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Americans With Disabilities Act Turns 26: Celebration of Progress, But The Journey Continues

www.ariseinc.org

  The 26th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Actwas honored in Syacuse by people sharing their own experiences.  Angela Winfield is a legally blind attorney who spoke at today’s proclamation. She recalls going on a cruise with her husband who is also blind, with their Seeing Eye dogs. Winfield was approached by a woman who asked the couple what they had to do to get pets on board.  And her husband responded, “Well first… we had to go blind.”

" She wasn't expecting people that looked like my husband and myself, two blind individuals, to be enjoying themselves on a cruise ship like any other person.  So the ADA is the floor that allowed the access but the attitudinal barrier was still there." 

www.ariseinc.org
Credit http://www.ariseinc.org/
Angela Winfield, legally blind since the age of 10 is an attorney in Auburn

  Agnes McCray refers to herself and those with disabilities as people with ‘extravagant differences.’  The challenges she faces are unequal job opportunities and lack of awareness.

Of over 72 % of the disability population is not employed. I defiantly say also, that sensitivity training is needed so that you know what is the correct thing to say."

A graduate student at Syracuse University, Kate Pollack is deaf and the ADA  has provided her with full access to American Sign Language interpretation during lectures, classes, events and conferences. She’s found other schools and businesses aren’t necessarily so accommodating.

" You can't always depend on people to provide access out of the kindness of their heart or they understand the issue. Sometimes you have to say this is the law, this is federal law and you have to do it because this is my civil right."

ADA2.mp3
Winfield discusses the difficulties in finding employment opportunities as someone with a disability and how she was discriminated against because of her blindness in interviews

People with disabilities and their advocates say the ADA has led to improvements, though a big area that needs improvement in employment opportunities.  ARISE, the sponsors of today’s event, says as much as 70%  of people with disabilities are unemployed.  July as Disability Awareness Month. 

www.ariseinc.org
Credit http://www.ariseinc.org/
Agnes McCray, A local ADA Advocate, leads the Parade thru the city

Chris Bolt, Ed.D. has proudly been covering the Central New York community and mentoring students for more than 30 years. His career in public media started as a student volunteer, then as a reporter/producer. He has been the news director for WAER since 1995. Dedicated to keeping local news coverage alive, Chris also has a passion for education, having trained, mentored and provided a platform for growth to more than a thousand students. Career highlights include having work appear on NPR, CBS, ABC and other news networks, winning numerous local and state journalism awards.