Let’s be honest: not every law changes lives. But the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)?
That one did — and still does. And this July, as we mark its 35th anniversary, LIFTT is not just celebrating history. LIFTT is defending the future.
The ADA Isn’t Just a Law — It’s a Line in the Sand
Passed in 1990, the ADA wasn’t some feel-good gesture. It was a radical statement. It said: People with disabilities are not invisible. Not second-class. Not optional.
It forced elevators into buildings. Ramps into schools. Captions in videos. Jobs into hands that were always ready to work. But more than that? The ADA forced a shift in thinking — from exclusion to equity. From charity to civil rights. And let’s be clear: civil rights don’t expire. They don’t bend to budget cuts. They don’t “age out” at 35.
Fragile? Never. Permanent? Only If We Protect It.
Some might say, “Things are better now. What’s the fuss?” But better isn’t the same as equal. And equal isn’t the same as safe. Here’s the uncomfortable truth: Progress can be reversed. Rights can be weakened. Protections can be chipped away — not always with a bulldozer, but with a quiet, cruel scalpel. A funding cut here. A rollback there. A shrug when accessibility is treated as “too expensive.” We can’t let that happen.
This Isn’t Nostalgia — It’s a Call to Action
Laws like the ADA are like bridges. They connect people to opportunity, independence, and dignity. But bridges need maintenance. Attention. Constant defense. This July, as we honor 35 years of the ADA, let’s ask ourselves:
- Are we doing enough to protect and expand its legacy?
- Are we watching for the slow erosion of rights wrapped in bureaucracy?
- Are we educating the next generation on why this law matters—not just for people with disabilities, but for all of us?
Because when we uphold the ADA, we affirm something deeper: That our country is strongest when it guarantees space, voice, and visibility for everyone.
That accessibility isn’t “extra”—it’s essential. That justice doesn’t whisper — it ramps up.
The ADA Is Us
The ADA is not just a policy. It’s every sidewalk cutout. Every interpreter on screen. Every job accommodation. Every vote that is cast with an accessible ballot. The ADA is the architecture of equality. And that makes it personal for all of us.
So, happy anniversary to the law that reminded us that we belong. Let’s celebrate — not with silence or apathy, but with vigilance, pride, and purpose. Let’s keep walking through every door the ADA opened — and build new ones, too.
Want to get involved?
Join LIFTT this month for events, reflections, and opportunities for action. Attend the celebration of the ADA 35th Anniversary on July 26, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, at 1241 Crawford Drive, Billings, MT 59102. Because honoring the ADA means more than looking back, it means moving forward — together.
For questions or to learn more, contact us at (406) 259-5181 or visit LIFTT’s website www.liftt.org
About Living Independently for Today & Tomorrow (LIFTT): LIFTT is a Montana 501(c)3 corporation organized as a Center for Independent Living (CIL). With team members based in Billings and Glendive, LIFTT provides aging and disabled members of the community with programs and services that help empower them to break down the physical, bureaucratic, and cultural barriers that prevent them from being fully independent participants in their lives and communities throughout 18 counties in southeastern and south-central Montana: Big Horn, Carbon, Carter, Custer, Dawson, Fallon, Garfield, Golden Valley, McCone, Musselshell, Powder River, Prairie, Richland, Rosebud, Stillwater, Treasure, Wibaux, and Yellowstone. For more information, please visit liftt.org or download our mobile app for your Apple or Android Device.