This Sunday, July 26th marks the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by President George H.W. Bush. Many of the estimated 60 million Americans living with a disability recognize this as National Disability Independence Day- a day that would not have been possible without the hard work of many, including several notable Texans. 

Governor Abbott issued a proclamation honoring the anniversary of this critical civil rights law, stating:

On the 30th anniversary of the passage of this landmark legislation, I encourage all Texans to reflect on our past achievements as well as remain focused on the work that remains before us to create a fully inclusive and accessible state for Texans with disabilities. Through continued commitment to fairness and equal opportunity, we can empower all Texans to rise above their circumstances and achieve their dreams.

The ADA was the first comprehensive civil rights law for people with disabilities, prohibiting discrimination in employment and mandating accessibility requirements in a variety of aspects of public life. While the legislation was signed into law in 1990, the work did not end there. The ADA National Network has a comprehensive timeline of the ADA for those interested in learning more. GCPD and its partner agencies also hosted a series of webinars throughout the month of July highlighting different aspects of the ADA. These webinars have been archived and are available for viewing at any time.