President Obama Commemorates 20th Anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act

New Ad Council TV and Radio PSAs Feature President Obama Discussing the Act's Progress and Encouraging the Public to do more to Support Americans Living with Disabilities

WASHINGTON, July 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- To coincide with the twentieth anniversary of the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) today, President Obama is joining the Ad Council and the American Association of People with Disabilities to launch a new series of television and radio public service advertisements (PSAs). The ads, which feature the President, celebrate the progress that has been made during the last two decades and remind the public that there is still a lot of work to do so that all Americans have equal opportunity and full participation in this country. The Ad Council is distributing the PSAs to media outlets nationwide today.

Approximately one in six Americans – nearly 50 million people – is living with disabilities. The ADA signed into law July 26, 1990 by President George H.W. Bush, gives 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. It guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in public accommodations, employment, transportation, state and local government services and telecommunications.  

The majority of people with disabilities perceive significant improvements in public facility access, personal quality of life and public attitudes since the passing of the ADA. However, obtaining employment remains difficult for people with visible and severe disabilities and disparities still exist in access to health insurance, health care and financial assets for people with disabilities, as compared to people without disabilities.

"The Act was a huge step forward for the 50 million people in this country living with a disability. It helped renew the promise that, here in America, we are defined not by our limitations, but by our potential," said President Obama. "As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of this historic legislation, it's important to remember that we are still fulfilling that promise."

In the new television and radio PSAs, President Obama communicates the importance of the ADA and urges all Americans to visit www.disability.gov to see how they can help support those living with disabilities. The PSAs were created pro bono by Proof Integrated Communications in New York. The television and radio spots will air in advertising time that will be donated by stations throughout the country.

"We are honored to join President Obama and the American Association of People with Disabilities to commemorate the 20th anniversary of this landmark law and the positive impact it has had on millions of Americans living with disabilities," said Peggy Conlon, president and CEO of the Ad Council.

"AAPD is delighted that the President of the United States and the Ad Council are helping to advance the goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act through this groundbreaking and historic PSA," said Andrew J. Imparato, President and CEO of AAPD.  

AAPD (www.aapd.com)

The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), the country's largest cross-disability membership organization, organizes the disability community to be a powerful voice for change – politically, economically, and socially. AAPD was founded in 1995 to help unite the diverse community of people with disabilities, including their family, friends and supporters, and to be a national voice for change in implementing the goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  

The Advertising Council (www.adcouncil.org)

The Ad Council is a private, non-profit organization that marshals talent from the advertising and communications industries, the facilities of the media, and the resources of the business and non-profit communities to produce, distribute and promote public service campaigns on behalf of non-profit organizations and government agencies. The Ad Council addresses issue areas such as improving the quality of life for children, preventive health, education, community well-being, environmental preservation and strengthening families.

SOURCE The Advertising Council