by Tom Olofsson, Attorney at Law, www.MyTrustLawyer.com (773) 905-1193

The first President Bush, George H. Bush, signed the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) into law in 1990 and now George W. Bush has signed the ADA Amendments Act.

The new law straightens out the mess that has been made of the original Law by clarifying what is a protected disability and who needs to make accommodations for people with disabilities. The Amendment reaffirms our commitment as a nation to including people with disabilities in mainstream life.

During the years since the ADA was passed state court decisions have limited the protections of the ADA. State court rulings have effectively excluded people with disabilities from many activities which should be covered under ADA protections.

Groups which champion the rights of those with disabilities have worked long and hard with law makers to rebuild and strengthen protections for those with special needs and for their families.

The new law will contain a more clear definition of what it means to be disabled and who is protected under the ADA. It also does away with, or overturns, some state court rulings that denied ADA protection for some people with disabilities. The law makers who sponsored of the amendment say, it “…fulfills our promise to tear down the barriers of ignorance….”

I see this amendment as the next logical step in the process of fully embracing people with special needs into full membership in our society. Parents of children with disabilities will find it easier to take the entire family out to dinner.

The doors are opening and everyone is invited in.