Davis Wright Tremaine's Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion is proud to have partnered with the American Bar Association's Commission on Disability Rights for a discussion on disability rights and advocacy. This program was part of our regular DEI Education series.
In 1990, the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law, expanding the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The ADA specifically criminalizes discrimination against individuals with disabilities and provides guarantees around equitable access. In honor of National Disability Independence Day on July 26, which commemorates the signing of the ADA, we were joined by disability rights leaders to discuss the impact of this legislation.
We were proud to be joined by our speakers, Mel Moore, Associate Director for New Disabled South Rising, and Monica Wiley, Voter Engagement Specialist at the National Disability Rights Network. This event was moderated by Sarah Blahovec, Co-Founder, Co-Director, and President of Disability Victory.
Moore's work focuses on building community care with a strong emphasis on the values of interdependence and solidarity. Wiley's work centers on developing non-partisan campaign messaging that directly engages people with disabilities to increase voter participation. Blahovec specializes in disability civic engagement, working with various organizations to address the barriers that Americans with disabilities face in voting and running for office.
During this program, we discuss the importance of grassroots advocacy in the disability community, the intersection of disability justice and broader social justice movements, and the importance of using one's voice to make change. Our panelists discuss the various opportunities and challenges they face in their work, as well as the role of grassroots organizing related to state and local governments.
Speakers
- Sarah Blahovec (Moderator)
- Mel Moore
- Monica Wiley