Sherry Repscher says she will never forget the summer morning 15 years ago today when she stood on the lawn of the White House and watched President George H.W. Bush sign the Americans with Disabilities Act.

"I saw people of every quality of life present that day," Repscher said. "People with all different types of mobility, people that were visually impaired, people that were hearing impaired and prominent political people. It was an honor to have been amongst them and to be there that day."

The act was adopted to help legally ensure equal treatment for disabled Americans in many areas of life.

Repscher spoke this past week as part of a panel — including four members in wheelchairs — during an event sponsored by The Governor's Council for People with Disabilities. Repscher works as an ADA compliance officer for Utah Transit Authority.

Stephen Mikita, an assistant Utah attorney general, said that when the act was signed, there were about 42 million Americans with disabilities and now there are 54 million.

"We are the largest minority group in the country," said Mikita, who is in a wheelchair. "We have to do more in mobilizing our forces."

Mikita said great strides have been made in American society in relation to people with disabilities, but there is still a long way to go.

"I believe that a lot of local and private businesses still turn a deaf ear and a blind eye to people with disabilities and compliance," Mikita said.

Debra Mair, Utah Independent Living Center executive director, agrees.

"How often do you go to a restaurant and they say it's accessible and it has a 4-inch lift to get in the door?" Mair said. "That's not accessible to me."

Barbara Toomer, a member of the Disabled Rights Action Committee, said people need to be willing to stand up for their civil rights.

"Enforcement depends on us," Toomer said. "We need to be diligent and we need to know what our civil rights are."

Toomer said that she goes the second mile in order to educate others about ADA.

"I am willing to get arrested in an effort to make sure that my cause is brought to the attention of a broader group of people," Toomer said.

Toomer said that 85 percent of people will use a wheelchair by the time they are 80 years old.

That, according to Repscher, is a reason why everyone should get involved with ADA compliance.

"Every one of us at some point in our life will experience a disabling condition whether it is a temporary setback like a broken leg, broken arm or a poke in the eye, there is going to be some impairment that we experience before old age catches us," Repscher said. "And if nothing else, as able-bodied people, we should all be promoting access so that we can continue to enjoy the same places and the same things we love to do now."

Mikita said more people need to get involved to lobby governmental officials and recruit more advocates.

"This anniversary has got to be a recommitment and a re-awareness by people, by Americans with disabilities to act on the Americans with Disabilities Act," Mikita said. "The last word of the act is 'act.' "

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