Aaron Nelson and his mother Kristi Nelson were among those marking the 25th anniversary of the ADA at Midtown nonprofit The Whole Person today.
People are celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) today at The Whole Person, a Main-Street nonprofit that helps people with disabilities live independently.
President George H.W. Bush signed the act into law on July 26, 1990, with this statement:
With today’s signing of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act, every man, woman, and child with a disability can now pass through once-closed doors into a bright new era of equality, independence, and freedom.
The ADA extended civil rights to disabled people, declaring that they have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. It 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.
Although the act was signed 25 years ago when he was young, Aaron Nelson of The Whole Person says he thinks the celebration is important.
“It’s a celebration to honor the efforts made before me. I have benefited from it,” he said.
Nelson, who has cerebral palsy, thinks the act helped him get an education and find employment.
For example, Nelson’s mother Kristi remembers that Aaron was the first student in his school to be guaranteed accessibility under the ADA. While the law was in place, parents and students like the Nelsons had to work with school districts to figure out how to make sure the spirit of the law was put into practice.
Nelson began using the services of The Whole Person when he was 18. After earning his masters degree, Nelson began working there as an independent living specialist helping other people with disabilities.
While he thinks the law has been beneficial, Nelson says there is room for improvement. He would like to see more emphasis on public transportation. He also thinks the ADA is not always enforced as effectively as it could be.
Kim Krueger of The Whole Person also thinks there needs to be a greater emphasis on jobs.
“People with disabilities want to live independently,” she says, “but they need jobs to do that.”
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