The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is legitimately the best in the world and other countries wish they treated disabled people as well as America
From my personal experience, Finland supports people with disabilities much better, in part because the entire system is better. There’s public transportation everywhere here for one thing.
I can also go back to university here because it’s free.
That’s not possible for someone with disabilities in the USA.
Why not? Universities are also required to be ada compliant. It’s not retroactive, so older infrastructure is always an issue, but modern facilities should be fully accessible.
If you mean disabled should go for free, why? Some disabled are advantaged and some not. My state is one of those offering free public university based on economic need, a much better choice.
You don’t need to be Elon-wealthy to get those percentages. Over 500 000€/year salary gives you nice 50% tax bracket. You absolutely are not poor if your taxes are that high, but you don’t need to be CEO of Google either.
the joke was that in the USA you can be multi millionaire+ wealthy and pay 0% tax
That is the actual joke here, agreed. If, and that’s a pretty damn big if, there was any sense on USA government they could just take our progressive steps and leave everything above 35% away from it and still have a crapload of budget to actually make their country great again.
But spending 100 million bucks per hour to demolish schools half way across the world is cool too I guess.
other countries wish they treated disabled people as well as America
Sorry to be a downer - the ADA itself is very good, but it’s not the only factor in determining quality of life for a disabled person. I’m disabled and my country’s equivalent of the ADA is about 90% as strong, but access to disability benefits (i.e., money) is much much stronger in my country than it is in the US. I used to be pretty active in disability forums, the whole benefits system in the US sounds fucking nightmarish for disabled people.
I know “America Bad” is popular on the Internet but it’s not always true. The ADA was among the first laws worldwide to treat disability rights as full civil rights across nearly all areas of public life, including employment, private businesses, public spaces, and transportation, and it went on to inspire other countries to pass similar sweeping laws. Also worth noting it was signed into law by a Republican weirdly enough. Not sure that would happen today.
If you want to say that the broader social safety net including healthcare in America sucks though, and by extension harms disabled people, I can’t really argue with that. But the ADA is excellent and groundbreaking.
You really don’t realize how much had been done to support people who have difficulties walking, hearing, etc. until you travel in Europe or Asia with someone who needs assistance. Walkable cities are great if you can walk, but you don’t notice the lack of wheelchair ramps unless you need them yourself or are traveling with someone who needs them.
As an American, the ADA is definitely something to be proud of.
True, but ignoring those old buildings, how many countries in Europe and Asia have laws like the ADA for new buildings? And sidewalks and parking lots?
Almost all of them? Why are you americans like this? Do you think that places outside of the usa don’t have accessible new buildings? Do you think Canada does not have similar rules or that places that have a robust welfare system like Denmark just flip the bird to disabled people?
This article makes it sound like Denmark does, on occasion, flip the bird to disabled people. Can you share any counter-evidence that shows Denmark has a law that’s equivalent to the ADA?
The core issue is political and structural. Responsibility for disability policy is spread across multiple ministries with no coordination, long-term vision, or accountability mechanisms. People with disabilities and their families navigate a patchwork system that often fails to meet even basic needs.
This affects every aspect of daily life. Healthcare access remains unequal. Public transport and housing are not fully accessible. Participation in cultural and democratic life, including voting, is limited for too many. Even Denmark’s emergency preparedness plans overlook people with disabilities, leaving those who rely on electricity, medicine, or personal assistance uncertain about how they would manage during a crisis.
Acknowledging an issue is not admitting a fault, its kinda what good nations do. And one article from an advocacy group does not make a broken system. Here I can do the same for the usa:
Not to say Denmark or anywhere is perfect far from it, but pulling an article out and claiming smug victory when not in a competition is very american.
How most would do it is just list the building directive:
You seem to be shifting the goal posts. None of the articles you linked to are about deficiencies in the ADA - in fact, your first link says this about it:
This act was so influential in improving challenges experienced by PWDs that its anniversary is celebrated annually through Disability Pride parades; these parades are typically held in large cities such as New York City and Chicago.
I never claimed America does more for disabled people than other countries. There are a lot of ways that we fall short. But when it comes to the ADA, it exceeds everything I’ve seen in foreign countries, and I’m proud of it.
I also understand that Denmark has laws that require a certain level of accessibility in public buildings. I never denied that, but I still maintain that their requirements are not equivalent to the ADA. So for, they seem to be inferior.
Still interesting to see how it is implemented in neighborhoods and buildings that are over 150 years old. I think the Smithsonian museums in our capital are actually the most interesting examples, because many are old buildings whose historical character were preserved, but where wheelchair ramps, railings, and elevators were tastefully and functionally installed many decades or more than a century after the building was originally constructed.
And perhaps the best thing about the ADA is the sidewalk requirements. It doesn’t much matter why a sidewalk developed a raised crack when the ADA requires that it be fixed.
I’m not even disabled, but I’ve pushed baby strollers in different cities (including outside the US) enough to realize how nice it is to be in a city where all the sidewalks and public buildings are ADA compliant.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is legitimately the best in the world and other countries wish they treated disabled people as well as America
From my personal experience, Finland supports people with disabilities much better, in part because the entire system is better. There’s public transportation everywhere here for one thing.
I can also go back to university here because it’s free.
That’s not possible for someone with disabilities in the USA.
