by Dustin Schutte
Pharos-Tribune
LOGANSPORT —
A crowd gathered at Little Turtle Waterway on Monday to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disability Act.
The event, hosted by Peak Community Services, was designed to celebrate the progress that has been made since President George Herbert Walker Bush signed the act into law in 1990.
“This act opened access to business, housing and jobs for people with disabilities,” said Don Weikle, executive director of Peak. “This is a national event. Everyone around the country will be celebrating it.”
In addition to the nationwide celebration, Weikle also wanted to show appreciation to the city of Logansport for its compliance with the act.
“If you look at the built environment, Logansport is really doing well,”
he said. “It has been very positively received, and it’s a lot more accessible than it would have been 20 years ago.”
Though Weikle commended the city for the progress it has made accommodating people with disabilities, Lita Rouser, director of development and communication at Peak, said there were still areas for improvement.
“We have every reason to celebrate today,” she said, “but we need to keep in mind that the work is not over.”
Rouser said 80 percent of the improvements needed to comply with the act cost less than $100.
“Some of it can be as simple as changing the font on a sign or lowering a countertop,” she said.
Mayor Mike Fincher said he supported efforts to bring local buildings into compliance.
“The city is always trying to be compliant with the act,” he said. “It can be tough with the older buildings and the expenses, but we are trying.”
Commissioner Dave Arnold also spoke at the event, and many of those who turned out signed a proclamation promising to do their part to create a more accessible environment.
Rouser said she was glad for the chance to raise awareness of the law and how it came into being.
“I think this is great,” she said. “It’s really rewarding for us to introduce people to the story.”
• Dustin Schutte is a reporter for the Pharos-Tribune. He can be reached at dustin.schutte@pharostribune.com or (574)-732-5148.
