WEBVTT

00:00:02.430 --> 00:00:06.430
Hi, my name is Matthew Wangeman.

00:00:11.290 --> 00:00:15.380
I teach Disability Studies
at Northern Arizona University.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
I have been a disability advocate 
for over 30 years.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
I went to the University of California 
at Berkeley so I have been very lucky

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
in my life.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
My first memory of the ADA was 
three years after it was passed

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
because I was in Berkeley

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and Berkeley had stronger laws 
than the ADA

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
so I really did not know or care 
about the ADA at that time.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
And the interesting thing is
in Berkeley and in California

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
people with disabilities were talking 
about how the ADA was less strong

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
for people with disabilities 
in California and Berkeley.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
So when I first learned about the ADA
I was living in an area that had

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
stronger rules and regulations for people 
with disabilities than the ADA had put in.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
So I did not care that much
about it at the time.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Laughter)

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
I think the ADA has helped with 
accessibility

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
all around the United States.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
That is to me probably one of 
the most important things

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
that the ADA has accomplished.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
I really think the ADA is 
a great civil rights law

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and it has put disability 
on the map in this country.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
But for people with 
significant disabilities

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
the ADA has not done that much 
in the grand scheme.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Like employment is a great example.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
We are still at the same rate of 
employment as before the ADA.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
I think given where this country is today
the ADA could not be stronger.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
In fact, given today the ADA 
would not pass, and that is sad.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
I really think our education system needs
to be changed

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and even though the ADA really 
does not cover education it should.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
In order to have people with disabilities 
included in this society

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
they need to have a quality education
and special education is not cutting it.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
So if I had my way, 
I would throw out special education

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and have one education system 
for everyone.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
It is stupid to have two 
and to me it should be illegal

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
to have a separate education system.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
I would have the ADA
cover education as well.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Just to really believe that people 
with disabilities have the same rights

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
as everyone else and I'd like to say
we can have all the laws in the world

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
but if people's attitudes do not change,
we are just spinning our wheels.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
And I use a wheelchair.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
And if my wheelchair just spins its wheels
I don't seem to go anywhere.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Laughter)