Message from the CEO
The Americans with Disabilities Act Anniversary
July 26, 2023
Dear Members, Families, and Friends,
Today, we celebrate the 33rd anniversary of passing the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). It was signed into law by George H. W. Bush on July 26, 1990.
Together, we must remove the physical barriers we have created and the social barriers that we have accepted. Our nation will never be truly prosperous until all within it prosper.
George H. W. Bush
41st President of the United States
July 26, 1990
This landmark law, enacted 33 years ago, provides Americans with disabilities a comprehensive civil rights protection against discrimination in everyday activities including access to medical services. The law strives to ensure independent living, equality of opportunity, and economic self-sufficiency.
Thanks to the ADA, individuals with disabilities can participate in all aspects of society. It also paved the way for the Supreme Court Olmstead decision in 1999, which protects the right of people with disabilities to receive services in the most integrated setting possible providing them with greater independence and opportunities to live, work, and participate in their communities.
Additionally, the ADA anniversary coincides with Disability Pride Month, a time dedicated to recognizing and celebrating how individuals with disabilities take pride in their diverse human experiences. The ADA and Disability Pride Month symbolize decades of activism toward embracing the identities and rights of people with disabilities. These events inspire us to see disability through the lens of equity.
Our entire team provides members and their families with the most innovative Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) care coordination so they may live life to the fullest with tailored supports and services. We are dedicated to advocating to ensure their voices are heard and their needs are met.
In the more than three decades since the passage of the ADA, there is still much work to be done to remove barriers and achieve true inclusion and equality for people with IDD. This includes expanding and strengthening the workforce of direct support professionals and improving support to family caregivers that provide the most assistance for individuals with IDD to be truly included in their communities. I’m confident that together with our members, their families, and our partners, we will continue to create positive change and continue to improve the quality of life for members and families.
On behalf of the entire team, thank you for putting your trust in us. Today, on the ADA anniversary, let us recommit to shaping a future where persons with disabilities enjoy all their human rights and fundamental freedoms.
In Gratitude,
Kerry Delaney
CEO