BULLY PULPIT

As I write this, it is July 26, the 16th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. That's right, the so-called "Disabled Bill of Rights" just turned sweet 16, and wouldn't you know it, the landmark law is behaving just like a teenager. First off, Ada lies about her age. She's actually only 14, since she wasn't recognized, legally speaking, until 1992. And even then it took a couple of years before the general public noticed she had arrived. For practical purposes, you could say she is more like 12, not even a teenybopper. But hormones being what they are these days, and judging from all the irritability that follows her, it looks like she's beginning to have a problem with PMS.

As that sexist remark amply indicates, she gets no respect. Originally she was promised equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency. Are you kidding? Show me a teenager with privileges like that and I'll show you a princess from a 17th century monarchy.

What bothers Ada most, though, being a typical teen, is that empty promise of full participation. How, for instance, is she supposed to develop normal friendships when she can't even visit her friends? If they live in older homes, chances are they are one, two, or even three steps beyond Ada's reach. If they live in a new home, it is probably a two-story house and her friends' bedrooms are on the top floor. If they should happen to live in one of the few homes built with a ground-level entry, the bathroom is probably off-limits to Ada's wheelchair. Anyone who wants to be Ada's friend must accept the fact that visiting face-to-face will only happen on Ada's turf, which means on Ada's time and at Ada's convenience.

Is it any wonder that many of Ada's friends have grown to resent the "special" arrangements that have to be made in order to include Ada in everyday activities?

To make matters worse, Ada is just not a happy camper. According to the rules she must live by, there is no way she can force her friends' parents to build their homes in a way that would allow her to visit whenever she wanted, or even at all. And as for those other promises -- equality of opportunity, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency -- the only way she can guarantee those for herself is to sue someone. Make that a whole court docket of someones.

It's a sad fact, but Ada is not very popular, and that is torture for someone her age. Those who have not started complaining that she constantly gets special treatment have begun to notice that Ada herself is always complaining because of the special treatment she doesn't get. Some have even suggested that Ada would be better off if she had never been born in the first place.

Some birthday. But even though Ada's turning 16 is anything but sweet, those who love her -- her family and friends -- can take heart that time is on her side. She is still very young. And as time passes and Ada matures, she will gradually grow into a woman whose right to participate fully in her culture will finally be recognized.

If not, she just may have to kick some serious ass.

--Tim Gilmer