Hi, my name is Matthew Wangeman.
I teach Disability Studies at Northern Arizona University.
I have been a disability advocate for over 30 years.
I went to the University of California at Berkeley
so I have been very lucky in my life.
My first memory of the ADA was three years after it was passed
because I was in Berkeley
and Berkeley had stronger laws than the ADA
so I really did not know or care about the ADA at that time.
And the interesting thing is in Berkeley and in California
people with disabilities were talking about how the ADA was less strong
for people with disabilities in California and Berkeley.
So when I first learned about the ADA I was living in an area that had
stronger rules and regulations for people with disabilities than the ADA had put in.
So I did not care that much about it at the time.
(Laughter)
I think the ADA has helped with accessibility
all around the United States.
That is to me probably one of the most important things
that the ADA has accomplished.
I really think the ADA is a great civil rights law
and it has put disability on the map in this country.
But for people with significant disabilities
the ADA has not done that much in the grand scheme.
Like employment is a great example.
We are still at the same rate of employment as before the ADA.
I think given where this country is today the ADA could not be stronger.
In fact, given today the ADA would not pass, and that is sad.
I really think our education system needs to be changed
and even though the ADA really does not cover education it should.
In order to have people with disabilities included in this society
they need to have a quality education and special education is not cutting it.
So if I had my way, I would throw out special education
and have one education system for everyone.
It is stupid to have two and to me it should be illegal
to have a separate education system.
I would have the ADA cover education as well.
Just to really believe that people with disabilities have the same rights
as everyone else and I'd like to say we can have all the laws in the world
but if people's attitudes do not change, we are just spinning our wheels.
And I use a wheelchair.
And if my wheelchair just spins its wheels I don't seem to go anywhere.
(Laughter)