Disabled viewers criticize 60 Minutes story
Supporters of disability rights took to Twitter this week to criticize Anderson Cooper’s 60 Minutes report about lawyers who may be exploiting the Americans with Disabilities Act by targeting businesses with frivolous “drive-by-lawsuits.”
Individuals with disabilities complained that the plight of the business owner was the focus of the story:
Dear @60Minutes,#Inaccessibility remains a major issue, far greater an issue than lawyers “taking advantage.” #Ideas4Anderson
— Mike Mort (@MikeeMort) December 6, 2016
Oh this @60Minutes @andersoncooper #ADA story makes me cringe. I should have to BEG every single business to comply? Thanks, Anderson. #fb
— Sue Kerr (@PghLesbian24) December 5, 2016
Oscar-winning actress Marlee Matlin, who is deaf, called Cooper’s piece “informative and enlightening” in one tweet, but she also questioned the broadcast’s balance of coverage on the matter:
#60minutes @60Minutes where are the stories of how people with disabilities continue to be discriminated against and the #ADA is ignored?
— Marlee Matlin (@MarleeMatlin) December 5, 2016
Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake spoke up to tout his bill, the ADA Education and Reform Act, which he says “gives small businesses a chance to fix problems” before a lawsuit is filed against them.
My bill stops frivolous #ADA lawsuits featured on @60Minutes by giving small businesses a chance to fix problems https://t.co/hBkWvWjl4W
— Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake) December 5, 2016
One viewer with a disabled son fired back at Flake:
ADA has been around 25 years. How much more chance? Meanwhile, places remain illegally inaccessible to our family, but that's frivolity? https://t.co/mgIYLqppYS
— Elizabeth Picciuto (@epicciuto) December 6, 2016
One viewer encouraged others to voice their support of the Americans with Disabilities Act by getting in touch with Anderson Cooper directly:
Have you benefited in some way from the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)? Let @andersoncooper know why #WeNeedADA by sharing your story
— Dominick Evans (@dominickevans) December 5, 2016
An especially popular tweet came from a law student who came to a different conclusion from the piece: an existential crisis of career choice.
Wow, this @60Minutes story about "Google lawsuits" makes me hate lawyers and I'm in law school! #60Minutes
— Elliott Hamilton (@ElliottRHams) December 5, 2016