Peter Blanck

Blanck, Peter (2019) “Why America Is Better of Because of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act,” Touro Law Review: Vol. 35 : No. 1 , Article 22. Available at: htps://digitalcommons.tourolaw.edu/lawreview/vol35/iss1/22

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The year 2020 will be the thirtieth anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA” and as amended “ADAAA”1 ) and the forty-fifth anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (“IDEA”).2 Although tempting, it is an oversimplification to measure the definitive impact of these laws on the lives of Americans with disabilities by their supposed “successes” or “failures” to date.3 To the contrary, as for all sweeping policy endeavors, the ADA and IDEA are evolving in the unique American context.4 Indeed, it may take generations to fulfill the aspirations of these laws, and to undo centuries of segregation, stigmatization, and discrimination on the basis of disability.