WHEN
Thursday, July 27, 2015
9:30a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
WHERE
Kallet Civic Center
159 Main Street
Oneida, NY 13421
WHAT
Madison County human service organizations and community members join together to
celebrate the 27th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. A ceremony will be held
at 9:30 a.m. at the Kallet Civic Center with local dignitaries followed by a march around the City
of Oneida.
WHY
To celebrate the positive changes that have taken place since this historic legislation was passed
and emphasize the challenges that still exist.
Agencies Working Together to Celebrate ADA
Several not-for-profit agencies are working together to commemorate the 27th anniversary of the
Americans with Disabilities Act on Thursday, July 27 at 9:30 a.m. at the Kallet Civic Center (Main St.,
Oneida). The Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law by President George Bush on
July 26, 1990. The ADA is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability.
“The ADA has increased awareness and had an impact on our lives in many ways,” says organizer
Jennifer Lea, Independent Living Advocate for ARISE. “Wherever you go today, you can see evidence of
the ADA. When you look at entrances of local businesses, you’ll see ramps, automatic door openers and
the list just keeps growing. When accessibility issues are addressed by our community what we are saying is everyone is welcome here.”
The program will include comments from elected officials, the reading of a proclamation, and remarks by people who have disabilities. It will also feature guest speaker Matt Hamill, a deaf American mixed
martial artist and wrestler who has competed in the light heavyweight division of the UFC.
We are proud to be working in partnership with The Arc of Madison-Cortland, Liberty Resources,
Heritage Farm Inc., and Madison County Motivators to make this happen. The event has grown each year and last year we were joined by hundreds of people.
The public is invited to attend and share in this celebration.