Home - Disability Rights Iowa

Legal protection and advocacy.

ADA – 33rd Anniversary

Large group of people standing and sitting in a room facing one person standing and speaking with their back to the camera. There is a table in between the group of people and the speaker. The image is monochrome in blue.

Celebrating 33 Years of the ADA

The Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law on July 26, 1990. With the signing of the ADA people with disabilities were granted rights only dreamed of before. This year as we celebrate everything gained from the ADA we also recognize that there is so much more we as disability advocates can fight for. It is through this sentiment that DRI is reminded of our mission: Advocating for justice. Advancing human and legal rights. Protecting Iowans with disabilities.

We hope you join us in our fight for a more equitable future for all Iowans with disabilities.

cartoon map laying down with a giant pin sticking out of the top of it.

Where WE ARe

The ADA protects individuals with disabilities in five areas. Those areas are;

  • Title I—employment.
  • Title II—public entities (and public transportation)
  • Title III—public accommodations (and commercial facilities) …
  • Title IV—telecommunications. …
  • Title V – miscellaneous provisions.

To learn more about the ADA, please visit the site linked below.

ADA.gov
cartoon hand with a small leafy plant being held in it

What is Next

As we celebrate the ADA we are reminded of the rights that are not yet guaranteed for people with disabilities. This year, and every year, we move forward with our advocacy to advance and protect the rights we have.

For more information on what we are continuing to advocate for, follow the link below.

What We Do
And Yet, We Persist
ADA 30th: Past, Present, and Future with Judy Heumann and Wesley Hamilton
cartoon of the whole world with a magnifying glass held to it and a person inside the lens

Resources

There are many resources we can point to in celebration of the ADA. This year we would like to celebrate a few resources put together by our partners and other disability organizations. The resources are linked below.

ADA Anniversary Toolbox
Disability Pride Month
LGBTQIA+ and Disability
PBS Disability Specials
National Disability Rights Network – ADA & Civil Rights
Great Plains ADA Center
Disability IN: Past, Present & Future
close up of paper butterflies with braille punched into them with watercolor on top of the brailled paper.
shadow box hanging on a wall with rippled paper that has been brailled. the paper has watercolor on top of it.
series of flat brailled paper hanging on a wall with cutout butterflies resting on top and beside the flat paper. The butterflies and flat paper has been painted with vibrant colors.
paper cutout butterflies are attached to the wall to look like they are flying from one brailled square paper to another square brailled paper square next to them. All are painted.
square brailled text on paper that has been painted indifferent colors, covered with brailled and painted cutout butterflies.
cutout butterflies with braille and painted colors on top of them spread out from the corner of a wall all flying away from the corner.
Photos of artwork by Jill Wells Art. Photos by Eman Photography. These photos were taken at our 2022 ADA Open House Celebration.
Circular sculpture with pieces of broken glass shaped metal sticking out of it. Three people are setting up chairs around the sculpture.
Man walking with an american flag in front of a parade of people with signs with various disability rights phrases written on them.
Man holding a sign and balloons. The sign reads "ADA Thank you for the opportunities" He is walking with a parade of people.
rows of chairs are set up outside on the grass with people walking to them and sitting in them.
Iowa capital building captured with a memorial statue in front of it with lady justice atop it.
Ms. Wheelchair Iowa sits holding a sign that reads "ADA 25 1990-2015, Des Moines Iowa" She is wearing a dress and her tiara.
Photos are from the DRI’s ADA 25th Anniversary move to the capital.

Every Donation Matters.

Although Congress supports our work on a bipartisan basis, part of our funding also comes from the generous donation of our supporters. Help us make a difference for Iowans with disabilities by donating to our cause.

Donate!