Framingham City Council Issues Resolution To Mark 31st Anniversary of Americans With Disabilities Act

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FRAMINGHAM – The 11-member Framingham City Council voted unanimously on July 20 to issue a resolution to mark the 31st anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities ACT (ADA) on July 26, 2021.

The resolution was offered by District 4 City Councilor Michael Cannon, who offered the same resolution last year to mark the 30th anniversary.

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HONORING THE 31st ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, AND URGING FURTHER ACTION TOWARD ACCESSABILITY WITHIN THE CITY OF FRAMINGHAM

WHEREAS – July 26, 2021 marks the 31st anniversary of the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“the ADA”);

WHEREAS – prior to the enactment of the ADA, individuals with disabilities were too often denied the opportunity to fully participate in society due to ignorance, misunderstanding, intolerance, or unfair stereotypes;

WHEREAS – 31 years after the enactment of the ADA, it remains a crucial tool, as children and adults with disabilities still experience barriers that interfere with their full participation in life in the United States;

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WHEREAS – the purpose of the ADA is to fulfill the goals of opportunity, independent living, integration, and economic self-sufficiency for individuals with disabilities who live in the United States;

WHEREAS – the dedicated efforts of courageous and passionate disability rights advocates served to awaken government leaders and the American people to the discrimination and prejudice that individuals with disabilities face;

WHEREAS – the ADA has played a historic role in allowing more than 61,000,000 persons with disabilities in the United States to better participate in society by removing barriers to employment, public services, telecommunications, transportation, and public accommodations;

WHEREAS – the Americans with Disabilities Act: prohibits employers from discriminating against qualified individuals with disabilities; requires that State and local governmental entities accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities; requires a place of public accommodation to take reasonable steps to ensure that the goods and services it provides are accessible to individuals with disabilities; and requires new trains and buses to be accessible to individuals with disabilities;

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WHEREAS – the ADA has served as a model for disability rights in other countries;

WHEREAS – every individual in the United States, not just those with disabilities, benefits from the accommodations that have become commonplace since the passage of the ADA, including curb cuts at street intersections, ramps for access to buildings, and other accommodations that provide access to public transportation, telecommunications, voting machines, and websites;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED — that the City Council of Framingham, Massachusetts recognizes and honors the 31st anniversary of the date of enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; and celebrates the advancement of freedom and the expansion of opportunity made possible by the enactment of the ADA; and further urges the administration to work collaboratively with the City Council, Disability Commission, School Committee and the entire Framingham community toward further advancement in accessibility for persons with disabilities in the City of Framingham.

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