Jawonio Contingent at the White House

Sitting just a few yards away from President Barack Obama on the South Lawn of the White House, five representatives of New City-based Jawonio joined hundreds of other disabilities rights advocates Monday in a celebration of the 20^th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Although the party cheered the landmark legislation that has improved the lives of millions of Americans, the Jawonio group saw the gathering as a celebration of the future as the Obama administration launches new federal rules aimed at fulfilling the "spirit" of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

"The president is not just stopping with the law of 20 years ago, he's growing it," said Diana Hess, chief communications officer for Jawonio, who led the delegation to the White House on Monday. "It's all about equal access."

For Jawonio services users Joseph Borno, 27, and Heman Mhatre, 42, who were at the celebration, the changes promised by Obama aren't abstract – they're about quality of life issues such as fair access to housing, employment and something as simple as being able to go to the movies at a public theater.

"I am immensely proud to be here today," said Borno, vice president of Jawonio's advocacy group, as he traversed the White House lawn in his wheelchair – with a bright green and white Jawonio banner hanging from the back. "It was very moving. It's about equal opportunity for people like me."

Borno has been with Jawonio since he was a child participating in the Summer Education Program. He is a graduate of Spring Valley High School and lives on his own in a Jawonio apartment in Spring Valley. He has been a participant in day services programs since 2004 and joined the Jawonio Advocacy Group in 2008.

Mhatre, a Bardonia resident, with the help of the Jawonio Community Employment Services department found work with Jawonio in 1994. He is now the mailroom coordinator.

Borno and Mhatre got to witness a bit of history Monday as Obama used the 20^th anniversary event to announce new federal rules to support the Americans with Disabilities Act and to sign an executive order that is designed to expand the federal government's efforts to hire the disabled.

"But while (the Americans with Disabilities Act) was a historic milestone in the journey to equality, it wasn't the end," Obama said Monday. "There was, and is, more to do. And that's why today I'm announcing one of the most important updates to the ADA since its original enactment in 1991."
 
The U.S. Department of Justice on Monday published two new rules prohibiting disability-based discrimination by more than 80,000 state and local government entities, and 7 million private businesses.  And, beginning in 18 months, all new buildings must be constructed in a way that's compliant with the new 2010 standards for the design of doors and windows and elevators and bathrooms - buildings like stores and restaurants and schools and stadiums and hospitals and hotels and theaters. 

"My predecessor's administration proposed these rules six years ago," Obama said. "And in those six years, they've been improved upon with more than 4,000 comments from the public.  We've heard from all sides.  And that's allowed us to do this in a way that makes sense economically and allows appropriate flexibility while ensuring Americans with disabilities full participation in our society."
 
Obama said that for the first time, these rules will cover recreational facilities like amusement parks and marinas and gyms and golf facilities and swimming pools - and municipal facilities like courtrooms and prisons. 

"From now on, businesses must follow practices that allow individuals with disabilities an equal chance to purchase tickets for accessible seating at sporting events and concerts," Obama said.  "And our work goes on.  Even as we speak, Attorney General Eric Holder is preparing new rules to ensure accessibility of web sites."

Obama pledged that the federal government would make is web sites accessible to the disabled.

The executive order signed by Obama on Monday places a new focus on hiring Americans with disabilities across the federal government. 

"Today, only 5 percent of the federal workforce is made up of Americans with disabilities -- far below the proportion of Americans with disabilities in the general population," Obama said.  "So we're going to boost recruitment, we're going to boost training, we're going to boost retention.  We'll better train hiring managers.  Each agency will have a senior official who's accountable for achieving the goals we've set.  And I expect regular reports.  And we're going to post our progress online so that you can hold us accountable, too."

Obama said his plan is to make the federal government a "model employer," setting an example for other levels of government and private industry.

Stephen Barlaam of Jawonio, who works with members of the organization's advocacy group, said he saw Monday's White House event as confirmation that the message of disabilities rights advocates is indeed being heard. Barlaam and Jawonio day habitation aide Gary Rao accompanied Hess, Borno and Mhatre on the trip to the White House.

"We've made it Washington!" said Barlaam. "This is kind of the top for us."

Obama said one of the next steps in his administration's work in support of Americans with disabilities is to have Congress ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The U.S. and 140 other nations have signed the accord, called by Obama as the first new human rights convention of the 21st century. 
 
"America was the first nation on Earth to comprehensively declare equality for its citizens with disabilities," Obama said.  "We should join the rest of the world to declare it again --and when I submit our ratification package to Congress, I expect passage to be swift."

While the White House event was a celebration of legislation, the gathering took on the feel of a rock festival with musical performances and participants eager to cheer on the president. The event included performances by musician Nathaniel Anthony Ayers, singer Patti LaBelle and actress Marlee Matlin, as well as remarks by Marca Bristo, president of Access Living, a network of more than 80 organizations that advocate for or provide services to Americans with disabilities. Actor Robert David Hall, who lost his legs in a 1978 accident, introduced the president.

Hall described federal efforts to enforce the Americans with Disabilities Act as a battle for basic human and civil rights.

"Americans with disabilities have only begun to claim their birthright," said Hall.

Enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1990, ADA established a clear and comprehensive prohibition of discrimination on the basis of disability. It was signed into law July 26, 1990, by President George H. W. Bush.

"Equal access -- to the classroom, the workplace, and the transportation required to get there.  Equal opportunity -- to live full and independent lives the way we choose.  Not dependence -- but independence.  That's what the ADA was all about," Obama said Monday.