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On March 12, 1990 disability rights activists left their wheelchairs and dragged themselves up Capitol Hill steps to demand the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Jennifer Keelan, an 8 year old girl with cerebral palsy declared: "I'll take all night if I have to."
Jennifer Keelan, an 8 year old girl with cerebral palsy declared: "I'll take all night if I have to."
On July 26 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act became law. It had support from both parties: just 29 Republicans & 5 Democrats opposed it.
Probably the most important law of the George H.W. Bush presidency. Later, Bush himself benefited when he used a wheelchair. #ADA30
Probably the most important law of the George H.W. Bush presidency. Later, Bush himself benefited when he used a wheelchair. #ADA30
Other countries saw the Americans with Disabilities Act as a groundbreaking piece of legislation.
In 2012 the UN offered a new international treaty modeled after the #ADA. More than 150 countries around the world ratified the treaty. They wanted to follow America's lead.
In 2012 the UN offered a new international treaty modeled after the #ADA. More than 150 countries around the world ratified the treaty. They wanted to follow America's lead.
By the time the UN adopted the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, American conservatives were skeptical.
Astonishingly, Senate Republicans refused to ratify it. They ignored their colleague Bob Dole in a wheelchair in the chamber, begging them to support it.
Astonishingly, Senate Republicans refused to ratify it. They ignored their colleague Bob Dole in a wheelchair in the chamber, begging them to support it.
Today we have several disabled members of Congress. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) lost both legs when her helicopter was shot down in Iraq.
Sadly her colleague Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) recently said she "stands" for the destruction of America. That's deeply a ugly attack on a disabled vet.
Sadly her colleague Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) recently said she "stands" for the destruction of America. That's deeply a ugly attack on a disabled vet.
According to the CDC, 1 in 4 US adults have some kind of disability.
The Trump administration has proposed cutting funding for people with disabilities, emulating a tactic that Ronald Reagan pushed in the 1980s that some have called a "disability purge." https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/todaysdebate/2020/01/27/trump-administration-cuts-disability-benefits-among-cruelest-editorials-debates/4592737002/
The Trump administration has proposed cutting funding for people with disabilities, emulating a tactic that Ronald Reagan pushed in the 1980s that some have called a "disability purge." https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/todaysdebate/2020/01/27/trump-administration-cuts-disability-benefits-among-cruelest-editorials-debates/4592737002/
84 years after we elected a disabled president, we elected an unspeakably cruel man who makes fun of people with disabilities.
Now on the 30th #ADAanniversary today, Trump's opponent is a man who voted for the original cosponsors of the Americans with Disabilities Act: Joe Biden
Now on the 30th #ADAanniversary today, Trump's opponent is a man who voted for the original cosponsors of the Americans with Disabilities Act: Joe Biden
Biden's campaign has real, detailed policies to improve access & equality for Americans with disabilities.
Trump's campaign... doesn't even have a disability page. It complains about too many disabled people receiving aid.
Anyway, here's Biden's plan: https://joebiden.com/disabilities/
Trump's campaign... doesn't even have a disability page. It complains about too many disabled people receiving aid.
Anyway, here's Biden's plan: https://joebiden.com/disabilities/
Americans with disabilities have never had their freedom simply handed to them.
They have had to fight for it every step of the way. Even if those steps were taken in wheelchairs.
It's up to all of us to listen to them, have their backs, and build a more equitable society.
They have had to fight for it every step of the way. Even if those steps were taken in wheelchairs.
It's up to all of us to listen to them, have their backs, and build a more equitable society.
If you learned something new from this thread, or you did not know that today was the 30th anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act, please consider sharing it.
If you don't want to miss another one of my history threads, sign up for free here: https://arlen.substack.com/
If you don't want to miss another one of my history threads, sign up for free here: https://arlen.substack.com/
On the 30th anniv. of the Americans with Disabilities Act, here are great folks to follow on Twitter:
@RebeccaCokley- Director, @CAPDisability
@jkclegacy- Climbed Capitol Hill steps in 1990 as an 8 year old
@kendallybrown- Disabled healthcare advocate
@SenDuckworth-US Senator
@RebeccaCokley- Director, @CAPDisability
@jkclegacy- Climbed Capitol Hill steps in 1990 as an 8 year old
@kendallybrown- Disabled healthcare advocate
@SenDuckworth-US Senator
