ADA legacy of George H. W. Bush remembered, as accessibility app rolls out Metro Hall feature

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - The legacy of President George H. W. Bush is something those impacted by the Americans with Disabilities Act remembered fondly Monday.

President George H. W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act into law in 1990. Those at the American Printing House for the Blind said the law has changed their lives.

The printing house provides educational and other materials to people who are blind or visually impaired.

Those who work there said Bush's actions go hand-in-hand with their own mission.

The flag atop the building is at half-staff.

Inside, Gary Mudd is among those thinking about the reasons why that's important to him.

"It helps us to be employed, educated, to get all the opportunities and rights that other people in society get," Mudd said.

"It really reminds us that as recently as 1991, there was not access," Leah Campbell, the Executive Director of PILLAR, said.

Advocates said the civil rights law prohibits discrimination based on disability and imposes some accessibility requirements to public and private places.

Mudd said that action displays a time when the government took the moral lead in the face of a serious ethical gap.

"That is to be a kinder, gentler society, at least when he was president," Mudd said.

Mudd admits more work is still needed to foster that kinder society, but was in the crowd Monday when Louisville Metro government leaders said they were working towards just that.

"So, this is a compassionate value, but also a value around innovation," Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said, addressing the group.

Fischer teamed up with those from the Printing House to announce an app, aimed at including people who are blind or visually impaired, now maps out Metro Hall.

Nearby Explorer allows people to navigate, and interact with surroundings via audio cues.

“Top of stairs, seven yards southeast,” the app sounds.

The Nearby Explorer app also maps out the Louisville International Airport and the Kentucky Center among other places.

Bluetooth beacons send location specific information to those using the app.

"This beautiful building, it belongs to everybody," Fischer said. "It's the living room for the community. Everyone should be able to experience it."

A sentiment of those in government, similar to that of George H. W. Bush, with the hopes of being accessible and open to all.

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