< Return to Video

vimeo.com/.../436966585

  • 0:03 - 0:07
    Hi, my name is Matthew Wangeman.
  • 0:11 - 0:15
    I teach Disability Studies
    at Northern Arizona University.
  • 0:26 - 0:30
    I have been a disability advocate
    for over 30 years.
  • 0:56 - 1:00
    I went to the University of California
    at Berkeley
  • 1:25 - 1:29
    so I have been very lucky in my life.
  • 1:57 - 2:01
    My first memory of the ADA was
    three years after it was passed
  • 2:31 - 2:35
    because I was in Berkeley
  • 3:00 - 3:04
    and Berkeley had stronger laws
    than the ADA
  • 3:36 - 3:40
    so I really did not know or care
    about the ADA at that time.
  • 4:28 - 4:32
    And the interesting thing is
    in Berkeley and in California
  • 4:46 - 4:50
    people with disabilities were talking
    about how the ADA was less strong
  • Not Synced
    for people with disabilities
    in California and Berkeley.
  • Not Synced
    So when I first learned about the ADA
    I was living in an area that had
  • Not Synced
    stronger rules and regulations for people
    with disabilities than the ADA had put in.
  • Not Synced
    So I did not care that much
    about it at the time.
  • Not Synced
    (Laughter)
  • Not Synced
    I think the ADA has helped with
    accessibility
  • Not Synced
    all around the United States.
  • Not Synced
    That is to me probably one of
    the most important things
  • Not Synced
    that the ADA has accomplished.
  • Not Synced
    I really think the ADA is
    a great civil rights law
  • Not Synced
    and it has put disability
    on the map in this country.
  • Not Synced
    But for people with
    significant disabilities
  • Not Synced
    the ADA has not done that much
    in the grand scheme.
  • Not Synced
    Like employment is a great example.
  • Not Synced
    We are still at the same rate of
    employment as before the ADA.
  • Not Synced
    I think given where this country is today
    the ADA could not be stronger.
  • Not Synced
    In fact, given today the ADA
    would not pass, and that is sad.
  • Not Synced
    I really think our education system needs
    to be changed
  • Not Synced
    and even though the ADA really
    does not cover education it should.
  • Not Synced
    In order to have people with disabilities
    included in this society
  • Not Synced
    they need to have a quality education
    and special education is not cutting it.
  • Not Synced
    So if I had my way,
    I would throw out special education
  • Not Synced
    and have one education system
    for everyone.
  • Not Synced
    It is stupid to have two
    and to me it should be illegal
  • Not Synced
    to have a separate education system.
  • Not Synced
    I would have the ADA
    cover education as well.
  • Not Synced
    Just to really believe that people
    with disabilities have the same rights
  • Not Synced
    as everyone else and I'd like to say
    we can have all the laws in the world
  • Not Synced
    but if people's attitudes do not change,
    we are just spinning our wheels.
  • Not Synced
    And I use a wheelchair.
  • Not Synced
    And if my wheelchair just spins its wheels
    I don't seem to go anywhere.
  • Not Synced
    (Laughter)
Title:
vimeo.com/.../436966585
Video Language:
English
Team:
ABILITY Magazine
Duration:
20:14
Alp Batukan published English subtitles for vimeo.com/.../436966585
A.McFar edited English subtitles for vimeo.com/.../436966585
Katy McLaughlin edited English subtitles for vimeo.com/.../436966585
Katy McLaughlin edited English subtitles for vimeo.com/.../436966585
Jessica Sarff edited English subtitles for vimeo.com/.../436966585
Jessica Sarff edited English subtitles for vimeo.com/.../436966585

English subtitles

Revisions Compare revisions