OKC Standard

Oklahoma City, OK - Congresswoman Stephanie Bice and Congressman Bryan Steil have highlighted recent advancements in ADA accessibility at the U.S. Capitol in an op-ed featured in the Washington Reporter. As Veterans Day approaches, both representatives emphasized the importance of honoring America's servicemembers and ensuring their access to public spaces like Congress.

The op-ed acknowledges that over five million veterans have service-connected disabilities, with approximately 42,000 experiencing spinal cord injuries. Despite the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guaranteeing access to public spaces, challenges remain for disabled veterans visiting Capitol Hill.

Rep. Bice and Rep. Steil serve on the Committee on House Administration, which is responsible for implementing recommendations from the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress. The committee was established in 2019 to improve congressional operations and made several ADA-related recommendations before concluding its work in 2022.

One significant challenge addressed is the lack of ADA-compliant drop-off and pick-up zones for visitors using wheelchairs or assistive devices. Efforts are underway to create a new accessible zone near the Capitol and House office buildings, expected to be operational by November.

Security screening procedures at Congress also pose difficulties for disabled visitors. In response, Bice and Steil collaborated with the Office of Congressional Accessibility Services (OCAS) to clarify these protocols and make them available online.

Additionally, they are working towards making all House websites fully compliant with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act to ensure equal digital access for visually impaired Americans.

The representatives stated that "the U.S. House of Representatives is known as the 'People’s House' because it was created to represent the interests and concerns of all Americans." They affirmed their commitment to ensuring equal access for veterans and constituents with disabilities while acknowledging that more work remains.