8200 lawsuits*.
Over double what was filed ten years ago.
That is the number of ADA lawsuits filed in 2023 by people with disabilities who were discriminated against.
Over 90 % of these cases are won by the plaintiff.** That’s a pretty expensive way for the defendant to learn a lesson.
The ADA is coming up on its 34th anniversary. However, you would think it was brand new by some of the defendant’s responses.
When I leave my house, I experience many, many barriers as a wheelchair user. When I use my computer, I experience many, many barriers as someone who doesn’t use a mouse and needs magnification. Despite this, I only file a formal complaint maybe 1 out of every 100 times I have experienced an ADA violation. I have never filed litigation. I just don’t have the energy or the time. So the number of instances of disability discrimination in the US is probably in the high hundreds of thousands or even millions.
There is no excuse. No one should be forced to complain for organizations to follow a law that has existed for decades.
No one should have to experience daily discrimination, but people with disabilities sure do.
People with disabilities are not treated equitably. Our human rights are constantly violated. We should not to ask, beg, plead, or be forced to file complaints and litigation to receive the equal rights under the ADA.
Alt text: People with disabilities are tired of having to waste our resources and time suing people for equal rights that the Constitution and federal law are SUPPOSED to automatically provide to us.