Introduction to the Special Issue: ADA at 25 and People With Cognitive Disabilities: From Action to Inclusion

Abstract

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 has helped to define in the United States and globally the modern view of disability as a central element of the human experience. This second issue, of a two-part Special Issue of the journal Inclusion, examines the ADA at its 25th anniversary. From an array of disciplinary perspectives and lived experiences, the articles reflect on the past 25 years, examine present opportunities and challenges, and consider the future to ensure continued action toward the civil and human rights of individuals with cognitive and other disabilities for inclusion and active citizenship.

Web accessibility and technology protection measures: Harmonizing the rights of persons with cognitive disabilities and copyright protections on the web

“…While research on web accessibility often has focused on the experiences of persons with sensory and physical disabilities, this article examines the particular relationship between persons with cognitive disabilities and the barriers that they experience using the web (Tatomir & Durrance, 2010;Yi, 2015;Green & Huprich, 2009;Lazar et al, 2010;De Andrés, Lorca, & Martínez, 2010). Persons with cognitive disabilities (e.g., developmental and intellectual disabilities, traumatic brain injury, dyslexia and autism) refer to persons who experience barriers using web content that is not designed to take into account limitations in memory, problem-solving, attention, and comprehension (Blanck, 2014a(Blanck, , 2016a. This article recognizes that conceptualizations of persons with cognitive disabilities may vary due to social, cultural or political norms.…”