Governor Roy Cooper proclaimed Friday as Americans with Disabilities Day in North Carolina, honoring the more than 1.3 million North Carolinians who have a disability and reminding all that the Americans with Disabilities Act, which turns 29 on Friday, is landmark legislation that promotes full inclusion and integration for people with disabilities into their communities.
Earlier this year, Governor Cooper signed Executive Order No. 92 — Employment First for North Carolinians with Disabilities — to increase opportunities for fair wages, employment and careers for individuals with disabilities. The order directs state government to become a leader in recruiting and creating an inclusive job climate for workers with disabilities. Employment First builds on the progress of the Governor’s NC Job Ready and Everybody Works NC and is aligned with efforts to create an inclusive work environment through Executive Order No. 24 — Prohibiting Discrimination in State Employment.
“The anniversary of the ADA raises awareness about the importance of inclusion of people with disabilities in all facets of community life and the ongoing need to remove the barriers that people with disabilities still face at times in connecting to the communities in which they go to school, work, live and play,” said Chris Egan, Senior Director of Employment Services for the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. “Awareness of the ADA helps employers continue to move forward in offering opportunities for competitive, integrated employment to qualified individuals with disabilities while also addressing their workforce needs.”
The ADA prohibits discrimination against job applicants and employees who have “a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities,” which include walking, sitting, reading, seeing, hearing and communicating.
Various organizations in North Carolina are hosting ADA anniversary events, including:
- Triangle Disability Awareness Council ADA 29th Celebration & Housing/Resource Fair on Saturday, July 27 in Chapel Hill
- Arts Access Social and Concert with Musician Chris Hendricks on Saturday, July 27 in Durham
- Self Advocates of Mecklenburg ADA 29th Anniversary Birthday Party on Monday, July 29 in Charlotte
For more information, including details about these events, go to https://nccdd.org/general-content/837-celebrating-the-29th-anniversary-of-the-ada.html.
For social media information and celebration ideas, go to https://www.adaanniversary.org.
For general ADA questions, contact the Southeast ADA Center — North Carolina's regional resource center on the American with Disabilities Act — at 1-800-949-4232 (toll-free), 404-541-9001 (voice & Spanish) and ADAsoutheast@law.syr.edu, or visit their website at http://www.adasoutheast.org.