To commemorate the 30th anniversary of the nation’s most comprehensive disability rights legislation being signed into law, the City of Seattle has partnered with King County and community organizations, including the Northwest ADA Center, to provide free, accessible programming celebrating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The three-hour programming is being coordinated by the City’s ADA Title II team in the Department of Finance and Administrative Services and will be shown on the Seattle Channel from 2-5 p.m. on July 26 — the date that 30 years ago then-President George H.W. Bush signed the ADA law.
The law ushered sweeping changes and provides equal opportunities for people with disabilities in the areas of employment, transportation, state and local government, accommodations, and telecommunications.
“We are thrilled to join in this statewide effort to commemorate the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act and to celebrate the vital and valuable role people with disabilities play in our city, ” said Seattle Mayor Jenny A. Durkan. “Seattle has been at the forefront of disability justice and this 30th anniversary is not only an opportunity to reflect on how far we’ve come, but to recommit to what we still need to do. With one in four Americans living with a disability, we must remain vigilant in protecting and advocating for disability rights.”
During Durkan’s tenure, Seattle became the first city to eliminate a subminimum wage for people with disabilities. The practice, first instituted in 1938 through the U.S. Department of Labor, allowed many employers to pay people with disabilities below the federal minimum wage.
Mayor Durkan signed legislation in May 2018 prohibiting all employers from the practice. The City also codified a policy to ensure all workers can earn at least the City’s minimum wage.
The three-hour programming will include documentaries and short videos produced by King County Television and Rooted in Rights, along with presentations by nationally recognized accessibility consultant and renowned architect Karen Braitmayer.
“We’re proud to offer this programming and invite the community to join us virtually in celebrating the positive impact of the ADA,” said Calvin W. Goings, Director of the Finance and Administrative Services Department. “ADA has enabled our loved ones, neighbors and colleagues living with disabilities to use their skills and talents to make meaningful contributions that benefit not only their lives, but all of ours.”
How to Tune In
The Seattle Channel will broadcast the programming on Channel 21 on Comcast and Wave. See additional options at SeattleChannel.org, including live streaming online.
If alternative formats are needed, please e-mail: adacoordinator@seattle.gov or call 206-684-2489 (Relay 711) as soon as possible.