1 00:00:00,297 --> 00:00:06,426 I'm Art Blaser in Orange, California 2 00:00:06,449 --> 00:00:08,872 South of Los Angeles. 3 00:00:08,872 --> 00:00:12,403 And the first question had to do with 4 00:00:12,510 --> 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 00:00:31,010 --> 00:00:33,557 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 --> 00:00:42,510 and became disabled and a full time 11 00:00:42,510 --> 00:00:45,906 wheelchair user today. 12 00:00:45,909 --> 00:00:48,229 and I would say that 13 00:00:48,229 --> 00:00:53,034 the issues of disability 14 00:00:53,049 --> 00:00:56,699 I confronted 15 00:00:56,699 --> 00:01:00,889 a big one was access to my home 16 00:01:00,938 --> 00:01:03,853 and a simple one was access to my job. 17 00:01:03,853 --> 00:01:08,812 That although curb cuts were in theory 18 00:01:08,812 --> 00:01:11,124 supposed to be in place 19 00:01:11,124 --> 00:01:15,354 by 1995, in practice, they weren't. 20 00:01:15,503 --> 00:01:18,279 They are today, which I think is 21 00:01:18,299 --> 00:01:21,917 emblematic of the impact of the ADA. 22 00:01:21,967 --> 00:01:25,077 As of now we've got things 23 00:01:25,107 --> 00:01:27,328 to the time but, 24 00:01:27,999 --> 00:01:31,359 The spirit of the ADA 25 00:01:31,359 --> 00:01:34,628 was the confrontation of 26 00:01:34,628 --> 00:01:37,977 people being public about their needs 27 00:01:37,977 --> 00:01:41,529 and eventually Orange, where I lived, 28 00:01:41,529 --> 00:01:45,978 had curb cuts at the corners, which meant 29 00:01:45,978 --> 00:01:50,489 it was possible for me to live 30 00:01:50,518 --> 00:01:53,790 about five blocks from campus. 31 00:01:53,790 --> 00:01:59,633 I had improvements and accommodations 32 00:01:59,955 --> 00:02:05,471 which included a computerized voice 33 00:02:05,529 --> 00:02:08,488 that makes it possible to teach. 34 00:02:08,588 --> 00:02:10,825 The kinds of things that 35 00:02:10,825 --> 00:02:14,118 wouldn't have existed decades ago. 36 00:02:14,303 --> 00:02:19,033 Fortunately, in California as a professor 37 00:02:19,033 --> 00:02:21,684 I was able to take advantage of 38 00:02:21,684 --> 00:02:23,626 good state laws. 39 00:02:23,626 --> 00:02:26,876 But I think they're being forced by 40 00:02:26,876 --> 00:02:30,166 the spirit of the ADA. 41 00:02:31,529 --> 00:02:38,619 We see the ADA do good things 42 00:02:38,619 --> 00:02:40,708 and some things that don't work 43 00:02:40,708 --> 00:02:44,803 just about every day that they 44 00:02:44,861 --> 00:02:49,571 try to get access to different buildings. 45 00:02:49,574 --> 00:02:53,584 and quite often the experiences 46 00:02:53,625 --> 00:02:55,225 of other people say 47 00:02:55,267 --> 00:02:58,101 this shouldn't be happening, 48 00:02:58,101 --> 00:02:59,938 but in fact it is. 49 00:03:00,284 --> 00:03:02,940 But the big difference is 50 00:03:02,940 --> 00:03:06,790 is that If people were motivated, 51 00:03:06,790 --> 00:03:10,836 eventually things change and adapt. 52 00:03:10,836 --> 00:03:12,919 I've noticed it most 53 00:03:12,919 --> 00:03:14,993 in education. 54 00:03:15,047 --> 00:03:17,274 I teach 55 00:03:17,274 --> 00:03:22,084 at Chapman University, since 1981, 56 00:03:22,084 --> 00:03:24,744 so before the ADA. 57 00:03:24,745 --> 00:03:31,115 When I was not disabled I taught it there 58 00:03:31,115 --> 00:03:34,550 I noticed a lot of the affects through 59 00:03:34,550 --> 00:03:38,139 teaching disabilities, at least. 60 00:03:38,139 --> 00:03:40,829 and I've had students 61 00:03:40,829 --> 00:03:43,059 who actually grew up knowing 62 00:03:43,059 --> 00:03:46,019 that the ADA existed. 63 00:03:47,196 --> 00:03:50,876 They're the so-called "ADA generation" 64 00:03:51,013 --> 00:03:54,243 Which makes a big difference 65 00:03:54,243 --> 00:03:59,452 People are claiming disability and trying 66 00:03:59,452 --> 00:04:03,079 to make the world a better place. 67 00:04:03,098 --> 00:04:07,478 And, in many cases, they're successful 68 00:04:07,478 --> 00:04:09,818 and in some cases, not. 69 00:04:09,818 --> 00:04:12,248 But there are reasons for it 70 00:04:12,248 --> 00:04:15,327 and I think there's a desire 71 00:04:15,327 --> 00:04:19,327 to understand the reasons. 72 00:04:19,327 --> 00:04:22,787 I think they want to 73 00:10:17,923 --> 00:10:21,923 The spirit of the ADA helps in making the 74 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 world a better place, usually. A challenge 75 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 we'll face in the future that is 76 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 developing now will be ensuring that the 77 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 catastrophic effects of COVID-19 do not 78 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 recur. The high death rate 79 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 in nursing homes needs to be of 80 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 concern to everyone, and we need to do 81 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 better at providing opportunities to live 82 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 in the community rather than in congregate 83 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 The Olmstead case was very important in 84 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 establishing the right to live in the 85 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 community under the ADA, and independent 86 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 living centers are playing important 87 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 roles in people moving from nursing homes 88 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 to the community. In Orange County, I've 89 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 been privileged to serve as a board 90 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 member of the County's Independent 91 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Living Center, the Dayle McIntosh Center. 92 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 This needs to be a priority, not only in 93 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 the US but also everywhere that is 94 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 experiencing high death rates in nursing 95 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 homes. Another factor is the large number 96 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 now particularly younger people who are 97 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 testing positive for COVID-19 but 98 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 recovering at a higher risk for stroke and 99 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 multiple sclerosis. Members of the 100 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 disability community are well-versed in 101 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 demonstrating that a high quality of life 102 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 is possible, and society and government 103 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 need to provide support that makes this 104 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 possible. 105 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 The most important steps involve education 106 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 broadly conceived. Beginning in child care 107 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 people are aware of human differences and 108 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 education continues throughout 109 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 the lifespan not only to schools but also 110 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 through religious organizations and 111 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 entertainment media. Increasing 112 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 visibility of disabled people, expressed 113 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 through different organizations, is 114 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 invaluable. Colleges and universities play 115 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 an important role, especially when they 116 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 value input from disability organizations 117 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and learned experiences of disabled people 118 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Projects such as the Disability Visibility 119 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Project help in publicizing disabled 120 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 voices and colleges and universities 121 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 can help by calling attention to those 122 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 voices rather than trying to offer 123 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 expertise in how others should live.