What does it mean to live in an accessible city? What would that look like, and does Charlotte fit the bill?
The Americans with Disabilities Act is a civil rights law that ensures people with disabilities have equal opportunities (accessibility) as everyone else. However, a lack of public transportation, sidewalks and digital inequities can cause a person with a disability not to meet their needs or access to employment.
According to a 2021 study from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 19.1% of people with disabilities had employment. In comparison, 63.7% of people without a disability were employed. Additionally, the unemployment rate for people with a disability was twice as high as for those without a disability.
Is Charlotte an accessible city? We talk with local advocates and city officials about what makes an accessible city, learn what is being done to ensure this civil right is properly implemented in Charlotte and explore what needs to be done to create a more accessible environment for the future.
GUESTS:
Judith Brown, founder of Project 70Forward
Patricia K. Keul, operations director for disabilities: IN North Carolina
Terry Bradley, Americans with Disabilities Act coordinator for the City of Charlotte
