Disability Rights and Advocacy
When was the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) signed into law?
- The ADA was signed into law in 1990. It prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life.
Who is considered the father of the independent living movement?
- Ed Roberts is often called the father of the independent living movement.
What was the first country to adopt legislation ensuring equality and non-discrimination on the basis of disability?
- Sweden was the first country to adopt such legislation in 1970.
Name of the first wheelchair user to serve in the U.S. Congress?
- Tony Coelho served in the U.S. Congress from 1979 to 1989 and was a primary author of the ADA.
Which U.S. president signed the ADA into law?
- President George H.W. Bush signed the ADA into law in 1990.
What year was the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities adopted?
- The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was adopted in 2006.
What is Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973?
- Section 504 prohibits discrimination based on disability in any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.
What is the purpose of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)?
- IDEA is a law ensuring services to children with disabilities throughout the nation. It governs how states and public agencies provide early intervention, special education, and related services to eligible infants, toddlers, and youth with disabilities.
What is the name of the guide dog that led his blind owner down 78 flights of stairs in the World Trade Center on 9/11?
- Roselle was a guide dog present during the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Despite the chaos, she successfully led her blind owner, Michael Hingson, down 78 flights of stairs and to the safety of a friend's office.
Which legislation expanded the ADA by broadening the definition of disability?
- The ADA Amendments Act of 2008 expanded the ADA by providing a broader interpretation of disability to include more individuals under its protection.
