After 23 Years, American Disabilities Act Still Not Enforced In Rockland

“In 2013, the American Disabilities Act is not that well understood or enforced,” said George Hoehmann, the executive director of the Rockland Independent Living Center, or RILC.

President George H.W. Bush passed the ADA in 1990, and extended rights to Americans with disabilities similar to those granted in the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The act prohibits discrimination to a citizen on grounds that they are disabled.

While it has been nearly a quarter of a century since Congress passed the act, Hoehmann still believes that the nation, and New York in particular has a long way to go in terms of full equality for and inclusion of the disabled.

At the celebration of the 23rd anniversary of the passage of the ADA on Friday morning, RILC held a breakfast at Casa Mia Manor Restaurant honoring individuals who have made a difference in improving life for those with disabilities. Hoehmann also took time to express the state of enforcement of the ADA in Rockland, and future plans to improve inclusion.

While preparing for the celebration of the ADA’s 25th anniversary, Hoehmann and the RILC are making extra efforts to advocate for those with disabilities.

RILC has begun outreach on the new Tappan Zee Bridge, to ensure full and equal access.

RILC is in the process of getting all government buildings to be fully accessible as well. 

The center also has a strong connection with Rockland County schools. Every year, RILC holds its Disabilities Awareness Day at local high schools, middle schools and elementary schools. On June 11th, members of the RILC visited East Ramapo’s Margetts Elementary.

The program taught at Margetts included information and demonstrations of adaptive sports equipment, Rockland County TRIPS busses as well as Braille and American Sign Language.

The students at Margetts created paper dolls that were views of themselves. The dolls were used as centerpieces at the RILC breakfast.

In addition, the students made bridges, as a lesson of how things adapt to the world around them.

“We use music, books, and experiential learning to teach fellowship, tolerance and inclusion,” Hoehmann said. RILC hopes that after Disabilities Awareness Day students will have an increased understanding of how people with disabilities live their lives, and adapt to challenges.

Yet while children are an important part of raising awareness, it’s also extremely important to RILC to change policy in the county.

“We’re going to continue to work with the business community, the local lions clubs, in an effort to create policy changes,” Hoehmann said. “We’re the prime advocate for the full inclusion and equal access, and we have to make sure the ADA is taken seriously.”

Among those who have cooperated with some of RILC’s urgings have been Leadership Rockland and County Clerk Paul Piperato, who has made the county clerk’s office wheelchair accessible.

Additionally, County Executive Scott Vanderhoef made a significant contribution to RILC’s efforts by declaring July 26th 2013 Rockland County Disabilities Awareness Day.

Ed Day, Rockland County Legislator, made the announcement on behalf of the Legislature. Day expressed his pride in the efforts of the RILC to enforce the ADA.

“As a Rockland resident for the past 30 years, I’ve witnessed first hand the benefits of the ADA,” Day said. “We’ve made terrific strives.”

Day also exemplified how ADA is beneficial to the local economy.

“While there are costs, ADA contributes to the economy through access and accessibility. Disabled people don’t need to be homebound they can be employed, and buy services and goods,” Day said.

Day spent 28 years in law enforcement, and believes that education the police and fire departments about disabilities is critical to the county’s success.

The County legislator also brought up an initiative that he believe will help communication between drivers with disabilities and police officers.

“Niagara University has an advisor card program allows officers to know if a person has a hearing impairment,” Day said. “I’m going to work with RILC to establish a similar program here in Rockland. It’s extremely nerve-wracking walking up to a car, and tragedy could occur if there’s a misunderstanding.”

Since the passage of the ADA, RILC has taken important steps toward full accessibility and equality for those with disabilities in the county. RILC provides independent living services that allow people with disabilities to pursue the lifestyles of their choice.

Such services include benefits advisement with Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security Income and other public assistance and health care programs, computer classes, education advocacy, housing advisement, a powerful employment network, a food pantry, and mental health recovery services.

RILC also offers the Personal Assistant Consumer Employers of Rockland, or PACER program. The program gives people with disabilities the ability to hire, train and terminate their own personal assistants. This gives those with disabilities a new and heightened sense of independence and self-esteem.

Yet despite all of these services and provisions, Hoehmann knows that the fight is not over, as the community at large has yet to fully adapt to the provisions of the ADA.

“Almost no municipal entity is in full technical compliance with the ADA. People with visual and hearing impairments are still facing difficulties. I don’t think it’s intentional, and I don’t think it’s malicious. But it requires education and willingness to work for a solution.”