Today marks the 18th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, a wide-ranging civil rights law that prohibits, discrimination based on disability. The ADA opened doors and increased opportunities for millions of Americans, but there is still work to be done.
To mark today's anniversary, Senator Obama released the following statement:
On this anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, I'm reminded of my father-in-law, Fraser Robinson, who contracted multiple sclerosis at a young age. My wife Michelle watched him go from a vibrant and athletic young man to a man who used two canes to get himself to his job as a shift worker. He never missed a day of work; he just woke up a little earlier and worked a little harder to overcome the barriers he faced each day. He never wanted special treatment – he just wanted to be treated like everyone else. That's the very promise of the ADA. For decades, people with disabilities fought to eliminate everyday discrimination by seeking equal access to jobs, public places, and the voting booth. And eighteen years ago this weekend, Democrats, Republicans, and citizens of all kinds came together around that common purpose to provide all Americans with disabilities a full, fair and equal opportunity to achieve the American Dream. Because of the ADA, a woman with a disability can take public transportation to a workplace with the accommodations she needs. Because of the ADA, a wounded veteran can navigate his wheelchair more easily in public places. Because of the ADA, a student with a disability can study with accessible materials and learn in accessible classrooms. These are impressive achievements. But as with our other shared struggles for equal rights, our work is not done. Until every child with a disability can learn in their local public school in the manner best for them; until every worker with a disability can apply for a job without fear of discrimination; until every American with a disability can live an independent life in their community, we have more work to do. As President, I will build on the ADA's promise so that we make at least as much progress over the next eighteen years as we have over the last eighteen. That begins with restoring the original legislation. Recent decisions by the Supreme Court have severely restricted its scope by creating a far too narrow definition of "disability." As a result, people with multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, diabetes, cancer, and other conditions can be fired from their jobs because of those conditions. That's unacceptable, and not what Congress intended. When I am President, I will urge Congress to pass the ADA Amendments Act, if it doesn't this year. Remarkable progress has been made in education for people with disabilities. But while students with disabilities are attending college in record numbers, their graduation rates still lag behind other students. That's why I'll fight to increase funding for vocational rehabilitation programs that provide the training and job support necessary for success in college and beyond. And because it's long past time Congress kept its part of the bargain to help all our children fulfill their potential, I will demand full funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Because too many persons with disabilities still face barriers to employment due to discrimination, I'll strengthen anti-discrimination enforcement by increasing funding for our nation's civil rights and compliance agencies. And I will make the government a model employer, beginning with an Executive Order to hire 100,000 employees with disabilities into the federal workforce within five years. Because too many still face barriers to living fully independent lives, I strongly support Senator Harkin's Community Choice Act, which eliminates institutional bias in Medicaid and empowers people with disabilities to choose where and how they live. Unfortunately, my opponent opposes this important legislation and the independent, community-based living it allows. I also strongly support Senator Kennedy's CLASS Act, a budget-neutral means of financing long-term services and supports for individuals with significant disabilities so they don't impoverish themselves just to qualify for Medicaid. Because too many still face barriers to the care they need, I'll fight for mental health parity like the bill I helped pass in Illinois, so that coverage for serious mental illnesses is equal to coverage for other illnesses and diseases. And I will finally guarantee quality health care for anyone who wants it, make it affordable and portable for everyone, and stop insurance companies from discriminating and denying coverage to those who need it most – and I will sign it into law by the end of my first term as President of the United States. Today, more than one in six Americans lives with a disability. Most of the rest of us love somebody with one. So we all have an obligation to ensure that they have the opportunity to achieve the American Dream. As we celebrate the anniversary of this extraordinary legislation, let us recommit ourselves to building a world free of unnecessary barriers, stereotypes, and discrimination on the path to creating the more perfect union that we seek. - Senator Barack Obama
On this anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, I'm reminded of my father-in-law, Fraser Robinson, who contracted multiple sclerosis at a young age. My wife Michelle watched him go from a vibrant and athletic young man to a man who used two canes to get himself to his job as a shift worker. He never missed a day of work; he just woke up a little earlier and worked a little harder to overcome the barriers he faced each day. He never wanted special treatment – he just wanted to be treated like everyone else. That's the very promise of the ADA. For decades, people with disabilities fought to eliminate everyday discrimination by seeking equal access to jobs, public places, and the voting booth. And eighteen years ago this weekend, Democrats, Republicans, and citizens of all kinds came together around that common purpose to provide all Americans with disabilities a full, fair and equal opportunity to achieve the American Dream. Because of the ADA, a woman with a disability can take public transportation to a workplace with the accommodations she needs. Because of the ADA, a wounded veteran can navigate his wheelchair more easily in public places. Because of the ADA, a student with a disability can study with accessible materials and learn in accessible classrooms. These are impressive achievements. But as with our other shared struggles for equal rights, our work is not done. Until every child with a disability can learn in their local public school in the manner best for them; until every worker with a disability can apply for a job without fear of discrimination; until every American with a disability can live an independent life in their community, we have more work to do. As President, I will build on the ADA's promise so that we make at least as much progress over the next eighteen years as we have over the last eighteen. That begins with restoring the original legislation. Recent decisions by the Supreme Court have severely restricted its scope by creating a far too narrow definition of "disability." As a result, people with multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, diabetes, cancer, and other conditions can be fired from their jobs because of those conditions. That's unacceptable, and not what Congress intended. When I am President, I will urge Congress to pass the ADA Amendments Act, if it doesn't this year. Remarkable progress has been made in education for people with disabilities. But while students with disabilities are attending college in record numbers, their graduation rates still lag behind other students. That's why I'll fight to increase funding for vocational rehabilitation programs that provide the training and job support necessary for success in college and beyond. And because it's long past time Congress kept its part of the bargain to help all our children fulfill their potential, I will demand full funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Because too many persons with disabilities still face barriers to employment due to discrimination, I'll strengthen anti-discrimination enforcement by increasing funding for our nation's civil rights and compliance agencies. And I will make the government a model employer, beginning with an Executive Order to hire 100,000 employees with disabilities into the federal workforce within five years. Because too many still face barriers to living fully independent lives, I strongly support Senator Harkin's Community Choice Act, which eliminates institutional bias in Medicaid and empowers people with disabilities to choose where and how they live. Unfortunately, my opponent opposes this important legislation and the independent, community-based living it allows. I also strongly support Senator Kennedy's CLASS Act, a budget-neutral means of financing long-term services and supports for individuals with significant disabilities so they don't impoverish themselves just to qualify for Medicaid. Because too many still face barriers to the care they need, I'll fight for mental health parity like the bill I helped pass in Illinois, so that coverage for serious mental illnesses is equal to coverage for other illnesses and diseases. And I will finally guarantee quality health care for anyone who wants it, make it affordable and portable for everyone, and stop insurance companies from discriminating and denying coverage to those who need it most – and I will sign it into law by the end of my first term as President of the United States. Today, more than one in six Americans lives with a disability. Most of the rest of us love somebody with one. So we all have an obligation to ensure that they have the opportunity to achieve the American Dream. As we celebrate the anniversary of this extraordinary legislation, let us recommit ourselves to building a world free of unnecessary barriers, stereotypes, and discrimination on the path to creating the more perfect union that we seek.
- Senator Barack Obama
You can read more about Barack's plan to provide Americans with disabilities with the educational and employment opportunities they need to be successful, as well as ending discrimination and providing support for independent, community-based living.
Visit the Americans with Disabilites for Obama page for to learn how you can get involved, as well as http://www.disaboom.com/barackobama, a unique online community designed to connect people with disabilities.
Comments are closed for this post.
