July 26, 2025
Introduction:
This month (today especially), as we commemorate the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), we wanted to reflect not just on the policy, but on its lived impact. At Envisioning Access, we believe it’s vital to center the voices of those directly affected by disability policy, especially when envisioning the future. To help guide that reflection, I sat down with Serjio Brereda, our Fund Development Manager, for a conversation on how the ADA has shaped his life, identity, and vision for what comes next.
A Conversation on the ADA
Amir: How has the ADA shaped your sense of independence, dignity, or identity over the years?
Serjio: The ADA gave language to things I’d always felt but couldn’t name. I was born with a disability, so navigating inaccessible spaces has always been part of my life. But when I learned about the ADA—not just as a law but as a framework—it changed things. It helped me see that my struggles weren’t personal failures. They were systemic. That gave me legitimacy. I didn’t have to “overcome” my disability to be worthy of dignity. I could demand access because I belong.
Amir: Do you feel like people treat you differently now than they did earlier in your life?
Serjio: Yes, and I think that’s because of the ADA. When I was younger, access felt like a favor—someone letting me in through a side door or improvising a workaround. Now there’s more recognition, at least in theory, that access is a right. That shift is thanks to the ADA and the movement behind it.
Amir: Can you recall a moment when you really felt the power of the ADA at work?
Serjio: Definitely. I had a job interview in a building that was only accessible by stairs. When I called ahead, they brushed me off. But when I cited the ADA, the interview was suddenly moved to an accessible location. That moment wasn’t just about the logistics—it was about being seen. I wasn’t asking for a favor. I was asserting a right.
Amir: Has the ADA made life easier in terms of healthcare, housing, or public services?
Serjio: It’s helped with physical access, but the bureaucracy is still tough. In healthcare, accessible exam tables or interpreters aren’t always available. “Accessible housing” can mean something as minimal as wider doorways. There’s a gap between what the law promises and what’s actually delivered—especially if you can’t constantly advocate for yourself.
Amir: How does enforcement feel in practice? Are institutions held accountable?
Serjio: Honestly, it still feels like the burden is on us. ADA enforcement is complaint-driven. That means unless you’re ready to file, follow up, and maybe even sue, violations go unchecked. It’s exhausting. You know you have rights, but you also have to be your own lawyer just to access basic things.
Amir: Does the ADA do enough to protect against the more subtle forms of discrimination—like being passed over for a job or left out of the design process?
Serjio: Not really. The ADA doesn’t address implicit bias or cultural exclusion very well. An employer might install a ramp, but still assume I can’t lead a project. I often feel invisible in conversations about product design, leadership, or planning. That’s where the law falls short.
Looking Forward: Disability, Intersectionality, and Innovation
Amir: Do you think the ADA reflects the needs of people who are disabled and also part of other marginalized communities?
Serjio: Not enough. The ADA wasn’t built with intersectionality in mind. If you’re a Black disabled person or an immigrant, the layers of discrimination stack up. Protections might exist on paper, but they don’t always translate to real justice. We need to address all the systems of oppression together.
Amir: What about economic opportunity? Has the ADA moved the needle?
Serjio: Economic inequality is still a huge issue. Programs like SSI penalize people for working or saving. The ADA opens doors, but it doesn’t make sure we can succeed once we’re inside. Until we fix benefit cliffs and hiring discrimination, poverty will persist.
Amir: How well do ADA protections keep up with technology—apps, AI, even robotics?
Serjio: They don’t. Digital accessibility is a mess. Many websites and apps still don’t work with screen readers. The law doesn’t clearly require it—it’s often up to the courts. AI can be transformative or exclusionary, depending on who’s designing it. The ADA hasn’t caught up.
Amir: Do you think the ADA supports innovation, or does it lag behind?
Serjio: It lags. During the pandemic, remote work was finally recognized as valid. But many disabled people had to fight to keep that option. As we build smart cities and new tech, disabled voices need to be there from the start. Otherwise, we just recreate old barriers in new forms.
Reimagining the ADA: What Comes Next?
Amir: If we were to redesign the ADA for the next 35 years, what would you want to see?
Serjio: A few big things:
Amir: What changes would help the ADA truly fulfill its promise?
Serjio: Legally, we need stronger enforcement and coverage of digital spaces. Culturally, we need to see disability as part of human diversity—not a tragedy. Technologically, we should prioritize universal design and accessibility testing. Inclusion has to be baked in, not bolted on.
Amir: And what’s one thing you wish everyone understood about disability?
Serjio: That disability isn’t the problem. Inaccessibility is. Most of the barriers I face come from choices society has made, not from my body. If we built a world that expected all kinds of bodies and minds, disability wouldn’t be something to “fix.” It would just be another way to be human.
The Road Ahead: Tech, Hope, and Envisioning Access
Amir: What gives you hope right now? Are there places where you see real progress happening?
Serjio: What gives me hope is the increasing recognition — across tech, policy, and culture — that accessibility is not optional; it’s essential. Since the ADA, we’ve made major strides in physical accessibility, but what’s most exciting today is the momentum around digital accessibility and inclusive design. Major tech companies are beginning to prioritize accessibility at the product level, and more developers are being trained to build with all users in mind from the start.
I see real progress in the way people with disabilities are being included in the design and decision-making process — not just as users, but as innovators, leaders, and creators. That shift from “designing for” to “designing with” is powerful. It’s happening in areas like assistive AI, adaptive gaming, inclusive education platforms, and smart home technology, all of which have huge potential to close longstanding access gaps.
Amir: Where do you see the biggest opportunities for technology to improve daily life for people with disabilities — and how is Envisioning Access helping lead that change?
Serjio: The biggest opportunities lie at the intersection of emerging tech and everyday functionality: voice control, AI-driven personalization, wearable tech, and real-time communication tools are transforming how people with disabilities navigate the world. For instance, AI-powered captioning is making education and employment more accessible, and haptics and eye-tracking tech are creating new pathways to independence for people with mobility impairments.
Envisioning Access is helping lead that change by being both a connector and a catalyst. We’re not just advocating for accessible tech — we’re co-creating it with people who use it. Through strategic partnerships with developers, educators, and individuals with disabilities, we advance the development of innovative technologies, provide funding for the testing of adaptive devices, and facilitate workshops that foster collaboration between tech creators and the disability community to address persistent accessibility challenges.
Amir: When you think about the next generation of people with disabilities, what kind of impact do you hope Envisioning Access will have on their lives?
Serjio: I hope the next generation grows up with access baked into everything — not as an afterthought, but as a given. I want them to see themselves reflected in tech design, education, entertainment, and leadership. And Envisioning Access will play a key role in creating that future — as an organization that makes accessibility mainstream, mentors young disabled leaders, and ensures technology is developed with and for the communities it serves.
Our goal is to help build a world where accessibility is a norm, not a negotiation. If we do our job right, Envisioning Access will be part of a movement that empowers people with disabilities not just to participate — but to shape the future.
Closing
As we look toward the next 35 years of the ADA, Serjio’s insights serve as a powerful reminder that progress is not just possible — it’s already happening. At Envisioning Access, we are proud to be at the forefront of that movement: advancing innovation, driving cultural change, and ensuring people with disabilities have the tools, opportunities, and voice to lead. The ADA laid the foundation — now it’s up to all of us to build the future.
