National Disability Institute proudly celebrates the 34th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Disability Pride Month. We invite you to join us on Facebook (@NationalDisability) and Instagram (@NationalDisabilityInstitute) to follow our inspiring campaigns. Our posts feature myth-busting about the ADA, a Disability Pride reading list and tributes to the activists who have tirelessly fought for the equal rights of all people with disabilities.
One such trailblazer is Robert Burgdorf, Jr., Professor of Law Emeritus at the University of the District of Columbia’s David A. Clarke School of Law. A passionate advocate, Professor Burgdorf has dedicated his career to teaching and writing about the rights of persons with disabilities. As he powerfully stated, “The point of the ADA is not disability – it is discrimination. The ADA is a mandate for equality.”
Every day, NDI works to break down barriers to economic self-sufficiency for job seekers with disabilities. Our American Dream Employment Network (ADEN) supports individuals on Social Security disability benefits who aim to return to work or start working for the first time. Additionally, our Small Business Hub collaborates with more than 40 organizations to help entrepreneurs and business owners with disabilities secure capital, create business plans, expand customer outreach and more to help their businesses succeed and thrive.
To commemorate the ADA’s 34th anniversary, NDI created an online resource guide to share some of the top resources developed throughout our 19 years of work. These resources, which focus on the employment and economic inclusion of people with disabilities, are essential supports to fulfill the promise of the ADA. We encourage you to share this online resource guide with others. View the Resource Guide.
In the 34 years since the ADA’s passage, we have seen historic advancements in protecting the civil rights of people with disabilities and fulfilling the ADA’s promise. Yet, our work is far from done. Achieving true equality requires enduring and shared responsibility. NDI is poised to lead this charge by collaborating and innovating to build a brighter financial future for people with disabilities and their families and creating a more equitable society for all.
Learn more about NDI and our mission. Together, let’s be catalysts for change.