Kennedy, disability advocates paint very different realities as ADA turns 35
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Stirring speeches filled the tall, fluorescent room on Monday morning as members of the disability community and federal officials celebrated the 35th anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. They spoke at length about how the landmark law birthed critical protections and technologies that have helped disabled people flourish, but many communities still face significant hardships.<\/p>\n
During the event at the federal health department headquarters in Washington, D.C., health secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. spoke for eight minutes, mostly about his relatives. A quick nod to his uncle and former Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) for playing a major role in getting the ADA passed led to a discussion of his aunt, Rosemary, who had an intellectual disability and was institutionalized much of her life. Kennedy did not mention the ADA again or discuss how it\u2019s affected people with disabilities since President George H. W. Bush signed the bill into law in 1990. His tribute drew mostly from the past.<\/p>\n