Happy 30th Americans with Disabilities Act!

Mon, 27 Jul 2020 19:12:25 -0400

Please join us in celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (July 26th, 2020) which prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in many aspects of public life: employment, public services, places that are open to the public, transportation and more. Judy Heumann and other advocates lead this seismic shift toward inclusion as well as the history and future of Disability Rights.

Looking for opportunities to celebrate the ADA anniversary? Ideas include:

Share a #ThankstotheADA moment on social media

Join the Virtual Disability Pride Parade

Enjoy films from the Disability Film Challenge, which meet the challenge of disability representation on film

Become aware of different perspectives, here are two: Don't Look Down on Me; How a Blind Astronomer was Able to Hear the Stars;

Laugh and learn with comedians Stella Young and Maysoon Zayid

Read more about it especially on an intersectional basis - sample titles include: Disability Visibility and All The Weight of Our Dreams

Watch a movie such as Crip Camp, a Disability Revolution with a friend and talk about it.

Visit a DisABILITY History Museum, or a Museum of Disability History online to consider what gains have been made, and the work that persists.

Experience an Interview of the Honorable Tony Coelho, chief sponsor for the ADA bill in the House of Representatives and lifelong disability advocate. Learn more about the Section 504 sit-in with Judy Heumann.

Participate in upcoming events throughout this 30th year with UMBC's Office of Accessibility and Disability Services.

As a campus, state and nation, we are making steady progress with accessibility and inclusion, though the work remains as we strive to remove barriers and end structural inequality. Beyond grassroots efforts, change arose with the support and communication of elected and appointed Representatives, Senators, Presidents, and Supreme Court Justices - voting matters!

Communication and connection matter as well - UMBC resources include:

Student Disability Services for accessible education services for all students: undergraduate, graduate, summer, winter and more

Accessibility and Disability Services for work (faculty staff and student employees) and campus-wide matters

Report Accessibility Concerns online

Interested faculty may engage with the Disability Studies Working Group

This promises to be a tremendous anniversary year - we strive for equal access and opportunity as a campus, county, state and nation in the midst of maintaining social distances, wearing masks and washing hands for the full spectrum of humanity. We are grateful for legislative and judicial momentum, and acknowledge that, like Lucille Clifton's invitation to *celebrate, we must "hold tight" as we create more progress. Stay tuned as more events are planned!

UMBC Resources remain available remotely while the physical campus is closed:

COVID 19 Response and Retriever Return Roadmap: Students and Fall Course information; Employee and Supervisor Guides (link)

Accessibility and Disability Services: Work Accommodation; Report an Accessibility Concern

Student Disability Services

Also, we are aware of the Department of Justice Warning about Inaccurate Information on Face Masks and ADA (DOJ link)and remain available to consult with employees about their own health concerns if the aforementioned UMBC COVID 19 Response information is incomplete - call 410-455-5745 or email slazar@umbc.edu.