by Amy Gendreau, RDPFS Intern:
The observance of the 34th anniversary of the passing of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, 1990 is an opportune time to reflect on the status of the BVI (Blind and Visually Impaired) community today. According to the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB), approximately 50 million individuals 18 and over identify as having vision loss, females making up 57 percent of this population and males 43 percent. Of those with vision loss, more than 26 percent are adults ages 65 and older. With the continued aging of the population, the incidence of vision loss is expected to increase in the coming years. The ADA “prohibits discrimination against people (of all ages) with disabilities.” It encompasses five major sections: employment; nondiscrimination in state and local government services, including public transit; businesses that are open to the public; telecommunications; and miscellaneous provisions, such as the ADA’s relationship to other laws. Since the inception of the ADA great strides have been made in advancing the rights and everyday lives of people with disabilities. Many advances in independent living related to individuals who are blind or have low vision have occurred as a result of developing technologies, such as assistive technology, smart home technology, and new features in mobility devices. Read more on the ADA.gov webpage providing an Introduction to the Americans with Disabilities Act. For a toolkit with social media messages, concepts, resources and more, visit the ADA Anniversary Toolkit webpage. Additional statistics about vision loss and disabilities are available from the AFB webpage on Facts and Figures on Adults with Vision Loss from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) and from the United States Census Bureau webpage commemorating the Anniversary of Americans With Disabilities Act: July 26, 2024. An overview on technology advances is featured in a Smlowltech article on Technology and Disability: enhancing lives and breaking barriers.
