NAD Recognizes ADA 12th Anniversary

July 26, 2002 is a special day. It is the 12th anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) was one of the many organizations that worked with the late Justin Dart, known as the "Father of the ADA", toward the passage of this law which was signed by President George Bush, Sr. in 1990.

The ADA is a simple law so fundamental to human rights that deaf people in other countries say, "… but we don’t have the ADA, and we need it." This law protects the rights of people with disabilities, so that no one is discriminated against simply because they cannot walk, cannot see, cannot hear. This law encourages all Americans to put abilities ahead of disabilities and has helped change people’s attitudes towards disabled Americans.

The ADA has encouraged people to invent ways to break down barriers, open doors, and make communication easier for deaf and hard of hearing Americans. Communication access in hospitals, the courts, at work, and in schools is improving as more and more people become aware of their rights under this law.

Progress has been made by enforcing ADA, but change often does not happen quickly and easily, so more work must be done to strengthen the enforcement of this law. The NAD is dedicated to working with others toward this goal.

The mission of the NAD is to promote, protect, and preserve the rights and quality of life of deaf and hard of hearing individuals in the United States of America. Established in 1880, the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) is the nation’s oldest and largest nonprofit organization safeguarding the accessibility and civil rights of 28 million deaf and hard of hearing Americans across a broad range of areas including education, employment, health care, and telecommunications.

The NAD is a dynamic federation of 51 state association affiliates including the District of Columbia, organizational affiliates, and national members. Primary areas of focus include grassroots advocacy and empowerment, policy development and research, legal assistance, captioned media, information and publications, and youth leadership.

Let’s all join hands in celebrating the 12th anniversary of the ADA. It has changed all of our lives and it promises a future of equality for all.

Sincerely,

Kent Kennedy
NAD President