Americans with Disabilities Act Celebrates 35 Years: A Look into the Milestones Made and the Challenges Ahead

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law on July 26, 1990, by former President George H. W. Bush This law created civil rights legislation that expanded the rights of people with disabilities. For millions of Americans with disabilities, the 35th anniversary of the ADA is a time to celebrate. It is also a time to think about how people with disabilities worked together to get this law passed. This law was meant to make life better for people with disabilities. Today, the ADA helps make sure that people with disabilities can access places and be included in their communities. The law is enforced to make sure people with disabilities are treated fairly and equally.The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) is driven by its Five Year Strategic Plan goals to improve services and supports for people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities (I/DD). The Council, charged with creating systems change for individuals with developmental disabilities and family members, will work through various advocacy and capacity building activities to build a more interdependent, self-sufficient, and integrated and included disability community across Georgia.This project was supported, in part by grant number 2001GASCDD-03, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects with government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL policy.