Letter to the Editor: Long way to go for equality for the disabled
July 26 marked the 26th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This law was historic in that it is a law that protects against discrimination based on disability. Furthering the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which makes discrimination based on race, religion, sex, or national origin illegal, the Americans with Disabilities Act also bars discrimination in the workforce and makes public accommodations accessible. This law was enacted to protect people with mental and physical disabilities because we understand that all people can and should contribute to society in any way they can. Inclusion and diversity is what makes America strong.
Does this law go far enough? The answer is ... not by a long shot. People with intellectual and developmental disabilities still live in the shadows of society, underserved, underfunded, and underappreciated.
It’s time for our legislators, both state and federal, to come together with us to call for an amendment to the ADA. Our loved ones with intellectual and developmental disabilities have the same basic rights that the Constitution gives the rest of us, the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. At this time, that is not the reality for the developmental disability community.
— Denise King