On this 33rd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), we at AFB are thinking of all the ways that technology plays in role in meeting the expectations of this valuable and groundbreaking civil rights legislation. Thanks to the ADA, we have come to expect equality and access in every part of public life. Truly, people who are blind or have low vision have greater access to jobs, businesses, life in the community, and government services because the ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability.
This summer marks 30 years since a major milestone in our history—the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The American Foundation for the Blind is celebrating the anniversary with a series of articles and conversations.
A Conversation with Haben Girma kicked off the celebration. AFB president and CEO, Dr. Kirk Adams, chatted with Haben Girma about her memoir Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law, the different experiences they had attending college before and after the passage of the ADA, the intersection of racism and ableism, and the importance of accessible online spaces during the pandemic.
On October 11, 2021, the FDR Memorial Legacy Committee (FDR Committee) hosted a celebration to commemorate the 137th birthday of former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt with a wreath-laying ceremony at the FDR Memorial in Washington, DC.
The wreath-laying coincides with the 75th anniversary of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt becoming chair of the UN Commission on Human Rights and drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
As we celebrate the 31st anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, AFB enthusiastically endorses the Disabled Access Credit Expansion Act of 2021. This tax credit supports small businesses making important investments in accessibility for their employees and customers. The Disabled Access Credit Expansion Act (S. 2481 / H.R.
Celebrate the anniversary of the ADA by taking action!
It's Disability Pride Month, in celebration of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, 1990. The ADA is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public.
Happy Disability Pride Month!
Have you not heard of Disability Pride Month? I am not surprised! Even in my work as a research specialist for the American Foundation for the Blind, I have found that most of my professional colleagues have not previously heard of this pride month, either.
The 2020 elections are upon us and, unsurprisingly, the act of voting is dominating the headlines. With that in mind, here's a brief roundup of stories that caught our attention, with an emphasis on the voting experience for people with disabilities.
Stephanie Enyart, AFB’s Chief Public Policy and Research Officer:
Tim Elder is a California-based civil rights attorney, founder of the TRE Legal Practice, and father of three. Active in the blindness community, he has taken on various roles with the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) and is an avid musician and reader. AFB spoke with Tim recently about the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act and its impact on his life. This interview was edited for brevity and clarity.
