Happy 25th Anniversary, ADA! Special Events Mark Milestone
Augusta, Ga.—Designated parking spaces, wheelchair-accessible ramps and the ability of someone with a disability to receive a fair job interview are all benefits that we take for granted today—but that weren’t necessarily in place 25 years ago.
The American with Disabilities Act was signed into law on July 26, 1990, marking this year as the 25th anniversary of this groundbreaking act, which prohibits discrimination based on disability, requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities and requires all public facilities to be accessible.
To celebrate this quarter-century anniversary, Walton Options for Independent Living is hosting a series of special events in Augusta and Aiken on May 27-30. The events are sponsored in part by Walton Foundation for Independence, Tri-Development Center of Aiken County, CSRA Area on Agency on Aging, Aiken Regional Medical Centers, the Augusta GreenJackets, First Citizen’s Bank, Papa John’s, the Augusta Warrior Project and Beasley Broadcast Group, and the public is invited.
Thanks to WOIL’s efforts, Augusta and its surrounding areas will also be a stop for The ADA Legacy Project, a year-long bus tour and traveling exhibit stopping in major cities across the country to celebrate and raise awareness of the American with Disabilities Act. The tour is centered around the “Road to Freedom” ADA Bus, which brings a traveling exhibit to every stop. The exhibit features a variety of educational displays focusing on the history of the ADA, advocacy and self-advocacy, the tour’s history and more courtesy of the Museum of disABILITY.
Events in the CSRA include:
- May 27: Beyond Disabilities: Celebrating 25 Years of the ADA with the Augusta GreenJackets (tickets required). 7 p.m. Lake Olmstead Stadium, Augusta. A special interpretation of the National Anthem will be followed by local persons with disabilities throwing out the first pitch, along with a variety of activities centered around celebrating the ADA. The ADA Legacy Tour Bus will also arrive via police escort down Washington Road to Lake Olmstead Stadium.
- May 29: ADA Legacy Tour Bus Stops in Augusta. 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Surprise locations around Columbia and Richmond counties.
- May 30: ADA25 Family Fun Day and Walk ‘N Roll. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Odell Weeks/Virginia Acres, Aiken. Join us for a day of food, fun, family activities and entertainment, including an Equality Walk ‘N Roll in support of the ADA, demonstrations of adaptive sports by the Walton Foundation for Independence, and the final stop of the ADA Legacy Bus Tour in the area.
Individuals, businesses or organizations that support the American with Disabilities Act are also invited to sign the online pledge form to demonstrate their ongoing support. Visit www.waltonoptions.org/ada_pledge.
“This year marks 25 years of the American with Disabilities Act, historic legislation that provides equal rights and protections to persons with disabilities, similar to legislation that protects others based on age, sex, race and religion,” said Tiffany Clifford, Executive Director, WOIL. “Sadly, even today, the ADA still often lacks that acknowledgement. Through these events, our goal is to reinforce the message that disability rights are civil rights and that access and inclusion are for everyone.”
For more information about the ADA Anniversary celebration in Augusta and surrounding areas, call Walton Options for Independence Living, 706-724-6262 or click here for more information.