Marking the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Karen Bass, Mayor of Los Angeles, signed a formal accessibility pledge committing city efforts to ensure barrier-free participation for all, particularly individuals with visual impairments and other disabilities.
This agreement establishes a framework for hosting future Olympic and Paralympic Games that guarantee equal access to facilities, services, programs, infrastructure, and information related to the Games for people with disabilities. The initiative aims to create a pioneering model of inclusiveness, with all aspects of the event designed to be accessible equally.
Los Angeles, hosting the Paralympic Games for the first time, promises to deliver “the most inclusive Games in history” by implementing new urban living standards. The city has created a dedicated Accessibility Unit and appointed, for the first time, a Chief Accessibility Officer within the Mayor’s Office of Special Events. This department has already begun actions such as installing Braille signage of the Olympic and Paralympic logos at city hall and will collaborate closely with various city departments, including the Disability Department and the Braille Institute, to develop and implement comprehensive accessibility plans.
Based on the official memorandum signed on July 25, 2025, Los Angeles commits to:
Ensuring equal access to all Games-related infrastructure, services, programs, and information for people with disabilities.
Holding both Olympic and Paralympic events free from discrimination.
Enforcing accessibility standards and prioritizing equity in relevant projects.
Providing meaningful opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in decision-making and planning.
Training volunteers, staff, and city contractors on the needs of people with disabilities and accessibility standards, with dedicated resources for education.
Collaborating with the private sector to create barrier-free experiences for all types of disabilities.
Furthermore, the LA 28 Organizing Committee announced that the 2028 Paralympic Games will not only be the largest event of its kind but will also introduce a new sport to the official program, marking a milestone in the Games’ history.
Reinhold Hoover, Executive Director of the Organizing Committee, noted:
“Major barriers are not always physical. We have a tremendous opportunity to change perceptions and conversations about people with disabilities and make Los Angeles a truly inclusive city. The Paralympics showcase the limitless capacity and ability of humans, and by inspiring this event, we can provide not only athletes but every disabled citizen with respect and equal opportunities.”
The 18th Summer Paralympic Games will be held in Los Angeles from August 15 to 27, 2028 (24 Mordad to 5 Shahrivar 1407 in the Iranian calendar).
