30 Keynotes December 2024 aloa.org INSTITUTIONAL Institutional Locksmith Career Essentials: Understanding the Americans with Disabilities Act National Council on Disability. As an appointed advocate, Dart traveled the country. His mission was to meet with other disability advocates. Political and ADA Advocates Partner to Promote Bill The National Council on Disability gained political power and got the backing of Senator Lowell P. Weicker, a Republican from Connecticut. Along with Congressman Tony Coelho, a Dem- ocrat from California, he introduced the ADA bill of 1988, but it unfortunately did not pass that year. In 1989, the bill received support from Senator Tom Har- kin, D-Iowa. Final Passage of ADA into Law On March 12, 1990, 60 ADA advocates left their wheelchairs at the foot of the capital steps and crawled 83 steps as a demonstration to urge lawmakers to pass the ADA. The ADA was signed on July 26, 1990. History has not been kind to people with disabilities in the U.S. Disabled people had been marginalized and dis- criminated against, prohibited from attending schools and often denied employment. They were often forced to live in institutions, segregated from society. Many were separated from their families as children. The institutions that most children were sent to were inhumane, warehouse-like situations. An example of the cruelty was evident in Georgia State Hospital grounds. The discovery of approximately 30,000 unmarked graves is appalling. This had gone on for decades. A Movement Started A grassroots moment was born out of the disgust and poor treatment of disabled people. This took place during the civil rights movement. These were all basic rights that were being denied to people simply because of their disabilities. ADA Then and Now — Revisions On September 25, 2008, an amendment was accepted by the 110th Congress to give more clarity to the ADA enacted in 1990. In 2010, there were more revi- sions, with technical corrections and guidance on regulatory provisions. Title III considers communications. This could range from providing visual translation at public events to providing large print for publicly circulated doc- uments from municipalities and states. Does this directly affect us as security professionals? How We Should Relate to ADA Regulations At our institution, we have encountered challenges with ADA compliance, par- ticularly in the older parts of our cam- pus. Much of the hardware there is not compliant with ADA-required lever handsets. As spaces are renovated, new ADA-compliant hardware is installed. In addition, if there is a need in an older building for compliant hardware, we will always accommodate. This process of identifying non-compliant areas, planning for renovations, and ensur- ing accommodation in older buildings is a practical example of how to relate to ADA regulations in our work as institutional locksmiths. That’s not to say that there isn’t wheel- chair accessibility in every building, regardless of building age. This means that every public building on campus has ramps, and automatic operators on two of its entrances and accessible restrooms. There is a sizable portion of our facili- ties budget that goes toward maintaining and renovating space to make it more accessible. We have redesigned space in buildings for both staff and students, making their work and learning space more accessible. This includes parking spaces outside of handicap entrances, providing greater accessibility to the building itself. Personal Satisfaction There’s a deep sense of satisfaction in knowing that our work is contributing to the greater good. Our efforts to provide greater accessibility to staff, students, and the public significantly enhance their quality of life, and this is some- thing we can all be proud of. Our sole motivation should be people-driven rather than compli- ance-driven. This kind of mindset gives us satisfaction knowing that we are add- ing to society, not just taking from it, — and it fosters a sense of connection and empathy with those we serve. Dealing With Repairs Related to ADA Power- Operated Doors This year, I created an in-house response to repair and replace automatic door operators rather than contract the work out. We have spent millions of dollars over the years maintaining our automatic doors. There was a significant learning curve, with many hours of research. I want to share with you some of what was learned. At our institution, we have encountered challenges with ADA compliance, particularly in the older parts of our campus.
