ACDC Monthly Meeting & Panel Discussion on the 20th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities A  

It is 20 years since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, a landmark civil rights achievement, was passed by overwhelming Congressional majorities with the leadership of distinguished Democrats including Senator Tom Harkin and Representative Steny Hoyer, and signed into law by the first President Bush. The passage of this legislation promised equal opportunity to people with disabilities in aspects of life from transportation to telecommunications, employment to public accommodations, health care to government services. How far have we come in realizing the promise of the ADA?

At the July ACDC meeting we will convene a panel discussion to get an up to the moment perspective on the ADA at 20 -- accomplishments opening the door to equal opportunity and unfinished work. Join Arlington's own Delegate Patrick Hope, a leading Virginia advocate for disability rights in the House of Delegates, 22-year old National Council on Disability member Ari Ne'eman (recently confirmed by Congress) and another panelist still to be determined to discuss how the ADA has opened the doors for persons with disabilities and aspects of life for which barriers to equal opportunity remain. The panel will be moderated by Daniel Davis (Chair of Virginia Young Democrats and Arlington Young Democrats Disability Caucus and Member of the ACDC Outreach Committee).