Tom Harkin: “24 years ago, Congress passed the Americans with Disabilities Act. I will never forget the day, July 26, 1990, the ADA…”

“24 years ago, Congress passed the Americans with Disabilities Act. I will never forget the day, July 26, 1990, the ADA was signed into law. It was one of the proudest days of my legislative career. The ADA set forth four great goals for individuals with disabilities--equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency. In many ways, we have been successful in making progress toward these goals. We have increased the accessibility of our buildings, our streets, even our parks, beaches and recreation areas. We have made our books and TVs, phones, computers, and other technology more accessible. And for many Americans with disabilities, our workplaces have become increasingly more open and accessible. America is far more inclusive, today, for individuals with disabilities. But our work is still far from complete. According to new data released this week, almost 30 percent of people with disabilities are living in poverty, and fewer than one in three individuals with a disability participate in the workforce. This is further evidence that we are far from realizing the ADA's goal of economic self-sufficiency for all people with disabilities.…”