Governor O'Malley Delivers Keynote Address at 18th Anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act Celebration
BETHESDA, MD (July 26, 2008) – Governor Martin O'Malley and Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett today joined hundreds of people celebrating the 18th Anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Governor O'Malley delivered the keynote address at the celebration in his third event this week to promote and recognize the importance of the ADA, a major milestone in ensuring that more than 54 million Americans receive the same basic freedoms – independence, equal access, freedom of choice and inclusion – afforded to every citizen in our country.
“The Americans with Disabilities Act was a major milestone in ensuring that each individual has equal opportunity to make a positive difference in this world,” said Governor O'Malley. “This week, as we have joined students, parents and our young ones in celebrating the passage of the Maryland Fitness and Athletic Equity Act, an increase in funding for the Infants and Toddlers program and now, the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, we thank them for giving us all the courage to make our world a better place.”
As a part of the ADA anniversary celebration, Brigadier General James Adkins, Maryland Secretary of Veterans Affairs, also led a salute to disabled veterans for their contributions to ensure that everyone shares the same freedoms and opportunities.
“I would like to thank Governor O'Malley and Lt. Governor Brown for recognizing the service and sacrifice of our country's disabled veterans, and for their continued contributions to our communities, our state and our nation after their military service is done,” said Secretary Adkins.
In addition to giving the keynote address, Governor O'Malley presented a citation to Lawrence W. Roffee, Executive Director of the U.S. Access Board, for his leadership and guidance as the Board adopted standards of accessibility for the ADA. A Vietnam Veteran who acquired a disability during combat, Roffee lives in Montgomery County and is a strong advocate for accessible design that will enable persons with disabilities to live independent and productive lives.
The Americans with Disabilities Act, which was passed in 1990, was landmark legislation to protect the civil rights of those with disabilities. In Maryland, approximately 850,000 individuals or 18 percent of the total population are classified as disabled, according to the 2000 census.
“The ADA has had a tremendous impact on the lives of people with disabilities, giving this key segment of society the ability to demonstrate their tremendous potential and contributions to today's society,” said Catherine A. Raggio, Secretary, Maryland Department of Disabilities. “We are committed to finding solutions to the challenges that still remain, working to promote employment and economic opportunities throughout Maryland.”
Earlier this week, Governor O'Malley joined hundreds of students and representatives of the disabilities community to celebrate the passage of the 2008 Maryland Fitness and Athletic Equity Act for Students with Disabilities, a first-of-its-kind piece of legislation to ensure that students with disabilities are provided equal opportunities to participate in physical education programs, and athletic activities in Maryland schools.
Yesterday, Governor O'Malley joined County Executive Jim Smith at Storyville to celebrate a $4.6 million increase in funding to the Maryland Infants and Toddlers Program. The Maryland Infants and Toddlers Program provides early intervention services to more than 13,300 infants and toddlers (birth to three) with developmental delays and disabilities such as Autism, Down Syndrome and Cerebral Palsy.
