The President today celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. He fulfilled a campaign pledge to expand the number of people with disabilities working for the Federal government.
Of particular interest to me were the new regs that were released today and specifically that the Segway is now covered by the ADA when used by someone with a mobility disability. I am a founder of Segs4Vets an organization that has donated almost 500 Segways to veterans injured in Iraq and Afghanistan, many of whom have lost a leg in service to our country.
Our organization has also represented all persons with disabilities that use the Segway as their mobility device. Many individuals with MS, spinal cord injuries, Parkinson's disease, COPD and several other ailments have all benefited from using the Segway as their mobility device.
The ADA is about freedom. It is government regulation that benefits those with a disability and those that are just an accident away from having a disability.
When a young mother says that she can "walk" her kids to school for the first time, when a veteran joins his wife and family while shopping at Walmart or Costco rather than waiting for them in the car, when an above the knee amputee can get to class at Penn State in January without sweating and can concentrate on class, we know we are changing lives.