This is the anniversary of a civil rights milestone that some people put on a par with Brown vs. Board of Education.

KYW’s John Ostapkovich reports that a countdown today on Independence Mall marked 20 years since the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which brought major improvements in accessibility for the handicapped and disabled in jobs, housing, transportation, and other private and public venues.

Steve Gold, a lawyer for the disabled says the glass is still half-full — or half-empty — but it’s now a much bigger glass.

Estelle Richman is Philadelphia’s former health commissioner, former Pennsylvania welfare secretary, and now  the chief operating officer of HUD:

“If there’s anything we stand for it’s being able to listen, not tell you what you want, not tell you how you feel, not tell you where you want to live, but listen to what you want, listen to where you want to be, listen to where you want your life to be, and listen to how you want it to happen.”

Richman urges the disabled and their advocates to continue to make their voices heard.

(Photo by KYW’s John Ostapkovich)