People across the nation celebrated the twentieth anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) July 26 with speeches, parties and renewed calls to action. The law prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities and requires equal access to public accommodations, employment, transportation, state and local government services, and telecommunications. There are 54 million people with disabilities in the U.S.
The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) held a celebration July 20 in Washington, D.C. with music from Flame, whose eleven band members have disabilities, and a barbecue dinner.
Attorney General Eric Holder spoke at the event, pledging to strengthen the Justice Department’s relationship with the organization. “Over the last two decades, the ADA has helped to revolutionize the conditions of – and society’s perceptions toward – Americans with disabilities,” he said.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) issued new technical guidelines for medical providers to help people with mobility disabilities receive care. The guidelines, released on July 22, are listed here.
President Obama is featured in a series of television and radio public service advertisements commemorating the ADA by praising its progress while calling for more change. The ads are a project with the Ad Council and the AAPD. They were distributed to media outlets on the anniversary.
The President signed an executive order to increase federal employment of individuals with disabilities. See the related story.
The federal government also held multiple celebrations.
The Department of Labor (DOL) commemorated the anniversary on July 30 by inducting Helen Keller and Justin Dart, Jr. into the DOL’s Hall of Fame. Keller Thompson-Johnson, great-grand-niece of Helen Keller, and Yoshiko Dart, widow of Justin Dart Jr., represented the inductees.
Guests included DOL secretary Hilda L. Solis, Kathy Martinez, assistant secretary for the DOL’s Office of Disability Employment Policy and Tony Coehlo, former congressman and an author of the ADA.
Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Thomas E. Perez delivered the keynote address at the National Council on Independent Living Annual Conference. He also testified before the House Judiciary Committee at a hearing on the ADA.
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan released a statement saying, “With President Obama’s support, we are strengthening our efforts to ensure that all students, including those with disabilities, have the tools they need to benefit from a world-class education that prepares them for success in college and careers.”
The National Council on Disability held the first National Summit on Disability Policy. See the related story.
Disability rights advocates celebrated the anniversary across New York and New Jersey.
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg held a ceremony with Matthew Sapolin, Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities, at Gracie Mansion August 10. They presented five awards to people and organizations that have increased access for people with disabilities. The recipients were the Bank of America, the American Museum of Natural History, the NYC Independent Living Centers, the AbleGamers Foundation and Autism Speaks.
Sapolin also celebrated the anniversary at Lincoln Center on July 26 with Bobbi Wailes, Director of Program and Services for People with Disabilities and retired New York City Police Detective Steven McDonald.
The event included a hip-hop performance by Namel Norris and Ricardo Velazquez of 4 Wheel City, who dance using wheelchairs.
Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano held an event to commemorate the anniversary, giving the ADA Awards to John Jeavon of Nassau Community College, who works with students with learning disabilities, Donald Barbieri, a trustee for the Village of New Hyde Park, Loretta Murray Esq., Jim Menahan and Angela Y. Davis.
Attendees from the Nassau County Office for the Physically Challenged included Joel Kessler, Matt Dwyer, Jennifer Brackenridge, and Frank Murtagh.
The Brooklyn Center for Independence of the Disabled celebrated the anniversary from 4:30-7 p.m. August 19 at Brooklyn Borough Hall.
The Center for Independence of the Disabled commemorated the anniversary with more than 150 consumers, friends, family and supporters at the LGBT Center on West 13th Street in Manhattan. The event included the premiere screening of, "Tales of the ADA,” and a chance to meet the stars and filmmakers. There were drinks, hors d'oeuvres, live music and door prizes.
The Northeast ADA Center at Cornell University’s Employment and Disability Institute held an event August 12th in Ithaca, New York.
The event included a talk by John Robinson, the Director of Corporate Support for WMHT Public Broadcasting, as well as speakers and panelists from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), New York State Board of Code Officials, New York State Human Rights Commission and Cornell University.
In Bergen County, there was a celebratory luncheon led by Jim Thebery, director of the county’s Division on Disability Services and president of the New Jersey Association of County Disability Services.
Heightened Independence & Progress (hip), County Executive Dennis McNerney, Freeholder and Bergen Community College also contributed to the ceremony, which presented honorary certificates to the Woodland Park in Hasbrouck Heights for its accessible buildings.
The Family Resource Network held an event July 26 at the State House Annex in New Jersey. The guest speakers were James Weisman, senior vice president and general counsel for the United Spinal Association, Alison Lozano, executive director of the state’s Council on Developmental Disabilities and Joe Young, executive director of Disability Rights New Jersey.
Several surveys were initiated for the anniversary.
The Arc launched a survey called The Arc FINDS, or Family and Individual Needs for Disability Supports, to enable professionals in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities to discuss available services and the additional supports that are needed.
The survey will run from July 1 to September 1, covering the topics of advocacy, education, transition, employment, housing, community participation, civic engagement and voting, transportation, care giving and demographics. Respondents can also share personal stories. The survey will take place online at www.thearc.org.
The University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston released a survey to gauge the ADA’s impact on the disability community. It was conducted from June 22 through July 9 with 870 participants.
Lex Frieden, professor of biomedical informatics and rehabilitation at the university, led the study. Frieden is a wheelchair-user who contributed to the establishment of the ADA. The survey is available online at: www.declarationforindependence.org.
The EEOC held an event July 22 with two panels of civil rights experts and presented awards to current and former EEOC commissioners and staff.
The event including speakers Wade Henderson, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, Andrew Imparato, president and CEO of AAPD and James Hill, the plaintiff in EEOC v. Extra Space Management Inc.
Legal experts included Allison Nichol, deputy chief of disability rights at the U.S. DOJ, and Jean Kamp, associate regional attorney for the EEOC in Chicago.
The Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund honored the anniversary by saying, “We salute the achievements of our movement and the fearless advocates who led the way, and we recognize the place of the ADA in the pantheon of enduring human ideals.”
This article was published in the September 2010 issue of Able News.
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