OCR Commemorates the Americans with Disabilities Act 30th Anniversary

On July 26, 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act into law. This landmark civil rights law is a critical part of the HHS Office for Civil Rights’ (OCR) disability non-discrimination work, along with Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Please Visit Our Joint OCR/ACL ADA Commemoration Website

To celebrate the 30th anniversary, OCR and the HHS Administration for Community Living (ACL) partnered to create a website that tells the story of how the ADA came to be, showcases some of the progress we have made as a country toward achieving the ADA's promise of true inclusion, and illustrates some of the work being done within HHS and across government, to continue to remove the barriers to inclusion people with disabilities often face. Most important, through short video interviews, you can hear from people with disabilities about how the expectations for access and inclusion created by the ADA have affected their lives. 

Visit today, and check back often – we’re adding new material over the coming months.

Watch and Listen to Individuals Impacted by the ADA and OCR Action

HHS Commemorations

• On  July 30, HHS Secretary Azar joined leaders from across HHS to reflect on the progress we have made and talk about some of our ongoing work to achieve the ADA's full promise of dignity, rights, and community living.  Watch a recording of the event.
• Secretary Azar's Statement on the ADA Anniversary
• HHS Accomplishments under the ADA

More Virtual Events

OCR Director, Roger Severino joined the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing virtual event, Celebrating Diversity Inclusion, on July 21.

• View the John Hopkins School of Nursing: Celebrating Diversity Inclusion Program

More Participatory Events

Submit your reflections to the National Council on Disability "30 on ADA 30" Campaign

Join the ADA National Network - funded by Administration on Community Living’s National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) - in celebrating this historic milestone.  Participate in the #ThanksToTheADA social media campaign

Other Federal Agency Commemorations

• Department of Justice
• Department of Labor
• Department of Transportation
• National Council on Disability