Honoring the Anniversary of the American Disability Act

Today marks the 32nd anniversary of the American Disability Act (ADA), which prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in employment, transportation, public accommodations, commercial facilities, telecommunications, and state and local government services.

This landmark legislation was truly transformational for our nation and the millions of people that it directly impacts. The ADA provides more than 61 million people with disabilities far better accessibility in public life - whether working at the office, studying at school, or simply going to the grocery store.

The ADA also sent an important message: that all people should have the opportunity to live as independently as possible and that we, as a society, should prioritize inclusivity and compassion for others.

While incredible progress has been made, many health inequities persist for people with disabilities in our communities. According to the CDC, 11.5 percent of adults with a disability have heart disease, compared to 3.8 percent of the rest of the population. Additionally, 16.3 percent of adults with a disability have diabetes, nearly twice the rate of the rest of the population.

At Kaiser Permanente, we are working to address these and many other disparities and continue to deliver care that maximizes autonomy and independence for all our members. That’s why we will continue to embed practices?to identify and eliminate inequities across our operations — from how we design buildings to how we conduct research and deliver care.?

As an employer, Kaiser Permanente has a responsibility to be inclusive and accessible to all — including those with disabilities. We take this responsibility seriously and approach the needs of this important population in a variety of ways- from employing internal accessibility specialists to ensuring our workplace practices accommodate the needs of our entire team. Last year, DiversityInc named Kaiser Permanente one of the country’s Top 19 Companies for People with Disabilities. Nothing makes me prouder than to know that we are leading the way in equity and inclusion.

On this anniversary, please take a moment to consider how your workplace, your family, and even your community impact people with disabilities. We can all create positive change. Your actions can motivate us to do, and be, better.