Civil rights laws take years to be written, understood, and accepted by the general public.
In July people with disabilities will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the signing of the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This law included the same protections as the Civil Rights Laws of 1964 but this time people with disabilities were included.
Stavros is proud to say our staff not only fought for the passage of the ADA but attended the signing on the White House lawn on a sweltering July day. The law prohibited discrimination in voting, public accommodation, public facilities, public education, federally assisted programs, and employment. However, like most civil rights laws it is taking years to be incorporated.
For example: access to voting is still a problem when polling places remain inaccessible. Many public accommodations still require accessible entrances, federally assisted programs like education deny students with disabilities the support they need, and the unemployment rate for people with disabilities continues to grow.
We have a long way to go. The cost of the removal of barriers, accommodations for employees, and redesigning public transportation is negligible. But it is the right thing to do.
The most important barrier is people’s attitudes. We are not “Jerry’s Kids” we do not want your pity.
Stavros is working for the promise of societal integration rather than segregation in nursing homes, long-term care institutions, and access to home health services. Stavros’s dream is to make this promise a reality.
Joe Tringali
Greenfield