U.S. Access Board Town Hall – #ADA33

I had the immense pleasure of celebrating the ADA with the Maryland Department of Disabilities at the U.S. Access Board 2023 Townhall at the National Federation of the Blind in Baltimore.

There representatives of the Maryland Governor’s Office, Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller, and representatives from varying organizations such as the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council, Disability Rights Network, federal partners, and empowering public speakers.

You can learn more about the speakers and information shared at the Townhall by clicking here.

Being surrounded and empowered by such advocates and champions of those with disabilities was a blessing.

As we celebrate the 33 years of the ADA, I reflect on how lucky I am for the people who fought for our civil rights as disabled people. I think of how these past advocates and activists have crafted a better world for our disability population.

22% of Marylanders have a disability.

Anyone at any time can become disabled and join our community.

It was beyond impactful to see Lt. Gov Aruna Miller present Sec. Carol Beatty a Proclamation on the 33rd Anniversary of the ADA. Not only was the proclamation beyond touching, it was beautiful to see how much Gov. Wes Moore and the Lt. Gov uplift and care for our disability community.

I was honored to speak and share my experiences of living in a rural community during the Town Hall. The Eastern Shore encompasses NINE counties. As I mentioned in my video, I am bordered by the poorest county in Maryland. We need to reach out to the disabled people in these communities. Resources are needed here.

It’s integral to listen to the voices of disabled people, the voices of disabled people in rural communities, and understand the broad spectrum of disability and its intersectionality.

#ThanksToTheADA, I have civil rights. After so many disabled people were treated with institutionalization or had no voice, I am able to be the strong advocate that I am.

However, we need more.

We need to close loop holes.

We need to remember that our work is not done with the ADA.

We need updates to the ADA, we need education on inclusion and ableism, and we need to be able to thrive.

My disability is not my issue. It’s the inaccessibility that surrounds me.

— Dominique Sessa

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT:

Visual description: The video begins with a visual of the U.S. Access Board.It quickly turns to Dominique. She is a white woman with brown curly hair, wearing large frame glasses, a white flowing top. A microphone is in front of her as she speakers. 

Text transcription:

Hello, my name is Dominique Sassa. I’m here in Maryland. But I live on the Eastern Shore and especially on the Lower Shore, the resources are very sparse.

If you want to advocate for yourself or you need a resource, it doesn’t exist easily. Our paratransit, like many have said, it’s bad, but it’s even worse in the rural communities. You can’t reach out. 

To our paratransit, specifically, you get told they cannot help.My experience with it has been very poor. Ourbuildings, you often can’t go in. I think anyone with a disability understands the experience of waiting out front while their friend who is able to go in the store, the building, and we can’t. That’s often here. 

I often have to drivein the streets. And another issue, I think, is very specific to where I live is broadband access. The county next to me, Somerset is actually the poorest county in Maryland. 

And how do we reach disabled individuals there if they don’t have broadband? And if the brochures we print are not large print? How do we reach out to them? Not only are disabled people facing barriers— and we’re also facing barriers in the rural communities because we can’t access broadband or resources.

And as a power wheelchair user, I understand. 

You know, and too, another issue is that the disability community is diverse. We have the rate of children that are non-native speakers with disabilities rising and it’s hard again to reach out for these resources that we need.

I’ve had issues with my own disability because I have a rare disease and I have to travel 3 hours. A lot people’s primary care is not accessible.

Again because ADA compliance does not equal accessibility.

And to me, I think one of the most important things is to see disabled people thrive. And whether it’s making my wheelchair so I can function independently or being able to reach out to individuals in an accessible format like an e-mail, it does not always exist.

And I think these are issues that are maybe a part of the ADA loophole, but they often keep us chained in place. 

My disability is not my issue. It’s the inaccessibility that surrounds me.

(Crowd applause)

“Thank you” is said by Greg who is the Chairman of the U.S. Access Board.