Rocky Mountain ADA Celebrates 23rd Anniversary of The Americans with Disabilities Act

Colorado Springs, CO, July 24, 2013 --(PR.com)-- Celebrations of the July 26, 1990 signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by President George H. Bush will take place across the nation during the week of July 22-28, 2013.

The ADA and the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) give civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities similar to those provided to individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, and religion. The ADA and ADAAA also assure equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities for access to businesses, employment, transportation, state and local government programs and services, and telecommunications.

To celebrate this milestone, the Southeast ADA Center, a member of the ADA National Network and a project of the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University, has created an ADA Anniversary Tool Kit for use by the public and the media through the ADA Anniversary website (ADAanniversary.org). The Tool Kit contains:

· background and history on the ADA;
· information about the Supreme Court’s July 1999 Olmstead Decision prohibiting the unnecessary institutionalization of persons with disabilities;
· disability statistics; and
· other resources on the ADA.

Since 1991, the 10 Regional ADA Centers in the ADA National Network have worked to change the landscape for individuals with disabilities by providing free, confidential and accurate information, resources and training to businesses, employers and state and local governments on their responsibilities under the ADA. The Rocky Mountain ADA Center is one of the 10 Regional ADA centers. It serves as a local source on disability-related issues for a six-state region which includes Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming.

“The outreach, training and technical assistance we have done in concert with the ADA National Network and other Regional Centers has promoted voluntary compliance with the ADA and made a huge impact in the lives of people with disabilities,” said Bob Gattis, Interim Director of the Rocky Mountain ADA Center. “We continually strive to help the more than 1.15 million individuals with disabilities in the Rocky Mountain region have better access to buildings, programs, and opportunities for competitive employment. Our ultimate goal is for all people with disabilities to have the opportunity for full participation in community life.”

The ADA National Network’s 10 Regional ADA Centers receive hundreds of calls on their toll free number: 1-800-949-4232 (voice/tty) that connects callers to the ADA Center serving their region. The ADA National Network is the “go to” resource for information, guidance and training on the ADA and its implementation — call toll free 1-800-949-4232 (voice/tty) or visit their website at www.adata.org.

For more information about the Rocky Mountain ADA Center and to access current accessibility information for the Rocky Mountain region, visit www.adainformation.org.

About the ADA National Network
The ADA National Network is the “go to” resource for information, guidance and training on the ADA and its implementation. The Network consists of ten regional centers located throughout the United States that provide services and assistance tailored to meet the needs of local businesses, government and individuals. The ADA National Network is not an enforcement or regulatory agency - but rather a helpful resource. Contact the ADA National Network with questions on the Americans with Disabilities Act or to find a Regional ADA National Network Center near you by calling 1-800-949-4232 (voice/tty). All calls are confidential. Visit the ADA National Network website for links to extensive ADA information and training opportunities (www.adata.org).

About the Rocky Mountain ADA Center
The Rocky Mountain ADA Center is operated by Meeting the Challenge, Inc. and provides information, training and informal guidance to individuals and organizations with rights and responsibilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Center is one of 10 regional centers funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, a division of the U.S. Department of Education, and serves a six-state region including Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming. For more information, visit www.adainformation.org. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RMADACenter.