On July 26, 2020, the United States celebrates the 30th anniversary of a groundbreaking civil rights law: the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The ADA was signed into law in 1990 by President George H.W. Bush and passed with bipartisan support, becoming the first set of comprehensive civil rights and federal protections for people with disabilities in America. The ADA prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life. That means schools, jobs, transportation, telecommunications and all public/private places open to the public. The law aims to ensure that all people with disabilities have equality of opportunity, economic self-sufficiency and full participation in their communities.
“As we celebrate the passing of the ADA and the ADA Amendments Act of 2008, we commend the people with disabilities who led the cause and the many disability advocates who worked tirelessly and strategically for this victory,” said Elizabeth Jennings, Acting Executive Director of National Disability Institute (NDI). “We also reflect on the vision not yet realized and the work still to be done. The ADA states: ‘the Nation’s proper goals regarding individuals with disabilities are to assure equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for such individuals.’ During this tumultuous time, let us hold to these goals. Let us come together as a community of people with disabilities and disability advocates with renewed energy to carry forward the ADA’s promise. We, at National Disability Institute, will continue our work to advance the employment and economic advancement of all people with disabilities. Join us.”
For 15 years, National Disability Institute has worked to fulfill the ADA’s promise of economic self-sufficiency for all people with disabilities. NDI envisions a society where people with disabilities have the same opportunities to achieve financial stability and independence as people without disabilities. We’re the first and only national organization exclusively focused on improving the financial health and wellness of all people with disabilities.
To commemorate the ADA’s 30th anniversary, NDI has created an online resource guide to share some of the top resources developed throughout our 15 years of work. These resources, which focus on the employment and economic inclusion of people with disabilities, are essential supports to fulfill the promise of the ADA. We encourage you to share this online resource guide with others. View the Resource Guide.
As we share in the ADA celebrations, we invite you to join the conversation on Facebook (@NationalDisability) or on Twitter (@natdisability) by using the hashtag #ADA30.
