By Austin Petroski
The Iowa City community gathered on the Pedestrian Mall on the morning of July 23 to celebrate the 26 anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act and also to declare specific days in July to recognize persons with disabilities.
At the event, Rod Sullivan, the head of the Johnson County Board of Supervisors, presented a proclamation making the day Disabilities Awareness Day. Iowa City Mayor Jim Throgmorton also introduced a proclamation, declaring July 11 through the 15 to be National Disability Voter Registration Week.
The ADA was signed into legislation on July 26, 1990. The act was intended to help protect citizens with disabilities from discrimination in the workforce, transportation, and public accommodations.
Rep. Dave Loebsack, D-Iowa, who attended the event, helped the crowd celebrate the ADA.
“All of us here today know how important this act is, but there are still those in this country who don’t know,” he said.
Loebsack said the bill was created by former Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, and people need to continue to keep pushing their officials to help fix the issues the country still faces, noting that there is still “some distance” to go.
It is critical people keep those with disabilities at the forefront of their minds, he said.
The keynote speakers for the event were the co-hosts of “Hello, It’s Us,” a public-television show created at the University of Iowa Center for Disabilities and Development. The show focuses on highlighting issues related to people with disabilities. Co-hosts Mike Hoenig and Keith Ruff, both of whom have disabilities, spoke at the event.
Hoenig, who is blind, noted how important the signing of the ADA was to him at the time, so much so that he remembers where he was when he heard the news.
He pointed out that one can see many parts of the act in public now, such as curb ramps, which some people use to help get around.
“There are many obvious signs around us now, but that wasn’t the reality before the ADA,” he said.
People also need to remember the less visible contributions the ADA has made, he said.
Ruff said the actions created by the act were helpful for many in the community suffering from disabilities.
“The ADA has been a godsend for many with disabilities,” he said.
The Terry Cunningham Community Award, named after Terry Cunningham, an advocate for people with disabilities, was presented to Sen. Joe Bolkcom, D-Iowa City.
Bolkcom, who said he was honored to receive the award, noted that there were still many contributions that could be done to help people with disabilities in the community. He encouraged everyone to become engaged in their communities, noting this election year is particularly important for people with disabilities.
“We couldn’t have a more clear choice in this election for who would help people with disabilities,” he said.
