What is the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) ?

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law on July 26, 1990, by President George H.W. Bush. The ADA is one of America's most comprehensive pieces of civil rights legislation that prohibits discrimination and guarantees that people with disabilities have the same opportunities as everyone else to participate in the mainstream of American life -- to enjoy employment opportunities, to purchase goods and services, and to participate in State and local government programs and services. Modeled after the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin – and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 -- the ADA is an "equal opportunity" law for people with disabilities. To be protected by the ADA, one must have a disability, which is defined by the ADA as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a person who has a history or record of such an impairment, or a person who is perceived by others as having such an impairment. The ADA does not specifically name all of the impairments that are covered.
Click here to learn more about the ADA


July, the celebration month of the Americans with Disabilities Act, has 31 days – Plenty of time to make your way through these “30 Things to Do to Celebrate the Anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act” article suggestions. If you only do one a day, the entire list will be finished by the end of the month!
https://www.GlobalDisabilityInclusion.com/Post/30-Things-to-Do-to-Celebrate-the-30th-Anniversary-of-the-Americans-with-Disabilities-Act


So you’re an employer and you’re interested in making sure you’re doing all that you can to be inclusive, accessible, and follow the ADA. If you have questions about who has to comply, who is protected, and what a reasonable accommodation is, we’ve got just the place for you to find more information – click below for ADA Basics which are geared towards employment.
https://www.ADAInfo.org/Content/Employers-Guide-Americans-Disabilities-Act-Basics


With the 30^th anniversary of the ADA coming up, the Southwest ADA Center is conducting a survey to gauge exactly how the ADA has helped the disability community and how to further the goals of the ADA. If you’ve got fifteen minutes to spare, and are a person with a disability, or a caregiver, please help by taking their survey.
http://SGIZ.Mobi/s3/ADA-Impact-2020-Survey


How much do you know about ID? Matthew Williams is a champion, competing at an international level, winning medals in three different sports. Williams discusses intellectual disabilities and the Special Olympics, “Did you know the World Games happened this year? I was one of over 6,500 athletes with intellectual disabilities from 165 countries who competed in L.A. There was over 62,000 spectators watching opening ceremonies, and there was live coverage on TSN and ESPN. Did you even know that happened?” 
https://www.YouTube.com/Watch?v=BURbLmQL1BE


If you’re curious about the Americans with Disabilities Act and everything it entails, check out this link which provides an overview of each of the titles, fact sheets, and FAQs.
https://AData.org/Learn-about-ADA


What’s the difference between a service animal and emotional support, therapy, and comfort animals? What questions can I ask to determine if an animal is a service animal? What are the rules on service animals at a buffet, a hospital, a hotel, or an ambulance? These questions and many more are answered in this U.S. Department of Justice document, “Frequently Asked Questions about Service Animals and the ADA”
https://www.ADA.gov/Regs2010/Service_Animal_QA.html


If you’ve ever wondered how to create alt text, audio descriptions, captions, or transcripts, take a look at this “Accessibility is Cool” YouTube list from Rooted In Rights. These short videos contain a lot of great information in about two minutes or less.
https://www.YouTube.com/Playlist?List=PLaYgKAZMUNMxmWFbiXzDraN_ycdLHywPB


Have you seen posts lately with #ThanksToTheADA or #ADA30? There’s a reason for that – the 30^th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act is coming up on July 26, 2020 and people are celebrating by sharing what the ADA has meant to them. 
https://YouTu.be/GURIy4765lk


Were you watching on March 12, 1990 when eight-year-old Jennifer Keelan-Chafins, and others abandoned their wheelchairs and crutches to climb up the steps of the Capitol’s West Front to advocate for the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act? Just a little over three months afterward, the act was passed, paving the way for greater accessibility and inclusion for people with disabilities. 
https://ABCNews.Go.com/US/30th-Anniversary-Disability-Civil-Rights-Protest-Advocates-Push/Story?ID=69491417


What is it like to be a child experiencing a disability? Check out this ABCMe video on what its like.
https://www.YouTube.com/Watch?v=7M6mN3JrOUQ


Curious about Disability Rights Laws? Not only do we have the ADA, we also have other protections in place such as IDEA, and FHA. For an overview of the protections and contact information for the departments overseeing them, click on the link below.
https://www.ADA.gov/cGuide.htm


