1 00:00:00,297 --> 00:00:06,449 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, a 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 00:02:31,509 --> 00:02:38,599 We see the ADA's affect for good point of the spirit 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 were people 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 that 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 And, 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 00:03:46,019 --> 00:03:50,876 and 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 --> 00:04:21,927 I think they want us to 73 00:04:21,927 --> 00:04:30,505 The association 74 00:04:30,505 --> 00:04:32,489 where and how people live 75 00:04:32,489 --> 00:04:36,835 and the contrast between nursing homes 76 00:04:36,835 --> 00:04:39,736 and lacks of the community 77 00:04:39,736 --> 00:04:42,222 Or medical setting 78 00:04:42,222 --> 00:04:48,642 and we're experiencing through Covid-19 the current crisis 79 00:04:48,642 --> 00:04:53,870 a lot of death in nursing homes worldwide. 80 00:04:53,870 --> 00:05:20,118 and we also 81 00:05:20,118 --> 00:05:21,599 I think one of the 82 00:05:21,599 --> 00:05:25,343 unfortunate things we are seeing 83 00:05:25,343 --> 00:05:29,415 is the lack of forward movement 84 00:05:29,415 --> 00:05:32,294 toward nursing home reforms 85 00:05:32,294 --> 00:05:34,753 or estates 86 00:05:34,753 --> 00:05:39,193 we can't continue to live in congregate settings 87 00:05:39,193 --> 00:05:43,300 and a number of people are 88 00:05:43,300 --> 00:05:47,508 89 00:05:47,508 --> 00:05:50,208 the independent living centers 90 00:05:50,208 --> 00:05:52,677 and independent living movement 91 00:05:52,677 --> 00:05:57,687 some things that I feel privileged 92 00:05:57,687 --> 00:06:01,106 in a lot of ways to be involved in 93 00:06:01,106 --> 00:06:04,717 with a center for independent living 94 00:06:04,717 --> 00:06:07,035 for Orange county and LA 95 00:06:07,035 --> 00:06:09,962 and a major issue has been 96 00:06:09,962 --> 00:06:14,463 transitions from nursing homes 97 00:06:15,353 --> 00:06:20,337 and that will continue to be a major 98 00:06:20,337 --> 00:06:24,739 issue including interpretations of cores. 99 00:06:24,739 --> 00:08:45,617 which I think it's very important 100 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 not only in the Untied states 101 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 but also whereas well 102 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 England has notes ruffly the same thing happing 103 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 About half the deaths 104 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 are people in nursing homes 105 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 106 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 is that now were seeing a lot 107 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 of people who've covid 19 108 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 tested positive and recovered 109 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 but a lot of indications that they 110 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 haven't recovered perfectly 111 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 that many of them like me have stroke 112 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 some things similar to multiple sclerosis 113 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and a lot of people haven't thought 114 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 of themselves as disabled but in fact 115 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 have many of the conditions of disability 116 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and an important factor in the coming years 117 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 I think will be that people claim disability 118 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and discover that it's actually a part 119 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 of the way a lot of us live 120 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and that's something that's 121 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 going to go away, become impotent 122 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 to people like me is that 123 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 we can make the world a lot better 124 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 by anodizing the rights 125 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 that should come along with disability 126 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 the most important step that 127 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 we as community members can take 128 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 is education so that they can see that 129 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 all of us are involved in thew their life span 130 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 because they can inside.......... 131 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and considering people of both 132 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 dimensions of disability 133 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 some with pride and positive atitudes 134 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 towards human differences continue 135 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 thew the life spans and 136 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 137 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 at first, might find it difficult to 138 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 deal with disability threw politics 139 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 like the Americans with Disability Acts 140 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and......... Right 141 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 but thats very