ERC Commemorates 30 Years of the Americans with Disabilities Act

July, 2020

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law on July 26, 1990. This month, to celebrate the legislation’s 30th anniversary, the ERC will be reflecting on the law’s impact, as well as the work that still needs to be done to achieve true equity for people with disabilities. We have launched a video series featuring ERC stakeholders addressing the questions:

• When have you seen the ADA succeed?
• Where do you see opportunities for the ADA to be applied more impactfully going forward?

We hope to shed light on the great progress that has been made since the ADA became law in 1990, as well as chart our course in the continued fight to fulfill the ADA’s promise of eliminating discrimination against people with disabilities.

We are also looking to uplift the voices of those who face dual oppressions, specifically Black people with disabilities. As such, we have compiled a list of resources specific to empowering the Black, disabled community:

• ADA 30 In Color is a series of original essays from the Disability Visibility Project featuring disabled people of color.
• Helping Educate to Advance the Rights of Deaf Communities (HEARD) supports deaf and hard of hearing individuals in the criminal legal system.
• #DisabledAndHere is a series of interviews and free stock photo gallery seeking to diversify media portrayals of disability.
• These three articles (1, 2, 3) highlight the police violence to which Black people with disabilities are disproportionately subjected.

Please consider making a contribution to help us celebrate the work we’ve done to break down barriers to accessibility, and empower us to keep up the fight.

Kate Scott, Executive Director of the ERC, introduces the ADA 30th Anniversary Video Series. (Transcript available in the video description on YouTube.)

Kate Scott, Executive Director of the ERC, reflects on ADA’s impact, as well as its unfulfilled mandate. (Transcript available in the video description on YouTube.)

ERC Board Member Katy Neas offers her thoughts on the 30th anniversary of the ADA, and highlights the work still to be done to ensure equal employment opportunities for people with disabilities. (Transcript available in the video description on YouTube.)

Emeritus Board Member and former Executive Director of the ERC Rabbi Bruce Kahn emphasizes the importance of continuous education and enforcement when it comes to fulfilling the ADA’s promise. (Transcript available in the video description on YouTube.)

Deepa Goraya, named ERC Advocate of the Year in 2019, speaks to the ADA’s impact on public accommodation access, education, and employment, and emphasizes the importance of online accessibility. (Transcript available in the video description on YouTube.)

Bob Dinerstein, President of the ERC’s Board of Directors, speaks to the impacts of the ADA, both real and symbolic, here in the United States and across the globe. (Transcript available in the video description on YouTube.)