The Americans with Disabilities Act is a federal law that protects the rights of those with disabilities. It “guarantees that people with disabilities have the same opportunities as everyone else to enjoy employment opportunities, purchase goods and services, and participate in state and local government programs,” according to the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice. 

Because the ADA is a federal law, compliance is required in many aspects of everyday life, including employment, state and local government services, programs, and activities, public transportation, businesses open to the public, and telecommunication companies. It’s the reason we have accessibility buttons to electronically open doors. 

ADA compliance also varies. While it is firmly required for state and local governments, the requirements for businesses open to the public, or “private sector” businesses, are slightly different. According to a 2014 article by Emporia Mainstreet, “ADA encourages buildings to mitigate “readily removable barriers” to accessibility and there are various guidelines for buildings and businesses to follow to make their spaces more accessible for people who may not be able to easily access their space. 

Essentially, these spaces are only required to make their business, goods or services, and amenities as accessible as possible within their means. 

However, barriers for Americans with disabilities still exist regardless of such legislation, especially in Emporia. 

Store aisles, even in new buildings like Marshall’s, are less than ideal for individuals in wheelchairs. Sometimes they are too narrow or barely wide enough for an individual to get through. Excess items or clothing in an aisle can also make getting around more difficult. 

The prominent cracked and uneven sidewalks in town pose a huge barrier for individuals with mobility issues, as do steep stairs. Standard door sizes are a tight squeeze for some wheelchair users and can still be difficult to get through for those with other types of mobility devices. Outward opening doors also pose a challenge. 

I have first-hand experience with witnessing the challenges barriers like these pose. It’s disheartening to see and for my bonus aunt, it’s incredibly frustrating and demeaning to live with day to day. 

I understand that businesses may not have all the funds they need to make their spaces fully accessible, especially when the business is small and local. However, it is unacceptable to not even try to make spaces accessible within their means when and where they can. For chain stores, it’s a disgrace to see the same issues arise over and over again. For cities, it’s frustrating to see the same accessibility issues go unfixed. 

I know changes cannot be made overnight, but we have a responsibility to make spaces available and accessible to everyone, not just able-bodied people. We can do better. 

We need to stop treating accessibility as an inconvenience. Instead, we need to treat accessibility as what it is: a priority.