Washington Comes Alive For the ADA’s 10th Anniversary Celebration

By Jacqueline Kravetz

Washington, D.C. – The nation’s capital was alive with festivities as the Spirit of ADA Torch Relay touched down for the 20th stop of its 24-city tour across the United States. The Relay visit to Washington coincided with the actual anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act ten years ago.

The torch began its Washington leg at the Endependence Center in Arlington, VA then made its way across the Memorial Bridge to the Lincoln Memorial where about 100 torch bearers joined alongside to escort the torch to the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, a quarter-mile away.

As the torch traveled from Arlington, a ceremony was simultaneously taking place at the FDR Memorial to honor those involved in helping to write and pass the ADA into law. Speakers at the FDR Memorial included disability advocate Justin Dart, Senator Tom Harkin, Representative Steny Hoyer, Former Sentator Lowell Weicker, D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams and Tony Coelho, Chairman of the President’s Committee on the Employment of People with Disabilities, among others.

In addition to a visit from the Torch Relay, Washington hosted a full compliment of activities highlighting the ADA.

At an invitation-only party on the grounds of the Vice President’s residence in Washington, Vice President Gore also celebrated the ADA’s 10th anniversary by hosting a special dinner for leaders in the disability community. Among the 400 guests were Dana Reeve, wife of actor and director Christopher Reeve, politicians and disability advocates.

A thousand years from now, if we had to pick just a handful of accomplishments that would define for the future who we are as a people, the ADA would make that category, Gore said.

"We need to connect everybody to our national community, unlock potential of all Americans, and truly live out the deepest meaning of the American dream," Gore said. "That’s what the ADA is intended to move us toward," he added.

President Clinton addressed more than 1,000 people in front of the FDR Memoria l on the second day of Relay events.

Better jobs, secure benefits and access to information are among the efforts America needs to make to help people with disabilities live more full and independent lives, President Clinton said.

"We must do more than remove barriers to work," said Clinton.

Clinton outlined a four-part federal plan that aims to help people with disabilities. First, the federal government raised the limit people could earn while still keeping Social Security Disability benefits. From now on, the earning limit will be automatically adjusted every year based on the national average wage index.

"This will award work and help as many as 400,000 Americans with disabilities," the president said.

The second part of Clinton’s plan is the hiring of more federal workers with disabilities. The President planned to sign an executive order calling on the federal government to hire 100,000 people with disabilities by the 15th anniversary of the ADA in 2005.

Third, members of the Senate and House have introduced the first bipartisan family opportunity act to insure that children with disabilities can keep their Medicaid coverage even when their parents return to work.

"Our plan is to work with Congress to try and achieve those goals this year," Clinton said.

Fourth, the government is going to have a new Web site to be a one-stop electronic resource link for people with disabilities to log on and get the latest information on taxpayer reductions, the newest employment training centers, civil rights and protections guaranteed by the ADA.

The president also asked Congress to again back pending legislation to improve the lives of people with disabilities. Those include a $1,000 tax credit to help workers with disabilities pay for support services and technology needed to stay on the job and a $3,000 tax credit for Americans of all ages with longterm care needs.

"They must be vigilant in defending the rights already secured and our budget increases funds for ADA enforcement," Clinton said. "I also say that the disability community in America needs a strong hate crimes bill that protects people with disabilities and a bill of rights that covers Americans all over."

Also speaking at the memorial were Senators Orrin Hatch and Tom Harkin, First Lady Hillary Clinton and disability advocate Justin Dart.

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