By JASON DASILVA: For More Info, Go Here…
When I turned 25, I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a progressive condition that disrupts the communication between our brain and our muscles. I can no longer move my limbs and require high support for personal care. Social barriers existing in the United States are an obstacle in the decisions I want to make about my own life.
Having control over one’s life and making personal choices about where and with whom to live is a basic right. However, thousands of Americans with disabilities still do not have access to support services that enable them to live independently in the community.
A bill before Congress could change that. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) is one of the world’s most advanced laws on disability rights. It became a benchmark for the discussions of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, an international treaty that the U.S. Senate has not yet ratified.
The ADA, however, can be strengthened. The Disability Integration Act of 2019, which is before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health and the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, seeks to complement the ADA, to ensure full participation and independent living for people with disabilities, regardless of which state they live in.