Why not? Universities are also required to be ada compliant. It’s not retroactive, so older infrastructure is always an issue, but modern facilities should be fully accessible.
If you mean disabled should go for free, why? Some disabled are advantaged and some not. My state is one of those offering free public university based on economic need, a much better choice.
But yes, it’s by state, and most do not
Finns pay up to 57% income taxes and a 25% VAT. They also don’t waste that money on a bloated military.
“up to 57%” is like saying American billionaires “can pay over 20%”.
Unless you’re extremely wealthy here you won’t get anywhere near that 57%.
You don’t need to be Elon-wealthy to get those percentages. Over 500 000€/year salary gives you nice 50% tax bracket. You absolutely are not poor if your taxes are that high, but you don’t need to be CEO of Google either.
Oh, my bad, only a half million a year gets you into that tax bracket. My bad, you’re right, that is such a low amount.
It’s terrible that after that amount you get taxed on what you made over, rather than the whole thing.
(Btw since I’m guessing your Finnish, too by the username, the joke was that in the USA you can be multi millionaire+ wealthy and pay 0% tax)
That is the actual joke here, agreed. If, and that’s a pretty damn big if, there was any sense on USA government they could just take our progressive steps and leave everything above 35% away from it and still have a crapload of budget to actually make their country great again.
But spending 100 million bucks per hour to demolish schools half way across the world is cool too I guess.
Sorry to be a downer - the ADA itself is very good, but it’s not the only factor in determining quality of life for a disabled person. I’m disabled and my country’s equivalent of the ADA is about 90% as strong, but access to disability benefits (i.e., money) is much much stronger in my country than it is in the US. I used to be pretty active in disability forums, the whole benefits system in the US sounds fucking nightmarish for disabled people.
This is a joke, right? Like… Where’s the /s?
I know “America Bad” is popular on the Internet but it’s not always true. The ADA was among the first laws worldwide to treat disability rights as full civil rights across nearly all areas of public life, including employment, private businesses, public spaces, and transportation, and it went on to inspire other countries to pass similar sweeping laws. Also worth noting it was signed into law by a Republican weirdly enough. Not sure that would happen today.
If you want to say that the broader social safety net including healthcare in America sucks though, and by extension harms disabled people, I can’t really argue with that. But the ADA is excellent and groundbreaking.
You really don’t realize how much had been done to support people who have difficulties walking, hearing, etc. until you travel in Europe or Asia with someone who needs assistance. Walkable cities are great if you can walk, but you don’t notice the lack of wheelchair ramps unless you need them yourself or are traveling with someone who needs them.
As an American, the ADA is definitely something to be proud of.
Those things are easier to implement when all your buildings aren’t over 150 years old though.
True, but ignoring those old buildings, how many countries in Europe and Asia have laws like the ADA for new buildings? And sidewalks and parking lots?
Almost all of them? Why are you americans like this? Do you think that places outside of the usa don’t have accessible new buildings? Do you think Canada does not have similar rules or that places that have a robust welfare system like Denmark just flip the bird to disabled people?
This article makes it sound like Denmark does, on occasion, flip the bird to disabled people. Can you share any counter-evidence that shows Denmark has a law that’s equivalent to the ADA?
https://www.edf-feph.org/blog/denmark-must-do-better-for-people-with-disabilities/
Your attitude is off putting, by the way. I’m glad most people I’ve met in Europe are more pleasant than you’re being.
Acknowledging an issue is not admitting a fault, its kinda what good nations do. And one article from an advocacy group does not make a broken system. Here I can do the same for the usa:
https://ballardbrief.byu.edu/issue-briefs/challenges-for-people-with-disabilities
https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/fund-reports/2019/apr/challenges-living-disability-america-and-how-serious-illness-can
https://www.section508.gov/blog/Barriers-to-Accessibility-Stories-from-Our-Community/
Not to say Denmark or anywhere is perfect far from it, but pulling an article out and claiming smug victory when not in a competition is very american.
How most would do it is just list the building directive:
https://www.byggerietsregler.dk/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/BR18_Executive_order_on_building_regulations_2018.pdf
Your attitude is american by the way, I am glad I don’t have to meet more of you in person.
You seem to be shifting the goal posts. None of the articles you linked to are about deficiencies in the ADA - in fact, your first link says this about it:
I never claimed America does more for disabled people than other countries. There are a lot of ways that we fall short. But when it comes to the ADA, it exceeds everything I’ve seen in foreign countries, and I’m proud of it.
I also understand that Denmark has laws that require a certain level of accessibility in public buildings. I never denied that, but I still maintain that their requirements are not equivalent to the ADA. So for, they seem to be inferior.
Still interesting to see how it is implemented in neighborhoods and buildings that are over 150 years old. I think the Smithsonian museums in our capital are actually the most interesting examples, because many are old buildings whose historical character were preserved, but where wheelchair ramps, railings, and elevators were tastefully and functionally installed many decades or more than a century after the building was originally constructed.
And perhaps the best thing about the ADA is the sidewalk requirements. It doesn’t much matter why a sidewalk developed a raised crack when the ADA requires that it be fixed.
I’m not even disabled, but I’ve pushed baby strollers in different cities (including outside the US) enough to realize how nice it is to be in a city where all the sidewalks and public buildings are ADA compliant.