Jun 9, 2010
This July 26th 2010 will mark the 20th Anniversary of President George H. W. Bush signing the Americans with Disabilities Act into law. Last Sunday night, Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to President Obama, kicked off the White House's celebration of this milestone. Ms. Jarrett delivered remarks to over 2000 people from around the world at the VSA International Festival at the Kennedy Center. VSA is the International Organization on Arts and Disability.
In her remarks Ms. Jarrett noted the significance of the ADA as landmark civil rights legislation. Referring to the ADA she said: "It was a bill of rights for persons with disabilities, a formal acknowledgement that Americans with disabilities are Americans first and that they're entitled to the same rights and freedoms as everybody else." Moreover, she announced that "...over the course of the upcoming weeks we will honor this committment across the country, senior White House officials, cabinet members, members of our administration, and of course the general public will commemorate this historic anniversary through various events, new policy announcements, and other recognitions."
For more information regarding celebrating this historic landmark you can go to the National Network of ADA Centers website.
