilities.
Instead the ADA leaves the burden of
safeguarding vital civil rights
to everyday citizens with disabilities.
Anytime businesses violate the ADA,
we are the only ones who can hold them accountable.
But this bad bill will undercut
what little authority we have
by making the process even slower.
Because to some policymakers and business people,
what's a few more months of NOAccessAZ
for people with disabilities?
Tell your legislators that 27 years of NOAccessAZ
is enough.
It's time to stop building barriers
to an accessible Arizona.
For more information go to: AZdisabilitycoalition.org
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