Toward Independence: The Landmark 1986 Report That Paved the Way for the Americans with Disabilities Act

The 1986 report Toward Independence represented a major turning point in the evolution of disability policy in the United States. Issued by the National Council on the Handicapped (now the National Council on Disability), the report delivered a thorough evaluation of federal laws, regulations, and programs affecting persons with disabilities and set out a detailed set of legislative and policy recommendations designed to promote greater independence, equal opportunity, and full community integration. Widely regarded as a foundational and influential document, Toward Independence helped shape public debate and policymaking and played a significant role in the chain of developments that led to the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990.