Ode to the ADA

Once upon a time,
There was a very popular restaurant that attracted many.
Families flocked there to sample specials.
Couples reserved tables to enjoy drinks and appetizers for two.
Business people gathered, as well, to celebrate promotions
and for all sorts of ballyhoo.

But for those who used wheelchairs, a cane or a crutch,
Enjoying the atmosphere and savoring the cuisine
Presented an unwelcome test --
In the form of a dreaded mountain of steps.

Oh, in the early days, some were willing to accept a “lift”
No matter the safety risk,
Or the dent to their dignity.
That was a price some would pay,
All for the chance to join in the festivities.

But then came the ADA --
The most powerful legislation in our history –
Specifically crafted to protect the civil rights of people with disabilities.

Although neither a quick nor easy task,
To the dilemma of this inaccessible place
We applied the tenets of the ADA.
Indeed, according to the law,
Under what we’ve come to know as Title III,
Equal access to goods and services cannot be denied.
Everyone has a right to participate –
Yes, that’s right – Even people with disabilities.

And so it is to this very day.
The steps have vanished in favor of a beautiful ramp.
People looking for a bite to eat or thirsty for a drink
Continue to rush in.
And among them are all kinds,
Including those with disabilities.

Thanks to ADA, the landscape has begun to change.
Of course, there are many mountains left to climb,
But armed with the certainty of our equal rights,
We shall prevail –
One barrier at a time.