30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act

Tue, 21 Jul 2020 12:46:33 -0400

SDS celebrates the summer anniversaries of the landmark Olmstead decision and 30 years since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which provide more independence and freedom for people with disabilities.

The Olmstead decision celebrated its twenty-first anniversary on June 22, 2020. This landmark decision enabled people with disabilities to avoid institutionalization, and to live in their communities with meaningfully supportive alternatives as depicted in The Promise of Olmstead video (link). The momentum also created Centers for Independent Living as local support. The Olmstead decision stood on the shoulders of the Americans with Disabilities Act which was (then) the most recent national law to support access and inclusion .

We are on the verge of the 30th anniversary (July 26, 2020) of the Americans with Disabilities Act 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

Become aware of different perspectives: 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

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.

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 decisions of elected and appointed Representatives, Senators, Presidents, and Supreme Court Justices. To that end...

National Disability Voter Registration Week was July 13-17, 2020 (Link). Some issues and challenges that are of interest:

Five Disability Issues Candidates (and Voters) Need to Understand for the 2020 Elections

Challenges to Disability and Basic Employment

Americans with Disabilities are Advocating for More Support During COVID-19

Medical Rationing Concerns during COVID

This promises to be a tremendous anniversary year - we strive for equal access and opportunity as a nation in the midst of maintaining social distances, wearing masks and washing hands.

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

Bonus Content: Department of Justice Warns about Inaccurate Information on Face Masks and ADA (DOJ link)

The above post was written by Ms. Stephanie Lazarus.