Blog: In Celebration of the 32nd Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities ActBy: Kimberly Reynolds, M.P.A, M.Ed., Public Health Advisor and Project Officer, Center for Mental Health ServicesOn July 26, 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law. Considered one of the most sweeping and comprehensive pieces of civil rights legislation ever passed, it “prohibits discrimination and guarantees that people with disabilities have the same opportunities as everyone else to participate in the mainstream of American life… Modeled after the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin… the ADA is an ‘equal opportunity’ law for people with disabilities.” The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has long recognized the importance of enhancing opportunities for full community participation for people experiencing mental health and substance use conditions. Numerous SAMHSA programs and initiatives foster rights protection and address disparities in access to behavioral health services and supports. One key resource is SAMHSA’s Protection & Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI) Program.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 5600 Fishers Lane Rockville, MD 20857 USA |
