Moving Forward: The ADA Legacy Project Aims to Preserve, Celebrate and Educate Future Generation
On July 26, 2015, Americans across the nation will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The landmark legislation, signed into law in 1990 by President George H. W. Bush, was created to acknowledge the rights of people with disabilities to fully participate in all aspects of society.
From employment and education to housing and participation in state and local government programs, the law tore down many barriers for people with disabilities. The ADA is an "equal opportunity" law for people with disabilities. "It is a very broad civil rights statute for people with disabilities," said Mike Galifianakis, statewide ADA coordinator for the Georgia State Financing & Investment Commission. "The ADA, overall, has four goals: equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living and economic self-sufficiency."
To keep moving forward, we must preserve the spirit of the ADA by not only celebrating what has been done in the past 25 years, but also making sure future advocates will tirelessly promote the landmark legislation and the commitment of every state to provide equal opportunities for all its citizens. The ADA Legacy Project aims to serve as a clearinghouse to connect the vast network of organizers working across the country to promote disability awareness and showcase the rich history of the disability rights movement.
"The project is about recognizing all of the people who fought to make ADA a reality," said Kristen Vincent, project coordinator of The ADA Legacy Project. "It is about preserving their stories and keeping them alive through the course of history."
The ADA Legacy Project shall preserve disability history; celebrate the accomplishments of people with disabilities; and educate the public on disability history and issues, including passage of the ADA.
The ADA Till Today
It is safe to say that the progress made since 1990 is undeniable. "Since the enactment, I would say the ADA has transformed the architectural landscape," Galifianakis said. "From guidelines on how to design new facilities having accessible ramps to accessible sidewalks and streets, there has been tremendous improvement." As the ADA coordinator, he is responsible to see the law's requirements are implemented at the state level.
When it comes to continued advocacy, the movement is working to instill a strong future for those with disabilities, especially in the realms of technology and employment. "Everyone does business and communicates more electronically now," said Galifianakis. He speaks of the Internet, email, mobile phones and other information technology advancements that have made digital correspondence the norm for everyone. But, they have also presented a form of exclusion for people with disabilities.
Although progress has been made in making technology accessible through the Section 508 amendment of The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 for the federal government, it needs to follow suit for local and state governments and the private job sector as well. "Technology can be a great equalizer as long as it's accessible," he said, noting that 25 years ago, the ADA didn't adequately address technological accessibility because technology was not prevalent the way it is today.
Another shortfall has been unemployment. It holds higher than average numbers among people with disabilities, and advocates, agencies and the disability community are undertaking the task to make employment the norm. Employment First, a concept to facilitate the full inclusion of people with significant disabilities in the workplace and community is being launched.
The Future of the ADA
Apart from preserving and appreciating the ADA's history, the movement is also focusing on the future. The goal is to increase awareness and engage younger generations to continue advocating for accessible technology and employment, among many other issues. "Major anniversaries like this one are times for celebration, reflection and thinking critically about what comes next," said Maria Town, policy advisor for the US Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy. "Youth leaders are critical to the disability rights
movement."
It was college student Ed Roberts who led a group of students with disabilities at the University of California at Berkeley in championing their right to live in dorms. Roberts and other students with disabilities were forced to live in the Student Health Services infirmary because no accessible housing was available. The Rolling Quads, as they called themselves, helped to begin the Physically Disabled Students Program. This was the first student-led disability advocacy group originating on a college campus.
"The need for advocacy is just as intense now as it was 30 to 40 years ago and, much like Roberts and the Rolling Quads, student advocates today work for changes in their own lives," Town added.
The youth focus on intersectionality, recognizing that all individuals carry multiple identities such as disabilities, race or color, sexual orientation, ethnicity, socio-economic status, etc. For instance, an woman who has disabilities can be an elderly person of color who may belong to the LGBTQ community. Part of the progress of the future is the growing acceptance of this idea of intersectionality by today's youth. Youth are also advocating for accessible technology, especially in the realms of social media, electronic medical records and more.
"For example, on Facebook, it would be great to have image descriptions on online posts," Town said. "Electronic medical records linked to wearable technologies like a FitBit are ways the future generation can manage their lives and utilize self-directed care." And like the current movements, the ADA Generation (the generation born after the passage of the law) is focused on employment to receive greater services and supports so they can become their fullest selves and be active in a competitive job market.
More young advocates, whether with disabilities or not, are beginning to realize the importance of the ADA. Teaching disability rights in schools is an effective way to promote awareness and encourage students to advocate on behalf of themselves and their peers.
In 2006, a group of 20 students in West Virginia led the first successful effort which established Disability History Week. More than 20 states joined West Virginia in recognizing Disability History Week, celebrated during the third week in October, which is also National Disability Employment Awareness Month.
However, the ADA Generation is still vulnerable to inequality, leaving young advocates with much work to do. "While you might think increased inclusion decreases the need for advocacy, I actually think it has the reverse effect," said Town. "The more young people with disabilities are included, the more opportunity they have to see the ways in which they are still treated unequally from their peers without disabilities."
Town hopes efforts to promote accessible fashion, technology, employment and other forms of design will lead to greater equality.
"More than anything," said Town, "I want to see people with disabilities, regardless of age, living life on their own terms with dignity and respect."
by Alison Heinz Stephens
Tags: Making a Difference