1
00:00:03,490 --> 00:00:07,490
Hi, my name is Matthew Wangeman.

2
00:00:11,290 --> 00:00:15,380
I teach Disability Studies
at Northern Arizona University.

3
00:00:25,929 --> 00:00:29,929
I have been a disability advocate 
for over 30 years.

4
00:00:55,843 --> 00:00:59,843
I went to the University of California 
at Berkeley

5
00:01:25,464 --> 00:01:29,464
so I have been very lucky in my life.

6
00:01:56,637 --> 00:02:00,637
My first memory of the ADA was 
three years after it was passed

7
00:02:31,436 --> 00:02:35,436
because I was in Berkeley

8
00:02:59,502 --> 00:03:03,502
and Berkeley had stronger laws 
than the ADA

9
00:03:36,151 --> 00:03:40,151
so I really did not know or care 
about the ADA at that time.

10
00:04:27,616 --> 00:04:31,616
And the interesting thing is
in Berkeley and in California

11
00:04:46,438 --> 00:04:50,438
people with disabilities were talking 
about how the ADA was less strong

12
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
for people with disabilities 
in California and Berkeley.

13
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
So when I first learned about the ADA
I was living in an area that had

14
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
stronger rules and regulations for people 
with disabilities than the ADA had put in.

15
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
So I did not care that much
about it at the time.

16
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Laughter)

17
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I think the ADA has helped with 
accessibility

18
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
all around the United States.

19
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
That is to me probably one of 
the most important things

20
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that the ADA has accomplished.

21
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I really think the ADA is 
a great civil rights law

22
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and it has put disability 
on the map in this country.

23
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
But for people with 
significant disabilities

24
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
the ADA has not done that much 
in the grand scheme.

25
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Like employment is a great example.

26
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
We are still at the same rate of 
employment as before the ADA.

27
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I think given where this country is today
the ADA could not be stronger.

28
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
In fact, given today the ADA 
would not pass, and that is sad.

29
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I really think our education system needs
to be changed

30
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and even though the ADA really 
does not cover education it should.

31
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
In order to have people with disabilities 
included in this society

32
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
they need to have a quality education
and special education is not cutting it.

33
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
So if I had my way, 
I would throw out special education

34
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and have one education system 
for everyone.

35
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
It is stupid to have two 
and to me it should be illegal

36
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
to have a separate education system.

37
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I would have the ADA
cover education as well.

38
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Just to really believe that people 
with disabilities have the same rights

39
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

40
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but if people's attitudes do not change,
we are just spinning our wheels.

41
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And I use a wheelchair.

42
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And if my wheelchair just spins its wheels
I don't seem to go anywhere.

43
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Laughter)