July is Disability Pride Month, a time to celebrate the achievements, history, and contributions of people with disabilities. This month reminds us of the ongoing fight for people with disabilities to secure full participation and equal access in our communities and in our courts. As we celebrate, it’s important to reflect on the landmark events that have shaped the disability rights movement and consider the work that we continue to embark on to ensure full accessibility and inclusion.
One of the most significant milestones in the disability rights movement is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), signed into law on July 26, 1990. The ADA is a comprehensive civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability. It mandates equal access to employment, public accommodations, transportation, telecommunications, and crucially, government spaces. This groundbreaking legislation has been instrumental in breaking down barriers and fostering more inclusive communities.
The fight for the ADA culminated with the “Capitol Crawl,” a disability justice demonstration held on March 12, 1990. On this day, hundreds of disability rights activists gathered in Washington, D.C., to urge Congress to pass the ADA. In a dramatic and symbolic act of protest, dozens of individuals with disabilities left their mobility aids and crawled up the steps of the U.S. Capitol.
Credit: Jeff Markowitz/APDespite significant progress since the ADA’s enactment, work remains to be done to achieve full accessibility in all areas of society. Courts, as fundamental institutions of justice, must be accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities. Ensuring accessibility in courts is not only crucial for upholding dignity for all but mandated for all court employees under Title II of the ADA.
Earlier this month, the Access to Justice Division of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts and the Illinois Attorney General’s Office concluded the first Court Disability Coordinator Training under the newly updated Illinois Supreme Court Policy on Access for People with Disabilities
(Policy), with 104 trainees attending three sessions around Illinois. The training educated attendees on their obligations as Court Disability Coordinators under Title II of the ADA, shared updated requirements of the Policy, and provided cultural responsiveness tools when supporting people with disabilities.
Attendees left equipped with the following resources:
On this Disability Pride Month, it is important to honor the progress made since the passage of the ADA and to remember the tireless efforts of activists who fought for equality and accessibility. As we celebrate these achievements, we must also recognize the work that remains, particularly in making our systems, institutions, and courts open and usable by all.
For more information or resources on disability access, please reach out to CDCReport@illinoiscourts.gov and the Access to Justice Division of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts will get back to you.