The ADA at 31: Expanding Disability Rights in the Time of COVID-19

On the 31st anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and in light of the devastating impacts of the ongoing pandemic, this video emphasizes the need to permanently expand disability rights.

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For more information on the impacts of the pandemic on disability, see "The ADA at 31: Access to Housing and Health Care Must Meet the Rise of Disability in the U.S."

The coronavirus crisis has proven that access to basic life amenities is a public health necessity; therefore, legislation should reflect the growing need for housing and health services.

Read the issue brief

Over the past year, the United States has seen growing inequalities and one of the biggest increases in disability rates due to the pandemic. Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) and a panel of cross-movement organizers and policy experts discuss the next steps policymakers need to take to permanently strengthen the Americans with Disabilities Act and ensure people with disabilities have access to care and the supports they need.

Mia Ives-Rublee is the director for the Disability Justice Initiative at the Center for American Progress. Megan Buckles is a senior policy analyst for the Disability Justice Initiative at the Center.

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