This month we celebrate the 33^rd anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This landmark civil rights legislation has opened many doors for people with disabilities in the US, literally and figuratively, expanding access to employment, transportation, state and local government services, telecommunications, and other participation in the community. The ADA has served as a model for similar legislation in other countries, as well as the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), expanding access for people with disabilities around the world.

We have made much progress toward full participation of people with disabilities in the communities of their choosing. Search social media for #ThanksToTheADA and you will find many personal examples of how the ADA and related civil rights laws have made it possible to learn, work, play, worship, and otherwise participate in the community. All of this progress is wonderful, but research has shown that people with disabilities still face barriers to full access, like physical barriers on sidewalks and in buildings, attitudinal barriers of employers and providers, and programmatic barriers in public institutions. Our Research In Focus series of lay language summaries has explored some of this research from NIDILRR-funded projects that aim to identify these barriers and find solutions to remove them. Here is a sample of recent summaries:

Employment

• Adults with Psychiatric Disabilities and PTSD Share the Barriers They Experience to Employment
• Study Offers Insights to Barriers to Paid Employment Facing Youth with Severe Disabilities
• Rehabilitation Physicians and Counselors Share Their Experience of Working with COVID-19 Long-Haulers and the Challenges These Individuals May Face Returning to Work
• Business Leaders Share Their Strategies to Promote Inclusion of People with Disabilities

Community Living

• Legislators and Advocates Share Challenges and Solutions to Protecting the Rights of Parents with Disabilities
• Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities from Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups May Perceive Different Barriers to Healthcare than Their White Peers
• Parents with Psychiatric Disabilities May Benefit from Accessible, Affordable Legal Supports
• People with Disabilities May Offer an Untapped Volunteer Pool for Organizations
• Many Fitness Facilities May Not Be Fully Accessible to People with Disabilities

Public Accommodations

• For People with Mobility Disabilities, Stepped Entrances and Exits May Limit Participation in Social and Recreational Activities
• Well-Coordinated Electronic Health Records May Help Streamline Accommodations for Patients with Disabilities
• Three Decades After the ADA, Many Local Governments May Still Not Have Strong Plans to Remove Pedestrian Access Barriers
• Law Enforcement Personnel Comment on Ways to Better Serve People with Disabilities

Transportation

• For People Who are Blind or Visually Impaired, Managing Transportation May be Key for Employment Success
• One-Size May Not Fit All: Wheelchair and Scooter Users Compare the Usability of Different Public Bus Layouts
• Passengers Who Use Wheelchairs or Scooters May Not Always Be Properly Secured While Using Paratransit Services
• Nowhere to Park Your Accessible Van: Augmented Signage May Increase Access to Van-Accessible Parking Spaces

More Research In Focus summaries are available at our website.