Press Release - Leadership Conference on Civil Rights
ADA Amendments Act Restores Civil Rights to Americans with Disabilities
Statement of Nancy Zirkin, Executive Vice President of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights
For Immediate Release
Contact: Scott Westbrook Simpson, 202.466.2061, simpson@civilrights.org
September 25, 2008
"This afternoon President Bush signed into law the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act, which corrects a series of narrow Supreme Court decisions that undermined the original intent of the ADA.
President Bush's signing today ensures that no American with a disability will prevented from working and contributing to their communities. It is the most significant civil rights accomplishment of President Bush and the 110th Congress.
This would not have been possible without the unique collaboration of members of Congress on both sides of the aisle and the tireless work of employers, disability advocates, and the civil rights community.
The law restores the vitality of the original ADA and clarifies Congress' intent to protect people with disabilities from discrimination.
The original ADA, signed by President George H.W. Bush in 1990, did for people with disabilities what the Civil Rights Act of 1964 did for communities of color – uphold their civil rights and protect them from discrimination in the workplace. It transformed the nation, and created the curb cuts, closed captioning, and ramps that we have all grown so accustomed to, but most importantly, that help individuals with disabilities live full and productive lives."
