1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:07,140 I'm Art Blaser from Orange, California 2 00:00:07,165 --> 00:00:09,530 South of Los Angeles. 3 00:00:09,530 --> 00:00:12,627 And the first question had to do with 4 00:00:12,630 --> 00:00:16,227 my background and how I became aware 5 00:00:16,227 --> 00:00:21,127 of the ADA, Disability association 6 00:00:21,880 --> 00:00:26,820 In my case, although I had some knowledge before, 7 00:00:27,195 --> 00:00:30,941 not a lot less than most people, 8 00:00:30,950 --> 00:00:33,497 til I became disabled, 9 00:00:33,718 --> 00:00:39,058 Which was in 1983, I had a brain stem stroke 10 00:00:39,507 --> 00:00:42,570 and became disabled and a full time 11 00:00:42,570 --> 00:00:45,906 wheelchair user today. 12 00:00:45,909 --> 00:00:48,589 and I would say that 13 00:00:48,600 --> 00:00:51,044 the issues of disability 14 00:00:51,074 --> 00:00:56,274 I confronted 15 00:00:56,699 --> 00:01:00,889 a big one was access to my home 16 00:01:00,938 --> 00:01:04,398 and a simple one was access to my job. 17 00:01:04,435 --> 00:01:05,435 One seemingly trivial 18 00:01:05,443 --> 00:01:06,923 matter that was a major concern 19 00:01:06,940 --> 00:01:08,510 was curb cuts in my neighborhood. 20 00:01:08,510 --> 00:01:09,700 In theory, under the ADA, 21 00:01:09,702 --> 00:01:11,354 they were supposed to be in place, 22 00:01:11,354 --> 00:01:15,354 but were not, in practice, until 1995. 23 00:01:15,503 --> 00:01:18,279 They are today, which I think is 24 00:01:18,299 --> 00:01:21,809 emblematic of the impact of the ADA. 25 00:01:27,949 --> 00:01:31,589 The spirit of the ADA 26 00:01:31,589 --> 00:01:35,001 Would be a combination of talking 27 00:01:35,001 --> 00:01:37,977 to the public about their needs 28 00:01:37,977 --> 00:01:41,529 and eventually Orange, where I lived, 29 00:01:41,529 --> 00:01:45,978 had curb cuts at the corners, which meant 30 00:01:45,978 --> 00:01:50,849 it was possible for me to live. 31 00:01:50,868 --> 00:01:53,139 Access to 32 00:01:53,139 --> 00:01:59,883 buildings and being able to continue 33 00:01:59,883 --> 00:02:04,403 teaching with the aid of computerized 34 00:02:04,409 --> 00:02:06,649 voice were very important 35 00:02:06,649 --> 00:02:08,098 in continuing to teach. 36 00:02:08,098 --> 00:02:10,575 It's the kind of thing that 37 00:02:10,575 --> 00:02:13,628 wouldn't exist decades ago. 38 00:02:21,973 --> 00:02:25,973 California law reinforces 39 00:02:26,166 --> 00:02:30,166 the spirit of the ADA. 40 00:02:31,409 --> 00:02:38,619 We see the ADA do good things 41 00:02:38,619 --> 00:02:40,708 and some things that don't work 42 00:02:40,708 --> 00:02:44,803 just about every day that they 43 00:02:44,861 --> 00:02:49,741 try to get access to different buildings. 44 00:02:55,267 --> 00:02:58,101 This shouldn't be happening, 45 00:02:58,101 --> 00:02:59,938 but in fact it is 46 00:03:04,350 --> 00:03:06,790 If people are motivated, 47 00:03:06,790 --> 00:03:10,843 eventually things change and adapt. 48 00:03:10,916 --> 00:03:16,046 I teach 49 00:03:16,074 --> 00:03:22,084 at Chapel University, since 1981, 50 00:03:22,084 --> 00:03:24,744 so before the ADA. 51 00:03:24,745 --> 00:03:31,745 When I became disabled, I noticed 52 00:03:31,745 --> 00:03:35,320 a lot of the affects through teaching 53 00:03:35,320 --> 00:03:40,514 about disabilities, while having students 54 00:03:40,539 --> 00:03:43,059 who actually grew up knowing 55 00:03:43,059 --> 00:03:46,019 that the ADA existed. 56 00:03:46,876 --> 00:03:50,876 They're the so-called "ADA generation" 57 00:03:51,013 --> 00:03:54,243 Which makes a big difference 58 00:03:54,243 --> 00:03:59,032 People are claiming disability and trying 59 00:03:59,032 --> 00:04:03,079 to make the world a better place. 60 00:04:03,098 --> 00:04:07,478 And, in many cases, they're successful 61 00:04:07,478 --> 00:04:10,648 and in some cases, not. 62 00:04:10,648 --> 00:04:15,327 I think there's a desire 63 00:04:15,327 --> 00:04:19,327 to understand the reason for it. 64 00:04:19,327 --> 00:04:23,327 I think 65 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 The spirit of the ADA helps in making the 66 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 world a better place, usually. A challenge 67 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 we'll face in the future that is 68 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 developing now will be ensuring that the 69 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 catastrophic effects of COVID-19 do not 70 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 recur. The high death rate 71 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 in nursing homes needs to be of 72 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 concern to everyone, and we need to do 73 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 better at providing opportunities to live 74 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 in the community rather than in congregate 75 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 The Olmstead case was very important in 76 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 establishing the right to live in the 77 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 community under the ADA, and independent 78 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 living centers are playing important 79 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 roles in people moving from nursing homes 80 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 to the community. In Orange County, I've 81 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 been privileged to serve as a board 82 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 member of the County's Independent 83 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Living Center, the Dayle McIntosh Center. 84 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 This needs to be a priority, not only in 85 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 the US but also everywhere that is 86 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 experiencing high death rates in nursing 87 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 homes. Another factor is the large number 88 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 now particularly younger people who are 89 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 testing positive for COVID-19 but 90 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 recovering at a higher risk for stroke and 91 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 multiple sclerosis. Members of the 92 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 disability community are well-versed in 93 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 demonstrating that a high quality of life 94 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 is possible, and society and government 95 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 need to provide support that makes this 96 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 possible. 97 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 The most important steps involve education 98 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 broadly conceived. Beginning in child care 99 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 people are aware of human differences and 100 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 education continues throughout 101 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 the lifespan not only to schools but also 102 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 through religious organizations and 103 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 entertainment media. Increasing 104 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 visibility of disabled people, expressed 105 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 through different organizations, is 106 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 invaluable. Colleges and universities play 107 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 an important role, especially when they 108 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 value input from disability organizations 109 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and learned experiences of disabled people 110 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Projects such as the Disability Visibility 111 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Project help in publicizing disabled 112 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 voices and colleges and universities 113 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 can help by calling attention to those 114 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 voices rather than trying to offer 115 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 expertise in how others should live.