JACKSON, TN – July 24th, 2020 – The City of Jackson and the Tennessee Disability Coalition are excited to honor and celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); one of the United States’ most important pieces of civil rights legislation prohibiting discrimination and ensuring people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as all other Americans, the organizations said in a joint statement Friday afternoon. President George H.W. Bush signed the ADA on July 26, 1990.
The ADA gives civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities similar to those provided to individuals based on race, color, sex, national origin, age, and religion. It ensures equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in public accommodations, employment, transportation, state and local government services, and telecommunications.
“The Americans with Disabilities Act was a massive win for the civil rights of people with disabilities across the nation,” said City of Jackson Mayor Scott Conger. “We are excited to celebrate, commemorate, and continue working to expand opportunities for people with disabilities in Jackson and across Madison County.”
To commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the ADA, Mayor Conger and the Tennessee Disability Coalition are encouraging residents to use the hashtags #ThanksToTheADA and #InThisTogetherTN on social media to help raise awareness of the anniversary. Moreover, the campaign aims to spotlight the tens of thousands of Jacksonians with disabilities and their contributions to the community.
The City of Jackson, the Tennessee Disability Coalition, and its 40+ member agencies invite residents, organizations, government entities, and faith communities to join in the celebration by sharing your #ThanksTotheADA and #InThisTogetherTN moments.
In a social media post, use any media (video, pictures, written word, or other) to share how you are celebrating the anniversary, and celebrating Tennesseans with disabilities. Then post it on social media using #InThisTogetherTN and #ThanksToTheADA.
“Across the state, over 1.6 million Tennesseans have some form of disability, most of which we just can’t see. While it certainly includes our friends that use assistive devices like a wheelchair, or cane; the law protects individuals with many other diagnoses such as breast cancer, diabetes, and heart disease,” said Carol Westlake, Executive Director of the Tennessee Disability Coalition. “After 30 years, we recognize the important progress we’ve made, and look forward to working with leaders like Mayor Conger to ensure the full and equal participation of all.”