Happy 25th Anniversary, ADA!

One of my favorite shirts

Today is the 25^th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. Including both physical and mental handicaps, the ADA covers five areas: employment, public entities and public transportation, public accommodations and commercial facilities, telecommunications, and miscellaneous provisions. Amendments were made to this document in 2008. The ADA paved the way for the improvement of accessibility in other countries. To read its text and see other resources about this law, go to www.ada.gov.

I was four years old when President George H. W. Bush signed the ADA into law. I’m thankful for having grown up during a period of increasing understanding and acceptance of individuals with disabilities in the United States. Although there are still physical and attitudinal barriers at times, the ADA has given people like me more opportunities to live an active life. I described these opportunities in my autobiography UnabASHed by Disability (available at http://tinyurl.com/oolmj39).

On a side note, the 2015 Special Olympics World Games kicked off yesterday with an opening ceremony in Los Angeles. At the ceremony, the Special Olympics torch, which changed hands many times during the Unified Relay Across America, was presented. About 6,500 athletes with intellectual disabilities from 165 countries will compete in 25 sports events over nine days. For more information about Special Olympics, go to www.specialolympics.org.

Nike: Taking a Step in the Right Direction

Nike is about to begin selling the Zoom Soldier 8 Flyease, a pair of shoes designed for people with disabilities. Matthew Walzer, a college student from Florida with cerebral palsy, wrote his first letter to Nike three years ago because he wanted a shoe without laces. To learn more and watch a video about Flyease, go to http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/nike-flyease-shoe-technology_55a3eec6e4b0b8145f731bde.

A Dance of Joy Thanks to the NYC Ballet

The New York City Ballet recently started holding ballet workshops for children with cerebral palsy (CP). This happened as a result of a letter from a woman whose daughter has CP. To read the article about the NYC Ballet's workshops for children with disabilities, go to http://www.upworthy.com/a-mom-wrote-a-letter-to-the-nyc-ballet-about-her-daughters-disability-they-responded-gracefully?c=aol1&icid=maing-grid7|main5|dl18|sec3_lnk3%26pLid%3D-1534398262.

Independence for People with Disabilities

In honor of the 4th of July (also known as Independence Day), the theme of this blog post is independence. If you haven't already done so, call or visit an independent living center near you to see what services they offer. To learn about some resources for those who want to live independently, go to https://www.disability.gov/independent-living/. In 22 days, we'll commemorate for the 25th time National Disability Independence Day, the anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Stay tuned for more information about this historic event. Happy Independence Day!

Disabilities Featured in New Kleenex Ad

A wheelchair user and his dog (who has lost the use of his hind legs) are featured in a new ad by Kleenex. To see their story, go to http://www.aol.com/article/2015/07/01/a-dog-in-a-wheelchair-is-a-handicapped-mans-best-friend/21203825/?icid=maing-grid7|main5|dl32|sec1_lnk2%26pLid%3D1748053728. Side note: A great website for the owners of pets with disabilities is http://www.handicappedpets.com/.