TITLE
A JOINT RESOLUTION AND PROCLAMATION HONORING DISABILITY PRIDE MONTH AND RECOGNIZING THE 35th ANNIVERSARY OF THE ENACTMENT OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT
BODY
WHEREAS, Disability Pride Month aims to change how people think about disability, end its stigma, and promote awareness, acceptance, and inclusion within our society; and
WHEREAS, people with disabilities are the largest and most diverse minority within the population, representing all abilities, ages, races, ethnicities, religions and socio-economic backgrounds. According to the 2020 census, approximately 10% of Gahanna's population is reported to live with a disability including cognitive, ambulatory, hearing, vision, and independent living difficulties; and
WHEREAS, in 1973, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act was passed, which, for the first time in legal history, recognized that people with disabilities were a minority group that faced segregation in employment, basic access to societal activities, and education; and
WHEREAS, while there were efforts to dismantle Section 504 in the following years, the disability community fought to maintain and expand protections. In 1988, the first draft of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was introduced in Congress. Following extensive discourse and revision, the ADA was signed into law on July 26, 1990; and
WHEREAS, the ADA, enacted 35 years ago, serves as a landmark civil rights law that not only prohibits discrimination based on disability, but also raises awareness in both the public and private sectors about the needs, rights, and systemic barriers faced by individuals with disabilities; and
WHEREAS, people with disabilities remain at an increased risk of experiencing discrimination and isolation and are at 2.5-3x greater risk of being victims of violence than people living without a disability; and
WHEREAS, people living with disabilities are a vital part of our community and make meaningful contributions in the fields ...
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