By Douglas J. Usiak
’Tis the time of year when many of us who are a little older do a lot of reflecting—taking stock of the blessings we have, and sometimes the ones we don’t. When I look back on my life, I am deeply grateful for what the American people put in place after my accident in the Army more than fifty years ago. If not for their work, I would not be here writing this today or sharing the fulfilling life I’ve been able to live—with family, friends, a long career, and now grandchildren.
The American people saw fit to ensure that after I became totally blind, everything possible was done to give me the same opportunities and choices we all expect in this country—the freedom to pursue our dreams and desires. And when those opportunities were blocked by barriers, Americans also made sure I had a way to raise concerns and work toward change, not just for myself, but for others pursuing life, liberty, and happiness.
In the 1970s, people with disabilities fought—and won—the passage of Public Law 93-112, which established baseline rehabilitation services nationwide, created essential national programs, and included Section 504: the first federal civil rights protection prohibiting disability discrimination in federally funded programs. Shortly after, Public Law 94-142 ensured equal educational opportunity and appropriate supports for children with disabilities in public schools. Together, these laws helped people with disabilities shed shame and step into a cloak of opportunity and growth.
Then came the Reagan/Bush era, when efforts were made to strip away these so-called “unnecessary regulations.” Hundreds of thousands of Americans—with and without disabilities—said no. Those laws not only survived; their protections were strengthened. The 1980s became a watershed decade, bringing greater inclusion and acceptance through laws like the Air Carrier Access Act, the Fair Housing Act, and—most significantly—the Americans with Disabilities Act.
These laws made it possible for people with disabilities to live, work, and participate fully in their communities. Because of them, many of us built careers, raised families, contributed to our communities, and lived full lives. But today, I look around and wonder what’s happening.
The very laws Americans put in place to ensure equal opportunity for millions of families are under attack—almost daily. Worse still, the public is being outmuscled, with fewer chances to say “no.”
The Office for Civil Rights within the Department of Education is drastically scaling back its ability to address disability discrimination. It will no longer be able to identify patterns of discrimination, instead responding only to individual complaints, while limiting communication with its central office in Washington, D.C. This weakens enforcement and leaves systemic discrimination unchecked.
More recently, the Administration fired over 100 employees from the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services—positions later reinstated after a government shutdown, but with renewed threats of termination looming. The loss of these services would directly harm tens of thousands of children who depend on educational supports, and millions of adults who acquire disabilities and rely on rehabilitation services to return to work and community life.
We are already seeing the real-world consequences of undermining public health protections. This year alone, the United States has experienced its worst measles outbreak since the disease was declared eliminated in 2000, with more than 1,800 reported cases, alongside roughly 25,000 cases of whooping cough nationwide. At least 13 people—most of them infants too young to be fully vaccinated—have died. These are not mysterious illnesses or unavoidable tragedies; they are the predictable result of declining vaccination rates. Measles and pertussis vaccines are highly effective, and when community coverage remains above the herd-immunity threshold, outbreaks burn out quickly. When it doesn’t, the most vulnerable pay the price. Public health, like civil rights, only works when it works for everyone.
Then there is the most recent effort to avoid providing American Sign Language interpreters during presidential press conferences and national addresses—despite the clear requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The justification offered? That interpreters would “intrude on the president’s control over his public image.”
That explanation leaves me shaking my head.
What kind of image is projected when a president’s mouth moves, but a significant portion of the public is excluded from understanding what is being said? It gives new meaning to the old adage:
If a tree falls in the woods—and only some are allowed access to its fall—what’s really being communicated?
From this proud American, the answer is: nothing good.
This article first appeared in the Lockport Union-Sun & Journal on December 19, 2025, and the Niagara Gazette on December 20, 2025. Douglas J. Usiak is the former Chief Executive Officer of Independent Living of Niagara County, which empowers individuals with disabilities to take part in society on an equal basis. For more information, please contact: (716) 284-4131.