1996 ADA Snapshot of America
DUE SEPTEMBER 3, 1998

COMPARE/CONTRAST THE UCP SURVEY WITH THE HARRIS POLL

Part One

Shows Change In Lives of Americans with Disabilities
UCP (United Cerebral Palso) Poll of 48 States Indicates Big Change in Access to
'Mainstreet USA' And Slower Progress in Jobs
 

(Washington DC, July 26, 1996) Six years after the signing of the landmark civil rights law for people with disabilities, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and four years into its implementation, a new snapshot survey conducted by United Cerebral Palsy Associations (UCPA) indicates that 96% of people
polled agree the ADA has made a difference in the lives of people with disabilities.

Preliminary results of the UCPA survey, the ADA Snapshot of America, are based on responses from 1,330 individuals, representing 48 states, who identified themselves as persons with a disability (45%), family members (30%), friends (2.5%), advocates (18%), or other (4.5%).  Respondents represented large
metropolitan areas (33%), small cities (20%), suburbs (18%), rural areas (16%) and towns (13%).

The poll shows the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has made a difference across America in these ways: 57% of respondents say ADA has made a difference with better access to buildings. 46% say there is greater inclusion and acceptance in the community.
34% say they now have access to transportation.

     25% say telecommunications is better and accessible.

     24% say they have or see increased employment.

     21% say the ADA has made a difference in other ways.
 

Our snapshot of the progress of ADA and its impact on adults and
children with disabilities, their families and friends indicates
great improvements are occurring in grassroots America,
particularly in the areas of access to public accommodations and
public places,' said Michael Morris, Executive Director of United
Cerebral Palsy Associations, based in Washington DC.

On the other hand, there is slower progress for people with
disabilities in accessing employment opportunities and that is
disappointing.  However, our new information shows that people
with more severe disabilities, many of whom are served by our
UCPA affiliates, are gaining employment opportunities."

The new ADA Snapshot of America identifies the areas of greatest
change and least change since ADA was signed into law on July 26,
1990.  They are:

     Access to public accommodations is ranked as the number one
area of greatest change by   76% of respondents, while 14% feel
that this is the area of least change since the ADA   was
passed.

     Access to public places is ranked as the number two area of
greatest change by 58% of respondents, while 14% say access
to public places is the area with the least change.

     Transportation access is considered the area of greatest
change for 30% of respondents, while 32% say access to
transportation is the area least changed.

     Access to communication is the area of greatest change for
30% of respondents, while 14% indicated it is an area least
changed.

     Job accommodations were picked as the area of greatest
changes by 29% of respondents, while 25% felt that job
accommodations are the area least changed.

     Changes to policies were selected as an area of change by
28% of respondents, while 35% feel that this is an area of
least change.

     Employment Opportunities are an area least changed,
according to 50% of those polled, while 17% of respondents see
this as an area of greatest change.

Attitudes toward people with disabilities, considered one of the
greatest discrimination barriers for many of the 49 million
Americans with disabilities, are believed to have changed as a
result of the ADA, according to 75% of people responding to the
poll; while 25% feel that attitudes have not changed.  When asked
if the change in attitudes has been positive or negative, 82% of
respondents indicate changes are positive; 9% feel the
attitudinal changes are negative; and 9% feel that the attitude
changes are both positive and negative.
 

Of those responding to the ADA Snapshot of America, some 78%
believe that the general public is somewhat aware of the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) while 6% believe that the
general public is very aware and 16% feel the general public is
not aware of the law.  According to those polled:

     People with disabilities are more visible in their
communities -  (90% said true and 10% said false)

     Businesses are more aware that people with disabilities
represent good source of customers- (71% said true; 29% said
false)

     More accommodations are available for people with speech
disabilities   -    (43% said true, 20% said false)

     More people with disabilities are more active in the
community      -    (80% indicated true, 20% said false)

     Having a disability is a fact of life, not a cause for shame
or embarrassment    -    (88% said true, 12% said false)

     People with disabilities are no longer seen as objects of
pity or charity     -    (39% said true, 61% said false)
 

When asked if their own communities have been positively impacted
by the ADA, 84% indicated in the affirmative, while 16% said no.
When asked to identify ways in which their communities had been
positively impacted by the ADA:  87% indicate that their local
businesses are more accessible; 79% indicate that public
facilities are accessible   54% indicate that services for
people who are deaf or hard of hearing (interpreters,  fm loops,
real-time captioning) are used frequently at meeting and
performances.  51% indicate that more public telephones are
disability friendly.  44% observe that more people with
disabilities are using public     transportation.    43%
indicate that people are more aware that not all disabilities are
visible.       36% indicate that more people with disabilities
have jobs in their community.

One of the greatest barriers to effective compliance with the ADA
(for some) has been the myths and misconceptions around
implementation of the law.  When asked what are the most
prevalent myths and misconceptions in the way of ADA, 81% say the
perception that ADA implementation is too costly is a myth that
gets in the way; 52% believe that the misconception that the law
is too unreasonable is a problem; 35% indicate that the myth that
ADA is too intrusive is a stumbling block; 34% say the myth that
the law is too confusing; 27% find that the myth that the law is
too stringent; 26% say the myth that the law requires affirmative
action and 10% said other misconceptions.

To better see how ADA has affected lives of people with
disabilities in their communities, we asked individuals to not
only complete our survey, but also to share personal stories
about how the law changed their lives directly or changed the
lives of families, friends and their communities,' said Morris.
'The resulting personal stories provide a remarkable look at
individuals and their families participating (many, for the first
time) in schools, town meetings, voting, churches and synagogues,
youth camps and organizations, retail businesses, restaurants,
movies, museums, libraries and real jobs, as taxpayers, not tax
users.