The 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is on the horizon. Thanks to this act, I have the freedom to live the happy and independent life I’m living as a person with a disability. For people who may not be aware of the act’s importance, I’d like to welcome today’s guest blogger, Jeremy Caffee. Jeremy is Director of the Access Center for Independent Living in Dayton, Ohio. May Jeremy’s words help you understand and appreciate the ADA. – Shari
July 26, 2025, marks the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)—a landmark civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in employment, education, transportation, and public life. While the ADA is rightly celebrated for its transformative impact, its history is one of persistent activism, and its protections are now facing growing threats.
The fight for disability rights began long before 1990. In 1973, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act prohibited disability-based discrimination in federally funded programs. But it was not until 1977, after the longest sit-in of a federal building in U.S. history, that the government finally implemented regulations. That protest ignited a national movement and laid the foundation for the ADA.
Throughout the 1980s, disability-led groups like ADAPT forced the issue into public consciousness with bold direct actions. One of the most powerful moments came in March 1990, when dozens of disabled activists abandoned their mobility devices and crawled up the steps of the U.S. Capitol. That moment—known as the “Capitol Crawl”—brought undeniable visibility to the urgency of access, helping push the ADA through Congress just months later.
Today, that progress is in danger. In Texas v. Becerra, seventeen states led by Texas are challenging the Biden Administration’s updated Health and Human Services rule that expands Section 504 protections to include gender dysphoria. But the lawsuit goes further—explicitly questioning the constitutionality of Section 504 itself. Legal experts warn that a broad ruling could destabilize civil rights protections for millions of disabled Americans, threatening access to health care, education, and public services (Prism Reports, 2025; STAT News, 2025; AUCD, 2025).
Regulatory threats are also mounting. In early 2025, the Department of Justice rescinded multiple ADA guidance documents—materials relied on by schools, businesses, and local governments to implement access and inclusion. At the same time, the Department of Energy is pursuing changes that would weaken federal building accessibility requirements.
Adding to these legal and administrative threats is Project 2025—a sweeping far-right policy agenda that seeks to slash Medicaid, eliminate protections for people with disabilities in housing and education, and dismantle the enforcement of civil rights laws. These moves, if realized, could roll back decades of progress.
The 35th anniversary of the ADA is not just a celebration—it’s a warning. The rights won through years of struggle must be protected with the same determination that secured them. The disability community built this movement from the ground up—and it will take that same collective power to defend it.
References
- ADA National Network. (n.d.). What is the ADA? https://adata.org
- Smithsonian Institution. (2023). The Power of 504 Sit-In. https://americanhistory.si.edu/blog/504-sit-in
- Prism Reports. (2025). Texas v. Becerra Challenges Section 504 and Disability Protections. https://prismreports.org/2025/03/13/section-504-disability-gender-dysphoria
- STAT News. (2025). Advocates Warn Texas Lawsuit Could Undermine Disability Rights. https://www.statnews.com/2025/03/21/texas-vs-becerra-lawsuit-could-imperil-disability-rights-advocates-worry
- AUCD. (2025). Protecting Section 504 from Legal Threats. https://www.aucd.org/news/protect-section-504
- The Guardian. (2025). Justice Department Removes Disability Guidelines for Businesses. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/19/justice-department-disability-business-guidelines
- DREDF. (2025). Project 2025 and the Disability Community. https://dredf.org/blog-post/project-2025-and-the-disability-community
- Disability Scoop. (2025). Supreme Court to Hear Case That Could Gut ADA. https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2025/04/24/supreme-court-to-hear-case-that-could-gut-the-ada-and-rehabilitation-act/31421
- Matzik, M. (2025). Personal correspondence.