The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): What Will the Next 25 Years Hold?

ROSEMONT, Ill., May 12, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Nine out of ten Americans will experience temporary or permanent disability at some point in their lives. On July 26, 1990, The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law to ensure equal access to education, employment, housing and public transportation. On the 25^th anniversary of the ADA, there are many questions as to how far we have come, and what remains to be done to create truly equal opportunities for individuals with disability.

Linda Mastandrea (Chicago, IL) is one individual with disability who has benefited from the changes mandated by the ADA.  Linda was diagnosed with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy at the age of three, but went on to earn a BA degree from the University of Illinois and a JD from Chicago-Kent College of Law.  After graduation, Linda trained under the guidance of a team of physiatrists (physicians who specialize in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation) to become an elite athlete.  From 1990-1996, Linda won 15 gold and 5 silver medals in wheelchair track events, setting national, world and Paralympic records.

Linda now works with the Foundation for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Rosemont, IL) to promote partnerships between physiatrists and individuals with disabilities to collaborate on quality of life issues, advance personal goals and cultivate inclusive, integrated communities.  According to Linda: "The Americans with Disability Fund is a groundbreaking initiative that will create opportunities for physiatrists and the disability community to collaborate on a wide range of initiatives aimed at improving the lives of people with disabilities. As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the ADA, it is vitally important that we not only celebrate how far we've come, but look to the future with renewed energy. This Fund will help take the promise of the ADA to a new generation." 

For more information on how you can support the ADF and the Foundation for PM&R, please contact Linda Mastandrea at 773-875-4674 or [email protected].

About the Foundation for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
The Foundation for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, strives to enhance health and function for individuals with disability through research and education in the field of physical medicine and rehabilitation.  For more information about the Foundation, contact Phyllis Anderson at (847) 737-6062 or [email protected] or visit the Foundation's website at: www.foundationforpmr.org.

For more information about Linda Mastandrea: www.lindamastandrea.com

SOURCE Foundation for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Related Links

http://www.foundationforpmr.org