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CHINA GROVE, N.C. -- Monica J. Foster's red hair is as fiery as her desire to fight.

Born with spina bifida, doctors didn't expect her to achieve many developmental milestones. "I wouldn't recognize my own mothers voice," said Foster. "That I wouldn't go to school. That I wouldn't have a 'normal life.' But I've obviously transcended all of those barriers of attitudes and architecture and things of that sort and proved them wrong."

Now, Foster is a life coach and an advocate for people with disabilities. According to the most recent United States Census, 1.8 million North Carolinians live with some form of disability.

Monday was the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Foster called it "landmark legislation" that ensures more freedoms for people with disabilities. "They can go to the same stores as anyone else," she said. "They can go to the same schools as anyone else. They can park. They can participate. They can go to the bathroom in public establishments independently and that they don't have to ask all the time for assistance. They can be independent as they choose."

Foster has worked as an ADA consultant with city and county governments to make sure buildings are built with every citizen in mind. "It's been important to me to have that voice with the ADA that if it's not accessible, to go in, not as an adversary, but as an educator and as a person to bridge gaps," she said.

She also said the ADA has done a lot to move society toward one that is more accommodating, but there are still places more work is needed. She said conversations are the first step toward any changes.

"We want the same things as everyone else and the Americans with Disabilities Act creates opportunities and accommodations so that we can work alongside you and be educated alongside you. And be just like anyone else," she said.

About 20 percent of the U.S. population lives with a disability and half of those are considered to have a severe disability.