36 Years Strong: How the ADA Continues to Shape Accessibility in America

On July 26, 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (also known as the ADA) was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush. In 2026, we’re celebrating 36 years of this landmark moment in civil rights history, one that transformed the lives of millions of Americans. The ADA formally extended protections against discrimination to people who live with disabilities. This anniversary reminds us that accessibility is a core American value. With the ADA, accessibility was codified into the fabric of our nation, alongside our foundations of the pursuit of happiness, liberty, and freedom for all. Now, over three decades later, the influence of the ADA continues to shape our communities, services, and workplaces.

What the ADA Made Possible

The impact of the ADA has been both broad and tangible. Prior to its passage, there were few nationwide and consistent legal requirements for public places and services to be accessible. As a result, many individuals faced unnecessary barriers to employment, education, and everyday life.

The ADA changed that. It mandated changes such as the implementation of ramps and curb cuts in sidewalks, accessible entrances to buildings, the usage of braille signage, and other workplace accommodations that allowed those with disabilities to fully participate and contribute. Over time, these requirements have helped reshape commercial and public environments in the United States while also inspiring disability rights legislation around the world. Today, countries on nearly every continent look to the principles embedded in the ADA when drafting their own accessibility laws.

Why the ADA Still Matters

When it was written, the ADA was based on earlier anti-discrimination laws and intentionally ensured the same rights and opportunities to those with disabilities. Specifically, the protections include employment, transportation, public accommodations, state and local government services, and telecommunications.

As society has progressed, so too has the interpretation and implementation of the ADA. In 1998 with the passage of the Rehabilitation Act, the ADA was amended to include the Internet in its accessibility standards. Remembering the anniversary of the ADA’s implementation is a time for us to highlight its history and the people it has helped, and it’s a time recommit ourselves to the work of accessibility for every American.

Looking to the Next 36 Years

As we celebrate 36 years of ADA protections, it’s important to acknowledge both its achievements and the challenges that remain. While the law has dramatically improved access in many areas, there is still work to be done. Disability advocates continue to push for broader and more stringent implementation – especially in fields that evolve and emerge quickly, like technology, digital services, and AI. Many modern arenas present new accessibility challenges that simply weren’t imagined when the ADA was first drafted. As technology continues to grow and expand in ways we can’t imagine either, ensuring digital accessibility is just as critical as removing physical barriers.

When we look ahead to the next 36 years, the ADA inspires individuals, communities, and organizations to remain proactive and reflective. It’s important to remember our accomplishments while we continue working toward making our society more accessible. Each ramp built, every workplace accommodation made, and all websites made accessible contribute to fully realizing the promise of the ADA.