Composite image highlighting homelessness and disability rights. Includes a Supreme Court document titled 'CITY OF GRANTS PASS, OREGON v. JOHNSON et al.,' protest signs reading 'HOUSING NOT HANDCUFFS' in front of the U.S. Supreme Court, and a person sleeping on a bench, framed by a pink shape.
For over three decades, the Americans with Disabilities Act has been the cornerstone of ensuring rights and access for millions of Americans with disabilities. However, a quick glimpse at recent headlines reveals just how much work remains to be done to create true equality and access.
One area where we’ve seen significant progress is in the realm of technology and accessibility. Platforms like Yelp have introduced new features to make the world more accessible. Recently, Yelp announced the launch of AI-powered alt text and new ways to search for accessible businesses. These features, introduced in collaboration with American Association of People with Disabilities, Disability:IN, and The Arc of the United States allow users to search for businesses with braille menus, ADA-compliant buildings, and closed captioning on bar TVs. As Yelp’s Senior Vice President of Product, Akhil Kuduvalli Ramesh, stated, “With these new accessibility attributes, we’re excited to help businesses more clearly indicate their inclusive practices to make it even easier for people to find the right business for them.”
Despite these advancements, recent legal developments underscore the ongoing challenges we face. The Supreme Court's decision in City of Grants Pass v. Johnson, which permits criminal penalties for people experiencing homelessness, disproportionately impacts those with disabilities. As disability rights lawyer Evan Monod writes for Slate Magazine, “At the trial court level, multiple people submitted declarations that they were not able to stay at the only shelter in Grants Pass because of their disqualifying disabilities." Justice Sotomayor’s dissent emphasized the critical issue: “Grants Pass’s Ordinances criminalize being homeless. The status of being homeless (lacking available shelter) is defined by the very behavior singled out for punishment (sleeping outside)”
This decision echoes a dark chapter in U.S. history, where laws effectively criminalized disability. Monod highlights how “ugly laws” once prohibited disabled people from existing in public spaces, a practice that was deemed unconstitutional but seems to be resurfacing in different forms today.
Disability Pride Month is not just a time to celebrate but also to recognize the work that remains. While we embrace technological advancements that make our world more accessible, we must also confront the systemic barriers that continue to exist.
These incidents are not isolated. They highlight the gap between the promise of the ADA and its real-world enforcement. As we celebrate Disability Pride Month, let's remember that advocacy is an ongoing journey. We need to hold institutions accountable and push for policies that ensure equal access and inclusion for all.’
The Supreme Court Just Opened the Door to the Criminalization of Disability