Educational Media Reviews Online

On paper, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a groundbreaking piece of legislation establishing rights for people with disabilities in the United States. However, in reality this law has been a contentious issue between people with disabilities and business owners. Ramped Up is a short film from the perspective of two people, Robert Kalani who filed over 60 lawsuits against businesses because he had difficulty entering the physical locations and Lee Ky who operates a business that was sued. Both interviewees are wheel chair users, so this documentary speaks about how often accessibility becomes a barrier and the subjective challenges that occur for people with physical disabilities. A successful solution for one person may not be a solution for another.

Ramped Up does not cover the history of people with disabilities, but rather, Robert and Lee’s perspectives illustrate a personal stake as well as the benefits and challenges that various parties have in gaining accessibility. Some general background knowledge would be helpful before using this DVD in a classroom, such as prior laws and building codes that are grandfathered into not having to make existing locations accessible for people with disabilities. Alternatively, several phrases are repurposed throughout the program to be inclusive or politically correct. However, the lesson learned is that often there is miscommunication between interested parties, and more education or dialogues is necessary.

Ramped Up is suitable for adding to a library collection where there is already other material to supplement awareness about the ADA. It is suitable for a public library or for collections where there is an emphasis on legal studies, architecture and building.