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Barriers

This morning a small box turtle was on the side of the road in Sterling. He (or she) was facing the curb, and as most turtles are not climbers, a clear path to a safe place off the road was not evident at that moment.

A five or six inch curb might not seem like an insurmountable obstacle. But for people who navigate the world in wheelchairs, without curb cuts and ramps, getting on and off the sidewalk would be challenging, if not impossible, especially independently. Until the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed in 1990, they often faced the same dilemma as the turtle—a world that didn’t consider them in its design.

Now, at many corners, a ramp and a safe way to get from one place to another. We take it for granted, but it was not always so, and we still must advocate for the people we serve. Please join ECHO in recognizing 30 years of the Americans with Disabilities Act.