WEBVTT 00:00:02.210 --> 00:00:09.045 Hi, my name is Matthew Wangeman. 00:00:11.290 --> 00:00:19.234 I teach Disability Studies at Northern Arizona University. 00:00:35.970 --> 00:00:38.413 I have been a disability advocate 00:00:44.066 --> 00:00:45.590 for over 30 years. 00:00:59.107 --> 00:01:11.611 I went to the University of California at Berkeley, 00:01:24.424 --> 00:01:30.851 so I have been very lucky in my life. 00:01:41.388 --> 00:01:55.767 My first memory of the ADA 00:02:17.485 --> 00:02:30.075 was three years after it was passed, 00:02:38.348 --> 00:02:42.089 because I was in Berkeley 00:03:09.052 --> 00:03:16.356 and Berkeley had stronger laws than the ADA. 00:03:29.854 --> 00:03:48.970 So I really did not know or care about the ADA at that time. 00:04:12.203 --> 00:04:20.837 And the interesting thing is 00:04:28.255 --> 00:04:37.438 in Berkeley and in California 00:04:42.448 --> 00:05:30.411 people with disabilities were talking about how the ADA was less strong 00:05:34.963 --> 00:05:50.989 for people with disabilities in California and Berkeley. 00:05:57.894 --> 00:06:07.465 So when I first learned about the ADA 00:06:10.072 --> 00:06:28.781 I was living in an area that had stronger rules and regulations for people with disabilities than the ADA had put in. 00:06:32.935 --> 00:06:43.851 So I did not care that much about it at the time. 00:07:03.497 --> 00:07:12.675 I think the ADA has helped with accessibility 00:07:14.849 --> 00:07:16.673 all around the United States. 00:07:24.080 --> 00:07:39.889 That is to me probably one of the most important things that the ADA has accomplished 00:08:25.037 --> 00:08:31.546 I really think the ADA is a great civil rights law 00:08:33.145 --> 00:09:08.095 and it has put disability on the map in this country. 00:09:16.276 --> 00:09:19.334 But for people with significant disabilities 00:09:23.821 --> 00:09:31.638 the ADA has not done that much in the grand scheme. 00:09:35.503 --> 00:09:44.952 Like employment is a great example. 00:09:53.382 --> 00:10:19.800 We are still at the same rate of employment as before the ADA. 00:11:28.774 --> 00:11:34.417 I think given where this country is today the ADA could not be stronger. 00:11:36.856 --> 00:12:01.426 In fact, given today the ADA would not pass, 00:12:04.894 --> 00:12:12.845 and that is sad. 00:12:26.882 --> 00:12:45.220 I really think our education system needs to be changed 00:13:04.337 --> 00:13:31.280 and even though the ADA really does not cover education, it should 00:13:40.355 --> 00:14:16.923 In order to have people with disabilities included in this society 00:14:16.939 --> 00:14:35.732 they need to have a quality education 00:14:44.705 --> 00:14:54.009 and special education is not cutting it. 00:14:57.908 --> 00:15:07.642 So if I had my way, 00:15:26.138 --> 00:15:29.495 I would throw out special education 00:15:46.275 --> 00:15:51.426 and have one education system for everyone. 00:15:55.795 --> 00:16:07.328 It is stupid to have two 00:16:13.997 --> 00:16:52.663 and to me it should be illegal to have a separate education system 00:16:55.114 --> 00:17:21.734 I would have the ADA cover education as well. 00:17:50.316 --> 00:18:13.491 Just to really believe that people with disabilities have the same rights as everyone else 00:18:20.397 --> 00:18:32.268 and I'd like to say: 00:18:43.716 --> 00:19:02.834 we can have all the laws in the world, 00:19:03.042 --> 00:19:30.075 but if people's attitudes do not change, we are just spinning our wheels. 00:19:41.670 --> 00:19:46.337 And I use a wheelchair. 00:19:57.521 --> 00:20:12.176 And if my wheelchair just spins its wheels I don't seem to go anywhere.