32 years ago today on July 26th 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law! The ADA gave disabled people civil rights and protects us against discrimination in workplaces, schools, transportation, and other public spaces. It’s wild to think that it took until the 90s for our basic human rights to be protected, and more wild to know that even with the ADA our country (and rest of the world) is still wildly inaccessible. To name a few examples, if you receive disability benefits, you cannot get married or live with a partner without risking losing your benefits. If you bring your mobility aid on a plane, there’s a high chance it will be damaged beyond repair while boarding. There are many buildings and spaces that are not up to ADA code and refuse to spend the money to make these spaces accessible to disabled people. We still have a looooong way to go. But I believe the future is limitless and accessible and I won’t stop fighting for that. The ADA was born out of listening to disabled people and making their needs heard. Keep making noise and fighting for change. Don’t know where to start?? Follow disability activists and stay up to date on what’s happening in your country/state/city. Are your events accessible?? If so, how can we optimize and improve that experience?? Are there ALS interpreters at your speaking events?? Are you captioning your videos and pictures?? Are you catching yourself from giving unsolicited medical advice or intrusive comments?? Listen to disabled people and their needs. Protect disabled people and show it through your actions of being an advocate for change. I’ve tagged some accounts in this photo that you should support and follow if you haven’t already!🖤♿️🌈 Image description: a yellow sticker with “disabled lives are worth protecting” lettered in white surrounded by whimsical white flora. The sticker lays on a light pink background next to gold crane scissors and two pink and yellow pom pom flowers.