WEBVTT 00:00:00.297 --> 00:00:06.426 I'm Art Blaser in Orange, California 00:00:06.449 --> 00:00:08.872 South of Los Angeles. 00:00:08.872 --> 00:00:12.403 And the first question had to do with 00:00:12.510 --> 00:00:16.227 my background and how I became aware 00:00:16.227 --> 00:00:21.127 of the ADA, Disability association 00:00:21.880 --> 00:00:26.820 In my case, although I had some knowledge before, 00:00:27.195 --> 00:00:30.941 not a lot less than most people, 00:00:31.010 --> 00:00:33.557 til I became disabled, NOTE Paragraph 00:00:33.718 --> 00:00:39.058 Which was in 1983, I had a brain stem stroke 00:00:39.507 --> 00:00:42.510 and became disabled and a full time 00:00:42.510 --> 00:00:45.906 wheelchair user today. 00:00:45.909 --> 00:00:48.229 and I would say that 00:00:48.229 --> 00:00:53.034 the issues of disability 00:00:53.049 --> 00:00:56.699 I confronted 00:00:56.699 --> 00:01:00.889 a big one was access to my home 00:01:00.938 --> 00:01:03.853 and a simple one was access to my job. 00:01:03.853 --> 00:01:08.812 That although curb cuts were in theory 00:01:08.812 --> 00:01:11.124 supposed to be in place 00:01:11.124 --> 00:01:15.354 by 1995, in practice, they weren't. 00:01:15.503 --> 00:01:18.279 They are today, which I think is 00:01:18.299 --> 00:01:21.917 emblematic of the impact of the ADA. 00:01:21.967 --> 00:01:25.077 As of now we've got things 00:01:25.107 --> 00:01:27.328 to the time but, 00:01:27.999 --> 00:01:31.359 The spirit of the ADA 00:01:31.359 --> 00:01:34.628 was the confrontation of 00:01:34.628 --> 00:01:37.977 people being public about their needs 00:01:37.977 --> 00:01:41.529 and eventually Orange, where I lived, 00:01:41.529 --> 00:01:45.978 had curb cuts at the corners, which meant 00:01:45.978 --> 00:01:50.489 it was possible for me to live 00:01:50.518 --> 00:01:53.790 about five blocks from campus. 00:01:53.790 --> 00:01:59.633 I had improvements and accommodations 00:01:59.955 --> 00:02:05.471 which included a computerized voice 00:02:05.529 --> 00:02:08.488 that makes it possible to teach. 00:02:08.588 --> 00:02:10.825 The kinds of things that 00:02:10.825 --> 00:02:14.118 wouldn't have existed decades ago. 00:02:14.303 --> 00:02:19.033 Fortunately, in California as a professor 00:02:19.033 --> 00:02:21.684 I was able to take advantage of 00:02:21.684 --> 00:02:23.626 good state laws. 00:02:23.626 --> 00:02:26.876 But I think they're being forced by 00:02:26.876 --> 00:02:30.166 the spirit of the ADA. 00:02:31.529 --> 00:02:38.619 We see the ADA do good things 00:02:38.619 --> 00:02:40.708 and some things that don't work 00:02:40.708 --> 00:02:44.803 just about every day that they 00:02:44.861 --> 00:02:49.571 try to get access to different buildings. 00:02:49.574 --> 00:02:53.584 and quite often the experiences 00:02:53.625 --> 00:02:55.225 of other people say 00:02:55.267 --> 00:02:58.101 this shouldn't be happening, 00:02:58.101 --> 00:02:59.938 but in fact it is. 00:03:00.284 --> 00:03:02.940 But the big difference is 00:03:02.940 --> 00:03:06.790 is that If people were motivated, 00:03:06.790 --> 00:03:10.836 eventually things change and adapt. 00:03:10.836 --> 00:03:12.919 I've noticed it most 00:03:12.919 --> 00:03:14.993 in education. 00:03:15.047 --> 00:03:17.274 I teach 00:03:17.274 --> 00:03:22.084 at Chapel University, since 1981, 00:03:22.084 --> 00:03:24.744 so before the ADA. 00:03:24.745 --> 00:03:31.115 When I was not disabled I taught it there 00:03:31.115 --> 00:03:34.550 I noticed a lot of the affects through 00:03:34.550 --> 00:03:38.139 teaching disabilities, at least. 00:03:38.139 --> 00:03:40.829 and I've had students 00:03:40.829 --> 00:03:43.059 who actually grew up knowing 00:03:43.059 --> 00:03:46.019 that the ADA existed. 00:03:47.196 --> 00:03:50.876 They're the so-called "ADA generation" 00:03:51.013 --> 00:03:54.243 Which makes a big difference 00:03:54.243 --> 00:03:59.452 People are claiming disability and trying 00:03:59.452 --> 00:04:03.079 to make the world a better place. 00:04:03.098 --> 00:04:07.478 And, in many cases, they're successful 00:04:07.478 --> 00:04:09.818 and in some cases, not. 00:04:09.818 --> 00:04:12.248 But there are reasons for it 00:04:12.248 --> 00:04:15.327 and I think there's a desire 00:04:15.327 --> 00:04:19.327 to understand the reasons. 00:04:19.327 --> 00:04:22.787 I think they want to 00:10:17.923 --> 00:10:21.923 The spirit of the ADA helps in making the 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 world a better place, usually. A challenge 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 we'll face in the future that is 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 developing now will be ensuring that the 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 catastrophic effects of COVID-19 do not 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 recur. The high death rate 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 in nursing homes needs to be of 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 concern to everyone, and we need to do 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 better at providing opportunities to live 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 in the community rather than in congregate 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 The Olmstead case was very important in 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 establishing the right to live in the 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 community under the ADA, and independent 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 living centers are playing important 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 roles in people moving from nursing homes 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 to the community. In Orange County, I've 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 been privileged to serve as a board 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 member of the County's Independent 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Living Center, the Dayle McIntosh Center. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 This needs to be a priority, not only in 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 the US but also everywhere that is 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 experiencing high death rates in nursing 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 homes. Another factor is the large number 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 now particularly younger people who are 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 testing positive for COVID-19 but 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 recovering at a higher risk for stroke and 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 multiple sclerosis. Members of the 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 disability community are well-versed in 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 demonstrating that a high quality of life 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 is possible, and society and government 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 need to provide support that makes this 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 possible. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 The most important steps involve education 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 broadly conceived. Beginning in child care 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 people are aware of human differences and 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 education continues throughout 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 the lifespan not only to schools but also 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 through religious organizations and 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 entertainment media. Increasing 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 visibility of disabled people, expressed 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 through different organizations, is 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 invaluable. Colleges and universities play 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 an important role, especially when they 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 value input from disability organizations 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 and learned experiences of disabled people 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Projects such as the Disability Visibility 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Project help in publicizing disabled 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 voices and colleges and universities 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 can help by calling attention to those 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 voices rather than trying to offer 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 expertise in how others should live.