Access Living friends and allies,
Today, take a moment with disability advocates nationwide to reflect on the 34th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). It’s important to understand this landmark law, and our community’s achievements overall, as part of a long, long struggle towards the liberation of all people with disabilities. We honor the disability movement every day at Access Living, and today, we share with you lessons learned along the way.
We make progress together, or no progress at all. The work to draft, pass and implement the ADA required people with all kinds of disabilities coming together to create something that was useful to all of us. Check out this video about the Capitol Crawl event that helped pass the ADA. The ADA created a legal definition of disability that has stood the test of time and provided important ways to press for needed change. For example, Title II of the ADA requires state and local governments to be accessible, and Title III protects against disability discrimination in places of public business. To learn more about the ADA itself, visit www.ada.gov. We continue to work today to strengthen and protect the ADA and other disability rights laws.
A just society for people with disabilities happens within and outside the law. Disability rights provides important protections for those who know their rights and how to advocate for themselves. But many disabled people do not know their rights, and need help advocating for themselves. Plus, the ADA doesn’t cover whether you have friends, whether you have enough to eat, or whether you have housing. We have other disability rights laws that touch on some of these issues, but living one’s best life as a person with a disability also requires the practice of disability justice, with its leadership by and for our most marginalized communities.
Building community involves helping our leaders grow. “Nothing About Us Without Us,” a well-known mantra in the disability rights movement is not just a saying, but a practice of advocacy and service. It’s critical to help one another learn and lead. That’s why Access Living is offering our third learning series on community organizing, Building Our Power Together (BOPT). If you are a person with a disability passionate about disability advocacy in Chicago, apply for BOPT today at this link! It’s free, offered hybrid, and takes place from August 28 to September 30. The deadline has been extended to August 19.
We rise together! Let’s help each other know where important disability work is taking place at the national, state and local levels. Check out these statements and a video from disability leadership nationwide.
White House Fact Sheet on the Anniversary of the ADA
Anniversary Statement from the Administration on Community Living
Anniversary statement from the National Council on Independent Living
Illinois DHS-DRS Director Rahnee Patrick on the ADA and Disability Pride
Every day, Access Living works for liberation for all people with disabilities. But we can’t do it without you. Thank YOU for your advocacy and service every day!