Today marks the 36th anniversary of the ADA — we honor the disability advocates who fought to guarantee our civil rights.
36 years ago today, the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law.
And it happened because disabled Americans left their wheelchairs and crutches and crawled up the stone steps of the Capitol to demand that Congress take their priorities seriously.
83 long steps.
They made sure the people in power couldn’t look away. And it was because of their dedication and tenacity that they won.
Now, over 44 million disabled Americans are protected under the ADA.
That’s what I think about on this day. The courage it takes to demand that powerful people see you, and refuse to accept that your rights are anyone else's to grant or withhold.
36 years later, that fight is far from over.
Right now, this administration is forcing those who are battling chronic illnesses, living with disabilities, and managing mental health conditions through endless red tape just to keep their healthcare coverage.
I refuse to let those attacks stand. I’ve always fought for disabled New Yorkers — that will never change.
As Public Advocate, I partnered with the Center for Independence of the Disabled in New York to expose and fix accessibility failures at city polling sites that blocked disabled voters from participating in our democracy. And in this office, I recovered over $5M from a nonprofit that cheated adults with developmental disabilities out of the care they were owed.
Because the ADA was never just a law. It was a declaration that disabled Americans belong here — in our workplaces, our schools, our communities, and our democracy. Fully, and without apology.
I carry that declaration into this office with me every single day. And I will never stop defending it.
If you’re with me, will you pitch in $3 or whatever you can today to help me keep standing up for the rights and dignity of disabled New Yorkers?
Donate $3 ››
Thank you,
Letitia James
