WEBVTT 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I'm Art Blaser from Orange, California 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 South of Los Angeles. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And the first question had to do with 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 my background 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 and how I became aware of the ADA, Disability association 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 In my case, I had limited knowledge before, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 not a lot less than most people, til I 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 became disabled, NOTE Paragraph 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Which was in 1983, I had a brain stem stroke 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 and became disabled and a full time 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 wheel chair user today. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 included access to my home 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 and access to my job. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 One seemingly trivial 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 matter that was a major concern 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 was curb cuts in my neighborhood. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 In theory, under the ADA, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 they were supposed to be there, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 but were not until 1997. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 The spirit of the ADA, of equal access, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 was something broader than the practices 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 but very important in bringing about the 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 that meant so much to me. Access to 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 buildings and being able to continue 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 teaching with the aid of computerized 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 assistive technology were very important 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 in my continuing to work at Chapman 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 University, where I've worked since 1981. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 This wouldn't have been possible decades 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 ago. Colleagues also became more aware of 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 inequities and realized: “this isn’t 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 supposed to happen." I've been 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 privileged to coordinate Chapman's 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Disability Studies minor, and to become 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 familiar with the so called “ADA 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 generation” of students who grew up with 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 the ADA. As with California law, realizing 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 the spirit is more likely when people act. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 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.