Zeller, Speak!

30 Jul Zeller, Speak!

Greetings, my friends!

This month we celebrate the 28th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, also known as ADA which was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush on July 26, 1990.
The intent of this law was to guarantee that persons with disabilities have the same opportunities to participate in community life as persons without disabilities. This includes housing, employment, accessibility issues, participating in local and State government and services and so much more.

This law literally opened doors for people by requiring accessible entrances for people with mobility issues and has provided for handicapped parking spaces. Because of the law, employers are required to make reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities; curb cuts have been made so people using adaptive mobility equipment can safely access the sidewalk; housing cannot be denied due to a disability; and, my favorite, people are permitted to have a certified service dog with them wherever they go! This law has provided a necessary piece for persons with disabilities to become part of the fabric of our communities. We must understand the history of the disability rights movement to really understand where we are going.

We still have a long way to go for people with disabilities to be fully included and respected in our community. The ADA has been a very important step in achieving this goal. Thanks to all the thousands of people who worked tirelessly to get this legislation passed!!