The Biden Administration: An Overview of Disability Initiatives
By Rick Hoel
Published August 6, 2021
On July 26, 2021, President Biden celebrated the 31st anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (the “ADA”), the pioneering legislation which then-Senator Biden originally co-sponsored in 1990, issuing a Proclamation enumerating its commitment to the ADA. Since its inception, the ADA has become “the gold standard for accessibility” for people with disabilities.
On the same day, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland with Kristen Clarke, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division, also issued statements commemorating the 31st anniversary and listed various accomplishments and the Department of Justice’s ongoing and anticipated efforts to enforce the ADA and enhance accessibility for people with disabilities. Before reviewing these it is useful to understand the promises and goals of candidate Biden in the run-up to the November 2020 election.
Aggressive campaign plans
On June 29, 2020, then-candidate Biden spoke by video at a national, nonpartisan Disability and Election Virtual Summit hosted by the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD). