Happy Birthday ADA!
Verified Voting joins with Civil Rights and Accessibility/Usability advocates across the country in celebrating the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, 1990.
ADA provides civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities similar to those provided to individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, and religion. It guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in public accommodations, employment, transportation, state and local government services and telecommunications. The law covers a wide range of disability, from physical conditions affecting mobility, stamina, sight, hearing, and speech to conditions such as emotional illness and learning disorders and addresses access to the workplace, State and local government services, and places of public accommodation and commercial facilities.
In a PSA released in advance of today’s commemorative event at the White House, President Obama noted, “the Act was a huge step forward for the 50 million people in this country living with a disability. It helped renew the promise that, here in America, we are defined not by our limitations, but by our potential. As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of this historic legislation, it’s important to remember that we are still fulfilling that promise.”
More information about ADA is available here.
