The Disability Affinity Group at Meridian International Center recognizes the 32nd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA was first passed in 1990 to address discrimination against people with disabilities in many aspects of public life, including employment, communications, transportation, and access to government services and public accommodations. In 2008, the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA) was passed, broadening the definition of “disabilities” addressed by the ADA.
Some examples of the successes of the ADA are physical accessibility requirements for public transit, closed captioning on public broadcasts, prohibition of discrimination in employment and federal aid based on disability, and more.
The passing of the ADA was a milestone achievement in the American disability advocacy movement, representing the culmination of years of efforts by disabled people and allies towards protections at the federal level. That said, it is important to acknowledge that the ADA's scope, effectiveness, and enforcement is a topic of heavy debate within the disabled community. There is still a long way to go in improving the outcomes of the largest marginalized population in America, but today we celebrate and recognize the power, diversity, and capacity of the disabled community.
The Disability Affinity Group of Meridian International Center is an employee-led group committed to community-building around topics of disability. Our group is open to all employees that identify as self-advocates or allies of people with disabilities.
