Going out for dinner together can be a frustrating experience for a Franklin family, and a constant reminder that more work needs to be done to promote accessibility.
Angie Tyler’s son, Justin, has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair. An increasing number of places are more accessible than they were even 25 years ago when Justin was born — just a few years after the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law.
But when she walks into a restaurant and immediately sees steps, she gets frustrated. She is often told to use a side door, where there are no steps, but also requires coming in through the dining room or even the kitchen.
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While the other entrance does meet the letter of the law for accessibility, it isn’t really following the spirit of what the law was intended to do, she said.
“It just makes you feel like a second-rate citizen,” Tyler said.
July marked 28 years since the Americans with Disabilities Act became law, prohibiting discrimination against people with disabilities. The law covers multiple areas, including jobs, government services and accessibility in public places.
When people think of the law, they often think of physical barriers, such as steps instead of a ramp. But the spirit of the ADA is meant to ensure that all people, including ones with disabilities, can have the same experience, whether they are dining out, traveling, going to a concert or seeking a job, Tyler said.
So, for example, while a retail store may have an accessible entrance, if they pack their aisles with clothing and other items, making it nearly impossible for a wheelchair to get through, they aren’t following the spirit of the law, she said. Or if the only accessible option at a concert venue is for a person in a wheelchair to use the freight elevator, that doesn’t allow them to enjoy an equal experience to all their friends coming in together on the steps that lead into the venue, she said.
The issue is one Tyler deals with daily, as a mother and also as the president and chief executive officer of Tangram, which offers services to people with disabilities.
Housing and employment are two of the big issues for Tangram’s clients, she said.
Accessible housing, which doesn’t just mean widened doorways, is difficult to find, Tyler said. Even some places that claim to be accessible aren’t, because residents are limited to certain areas, she said. And in some cases, that means getting an attorney involved to help address the issue, she said.
Another key issue is employment for people with disabilities, she said.
Tangram works with their clients on job research, preparing for job interviews and follows up with them after they have gotten a job,Tyler said.
But they also work with employers, she said.
Their goal is to change business culture so they truly embrace the spirit of the ADA and providing equal access to all, she said.
Often, companies worry that making accommodations that may be needed would be too expensive. But in reality, the cost is typically less than $500, Tyler said.
They also encourage employers to stray from their typical interviewing checklist, such as making sure a job applicant makes eye contact. By making that employer more aware and open-minded that someone may not make eye contact due to their disability, they can prevent the employer from missing on a potentially great hire, Tyler said.
“Embrace others for their differences, and not just their similarities. Differences offer so much opportunity,” she said.
“There is a whole talent pipeline you are missing, and they are also consumers.”
Tyler hopes to see more strides made in the coming years with the ADA, with companies and businesses recognizing the spirit of the law, rather than just the letter of the law, she said.
“Accessibility is something everyone benefits from,” she said.
