Statement of the American Diabetes Association on Anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act

Dan Kohrman, Chair of the American Diabetes Association's Legal Advocacy Subcommittee, issued the following statement to commemorate the 18th anniversary of the original passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

"The Act was passed to provide an opportunity for all Americans to be judged on the basis of their abilities, rather than their actual or perceived disabilities. For nearly two decades, it has provided crucial protections that enabled many Americans with disabilities to pursue opportunities in the workplace and in school -- and to excel in these arenas. Despite the numerous accomplishments that have been achieved under this important legislation, people with disabilities including chronic illnesses like diabetes, often find themselves in situations where they are judged unfairly. In the last decade, a series of Supreme Court decisions have severely narrowed who is covered by the law, and many individuals have been denied the protections of the courts even when they are explicitly discriminated against because of that very health condition," said Kohrman.

"On this historic anniversary, we have an opportunity to reflect on what this landmark civil rights measure has achieved and to ask our legislators to deliver on the original intent of the Act. In this vein, the American Diabetes Association has joined a truly remarkable coalition -- of disability rights organizations, partners in the business community and many other individuals and entities concerned with the rights of persons with disabilities -- to urge Congressional support for legislation that proposes changes to restore the protections Congress originally intended when it passed this law in 1990. The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed the ADA Amendments Act (H.R. 3195) with an overwhelming show of support. We hope that the U.S. Senate will lend equal support to this effort and that Congress will make enactment of the ADA Amendments Act a priority this year."

The ADA is the nation's leading voluntary health organization supporting diabetes research, information and advocacy. The Association's advocacy efforts include helping to combat discrimination against people with diabetes; advocating for the increase of federal diabetes research and programs; and improved access to, and quality of, healthcare for people with diabetes. The ADA's mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. Founded in 1940, the Association provides service to hundreds of communities across the country. For more information please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit www.diabetes.org . Information from both these sources is available in English and Spanish.

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Contact: Shana Starkand (703) 549-1500, ext. 2622 sstarkand@diabetes.org