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Call for economic inclusion of 40M Americans with Disability
Physical and digital accessibility has greatly improved but true economic empowerment for Americans with disabilities remains unfinished.
Representative Image / Pexels
In 1990, the United States took a historic step towards inclusivity and equal opportunity with the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Signed into law by President George H.W. Bush and spearheaded by a coalition of Democrats and Republicans, the ADA represented a watershed moment for the rights of Americans with disabilities, ensuring that physical spaces were made accessible and discriminatory barriers were torn down. Over three decades later, as we reflect on the progress made, it is clear that while physical and digital accessibility has greatly improved, true economic empowerment for Americans with disabilities remains unfinished.
The numbers reveal a stark reality. In 2018, two-thirds of college graduates with disabilities remained unemployed. This underscores a significant gap in their integration into the economic environment. Only 15% of the 40 million Americans with disabilities had a college degree. From 2008 to 2018, the average income for individuals with disabilities increased by a mere $2,811, from $20,136 to $22,947 per year. These figures reflect a real need to fully integrate and economically empower this segment of the population.
The time is ripe for a new chapter—a proposal we at VOSAP (Voice of Specially Abled People) call "ADA 2.0." Drawing from its experiences of working in the US and India to empower Persons with Disabilities, VOSAP brings valuable insights into how targeted policies can drive meaningful change.
Just as the ADA broke down physical barriers, ADA 2.0 must focus on breaking economic barriers. It is a call for renewed political commitment to ensure that individuals with disabilities can lead independent, economically productive lives. This vision is not merely aspirational; it demands bipartisan action, bringing together the leadership and courage necessary to advance human rights and inclusivity, leveraging innovative technologies to enable Americans with Disabilities.
ADA 2.0 envisions a society where every American with a disability has access to innovative assistive devices, regardless of cost. It also advocates for comprehensive tax incentives to stimulate economic inclusion of Americans with Disabilities, such as a threefold expense deduction for employers on salaries paid to employees with disabilities.
ADA 2.0 should aim to provide free college education for individuals with disabilities, covering all necessary additional expenses, and establish low-interest loans for entrepreneurs with disabilities who wish to start their own businesses. Essentially, with such a world class accessible infrastructure and resources, technological advantages that we have in in the US, we can now look at trillions of dollars of economic contribution from the disability sector.
Like ADA in 1990, after 26 years, India also brought in a comprehensive new law for the Rights of its citizens with Disabilities in 2016 with bipartisan support. This legislation has set the foundation for improving accessibility, promoting rights, and boosting opportunities for millions. VOSAP has made substantial progress since then in 23 states of India, enabling 27,000+ individuals through assistive devices and surgical interventions and many have come out poverty.
Based on the data of these VOSAP empowered individuals, an economic model presented to India’s honourable finance minister by VOSAP, demonstrates the potential contribution of the disability sector—estimated at $1 trillion to the Indian economy by 2047. A similar model for the U.S., with appropriate incentives and supportive policies as mentioned in ADA 2.0, could lead to a far bigger contribution, accelerating economic activities across sectors and ensuring Americans with disabilities are not left behind as US is far ahead with its infrastructure so relatively quick outcomes are very much possible with ADA 2.0 vision of VOSAP.
ADA 2.0 focuses on business-friendly policies with tax incentives while ensures providing support to learn and earn, harness the ability of Americans with disabilities with Assistive devices for their economic contribution, paying taxes and help save government spending on their welfare. This vision ensures that Americans with disabilities have far better quality of life, participation in society once the focus shifts on investing into their education, skilling and employment.
Together, ADA 2.0 provides a path to both social equity and economic prosperity, appealing to the priorities of every elected representative.
The vision for ADA 2.0 is ambitious, but it is achievable. It requires a united, bipartisan effort to unlock the potential of 40 million Americans with disabilities. US has been the leader in inclusion, human rights and we must urge our representatives in Congress and senate to support this transformative vision —an initiative that will help Americans with disabilities realize their potential.
The bipartisan appeal of ADA 2.0 lies in the combination of moral imperatives and economic advantages. It is time to build on the remarkable progress of the ADA and take the next step toward true inclusion—ensuring that economic independence becomes a reality for every individual, regardless of their disability.
The author is Founder of the California -based non-profit Voice of Specially Abled People (VOSAP).
(The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of New India Abroad)
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