OCALI Now – July 2020
On July 26, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) will celebrate its 30th anniversary. Signed into law by President George H.W. Bush, the ADA is a landmark piece of civil rights legislation that works to increase the inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of community life, including employment.
Over time, the Americans with Disabilities Act has worked to break down barriers to opportunities for millions of American workers. Increasing access has been an important component of ensuring American workers have the opportunity to contribute their talents, skills, and services.
Access is probably not something the average person thinks about. But, for the more than 42 million Americans with disabilities (more than 10% of Ohioans), access is front and center in their daily lives. Unfortunately, access is often silent and unintentional discrimination.
At OCALI, our mission is to inspire change and promote access to opportunities for people with disabilities. Over the years, we have been committed to working hard to promote access—among our staff and with those we serve around Ohio. While we have made significant progress, we have more work to do and we continue to explore and learn new ways of listening, understanding, and modeling.
Centered around the theme, Increasing Access and Opportunity, commemoration activities around the country will include events, speeches, and new compliance assistance resources. The ADA’s anniversary will serve as a key component of the National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) observance in October.
The ADA Network has put together various resources to help celebrate, learn, and share information about the anniversary. To learn more, visit https://www.adaanniversary.org/. Consider using the following hashtags in your social media posts: #ThanksToTheADA and #ADA30.
OCALI Now 