Advocacy Team
Celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the ADA: Upcoming Online Events
Access Living friends and allies:
Today, we’d like to highlight online opportunities that are being held in relation to the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). While we are living through a historic period of global pandemic, racial uprising, and economic depression, we are still living through this time as disabled people with significant histories of leadership and oppression. We invite you to consider joining in the following opportunities.
Crip Camp 30th Anniversary of the ADA Celebration: On Sunday, July 26, the actual day of the signing of the ADA in 1990, the amazing folks from Crip Camp will be hosting an online session to look back, and evaluate where we are now. Crip Camp online sessions have been very popular, with surprise guests including former President Barack Obama. Here’s the link for more info and to register.
ADA30 Lead On Celebration: On Thursday, July 23, a number of disability celebrities, artists and advocates will come together for an online commemoration and series of performances. Event registration and details are at this link. Artists include Tony Award winner Ali Stroker; emcee Danny Woodburn; comedian and actress Maysoon Zayid; actor RJ Mitte; singer/songwriter Emmanuel Kelly; dancer Alice Sheppard; the Heidi Latsky Dance group; KripHop Nation’s Leroy Moore & Keith Jones; singer Anita Hollander; singer Jeff Moyer; singer Elaine Kolb; poet Maria R. Palacios; musician Johnny Crescendo; photos by Tom Olin; and more.
Upcoming NAMD Two-Day Virtual Event: On July 24 and 25, the National Association of Multicultural Disability Advocates (NAMD) is hosting an event called “Decolonizing Dreams: A BIPOC Celebration of ADA30.” See this link for more information. This event is being led by Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) disability advocates, focused around the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Registration is open now to disabled people of color as priority for space; allies can register as of July 22. Access Living is a sponsor.
U.S. Access Board Online ADA Event: On July 29, the U.S. Access Board will hold an online public meeting to discuss gains made under the ADA, along with guest speakers. The Access Board is responsible for setting federal ADA guidelines and standards. Event details are at this link.
Chicagoland Virtual Disability Resource Fair: On July 23 and 24, Chicagoland Disabled People of Color Coalition, along with the Chicago Disability Pride Parade and the University of Illinois-Chicago Department of Disability and Human Development, will hold a virtual resource fair. During this two-day event, organizations can talk about what they do and how people could join them. Vendors serving the disability community can likewise join the virtual fair and sell their products or services. Check out this link for more details.
Please share these events widely with community members and allies.