Minnesota State Council on Disability Announces Activities to Mark the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act

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Minnesota State Council on Disability

Jun 25, 2015, 07:50 ET

MINNEAPOLIS, June 25, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The Minnesota State Council on Disability (MSCOD) and the Minnesota disability community are planning events and activities to recognize the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) signed into law on July 26, 1990 by President George H. W. Bush. These events and activities are made possible in part by Twin Cities Public Television (tpt) and the Minnesota History Center.

MORE ABOUT THE ADA:
The ADA is a landmark civil rights law granting protection against discrimination for people with disabilities. Among its provisions, the law prohibits discrimination in the workplace and establishes clear requirements for physical and programmatic accessibility and accommodations. It took many decades of activism to secure equal rights for people with disabilities that culminated in the signing of this historic civil rights legislation. The ADA provided and continues to provide inclusion of millions of people with disabilities into the mainstream of American life.

ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS FOR THE 25th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION:

Family Day
MSCOD is hosting a Family Day on Sunday, July 26, 2015, at the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul.

Activities from Noon - 4 p.m. Free and open to the public. Fully accessible.
Featuring interactive art exhibits, live entertainment, speakers, and clips from The ADA at 25: Disability Rights in MN, a documentary film produced by tpt.

tpt Partnership:
Short Whiteboard Video Essay by tpt Journalist David Gillette
David Gillette has created a short video essay to commemorate the ADA titled, "Celebrate 25 Years of the ADA."

The video whiteboard essay highlights the impact of the ADA on the everyday lives of people with disabilities and the obstacles they face in the workplace.
The video can be viewed at MSCOD25ADA.com, and is available to local media.

Documentary Premiere
MSCOD has partnered with tpt to produce a 30-minute documentary highlighting the impact the ADA has on Minnesotans with disabilities.

The piece will focus on the civil rights struggle Minnesotans faced leading up the passage of the ADA and will explore where the community believes the ADA needs to go in the next 25 years.
It will air for the first time at 8 p.m. on the evening of July 26 on tpt, with additional re-broadcast dates to follow.

The ADA and Employment: Survey
MSCOD is conducting a survey of people with disabilities and employers across the state. Results of the survey will appear on the website and help MSCOD in its efforts to promote and improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The goals of the survey are:

To gauge the general awareness of the ADA.
To understand perceptions about employing people with disabilities.
To identify ways to increase equality in the workplace.

Statewide Conference: The ADA at 25 – Minnesota Moving Forward
MSCOD invites every employer in the state to host their own Brown Bag Lunch during the televised discussion taking place at the ADA-themed conference on Oct. 28, 2015, in Minneapolis.

The free conference at the Minneapolis Convention Center will feature speakers and breakout sessions, with a focus on recruiting, hiring, promoting and retaining employees with disabilities.
It will also include a career fair for people with disabilities.
Find registration and schedule information at MSCOD25ADA.com.

About the ADA Celebration
Find a full list of our project partners at MSCOD25ADA.com/project-partners. This ADA celebration is funded in part by a grant from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. The Minnesota Historical and Cultural Grants Program is made possible by the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the vote of Minnesotans on November 4, 2008.

About MSCOD
Our mission is to provide leadership to empower and strengthen the civil rights of Minnesotans with disabilities. Learn more about MSCOD at MSCOD.com.

Media Contact:
Carol Schuler | Schuler Publicity
612.281.7030
[email protected]

SOURCE Minnesota State Council on Disability