Do you remember what life was like before the Americans with Disabilities Act was implemented? If not, take a look at this short video that was released for the 25^th anniversary of the ADA.
https://YouTu.be/mW4hB2hcPBM


June Sarpong, author of “Diversify” had an experience where she was disabled for four years: “The thing that was just so strange about it for me, was the way people reacted towards me after the accident. The way people treated me; it was. . . I almost saw a kind of dumbing down. It was the most bizarre thing. And I think that experience is what has made me so passionate about this issue.” In this video, she talks about why people living with disabilities are overlooked by businesses.
https://www.YouTube.com/Watch?v=pOEK3vFfh3E


Amy Oulton talks candidly about Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, travelling the world, and societal perceptions about her disability. “The problem with these kind of comments is they caused me to feel both hyper visible and also completely invisible as a person.”
https://www.YouTube.com/Watch?v=4WIP1VgPnco


Did you know that before the ADA, the Smith-Fess Act that established the Vocational Rehabilitation Program for Americans with disabilities was signed into law in 1920 by President Woodrow Wilson? Here’s a timeline of the progress we’ve made with disability within the last 100 years.
https://www.DOL.gov/Featured/ADA/Timeline/Alternative


If you’re a student, or a parent of a student with a disability, you may be interested to learn about the history of special education law from the “Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965” up to the “Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015.”
https://www.YouTube.com/Watch?v=dj2dBLi7zvQ


Ever wondered what it’s like to have a sibling with a disability? Well now you can find out! “Having a brother like James teaches me that we don’t all need to be the same to be loved.”
https://www.YouTube.com/Watch?v=PvXUkZoHuCI


Sometimes it can be hard to know whether you have a disability, especially if it seems relatively minor. “It wasn’t that I was ashamed of the classification. Instead, I felt like calling my tremors a “disability” would cheapen the word. I’d grown up around adults with tremors who made no bones about them, and around people with far more obvious disabilities—like my hemiplegic mother. To me, a disability was something that interfered with pretty much every aspect of your life.”
https://www.Good.is/Features/Life-with-a-Minor-Disability


Judith Heumann talks about her experience working for over thirty years to advocate for and advance the human rights of people with disabilities. “I encourage you all to realize that disability is a family you can join at any point in your life”
https://www.YouTube.com/Watch?v=ABFpTRlJUuc


“Having a disability is definitely difficult, but it’s also one of the richest classrooms a human can experience, too. While these learning experiences are more profound experienced directly, there are some special tokens of wisdom we can pass along.” Tiffiny Carlson shares ten important lessons the world can learn from people with disabilities. Do you have any tokens of wisdom to add to this list
https://www.TheMobilityResource.com/Blog/Post/10-Things-the-World-Can-Learn-from-People-with-Disabilities/


Understanding disability myths is important to be able to dispel them. Not only does this guide help one to understand myths and facts surrounding people with disabilities, it provides great information on interacting with people with disabilities.
https://www.DHS.gov/Sites/Default/Files/Publications/Guide-Interacting-with-People-Who-Have-Disabilties_09-26-13_0.pdf


Did you know that people with disabilities are the third largest economic power, and that market is still growing rapidly? “There’s a solid business case for designing for and selling to people with disabilities. First of all, consumers with disabilities make up a massive market. If the room you’re in is representative of the world, one in five of the people you share space with has a disability. According to one study, the total disposable income of the community tops $8 trillion per year.”
https://QZ-Com.Cdn.AmpProject.org/c/s/QZ.com/Work/1703963/Businesses-Should-Pay-Attention-to-Consumers-with-Disabilities/amp/?fbclid=IwAR3Y-GU9Nlp59ZZD673uaXcJ4No3QG_G7w0l8v2hawzU-iMwdcth4fJjs0E


This Historical Disability Exhibit by Portland Community College Disability Services and Advocating Change Together features 23 panels beginning in 3500 BC and spanning to 2014 which show society’s attitudes and how they have affected the lives of people with disabilities. 
https://www.YouTube.com/Watch?v=NQcncTn4rBw


Everyone wants to be treated kindly and fairly. As a health care provider, or other service provider, how can you ensure that you’re treating people with intellectual disabilities with respect
https://www.YouTube.com/Watch?v=nc9aAY6-ujQ