celebrating 30 years of the ADA
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C E L E B R AT E State resources for celebrating the Americans with Disabilities Act by Trent Patrick States continuously work to improve and evolve their policies regarding disability, and the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) provides the perfect opportunity to engage in conversations around accessibility, workplace accommodations and beyond. To highlight the importance of the ADA and the work that follows its passing, states can celebrate by:
• Scheduling social media campaigns and posts • Signing a proclamation with inclusive ADA 30th anniversary language
• Signing an executive order establishing the state as a
model employer with inclusive ADA 30th anniversary language
• Establishing a state task force • Hiring a state ADA coordinator • Performing a statewide assessment of state websites ISSUE 3 2020 | CAPITOL IDEAS
for accessibility
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• Conducting disability etiquette training for state government employees
Online Resources Funded by a grant from the Administration for Community Living’s National Institute on Disability, Independent Living,
and Rehabilitation, a website marking the 30th anniversary of the ADA (adaanniversary.org) is a great resource for states to begin planning how they will salute this landmark and find creative ways to highlight the groundbreaking civil rights legislation for people with disabilities. This online resource highlights the many ways states can celebrate, inform, learn from and share the unique role the ADA has played in bringing about inclusive policies and regulations in the states.
Utilizing Social Media A coordinated social media campaign can be impactful to showcase the ways your state is celebrating this anniversary. Think creatively when it comes to generating content, and use existing resources to establish effective content that educates about the ADA, highlights the impact on people with disabilities and recognizes workplaces that have benefitted from the inclusion of people with disabilities. The Campaign for Disability Employment, a U.S. Department of Labor initiative, created four powerful public service announcements to help states highlight the impact of the ADA. Access and share those at whatcanyoudocampaign.org. The ADA 30th anniversary website offers a social media toolkit (adaanniversary.org/media-kit-ada-social-media). This resource notes ways to make your content accessible for all users, and it can help coordinate social media posts to match the ADA30 celebration through existing hashtags.
