0:00:00.297,0:00:06.426 I'm Art Blaser in Orange, California 0:00:06.449,0:00:08.872 South of Los Angeles. 0:00:08.872,0:00:11.969 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, 0:00:31.010,0:00:33.557 til I became disabled, 0:00:33.718,0:00:39.058 Which was in 1983, [br]I had a brain stem stroke 0:00:39.507,0:00:42.510 and became disabled and a full time 0:00:42.510,0:00:45.906 wheelchair user today. 0:00:45.909,0:00:48.229 and I would say that 0:00:48.229,0:00:53.034 the issues of disability 0:00:53.049,0:00:56.699 I confronted 0:00:56.699,0:01:00.889 a big one was access to my home 0:01:00.938,0:01:03.853 and a simple one was access to my job. 0:01:03.853,0:01:08.812 That although curb cuts were in theory 0:01:08.812,0:01:11.124 supposed to be in place 0:01:11.124,0:01:15.354 by 1995, in practice, they weren't. 0:01:15.503,0:01:18.279 They are today, which I think is 0:01:18.299,0:01:21.917 emblematic of the impact of the ADA. 0:01:21.967,0:01:25.077 As of now we've got things 0:01:25.107,0:01:27.328 to the time but, 0:01:27.999,0:01:31.359 The spirit of the ADA 0:01:31.359,0:01:34.628 was the confrontation of 0:01:34.628,0:01:37.977 people being 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 0:01:45.978,0:01:50.489 it was possible for me to live 0:01:50.518,0:01:53.610 about five blocks from campus 0:01:53.610,0:01:57.893 and improvement also 0:02:03.289,0:02:05.471 a computerized voice 0:02:05.529,0:02:08.488 that makes it possible to teach. 0:02:08.588,0:02:10.825 the kind of thing that 0:02:10.825,0:02:14.118 wouldn't have existed 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 0:10:17.923,0:10:21.923 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.