On July 26, 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed into law the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the world's first comprehensive declaration of equality for people with disabilities. The physical landscape has improved greatly for people with disabilities. Ramps, curb cuts, Braille signs, captioned televisions, accessible restrooms, and chair lifts are just a few examples.
However, there is still much to be done. Our society is still largely inaccessible to most people living with a disability. About 60% of people with disabilities are still unemployed. Businesses and agencies are still not accessible to people using wheelchairs or other mobility devices. Telecommunications Devices for the Deaf (TTDs) and other such devices for people with deafness or hearing impairment are still conspicuously absent from the mainstream. Braille, auditory signals and other accommodations for people with blindness and low vision are practically non-existent. Worst of all, hundreds-of-thousands of people with disabilities are unnecessarily confined to nursing homes and other institutions.
The Coalition for Independence (CFI) provides a wide range of services to people with disabilities to empower them to live as independently and productively as possible in the mainstream of their communities.
