What does the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) mean in our everyday lives and communities? In this panel discussion, Latino disability advocates and community leaders will explore the ADA through the lens of lived experience, identity, and access. Panelists will provide an accessible introduction to the ADA and discuss how the law protects the rights of people with disabilities to participate in and access goods, services, and opportunities in education, employment, healthcare, and community life. The conversation will also explore how disability can look and feel different from person to person, and how disability identity can intersect with culture, family, immigration experiences, and other aspects of who we are. Through personal perspectives and community experience, panelists will reflect on disability inclusion and self-advocacy in practice, and how understanding our rights can help individuals, families, and communities create greater access and belonging.

Presenters:

Oscar Gonzalez, Great Lakes ADA Center
Jimena Barron, ECNV
Rosalia Fajardo, ECNV