by Dessa Cosma and Teddy Dorsette III
This article was first published by the Detroit Free Post
This year, we celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
This landmark legislation was designed to positively impact the lives of people with disabilities, ensuring that we have the same rights and opportunities as anyone else. In the last 30 years, we’ve witnessed improvements across the country in access to employment, government services and programs, and goods and services from businesses.
However, when we experience Detroit, whether it’s access to information, criminal justice, education, employment, health care, housing or transportation, there is still much room for improvement. It’s time that Detroiters with disabilities and those with disabilities that want to visit our city experience a Detroit that is welcoming and accessible to all. It’s time for action.
The City of Detroit needs an Office of Disability Affairs.
The Detroit City Council unanimously endorsed the creation of such an office at its first session this year (without allocation of any money). The ball is now in Mayor Mike Duggan’s court.
The Collective for Disability Justice 