National Disability Independence Day: Raising Awareness For Disability Rights

Millions of Americans live with a psychological or physical disability. National Disability Independence Day celebrates the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, a life-changing legislation for many people with disabilities. That said, this holiday can serve as a reminder of the work yet to be done. Below, explore the significance of this holiday and how to continue to support disability rights efforts. 

What is National Disability Independence Day?

History of National Disability Independence Day

National Disability Independence Day is celebrated every year on July 26 to commemorate the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by President George HW Bush in 1990. This day was also considered the first National Disability Independence Day worldwide. 

The American disability movement: Raising awareness for over a century

The American disability movement has a long history; the disabled community has been fighting for well over a century, with the earliest examples of activism found as far back as the 1800s. Groups fighting for the rights of this community formed throughout the 1900s, including the League of the Physically Handicapped, which was organized in the 1930s, and the National Association for Retarded Children (NARC), which was organized in the 1950s. Several presidents also took steps toward assisting people with disabilities, including President Truman, who formed the National Institute of Mental Health in 1948.

As time passed, activists took to the streets, protesting and fighting for disability rights, motivated by broader civil rights struggles in the 1960s. When the ADA stalled in Congress in 1990, protestors demonstrated on the steps of the Capitol Building, leaving behind their wheelchairs and walkers and dragging themselves up the stairs to show the extent of their daily struggles and their determination to bring about change. 

1990: The Americans With Disabilities Act becomes law

The ADA was modeled after earlier laws prohibiting discrimination against other groups, and no single law has done more to protect disabled people. The ADA prohibits discrimination against people with a wide range of disabilities in many areas of public life. It also addresses access to state and local government services, public establishments and commercial facilities, and telecommunication services for those with hearing and speech impairments and guarantees protection in the workplace.

ADA Amendments Act of 2008

After the ADA was passed, several Supreme Court decisions made it more difficult for people to qualify as disabled. The ADA Amendments Act of 2008 changed this factor by broadening the definition of disability, making it easier for people to get needed support. These amendments were passed to restore the protections initially put in place by the ADA.

Protections under the law thanks to the Americans with Disabilities Act

The ADA recognizes a wide range of conditions as disabilities, including but not limited to diabetes, autism, HIV, blindness, deafness, traumatic brain injury, intellectual disabilities, and major depressive disorder. Some of the specific protections it offers people with disabilities include the following: 

• Employers with 15 or more employees must provide an equal opportunity to those with disabilities to benefit from the same employment-related opportunities as others. These opportunities can include hiring, promotions, social activity, and pay. 

• Employers are restricted in how they can ask questions about an applicant’s disability before a job offer is made, and they must offer reasonable accommodation so that qualified people with disabilities can work efficiently.  

• State and local governments, regardless of the size or amount of federal funds, must provide equal opportunities for people with disabilities to benefit from services, activities, and programs and participate in civic life.

• State and local governments must follow specific guidelines for new construction and altering current buildings, including by relocating programs or providing full access to older buildings.

• Public transportation authorities, including city buses, subways, trains, etc.) must not discriminate against people with disabilities related to using their services and make good faith efforts to purchase or lease accessible vehicles.

• Segregation, exclusion, and unequal treatment by public accommodations and commercial facilities are prohibited. 

• Carriers of phone and television services must provide accommodations for people with speech and hearing disabilities.

• The Department of Justice must provide technical assistance to state and local governments, businesses, and individuals regarding the law.

Other laws that protect people with disabilities

The ADA was groundbreaking legislation, but other important laws also offer protections for those with disabilities, including the following. 

Rehabilitation Act of 1973

The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 was the first federal law protecting people with disabilities. This law allowed qualified individuals with disabilities to enter the federal workforce and prohibited discrimination against them in programs that receive federal funding and from federal agencies.

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) makes free and appropriate public education available to children with disabilities. IDEA ensures special education and related services, provides early intervention for infants and toddlers, and awards grants. It was signed into law in 1975.

After the ADA

While the ADA has significantly improved the quality of life for people with disabilities, there is still work to be done. For example, people with disabilities have more healthcare needs than the general population, but they may face barriers to obtaining the care that they need. This community often faces delayed care and is less likely to have a physician who spends time with them and goes through treatment explanations. Research shows that biases toward this group exist, including among healthcare professionals. 

Inequalities are also present in the justice system. Some research has found that 32% of prisoners and 40% of inmates reported at least one disability, which is as much as four times the rate in the general population. As many as three in 10 inmates report having a cognitive disability, and those with mild cognitive impairments are reluctant to admit to them, even if they can act as a mitigating factor in sentencing. 

How to celebrate National Disability Independence Day

The ADA was a landmark piece of legislation, and while many people celebrate its creation, people with disabilities still face many challenges. Below are some ways to make a difference on National Disability Independence Day.

Raise awareness

One way to celebrate this holiday is to raise awareness about the challenges faced by people with disabilities while highlighting their unique contributions. For example, you can try the following: 

• Use appropriate hashtags when posting on social media to spread the word about National Disability Independence Day

• Organize a community wheelchair race at a local park

• Host a panel discussion at your workplace and invite people with disabilities to discuss their experiences

• Read a book, listen to music, or go to an art exhibit to appreciate the work of artists and creatives with disabilities

• Share the work of disabled creators and businesses

Support people with disabilities

There are also ways to support people with disabilities on National Disability Independence Day or any day of the year, including but not limited to the following: 

• Make an effort to interact with the disabled community. Whether you strike up a conversation in public or volunteer at an organization, you may learn from getting to know someone with a disability. 

• Donate to a charity that provides resources for people with disabilities.

• When talking to someone with a disability, don’t jump to conclusions about what they can and cannot do. Don’t assume they cannot do something; ask if they need your help. In addition, don’t push someone’s wheelchair or touch their medical equipment without being invited to. 

Mental health challenges for individuals with disabilities

Despite the passing of the ADA, people with disabilities still face a multitude of challenges, including unequal access to housing, employment, and medical care. Managing these obstacles, as well as the daily challenges of their disabilities, can take a significant toll on a person’s mental health. People with disabilities may face multiple barriers when seeking accessible mental health care, including cost, a lack of local providers, and transportation challenges. An online therapy platform like BetterHelp can be a suitable alternative to traditional treatment. 

With online therapy, you can speak to a therapist from your own home, and in many cases, this option may be more affordable than traditional in-person therapy. Research has found that online therapy can be an effective treatment for those with disabilities, with one study concluding that teletherapy is “a valuable mode of service delivery by service users across a variety of formats and the spectrum of needs in the disability community, providing benefits which differentiate from traditional in‐person service delivery.”