Manley Celebrates 35th Anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act at Joliet Fair

JOLIET, Ill. – In honor of the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), State Rep. Natalie Manley, D-Joliet, spoke about the importance of the law at the Disability Pride Fair, hosted by City of Joliet Committee on Citizens with Disabilities.

“The Americans with Disabilities Act is the very essence of civil rights law aimed to protect people with all forms of disability,” Rep. Manley said. “Looking around at all the people who joined us today, we see how far we’ve come, and in light of  today’s uncertainties, how far we still need to go.”

More than thirty non-profits hosted tables at the event held at Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Saturday.

Manley, who is launching the first-of-its-kind, bipartisan, bicameral Illinois Legislative Neurodiversity Caucus, spoke about the importance of legislators funding resources and creating opportunities for those who are neurodivergent, as well as those who have disabilities.

The ADA prohibits discrimination against anyone with a disability. According to the federal government website, www.fda.gov, a person with disability is defined as someone who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities; or has a history or record of such an impairment (such as cancer that is in remission); or is perceived by others as having such an impairment (such as a person who has scars from a severe burn).

Examples of disabilities include cancer, diabetes, post-traumatic stress disorder, HIV, autism, cerebral palsy, deafness or hearing loss, blindness or low vision, epilepsy, mobility disabilities such as those requiring the use of a wheelchair, walker, or cane, intellectual disabilities, major depressive disorder, or traumatic brain injury.

This is the first year for this event. Organizers said they hope to make it an annual event.

Featured: State Rep Natalie Manley speaks to organizers of the Disability Pride Fair about the importance of the Americans with Disabilities Act, in honor of the act’s 35th anniversary, in Joliet Saturday.