July 26th, 2025 is the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the landmark civil rights legislation for people with disabilities. 

In many ways the world is much more accessible than it was 35 years ago. For example, we now have greater:

• Access to the phone through captioned phones, video calling and texting, plus adaptive devices for people who have physical or speech disabilities.
• Access to interpreters and real-time captions in a wide variety of settings, including schools, work, medical care, concerts and social activities.
• Access to assistive listening devices, including hearing loops, FM systems and personal amplifiers.
• Access to mental health services.
• Access to captioned entertainment and other content.
• Support for community-based partners to provide accessible services.

You can learn more about how the ADA benefits people who are deaf, deafblind and hard of hearing in our guide to The ADA and hearing loss.

The ADA has also made it easier to advocate for yourself and your unique needs. This is important because you are the expert on your experience. If you want to learn more about advocating for your access, explore our Self-advocacy guide on our website.

If you have questions about the Americans with Disabilities Act and communication access, please contact us.