Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Anniversary
July 26, 2024 is the 34th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which was signed into law on July 26, 1990. The ADA law prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities. This prohibition applies to employment, transportation, public accommodations, communications, and access to state and local government programs and services. The aim of the ADA is to ensure that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. You can find news and events celebrating the passage of this law below. Learn how to contact your local ADA network here. An additional collection of events can be found on the official ADA Anniversary website.
News
July 25, 2024
In this proclamation, President Biden honors the anniversary of the ADA, one of America’s most significant civil rights laws to protect people with disabilities from discrimination. The ADA enshrines into law the idea that we all deserve opportunity, inclusion, respect, and dignity. More work needs to be done. Disabled Americans often earn less for the same work as nondisabled people. Additionally, too often, disabled Americans face obstacles that keep them from voting, prohibit them from getting to and from work and school, or limit their ability to enjoy public spaces. This proclamation describes initiatives the Biden administration has taken to improve the quality of life for Americans with discrimination.
July 26, 2024
Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, proclaimed July 26, 2024 as a day to honor the 34th Anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act in Michigan and encourage everyone to renew their commitments to equity and inclusion as the work continues to make Michigan a welcoming and accessible place for everyone.
July 5, 2024
In honor of the 34th anniversary of the ADA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) celebrates the significant advances the public health community has made to reduce health disparities and improve inclusion for the disability community. However, the CDC also recognizes that people with disabilities still experience barriers to accessing health care. The CDC is working with their partners across public health disciplines to improve disability inclusion and considerations in ongoing data monitoring systems, health promotion programs, and emergency preparedness and response efforts.
June 12, 2024
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law by then-President George H.W. Bush in 1990. It is the nation’s strongest measure protecting the civil rights of people with disabilities. It bars discrimination based on disability and guarantees equal access to public buildings and businesses, employment opportunities, transportation, telecommunications, commercial facilities, and state and local government services. This press release includes several facts about disability in America and are based on the responses to U.S. Census Bureau surveys.
July 26, 2024
This collection of statements by officials from the Department of Health and Human Services celebrates the legacy of the ADA over the past 34 years. The ADA affirmed the inherent dignity of every person, regardless of disability and prohibited discrimination in employment, transportation, and access to state and local government programs and services.
July 26, 2024
In this blog by Allison Barkoff, who is performing duties of the ACL administrator, she discusses the ADA, which was signed into law 34 years ago, establishing the right for people with disabilities to live, work, and fully participate in all aspects of community life. The road to the ADA was long and hard-fought, and its passage was a historic victory in the disability rights movement and a crucial milestone in our nation’s civil rights history. The Biden-Harris administration has been working across the federal government and in partnership with the disability community to ensure that disabled people truly have equal access to American life.
July 26, 2024
On the 34th anniversary of the ADA, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) proudly celebrates the progress made on the DOT’s Disability Policy Priorities. Under the leadership of the Biden-Harris Administration, DOT has taken historic steps to improve the safety and accessibility of America’s transportation system for people with disabilities. Here are some of the DOT’s accomplishments on their Disability Policy Priorities.
July 26, 2024
The U.S. Department of State celebrates the 34th anniversary of the ADA, which promotes greater participation for Americans with disabilities across society. The U.S. Department of State is committed to promoting disability inclusion both domestically and abroad. Internally, they have increased the percentage of employees with a disability from 14.6 to 19.6 percent of the workforce in the past three years. Around the world, they continue to promote respect for the rights and fundamental freedoms for persons with disabilities worldwide by engaging with international partners to advance full and effective participation for persons with disabilities.
July 25, 2024
In this update, Nicole Fuller, Policy Director at the NCLD, marks the 34th anniversary of the passage of the ADA, a monumental civil rights law protecting the rights of people with disabilities in public life And states that the Center recommits itself to the work that still needs to be done for people with learning disabilities, from K-12 education to postsecondary education to employment.
July 22, 2024
Taryn Mackenzie Williams, Assistant Secretary for Disability Employment Policy at the U.D. Department of Labor, commemorated the 34th anniversary of the ADA with a blog recalling events leading toward the passage of the ADA and current progress made under the Act. She describes how former Senator Tom Harkin, one of the authors of the ADA, saw firsthand the barriers that disabled people faced in society through the experience of his brother, who was deaf.. Thirty-four years ago, he helped pass the ADA, along with advocates from the community. The ADA has spurred significant progress across America, including workplace accommodations, which are at the heart of the ADA’s employment provisions.
Events
July 26, 2024; 11:30 a.m. ET
The event "Beyond Barriers: Celebrating the ADA and Disability Innovators" will celebrate the contributions from innovators who have developed products and services that benefit everyone. Hear from disability-owned business enterprises (DOBEs) and other entrepreneurs as they share their stories about how they developed products that improve our daily lives.
July 24, 2024; 12:00 p.m. ET
Join Disability:IN Chicagoland, in collaboration with its affiliate partners Disability:IN DC Metro; Disability:IN Minnesota; Disability:IN Wisconsin; and the Center for Disability Inclusion, for a celebration of the anniversary of the ADA. At this webinar you will learn about the ADA’s impact on building inclusion within a culture that historically has never been inclusive, discuss the changes in society’s perceptions of disability and its connection to other facets of identity, and understand common stumbling blocks to workplace inclusion.
July 24, 2024; 4:00 p.m. ET
Join Pacific ADA Center for an upcoming webinar exploring the history of discrimination and how the ADA changed the lives of people with disabilities. This session will highlight key aspects in the disability rights movement and legislation that led to greater access and inclusion.
July 2, 2024
July is Disability Pride Month! July allows for marking the 34th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and take a specific moment to acknowledge the experience and importance of people with disabilities to NYC and the region.
July - September
The ADA Audio Conference Series provides in-depth information on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This program is designed to enhance an individual's existing knowledge base or facilitate continued learning regarding regulations and trends under the ADA. This series of webinars will take place from the end of July through September.
