Disability rights advocates celebrated the 20th anniversary of the American’s with Disabilities Act at the capitol Monday and made a push to make Disability History week official.
Supporters had balloons, cake, and a live band to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the act that prohibits discrimination because of physical or mental disability.
Tony Sauer was paralyzed from the waist down when he was a teenager. Now he is the head of California’s Department of Rehabilitation. He says a disability should not stand in the way of a career or family.
“We need to see more people with disabilities in the work force because that is independence, relying on social security is not independence,” said Sauer.
Democratic Assemblyman Jim Beall was at the event. He has a developmentally disabled stepson, and is pushing a resolution to establish Disability History Week.
“Educating people about the history of the civil rights movement for disabilities is a start, looking back at the history, and then talking about what needs to be done in the future," said Beall.
Beall says he’s optimistic the governor will sign the resolution. If passed, the first Disability History Week would take place this coming October.
