This past month, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) celebrated its anniversary, commemorating 20 years since it came into existence on July 26, 1990. To honor this special milestone, I'd like to take a minute to remind us all of the tremendous impact that the ADA has made on the lives of many individuals in our country over the years.

The ADA is the world's first declaration of equality for those with disabilities. The law's development was a result of collaboration of Democrats, Republicans, legislature, federal and state agencies, and hundreds of other groups alike, making it possible for anyone in this country with a disability to live a life of freedom and equality. The ADA ensures that Americans with disabilities are treated the same as any other citizens, including legal protection for equal opportunity.

According to the ADA website, there are over 54 million Americans with physical or mental impairments who are protected under the ADA. Some aspects of the ADA have become so ingrained in our daily lives that we take them for granted.

It is hard to believe that at one time, protections provided under the ADA didn't exist. For example, the ADA prohibits discrimination in employment against those with disabilities and requires employers to make reasonable accommodations to qualified job applicants and existing employees.

The ADA also ensures state and local government programs are accessible to those who are disabled, including public transportation. And it is hard to remember a time that a public facility like a restaurant or school was not accessible to someone who is disabled, but the ADA made that possible too.

As the years go on, the ADA continues to change with the times, specifically with the addition of the ADA Amendments Act of 2008, which broadened the definition of the word "disability," and in turn, increased the number of people covered under the laws.

I hope that the positive impact of the ADA we've seen over the past 20 years is indicative of changes to come as a result of current groundbreaking legislation, such as the Keeping All Students Safe Act (H.R. 4247), or the recent movement to construct a law similar to the ADA for dementia care.

The ADA is supported by the ADA National Network, which provides guidance on the act, tailored to the needs of organizations on different levels. The ADA National Network consists of 10 individual centers around the county, providing local assistance to any company or business that needs it.