Happy Birthday, ADA (source: You've Got Braille)

Today, President Barack Obama issued a Presidential Proclamation on the 19th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.  The ADA was signed into law on July 26, 1990.

To celebrate the anniversary of the most sweeping disability rights legislation in history, I’d like to share two of my favorite ADA resources.

ADA.gov: U.S. Department of Justice  Americans with Disabilities Act Home Page
Offered by the U.S. Department of Justice, the ADA Home Page serves as a clearinghouse for ADA information, publications, and technical assistance.

Disability and Business Technical Assistance Center (DBTAC) National Network of ADA Centers
From the DBTAC site:

The Disability and Business Technical Assistance Center (DBTAC) is a national network of 10 regional DBTAC: ADA Centers that provide the most complete and experienced services for up-to-date information, referrals, resources, and training on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to businesses, employers, government entities, and individuals with disabilities, as well as media and news reporters.

CRPD commemorative stamps (source: StampNews.com)

The President also announced his intention to sign the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, a comprehensive human rights treaty with eight guiding principles.  The principles, as outlined on the United Nations Enable website, are:

1. Respect for inherent dignity, individual autonomy including the freedom to make one’s own choices, and independence of persons
2. Non-discrimination
3. Full and effective participation and inclusion in society
4. Respect for difference and acceptance of persons with disabilities as part of human diversity and humanity
5. Equality of opportunity
6. Accessibility
7. Equality between men and women
8. Respect for the evolving capacities of children with disabilities and respect for the right of children with disabilities to preserve their identities

I can’t think of a better birthday present.

LINKS IN THIS POST

• ADA.gov: U.S. Department of Justice  Americans with Disabilities Act Home Page
• Associated Press: Obama: US to sign UN disabilities rights pact
• Disability and Business Technical Assistance Center (DBTAC) National Network of ADA Centers
• United Nations: Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
• United Nations: UN Enable website
• The White House: Presidential Proclamation on the 19th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act
• Wikipedia: Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990