Overview
On July 26, 2025, the United States will mark the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the landmark civil rights law granting disabled Americans equal access to nearly every aspect of public life. The ADA remains one of the most comprehensive pieces of disability non-discrimination law in the world. The Iowa Department for the Blind celebrates the tremendous progress our society has made since 1990. Thanks to the ADA, many more blind and low-vision Iowans have had access to education, employment, and all areas of community life. However, we also recognize that many barriers still remain.
About the ADA
One of the primary focus areas of the ADA is employment. Title 1 assures that people with disabilities have the same access to job and career opportunities as people without disabilities. Today, blind and low vision people are succeeding in all sectors of the workforce and therefore have more economic stability, social influence, and political empowerment than ever before. IDB’s Pre-Employment Transition Services for youth and Vocational Rehabilitation Program for adults ensure that blind people have the skills, tools, and resources they need to enter, remain, and advance in the workforce.
However, according to the US Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy, the unemployment rate for people with disabilities is double that of people without disabilities. Blind students are often not held to high expectations in school and aren’t prepared for higher education and the workforce. There continues to be widespread discrimination and misconceptions among employers about the capacity of blind job applicants. Lack of affordable, efficient transportation options in many areas prohibits people who can’t drive from retaining employment.
Title III of the ADA mandates that businesses and nonprofit organizations ensure that their goods and services are available to all. However, many guide dog users experience discrimination when entering restaurants, stores, and ride-share vehicles. Despite ADA regulations, the websites of many businesses and organizations continue to have features that make them inaccessible to people who use screen-reading software or electronic braille displays.
At the Iowa Department for the Blind
At IDB, we’re committed to upholding the promise and spirit of the ADA. We will continue working to ensure that all blind and low vision students have the skills needed to succeed in college and/or the workforce, such as braille and adaptive technology. We are committed to ensuring that blind job-seekers have access to more and better job opportunities, that they have the technology they need to do those jobs well, and the cane travel skills they need to retain employment. We will ensure that older adults with vision loss have the skills to remain independent in their homes and active in their communities.
On the anniversary of this historic piece of legislation, we at IDB invite you to join us in renewing your commitment to creating a fair, equitable world for all. Together, let’s continue making Iowa a place where every person—blind, low vision, or sighted—has the opportunity, tools, and skills to thrive!
Learn more at https://adaanniversary.org/