NORTH COAST, Calif. – State Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa is marking the 30th anniversary of the landmark Americans With Disabilities Act, which prohibits discrimination based on disability and sets accessibility standards for public and commercial facilities.

“This key piece of civil rights legislation tears down barriers for people with disabilities, whether they are in the workplace or the public sphere,” Sen. Dodd said. “It is a true milestone for those who had been shut out by discrimination and circumstances beyond their control. Now, with the coronavirus pandemic, it is especially important to ensure employment opportunities and access to vital services.”

The Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush on July 26, 1990.

It was the culmination of years of work by disability rights advocates, affording protections for people with disabilities similar to what is contained in the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It also required employers to make accommodations for people with disabilities and set accessibility requirements for public places.

A virtual conference celebrating the anniversary is July 29. A link to the conference is here.

“In this time when people with disabilities and their families have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic and the economic downturn, it is important to be reminded that disability rights are civil rights, and that all Californians have benefitted from the improvements in accessibility that have come thanks to the ADA,” said Andrew Imparato, executive director of Disability Rights California.

“As California continues the work of ensuring people with disabilities have equal opportunities and the ability to participate fully in society, the ADA remains the most important tool for breaking down these barriers,” said Kelly Dearman, president of the California Association of Public Authorities for In-Home Supportive Services and executive director of the San Francisco IHSS Public Authority.

Dodd represents California’s Third Senate District, which includes all or portions of Solano, Napa, Sonoma, Yolo, Sacramento and Contra Costa counties.