July 26th is the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) being signed in 1990. While as a person of goodness, it grieves me that such laws are needed, until we have a better society, I am thankful for the work that has been done. Given its importance, since many are unaware of the history of the ADA, its elements, and the notable progress since, I want to briefly share just a bit.
Before I do, because I am who I am, let me note, that I am also aware and understand the issues surrounding use of the term “disability” for some of the areas it is applied to. I am using the term as it is used by the ADA, as for the purposes of this post, it is the most applicable and expedient (def’n: convenient and practical although possibly improper or immoral).
This link gives a “Timeline of the Americans with Disabilities Act” https://adata.org/ada-timeline. I would like to highlight beyond the signing of the ADA, the signing of the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA), which was a significant step.
This link gives the ADA law with the ADAAA: https://beta.ada.gov/law-and-regs/ada/ A brief intro summary can be read here: https://beta.ada.gov/topics/intro-to-ada/
As individuals and advocates, regardless of our official roles, it is important we are at minimum aware of:
- The basics of the ADA; including what is defined as a disability, which might surprise some.
- Disability and intersectionality with other areas of marginalization, discrimination, oppression, so on (e.g., ethnicity, 2SLGBTQIA+); and the history of advocacy and movements about this.
- Disability paradigms and models.
- The work that needs to be done across the array of prevention, advocacy, and societal change.
I obviously can’t incorporate all of that into a short post, so offer a few additional sources for review, and encourage you, as needed, to learn more and take action.
- While written for the psychologist profession, the updated (February, 2022) Guidelines for Assessment and Intervention with Persons with Disabilities by the American Psychological Association, includes information to help with understanding topics such as disability paradigms and models; and as such, those sections are worth the review regardless of roles/fields. https://www.apa.org/pi/disabil...essment-disabilities
- The video “Trauma in Youth with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities” by Brian Tallant, gives a bit about that area https://www.youtube.com/watch?...8Z6ryHsnw&t=416s. Also, I’ve attached the current version of my “For a child/youth with developmental delay or/and disability who has experienced trauma. Some available information and tools for Mental Health providers.”; which has information that can be helpful for those outside of mental health.
- The United Nation’s Disability Inclusion Strategy: https://www.un.org/en/content/disabilitystrategy/
- My curriculum for Connect All, while a general curriculum, is inclusive of how topics such as child abuse, the environment, disasters, so on, can affect and be addressed, as applicable, by individuals with disabilities/disabled individuals. https://www.connectall.online/
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Hi. I originally posted this on July 17th. Today is the 26th, and I have updated the original attachment, as well as attached "Contacting a Mental Health Provider: For children/youth with developmental delay or/and disability who have experienced trauma."
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