On July 26, 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed into law the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), one of the most important civil rights laws in our history and the first major piece of domestic legislation in the world to address the discrimination, legal challenges and physical and systemic barriers faced by individuals with disabilities.
There is no question that the ADA has leveled the playing field and immeasurably enhanced the futures of children and youth with disabilities, providing them with greater access and opportunities to lead independent lives and be contributing members of society.
As a nation, we must do more to fully realize the goals of ADA. Congress took the critical step in protecting the rights of citizens with disabilities by enacting the ADA, but the work to extend these protections to all citizens of the world must continue.
Toward that end, The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) has joined the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), a coalition of national consumer, advocacy, provider, and professional organizations, to urge the U.S. Senate to quickly consider and ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
The CRPD seeks the same goals the United States had in enacting the ADA 20 years ago: To empower individuals with disabilities to achieve economic self-sufficiency, independent living, and inclusion and integration into all aspects of society.
As we join in the national celebrations next week at receptions on Capitol Hill and at The White House, we will do so on behalf of our 35,000+ membership, which is committed to ensuring the provision of education, independent living, employment, and self-determination for children and youth with disabilities.
Thank you for standing with us at this proud moment in history commemorating 20 years of the ADA, and for the work you do to ensure a brighter future for all individuals with disabilities.
Read facts about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Watch the speech presented by President George H.W. Bush at the signing of ADA.
Watch My Country, videos profiling three people with disabilities whose lives have been shaped by the struggle for equal rights.
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