EPISODE · Jul 6, 2026 · 44 MIN
[Full uncut conversation] The ADA: A Civil Rights Milestone With Miles To Go
from Laura Flanders and Friends: Solutions-Focused Progressive Perspectives on Politics, News, and Culture · host Laura Flanders
This month on Laura Flanders & Friends we’re lifting up the people, the stories, and the ideas driving disability justice forward. This week, a candid conversation with two leading disability rights organizers on the ongoing fight for recognition, respect, and full inclusion for the largest minority in the country—these stories push us to rethink what justice really looks like. This show is made possible by you! To become a sustaining member go to LauraFlanders.org/donate Thank you for your continued support! Description: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed in 1990, a significant milestone in the fight for civil rights, with a vision of inclusion and respect for people with disabilities. But ableism, or discrimination in favor of able-bodied people, persists, affecting the one in four Americans with a disability. What does ableism mean and why is it still a prominent problem? Anita Cameron and Keith Jones, leaders in the disability rights and disability justice movements, have answers. Cameron, who has been arrested nearly 150 times, participated in the "Capitol Crawl" for the passage of the ADA in 1990 and, later in 2017, she was part of the widely-publicized Rotunda Takeover with the disability advocacy group, ADAPT, to protest proposed Medicaid cuts. Her influential writings shed light on topics like ableism in media and the intersection of ableism and mental health. She currently heads the Minority Outreach at "Not Dead Yet", an organization committed to fighting ableism, or discrimination veiled as physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia of persons with disabilities. As an African-American activist, entrepreneur, and father living with cerebral palsy, Keith Jones advocates for quality independent living for persons with disabilities. He also strives for equal access to housing, education, and voting rights - for all. In addition to his human rights work, Jones is the founder of SoulTouchin’ Experiences and has earned an Emmy award for his song "Rising Phoenix," a documentary about the Paralympic Games. This far-ranging feature, timed to coincide with the signing of the ADA on July 25, 1990, concludes with a commentary by Flanders. Guests: Keith Jones, Human Rights & Disability Justice Activist, President, Soul Touchin’ Experiences Anita Cameron, Disability Justice Activist, Director of Minority Outreach, Not Dead Yet Full Episode Notes are located HERE. They include related episodes, articles, and more. Music In the Middle: “So Hip Hop” by Fezo de Mad One featuring Toni Kickman courtesy of the artist and Soul Touchin’ Experiences. And additional music included- "In and Out" and "Steppin" by Podington Bear ACCESSIBILITY - This episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel RESOURCES: *Recommended books: “Voices of a People's History of the United States in the 21st Century: Documents of Hope and Resistance, Learn more here (*Bookshop is an online bookstore with a mission to financially support local, independent bookstores. The LF Show is an affiliate of bookshop.org and will receive a small commission if you click through and make a purchase.) Related Laura Flanders Show Episodes: • Did a Summer Camp Help Spark a Disability Revolution? Watch / Listen-Download Podcast • Ableism Out, Independent Living Now! Watch / Listen-Download Podcast • The Future is Disabled”: Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha Watch / Listen-Download Podcast • Laura’s Commentary aka The F-Word: The Disability Revolution Listen-Download Podcast • Playlist of LFShow Disability Justice Episodes - Watch Here Related Articles and Resources: • Highlighting Disability / Poverty Connection, NCD Urges Congress to Alter Federal Policies that Disadvantage People with Disabilities Read Here • Dobbs Is a Disaster for Disability Justice (from the series After Roe) by Liz Bowen, Society for Cultural Anthropology Read Here • EndAssistedSuicide.org • State laws legalizing assisted suicide violate the Americans with Disabilities Act, by Matt Valliére, Opinion Contributor, The Hill, Read Here Laura Flanders and Friends Crew: Laura Flanders-Executive Producer, Writer; Sabrina Artel-Supervising Producer; Jeremiah Cothren-Senior Producer; Veronica Delgado-Video Editor, Janet Hernandez-Communications Director; Jeannie Hopper-Audio Director, Podcast & Radio Producer, Audio Editor, Sound Design, Narrator; Sarah Miller-Development Director, Nat Needham-Editor, Graphic Design emeritus; David Neuman-Senior Video Editor, and Rory O’Conner-Senior Consulting Producer. 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What this episode covers
This month on Laura Flanders & Friends we’re lifting up the people, the stories, and the ideas driving disability justice forward. This week, a candid conversation with two leading disability rights organizers on the ongoing fight for recognition, respect, and full inclusion for the largest minority in the country—these stories push us to rethink what justice really looks like. Description: Disability justice activists Anita Cameron & Keith Jones join Laura Flanders to discuss The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). What are the successes and shortcomings of the ADA, and what’s needed in this moment for our social movements? “The lives of people with disabilities are so regulated, we don't have true autonomy. I can guarantee you that the access to healthcare, reproductive rights and all of that, we disabled women have to fight for that access anyway.” - Anita Cameron “They like to either say, you're disabled or you’re a woman, you're disabled or you're queer, you're disabled or you're Black. That's not the case. We are an intricate mosaic of identities.” - Keith Jones Guests: • Anita Cameron: Disability Justice Activist; Director of Minority Outreach, Not Dead Yet • Keith Jones: Human Rights & Disability Justice Activist; President, SoulTouchin’ Experiences This show is made possible by you! To become a sustaining member go to LauraFlanders.org/donate Thank you for your continued support!
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[Full uncut conversation] The ADA: A Civil Rights Milestone With Miles To Go
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