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Dear Colleague,

In July, we celebrate Disability Pride Month and the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). On July 26, 1990, the ADA was signed into law. It provides civil rights protection for people with disabilities and allows for access to state and local government services, public transportation, public accommodations, employment, and telecommunications relay services. We join the nation in honoring and celebrating this landmark law that is inspiring, uplifting, and making the world a better place for all of us.

Every member of society has been affected by the ADA. When we use elevators at the airport, use curb ramps on streets, or hear announcements for stops while using public transportation, that is a result of the ADA. Another benefit of the ADA is seen within the workplace. Specifically, the ADA enhances workplace diversity and requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations.

We support disability beneficiaries who choose to work through our Work Incentive Planning and Assistance (WIPA) and Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS) programs. These programs embody the spirit of the ADA by supporting beneficiaries who are preparing for employment. WIPA provides beneficiaries who are working or about to start working with information about the effect of work on the federal, state, and local benefits they receive. The PABSS program provides legal representation to beneficiaries who face a barrier to employment, including advocacy to help beneficiaries access the benefits of the ADA.

To learn more about the ADA visit the guest blog by the U.S. Access Board. As you journey through life, you are encouraged to remember all the ways our nation is better because of the ADA.

Sincerely,

Dawn Bystry
Acting Associate Commissioner
Office of Strategic and Digital Communications
oea.net.post@ssa.gov
@SSAOutreach