My ADA Story: Opening a Whole New World for Me

By Homa Marashi

I began my undergraduate program in Psychology at a small university in the southern United States in 1990. Soon after, the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed but not implemented or reinforced in all academic settings. With my visual impairment, I was not provided with any special accommodations during my undergraduate and graduate program. I did the best that I could to advocate for myself and make sure my needs were met, which sometimes included asking my professors for extra time to complete exams, asking permission to record the lectures, or requesting that the professor read aloud what they had written on the board. Sometimes they complied with my wishes, but most of the time they did not. During my first semester, I joined the university’s Special Needs Awareness Committee for support and encouragement. Despite all the challenges I faced with my visual impairment, I managed to graduate Magna Cum Laude as an undergraduate and Summa Cum Laude for my Masters of Arts in Mental Health Counseling.

In the fall of 2001, I started working with the North Carolina Division of Services for the Blind (DSB) and learned about the equal opportunities that ADA provided for individuals with special needs. I had never been exposed to any assistive devices until then. When I began using the appropriate magnifiers and ZoomText, which is an assistive software for computers, it was like a whole new world had opened for me. I was able to accomplish tasks just as quickly and efficiently as my sighted co-workers. I began working with individuals who were getting equal access at work and in school and witnessed first-hand how it helped them accomplish their life’s goals and dreams.

I noticed the big impact that the ADA can make in providing an even playing field for individuals regardless of the challenges they may be facing. My fierce determination and the fact that I refused to view myself as any different than anyone else got me through college. With all the challenges I faced, I am even more appreciative of the legacy and importance of ADA.

Along with assistance from the ADA and the confidence instilled in me that I am the same as everyone else, I realized that I could accomplish daily tasks just as well as anyone else could, if not better, given the same access. The empowerment that the ADA gives to individuals who may have spent a large portion of their lives without having a voice is very humbling. I feel blessed to have received all the opportunities that have been provided to me through the ADA. Happy 30^th Birthday, ADA! I can’t wait to see what the next 30 years will bring.

Homa Marashi

Independent Living Rehabilitation Counselor

Charlotte District Office

Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the ADA

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