All Access Episode 12: Celebrating the 34th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act

On July 26, 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law.  

But before that, advocates fought for decades for the rights of people with disabilities to live full and self-determined lives. Disability rights activist Jennifer Keelan-Chaffins was part of that activism, starting at age six. At age eight, she participated in the landmark Capitol Crawl protest, in which disability rights advocates abandoned their mobility aids and crawled up the steps of the U.S. Capitol as a visual demonstration of what it was like to lack physical access, urging Congress to pass the ADA. 

In this episode, we talk with Jennifer about her fierce advocacy for people with disabilities and her long history of protesting. Jennifer also highlights the important power of community and using collective voices to achieve change.  

Jennifer shares her insights about the ADA—that it is a civil rights law, but the people give it its power. Jennifer also underscores the impact of her mentors and how they provided an invaluable education for her as an activist and educator. Finally, Jennifer talks about the work that still needs to be done to address policy, as well as attitudinal and physical barriers. 

 

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