George H.W. Bush signs the ADA into law.
Almost everyone has seen a different, more prosperous world because of the ADA. 33 years in, we know this journey is long and not yet over. Inaccessible programs and businesses still exist. People with disabilities still languish in congregate care settings for lack of funding for home-based programs. The employment rate of people with disabilities still lags far beyond our non-disabled peers, even in this era of full employment. Below, read reflections from our Policy team about what the ADA means to them.
“The ADA is a representation of the willingness of people with disabilities to seek justice for themselves and for those who came after them. Without those people willing to painstakingly push for the passage of the ADA, I would not have the privilege to be employed and do the work we do here at RespectAbility. For a visually impaired person growing up with the rights I had because people before me were willing to fight, the ADA is a reminder that I not only have the honor of pushing forward the work, but I have the responsibility to continue to build upon that work.” Rostom Dadian, Policy Associate
“The anniversary of this keystone civil rights legislation reminds us of one thing: keep pushing. It seems shocking that only 33 years ago, our community lacked the same basic rights to participate in everyday life as other Americans. More than 200 years past the founding of our nation, disability activists refused to settle for an inadequate present and demanded a better future. As we look to the next 33 years and the 33 after that, we must keep pushing forward, refusing to see those rights stagnate or roll backwards. Our nation is stronger when people with disabilities are on even ground.” Jimmy Fremgen, Manager of State Policy
“If you have ever been to one of my classes or workshops, or if you affiliated with one of the national Jewish organizations with which I have consulted, or if you met me in the courtroom or across the negotiating table during my years as a lawyer, then it is likely that we would never have met without the ADA. Without the ADA, it is unclear whether I could have held many of those jobs. The same could be said of any person with a disability, not because we did not work before the ADA, but because we had no right to accommodations and could be denied a job or even terminated simply because we had a disability.” Matan Koch, Senior Policy Advisor
“As a multiply disabled advocate and disability rights attorney by training, the ADA has meant a lot to me personally and professionally. It’s a powerful reminder of what it takes to move a civil rights agenda forward in the face of seemingly insurmountable barriers. The disability community has had the immense privilege of building on the progress of so many activists and advocates, including those for racial justice, gender equity, and queer liberation. This ADA anniversary, I pause and reflect on the work of so many giants in the larger civil rights movement, and I recommit to furthering the incredible work of so many that have come before, while also setting the stage for those who will come after.” Ariel A. Simms, President and Chief Executive Officer
