I was an adjunct professor at Loma Linda University in the School of Physical Therapy in 1990. I was teaching Kinesiology when President George Bush signed a bill into law called the American Disability Act (ADA). The ADA was established to provide a clear and comprehensive prohibition of discrimination on the basis of disability.

Disability is defined by the ADA as "a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity." This determination occurs for the individual on a case-by-case basis and it is dependent on their condition. It protected individuals with regards to their employment; public entities such as public transportation and housing; public accommodations related to lodging, recreation, education, dining, etc.; and assistance with telecommunications for those with hearing impairments or speech impairments, so they would have the right to accommodation. As physical therapists, we had seen the need to protect the rights of the disabled, and the need for them to have opportunity.

While I was teaching, I had two students: a young man who was blind, and another who was injured in a diving accident and was a paraplegic. These physical therapists had a lot of daily challenges just to be able to perform their profession, and some thought maybe they couldn't do it. But they did. Both of them went on to become successful therapists and active in our profession. Jim, who was blind, became one of the best therapists with his manual hands-on skills; he is still working to this day, with an assistant. Bob has his own practice and is active in the paraplegic sports world.

Shortly before the ADA bill was signed, many of the activists with physical disabilities came to the Capitol building and literally got rid of their wheelchairs, dumped their crutches, walkers and canes, and crawled up the 100 Capitol steps without warning. They chanted "ADA now" and "Vote ADA." Many present-day disability activists feel this crucial event forced the ADA into law.

Reasonable accommodation is an adjustment made in a system to accommodate or make fair the same system for an individual based on proven need. What exactly does this mean? Well, it means that your disabled neighbor wants to go fishing at the water's edge just like you and needs to have the accommodations to do so. It means that the swimmers at the pool who have disabilities may need a lane of their own to use each week at open swim. It may mean that you have to walk a little bit further to get into the store so someone with a wheelchair or crutches can park at the front door. You see, these people just want to be treated like everybody else, but they may need a few accommodations to do it.

Years ago when my one son was five, a man was in my office that was challenged physically due to the loss of a limb. My son, being the curious type, walked up to this man and proceeded to have a conversation with him about the loss of his limb. I was nervous and not sure how this whole interaction would take place. My patient was a gracious man who explained what had happened. My son, being satisfied with this, then proceeded to play catch with him in the gym at my office that day.

For years afterwards, when my son would see this man in my office or elsewhere, he would run to him and have a conversation with him. Once at the county fair, he sprinted across the fairgrounds because he saw him. They proceeded to discuss the mechanics of his new limb, and thought they would test something out on it while wearing it backwards. Suddenly, the two of them were on the ground in a heap. It was hilarious. My son learned through this man that he may have a different set of circumstances every day but in his heart, he was no different than him at all.

Just because someone might walk different, talk different, or look different doesn't mean that their heart doesn't want the same things as yours. They want the same things: to be loved and cared for, and to have the right to a full life. So put away your judgment and remember that this policy was established on paper to protect what we already know in our hearts is the right thing to do.

Sheree DiBiase, PT, and her staff can be reached at Lake City Physical Therapy in their Coeur d'Alene office at (208) 667-1988 and in the Spokane Valley at (509) 891-2623.