Steve SAYS The federal government has totally abdicated its responsibility for enforcement. Stephen F. Gold is the foremost attorney in the disability rights movement. He is co-author, with Diane Coleman, of the Not Dead Yet amicus brief quoted in 1997's Supreme Court decision. As attorney for Idell S. and Helen L., he sued and won against the state of Pennsylvania on grounds of the ADA for segregating people in nursing homes rather than providing them with attendant services in their own homes. He was the attorney in the Adapt v. Skinner public transportation case as well.
Gold is in private practice in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
People don't know their rights. I am amazed at the number of people with disabilities who do not know what the ADA says, or what the regulations say. I frequently get phone calls from people with disabilities from all over the country who do not understand what the ADA says, or how to use it. We're talking now about seven years plus since its enactment. The first thing that's got to be done is massive education and advocacy training.