Tammy Duckworth Emphasizes Importance Of Accessibility At ADA 25 Chicago’s Disability Inclusion Opportunity Summit

from a Press Release| Nov 16, 2015
U.S. Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth, Illinois 8th district

Twenty-five years after the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law, Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth this morning addressed a crowd of roughly 300 government, civil and business leaders at the opening session of ADA 25 Chicago’s Disability Inclusion Opportunity Summit. The Congresswoman’s remarks focused on the importance of accessibility and improvements that still need to be made to ensure equal opportunities in education, public transit, the workplace, and elsewhere for people living with disabilities.

“The ADA is essential in helping Wounded Warriors like me and millions of other Americans to move forward with our lives,” said Congresswoman Duckworth. “It allows me to be physically active, get my pilot’s license back, and serve in Congress—but we still have a lot of work to do. More than a quarter of America’s disabled population still lives in poverty, which is why this Summit’s focus on improving education and employment access is so critical.”

According to ADA 25 Chicago, more than 1 in 10 Illinoisans have a disability and they are significantly less likely to be employed than Illinoisans without disabilities. To address this problem and increase access, Congresswoman Duckworth introduced the Transit Accessibility Innovation Act with Congressman Jim Langevin (RI-02) to encourage public transit systems to provide improved service for individuals with disabilities. The Congresswoman has also cosponsored the Transitioning to Integrated and Meaningful Employment (TIME) Act to help people with disabilities move from segregated, sub-minimum wage positions into higher-wage, more meaningful jobs.

The Congresswoman continued: “What good is a job or a degree without any way to get to a meeting or class? And why would you need a degree if the only jobs that are available are poorly-paid, menial tasks? We all deserve the opportunity to learn, make a living, support our families and live our own American Dream. I look forward to working in Congress and with the talented people behind ADA 25 Chicago to protect rights and improve opportunities for people with disabilities and to help make Chicagoland one of the most accessible regions in the nation.”

http://duckworth.house.gov/index.php/media-center/press-releases/753-duckworth-emphasizes-importance-of-accessibility-at-ada-25-chicago-s-disability-inclusion-opportunity-summit