The State Department recently celebrated the 32nd anniversary of the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The ADA was the world's first civil rights law passed for people with disabilities, and the passing of the law sparked an international shift, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said in a July 26 statement.
"Today we celebrate the 32nd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) — the world’s first comprehensive civil rights law for persons with disabilities,” Price said in his statement. “The ADA inspires the world to see disability through the lens of equity and expands opportunities for persons with disabilities to contribute to our global progress.”
Price also shared sentiments by Special Advisor on International Disability Rights Sara Minkara in his statement. They both urge Americans to strive to recognize and commit to disability inclusion and focus on recognizing its importance every day.
“This landmark U.S. law sparked an international shift from viewing persons with disabilities as objects of charity to individuals with rights, fully capable of exercising these rights. This perspective serves as a beacon to the more than one billion persons with disabilities worldwide — one in every seven of us,” Price said in the statement. “Ensuring that persons with disabilities can proudly participate in all aspects of society is a U.S. foreign policy priority, and a value that we live at the U.S. Department of State.”
President Joe Biden said the administration is working to improve accessibility for people with disabilities and expand work opportunities and resources for employers to make workplaces more inclusive. The administration has provided $3 billion in funding for disabled students through the American Rescue Plan, he said in a July 26 White House statement.
