The Latest News from the Protection and Advocacy Agency
for Texans with Disabilities
Be Heard. Be Counted.
Did you know that if people with disabilities voted at the same rate as people without disabilities in 201 6 , there would have been an additional 2.2 million votes?

This week is National Disablity Voter Registration Week . Make sure the disability vote is heard by registering to vote today!

Don't know if you are registered? Don't know how to register? Visit our website for all the details you need.
After 29 Years, Still Making Progress
This month marks the 29th anniversary of the passage of some of the most significant disability legislation in history-- the Americans with Disabilities Act, known as the ADA.

This comprehensive civil rights law prohibits discrimination and guarantees that people with disabilities have the same opportunities as everyone else to participate in the mainstream of American life.

In the almost three decades since the ADA became law, we have seen progress in making our country more accessible. But many people with disabilities will tell you that there is still more to be done regarding both access and attitudes.

(Image above, per a New York Times article : "In 1997, m ore than a dozen demonstrators rolled their wheelchairs in front of a Greyhound bus and disrupted ticket sales for four hours at the Port Authority terminal in Manhattan to protest what they said was their lack of access to the largest interstate bus company's buses. The protesters sang, ''At least Rosa Parks could get on the bus.'')

Recently one person asked one of our Twitter followers who uses a wheelchair how long he had been an “invalid.” Another person was carrying a backpack and asked if he could put it on the man’s lap until he got to his bus stop.

Although most people likely see these actions as disrespectful, many are still unsure of how to interact with people with disabilities. Even though it has been nearly 30 years since the passage of the ADA, stigmas and misconceptions persist.

Visit our website for resources on your rights under the ADA and other disability rights laws.
See the Person
While we've seen advances with the inclusion of people with disabilities in our society, we still have more work to do to change how people view and treat those with disabilities.

So, in honor of the ADA 29th anniversary, Disability Rights Texas has been dedicating the month of July on social media to creating awareness about how to interact with people with disabilities. We kicked off our “ See the Person ” campaign on July 1 and invite you to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram to interact with our posts.
 
We invite those with disabilities to comment and let us know about your experiences and weigh in with your opinion on the topic. And we ask everyone to share and like our posts so we can reach more people and help us fulfill our vision of a society that treats every person with dignity and respect.

(Disability Rights Texas would like to thank Arkansas Can Do, Inc. and the United Spinal Association from whom we gathered much of our disability ettiquette information.)
Need Help?
If you are a Texan with a disability who believes your rights have been violated, please call our Intake Line at 1.800.252.9108 or our Sign Language Video Intake Line at 1.888.362.2851. Intake hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Online Intake Available 24/7
Can't call during our regular intake hours or can't get through due to high call volume?  Click here to complete our online intake form available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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