OKLAHOMA CITY – House Rep. Ellyn Hefner, D-Oklahoma City, held a press conference with other disability advocates on July 26, 2024, to celebrate the 34th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
“This landmark law prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in all areas of public life, jobs, schools, transportation, and all public places,” Hefner said. “The purpose of the law is to make sure people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else.”
According to ADA.gov, the ADA is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in everyday activities. It prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability just as other civil rights laws prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, and religion. It guarantees that people with disabilities have the same opportunities as everyone else to enjoy employment opportunities, purchase goods and services, and participate in state and local government programs.
“The ADA Anniversary is our chance every year to reflect on how far disability rights have come and to recommit ourselves to the future,” said Hefner. “As state legislators, no matter the party and no matter the chamber, it is our job to make sure we have a budget that allows us to keep up that promise to Oklahomans with disabilities.”
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