The year 2026 marked the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, and the 36th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. When President George H. W. Bush signed the ADA into law, he said we celebrated “another ‘independence day,’ … long overdue” for people with disabilities.
In this session we revisited some of the pivotal events of the disability rights movement, recognized some of the pioneers who led the way, and acknowledged the power of community that keeps us moving forward on the journey from isolation to inclusion of people with disabilities.