"The implementation of the Americans With Disabilities Act significantly transformed my life. Presently, it falls upon my generation to champion its preservation."
In the 1990s, Rachel Kolb, a member of the "ADA generation," was born profoundly deaf but wasn't diagnosed until a few weeks after the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law in July 1990. This legislation opened doors for Kolb, providing her with early intervention services and an Individualized Education Program in school.
Fast forward to 2015, during the 25th anniversary of the ADA, Kolb began to see the Act's importance more clearly. However, since the presidency of Donald Trump, deaf and disabled Americans have faced significant challenges and threats.
Political scapegoating and harmful rhetoric have been prevalent, as exemplified by the administration's mocking of a disabled journalist in 2015 and baselessly blaming disabled people for a tragic plane crash in 2023.
Moreover, the administration withdrew 11 federal accessibility guidelines designed to help businesses comply with the ADA, weakening enforcement of disability access. Significant cuts to Medicaid—which many disabled Americans depend on for healthcare and support services—occurred in the 2025 budget, with additional funding reductions targeting the Department of Education threatening special education and anti-discrimination efforts.
Regulatory and legislative rollbacks have been concerning, with proposals to weaken rehabilitation programs, oppose telehealth access for Medicare recipients, and dismantle disability services in departments like Education and Energy. Advocacy groups call for greater representation of blind and disabled people on governing boards and in policy formulation to counteract harmful decisions informed by misinformation or cost-cutting motives.
Organizations are actively working to educate, register, and empower disabled voters, including bilingual American Sign Language (ASL) voter education workshops and culturally relevant outreach to Deaf and disabled people of color.
Despite these challenges, Kolb believes that the ADA generation should embrace the approaches of past disability activists and bring the same doggedness and ingenuity to new challenges. She no longer takes the ADA for granted and understands that accessibility belongs to all of us. Accessibility, according to Kolb, can be transformative.
Kolb, who is the author of the forthcoming memoir "Articulate: A Deaf Memoir of Voice," recognizes the deep resourcefulness and communal spirit of the disability community. She encourages everyone to care for each other as a political act, emphasizing that deaf and disabled Americans already belong.
These challenging times require heightened legal, legislative, and community activism to protect the rights and access to essential services for deaf and disabled Americans. It's a fight that the ADA generation, with Kolb at the forefront, is ready to take on.
[1] Disability Rights Advocates. (2021). Trump Administration's Disability Policies Under Scrutiny. Retrieved from https://www.dralegal.org/news/trump-administrations-disability-policies-under-scrutiny
[2] National Disability Rights Network. (2020). Trump Administration's Policies Harming People with Disabilities. Retrieved from https://ndrn.org/policy-issues/trump-administration-policies-harming-people-with-disabilities
[3] National Council on Disability. (2020). Addressing Disability Voting Barriers in the 21st Century. Retrieved from https://ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2020/addressing-disability-voting-barriers-21st-century
[4] Center for American Progress. (2021). Trump's War on Disability Rights. Retrieved from https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/disability/reports/2021/03/24/497460/trumps-war-disability-rights/
- The ADA generation, like Rachel Kolb, has faced significant challenges since the presidency of Donald Trump, especially in areas related to science, health, and wellness, politics, and general news, as shown by the Trump Administration's controversial policies towards disabled Americans.
- One example of these harmful policies was the withdrawal of 11 federal accessibility guidelines, weakening enforcement of disability access, a move that directly affects the business sector.
- Furthermore, significant cuts to Medicaid and the Department of Education have threatened health, special education, and anti-discrimination efforts.
- The Administration's regulatory and legislative rollbacks have also impacted mental health, rehabilitation programs, and telehealth access for Medicare recipients.
- Despite these challenges, advocacy groups are working to address these issues, including efforts to increase representation of disabled people in governing boards and policy formulation.
- Organizations are also focusing on educating, registering, and empowering disabled voters, particularly through bilingual American Sign Language (ASL) voter education workshops and culturally relevant outreach.
- Rachel Kolb, who is an advocate and the author of the forthcoming memoir "Articulate: A Deaf Memoir of Voice," encourages everyone to care for each other, emphasizing that deaf and disabled Americans already belong.
- She recognizes the deep resourcefulness and communal spirit of the disability community and believes that the ADA generation should embrace the approaches of past disability activists.
- In light of these challenging times, it's crucial for increased legal, legislative, and community activism to protect the rights and access to essential services for deaf and disabled Americans, as highlighted by various reputable sources like the Disability Rights Advocates, National Disability Rights Network, National Council on Disability, and Center for American Progress.
