Healthcare and Medical News: Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the ADA 🇺🇸

Dear Hcis,

The Autism Society of America joins more than 61 million people with disabilities in celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). When President George H.W. Bush signed the bill into law in 1990, he said, "Let the shameful wall of exclusion come tumbling down." The law was later amended, refined, and strengthened in 2008 and signed by President George W. Bush.

The Autism Society of America participated in the advocacy efforts of the original law plus the later amendments and continues to participate in efforts to protect Americans with disabilities today. The ADA is the most fundamental law protecting the civil rights of people with all types of disabilities, including those with autism. The ADA provides civil rights protections to people with autism similar to those provided to individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, and religion. It guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with autism in public accommodations, employment, transportation, state and local government services, and telecommunications.

The Americans with Disabilities Act brought dramatic improvements to the lives of people with disabilities, however we still have a long way to go. The Autism Society of America continues to advocate for the autism community across the lifespan through policy efforts at the local, state and federal levels. Please consider lending support to help us advocate and shape pivotal legislation that affects the autism community.

To learn more about how the Americans with Disability Act affects the autism community, read our full letter here.

Sincerely,