ADA Then and Now: St. Louis Milestones

Celebrate the 36th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) with this program that explores St. Louis’s role in the 1990 passage of the ADA, how St. Louis has advanced since that time, and what needs are still being addressed. Cara Reedy, founder and director of the Disabled Journalists Association, will moderate a panel conversation with panelists David Newburger, Commissioner on the Disabled and ADA coordinator for the City of St. Louis; Linda Baker, chair of the Greater St. Louis chapter of the Hearing Loss Association; and Jason Stratman, MHS Library Outreach Manager. The panel will illuminate the role of disabled St. Louisans in the ADA’s passage and the broader disability rights movement; highlight key milestones; address accessibility gaps that still exist; and demonstrate how to use the Missouri Historical Society’s archives to research the ADA, early disability history, and local advocacy. Before the panel, visit with resource tables hosted by local disability organizations. Afterward, a complimentary lunch is available with a reservation.
Schedule
10–11am | Disability organization resource fair
11am–12pm | Panel discussion
12–1pm | Complimentary lunch (please register)