nuwsletter: Vol 7. | July 2023
nuwave Equity Corporation
The "nu" turnkey solution for your Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion needs
nu-education
ADA Anniversary
This month we celebrate the 33rd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA, signed into law on July 26, 1990, by President George H.W. Bush, prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in all public and private places open to the general public, such as jobs, schools, transportation, restaurants, and shopping centers. The ADA also ensures that these spaces are physically accessible to people with disabilities.?
In Commemorating 30 Years of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Activist Lawrence Carter-Long discusses the long history of discrimination and protests that preceded the ADA. Eugenics, a theory of “racial improvement” and “planned breeding,” was coined in 1883 by Francis Galton, but many speculate the concept dates back to ancient Greek society. People with disabilities faced social discrimination and were often institutionalized and had little autonomy over their lives. One of the first protests against disability discrimination took place in New York in 1935 when the League of the Physically Handicapped organized a sit-in, asking for equal rights to employment.?
Following this protest, 1500 jobs were created for workers with physical disabilities. Disability rights organizations continued to fight for progress again in 1977 during the 504 Sit-In, where they expressed support for regulations of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. This legislation would protect the rights of disabled people, but the federal government failed to enforce it. Sit-ins erupted in several major US cities, most notably in San Francisco, where the sit-in lasted 25 days. These protests were also successful; on April 28, 1977, the Carter Administration signed the regulations into law. Section 504 would set the foundation for the ADA, which would later be approved in 1990, following the protests of over 30,000 disability activists and allies expressing their support. The ADA would again pass the torch to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, a treaty by the United Nations, signed in 2007.
The disability rights movement has a long, rich history. While activists and organizations have made huge strides in improving the quality of life for people with disabilities, they still face significant discrimination and hardships. Be an ally for disabled people by creating and maintaining inclusive spaces and supporting legislation that protects their rights.
Want to learn more about the impact of the Americans with Disabilities Act? Check out these great sources:?
Sources: The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, National Human Genome Research Institute, NowThis News, Disability Rights Florida, Doris Zames Fleischer
nu-spotlight
We’ll be sharing ongoing highlights and updates in this section of the nuwsletter. This month, we are excited to share some of the DEI resources we’ve added or will be adding to our learning journey.?
Check out some of these local events happening this month and look out for more on our social media accounts!
Feng Shui Monthly Energy Shift Workshop
Understanding Personality Disorders Webinar
Black Family Business Networking Event
领英推荐
Davenport Electric Fest
"Come Meet A Black Person" Anti-Racism Series
"Invisible” Disabilities and the ADA Webinar
2023 Vermont Mad Pride Day March and Celebration
Do Good Fest
Faith Ringgold: Jazz Stories Exhibit Last Day
Stowe Jewish Film Festival
Queer Dance Party
BIPOC Outdoor Festival