National Disability Independence Day 2023: Date, History, Facts about Disability

National Disability Independence Day is observed on July 26 each year. It honours the 1990 signature of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This civil rights law criminalises all forms of discrimination against people with disabilities and ensures their full community participation, independence, and economic independence. The Americans with Disabilities Act encompasses public accommodations, employment, transportation, and services provided by state and local governments. A.D.A. is a life-altering act for numerous individuals. Today, one in four Americans with disabilities can access their employment and general communities with greater ease and can participate more effectively.

The background of National Disability Independence Day

Initiated in the 1960s, the American disability movement sought to combat the long-held belief that people with disabilities are defective and, as such, must be isolated from civic life. The broader civil rights struggles of the period inspired the movement. It opposed callous attitudes and advocated for equal access to education, public life, and employment opportunities.

The passage of Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act was a significant improvement for individuals with disabilities. This section prohibited federal funding recipients from discriminating against individuals with disabilities. Section 508 of the same act, which was updated in 1998, stipulated that electronically distributed federal information must be accessible to people with disabilities. This section was revised in 2017 to make all digital content accessible to people with disabilities.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was first introduced in 1988 with the intention of expanding the rights of the disabled community into a single law to protect them from discrimination in employment, transportation, communication, and government and public establishments. Peter Berg, project coordinator of technical assistance at the Great Lakes A.D.A. Centre, asserts that A.D.A. has facilitated the integration of individuals with disabilities into all aspects of society.

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5 FACTS ABOUT DISABILITY YOU MAY NOT KNOW

Disability affects over one billion individuals worldwide.

India has the largest population of visually impaired individuals in the globe.

According to the World Health Organisation, disabled men have a lower employment rate than non-disabled men.

One in five Americans, or 49.7 million individuals, have some form of disability.

70% of individuals with disabilities in the United States rely on friends and family for assistance with daily activities, while 40% do not have any assistance.

NATIONAL DISABILITY INDEPENDENCE DAY DATES