"Give us an opportunity to do what we can do, don't keep telling us what we can't do."
Senator Tony Coelho, Senate Hearing - September 27, 1988
Senator Tony Coelho, Senate Hearing - September 27, 1988
Final Steps to Equality
The National Council on Disability was tasked with writing "a comprehensive law for the disabled" that would level the playing field. The council presented a draft of the ADA, sparking hope amongst disabled people that they would soon be considered equal.
National Council on Disability
Justin Dart's National Travel
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"We started going around the country, and we actually ended up visiting all the states back in 1983... he wrote the passage of the people, expressing their opinion... Then he came back to Washington D.C. and went to this NCD council meeting and showed it to the Chairman..."
Yoshiko Dart, Personal Interview - March 24, 2013 |
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Towards Independence
 NCD Publications-"Towards Independence" (1986) and "On the Threshold of Independence (1988) |
"Moreover, NCD rooted the ADA in Republican soil, preventing it from being discarded as a 'liberal' bill. In fact, NCD members endeavored to depoliticize their job and focus simply on what was most important for persons with disabilities." Jonathan M. Young, National Council on Disability member - July 26, 2010 |
ADA Draft (1988)
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"We don't want sympathy, we want support."
Gregory Hlibock, Gallaudet Student Body President, U.S. Senate Hearing - September 27, 1988 |
"The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in areas of employment, public accommodations, transportation, communications, and public services."
Senator Tom Harkin, Senate Hearing - September 27, 1988 |
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Opponents to the ADA Draft
"This provision [accessibility] was heavily lobbied against by the business community, who argued that the cost would be too great. This is why under the current Act, some buildings built before the Act was established, are grandfathered in and do not need to be made accessible..."
Jonathan Harmatz, Personal Interview - March 13, 2013
Jonathan Harmatz, Personal Interview - March 13, 2013
 Fred G. Currey, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Greyhound - August 11, 1989 |
 Malcolm C. Green, Chairman of National Association of Theater Owners - May 10, 1989 |
