Contact: Amanda Green-Hawkins, 412-562-2398, agreen@usw.org
(Pittsburgh) – The United Steelworkers (USW) International President Leo W. Gerard and International Vice President Fred Redmond issued the following statement marking 25 years of the Americans with Disabilities Act:
President George H. W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) into law 25 years ago on July 26, 1990. The ADA is one of America’s most comprehensive pieces of civil rights legislation. It prohibits discrimination and guarantees that people with disabilities have the same opportunities as everyone else to participate in the mainstream of life.
This landmark legislation was a milestone for the more than 5.5 million Americans who live with disabilities. The ADA opened the doors to equal opportunity, full participation, independent living, integration and economic self-sufficiency for persons with disabilities. This legislative achievement marked the dawn of a fundamental shift in the expectations of and for people with disabilities in every aspect of life.
In celebration of the 25th anniversary of this historic legislation, our union reaffirms its commitment in these core areas and continues to support the goals of the ADA in furthering rights of people with disabilities who want a better life for themselves and their families.