0:00:00.000,0:00:07.140 I'm Art Blaser from Orange, California 0:00:07.165,0:00:09.530 South of Los Angeles. 0:00:09.530,0:00:12.627 And the first question had to do with 0:00:12.630,0:00:16.227 my background and how I became aware 0:00:16.227,0:00:21.127 of the ADA, Disability association 0:00:21.880,0:00:26.820 In my case, [br]although I had some knowledge before, 0:00:27.195,0:00:30.941 not a lot less than most people, 0:00:30.950,0:00:33.497 til I became disabled, 0:00:33.718,0:00:39.058 Which was in 1983, [br]I had a brain stem stroke 0:00:39.507,0:00:42.570 and became disabled and a full time 0:00:42.570,0:00:45.906 wheelchair user today. 0:00:45.909,0:00:48.589 and I would say that 0:00:48.600,0:00:51.044 the issues of disability 0:00:51.074,0:00:56.274 I confronted 0:00:56.699,0:01:00.889 a big one was access to my home 0:01:00.938,0:01:04.398 and a simple one was access to my job. 0:01:04.435,0:01:05.435 One seemingly trivial 0:01:05.443,0:01:06.923 matter that was a major concern 0:01:06.940,0:01:08.510 was curb cuts in my neighborhood. 0:01:08.510,0:01:09.700 In theory, under the ADA, 0:01:09.702,0:01:11.354 they were supposed to be in place, 0:01:11.354,0:01:15.354 but were not, in practice, until 1995. 0:01:15.503,0:01:18.279 They are today, which I think is 0:01:18.299,0:01:21.809 emblematic of the impact of the ADA. 0:01:27.949,0:01:31.589 The spirit of the ADA 0:01:31.589,0:01:35.001 Would be a combination of talking 0:01:35.001,0:01:37.977 to the public about their needs 0:01:37.977,0:01:41.529 and eventually Orange, where I lived, 0:01:41.529,0:01:45.978 had curb cuts at the corners, which meant 0:01:45.978,0:01:50.849 it was possible for me to live. 0:01:50.868,0:01:53.139 Access to 0:01:53.139,0:01:59.883 buildings and being able to continue 0:01:59.883,0:02:04.403 teaching with the aid of computerized 0:02:04.409,0:02:06.649 voice were very important 0:02:06.649,0:02:08.098 in continuing to teach. 0:02:08.098,0:02:10.575 It's the kind of thing that 0:02:10.575,0:02:13.628 wouldn't exist decades ago. 0:02:21.973,0:02:25.973 California law reinforces 0:02:26.166,0:02:30.166 the spirit of the ADA. 0:02:31.409,0:02:38.619 We see the ADA do good things 0:02:38.619,0:02:40.708 and some things that don't work 0:02:40.708,0:02:44.803 just about every day that they 0:02:44.861,0:02:49.741 try to get access to different buildings. 0:02:55.267,0:02:58.101 This shouldn't be happening, 0:02:58.101,0:02:59.938 but in fact it is 0:03:04.350,0:03:06.790 If people are motivated, 0:03:06.790,0:03:10.843 eventually things change and adapt. 0:03:10.916,0:03:16.046 I teach 0:03:16.074,0:03:22.084 at Chapel University, since 1981, 0:03:22.084,0:03:24.744 so before the ADA. 0:03:24.745,0:03:31.745 When I became disabled, I noticed 0:03:31.745,0:03:35.320 a lot of the affects through teaching 0:03:35.320,0:03:40.514 about disabilities, while having students 0:03:40.539,0:03:43.059 who actually grew up knowing 0:03:43.059,0:03:46.019 that the ADA existed. 0:03:46.876,0:03:50.876 They're the so-called "ADA generation" 0:03:51.013,0:03:54.243 Which makes a big difference 0:03:54.243,0:03:59.032 People are claiming disability and trying 0:03:59.032,0:04:03.079 to make the world a better place. 0:04:03.098,0:04:07.478 And, in many cases, they're successful 0:04:07.478,0:04:10.648 and in some cases, not. 0:04:10.648,0:04:15.327 I think there's a desire 0:04:15.327,0:04:19.327 to understand the reason for it. 0:04:19.327,0:04:23.327 I think 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 The spirit of the ADA helps in making the 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 world a better place, usually. A challenge 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 we'll face in the future that is 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 developing now will be ensuring that the 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 catastrophic effects of COVID-19 do not 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 recur. The high death rate 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 in nursing homes needs to be of 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 concern to everyone, and we need to do 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 better at providing opportunities to live 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 in the community rather than in congregate 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 The Olmstead case was very important in 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 establishing the right to live in the 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 community under the ADA, and independent 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 living centers are playing important 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 roles in people moving from nursing homes 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 to the community. In Orange County, I've 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 been privileged to serve as a board 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 member of the County's Independent 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Living Center, the Dayle McIntosh Center. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 This needs to be a priority, not only in 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 the US but also everywhere that is 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 experiencing high death rates in nursing 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 homes. Another factor is the large number 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 now particularly younger people who are 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 testing positive for COVID-19 but 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 recovering at a higher risk for stroke and 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 multiple sclerosis. Members of the 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 disability community are well-versed in 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 demonstrating that a high quality of life 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 is possible, and society and government 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 need to provide support that makes this 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 possible. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 The most important steps involve education 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 broadly conceived. Beginning in child care 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 people are aware of human differences and 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 education continues throughout 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 the lifespan not only to schools but also 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 through religious organizations and 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 entertainment media. Increasing 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 visibility of disabled people, expressed 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 through different organizations, is 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 invaluable. Colleges and universities play 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 an important role, especially when they 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 value input from disability organizations 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and learned experiences of disabled people 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Projects such as the Disability Visibility 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Project help in publicizing disabled 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 voices and colleges and universities 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 can help by calling attention to those 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 voices rather than trying to offer 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 expertise in how others should live.