A.S.K. the A.D.A embarked on its first mission, to heighten community awareness of the daily challenges and circumstances surrounding disabled and elderly individuals. Too often, those without disabilities are blind to the specific challenges a disability poses. The average person may not notice unplowed, snowy sidewalks or recognize that inaccessible computers prevent completion of the MCAS. These are only two examples of the obstacles wheelchair bound people face. Quality-of-life is at stake for the disabled community; their needs are not met nor their opportunities equal.
As a frontier of justice for the disabled, A.S.K. the A.D.A. became involved with the Department of Justice’s Speaker Bureau and the New England A.D.A., improving its exposure to the community and promoting equitable access to issues for the disabled and elderly. Many legal publications regarding disability laws were distributed by A.S.K. the A.D.A. in several languages. The State legislature adopted M.G.L. ch. 272, sec. 85B, a law that protects service animals from harm, was one such issue brought to light, at that time, under NO auspices of any organization. A conference on 15 May 2004 was held by A.S.K. the A.D.A.
The A.D.A. brought additional positive changes to the community by:
- Ensuring the local transportation authority's (L.T.A.) new multi-million dollar facility has equitable access for the disabled
- Establishing an Elderly and Transportation Fund for the community with the Greater Lowell Community Foundation
- Successfully initiating the installation of Audible Pedestrian Signal lights at the intersection of Bridge St. and the VFW, and the intersection of Bridge St. and Sixth St., thanks to active involvement with Community Development Action Grants
- Establishing and encouraging the use of screen readers for students and alumni with sight-impairments
- Began fixing the local transportation LRTA site to make it accessible and compliant
Working with partners and disabled in the community has led 'ASK the ADA' to the realization of the unfulfilled needs for equal access to information technology for severely disabled people and it's most underserved sector, wheelchair-bound students with multiple disabilities. Since July 2004, A.S.K. the A.D.A. became legitimately and officially recognized as the ADA Technology Corporation, a charity for improving access to Information technology for disabled students.
