A European perspective

Abstract

Shortly after the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed, John Salman, access consultant and expert on its implications, was asked to give advice at a state level across the US. As a result he visited each and every state within a six-month period, and must be one of the few people ever to do so. What surprised him was the homogeneity of American culture, the uniformity ofits cities, and the dominance of major brands. In a conversation with one of the authors he remarked that it was only in rural areas, and in terms ofclimate and landscape, that any sense of local difference and individuality truly broke through. As an enormous and homogenous marketplace with a single currency and a legislative framework that can level the playing field on issues such as access to services and environments, the American condition is unique.