CHANGED LIFE FOR DISABLED
17 years since president signed landmark law, it's ...
17 years since signing of landmark disability law, it's a tough act to follow

Published: July 26, 2007

Seventeen years ago today, the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act was signed. You don't have to look far to see its effects, from ramps, rails and larger public rest rooms to wider and automated entry doors, wheelchair seating and sign- language interpreters.

By the numbers

•51.2 million Americans (18 percent of the population) have some level of disability.

•11.8 million of 16- to 64-year-olds reported a medical condition that makes it hard to get or keep a job.

•$22,000 is the median earnings for people with a nonsevere disability. It's $25,000 for those with no disability and $12,800 for those with a severe disability.

•33 percent of people 25 to 64 have a nonsevere disability and were college graduates. It's 43 percent with no disability and 22 percent with a severe disability.

How life's changed

The law is often compared to other civil rights legislation based on race, sex, national origin and religion. Today, we take a look at how life has changed in the past 17 years.

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