Happy Birthday ADA!
Twenty years ago, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a landmark federal civil rights law, was signed into law by a Texan President, George H. W. Bush. At his side, in his trademark cowboy hat and boots, was the man credited with leading the fight to end discrimination based on disability, the Texas businessman and advocate Justin W. Dart. Texas leaders had brought the basic civil right of freedom from discrimination to Americans with disabilities: it was a proud day for the Lone Star State.
That pride and effort, though, have been ignored in a critical way. The State of Texas continues to claim sovereign immunity from the ADA. Attorneys for the State go into court on disability discrimination cases and assert the State’s immunity to any violation rather than addressing the facts. By claiming sovereign immunity, Texas is sending a message: “I am the king; I can violate your civil rights, and there’s nothing you can do about it.” The State stands alone as Texas businesses, cities, counties, school districts and even federal government activities in Texas cannot and do not claim immunity.
CTD is a leader in preserving ADA protections, and we call on you to act. Now is the time for all Texans, not just the disability community, to take the stand that discrimination in any form is completely unacceptable.
How to do it? In 2009, Sen. Juan Hinojosa (photo) and Reps. Mark Strama and Patrick Rose filed legislation to waive sovereign immunity and forever end this offensive practice. We did not pass that bill, but we will be back in 2011. Get behind this by asking candidates in the November election where they stand, then get their promise to support the Texas ADA bill. Twenty years is long enough to wait.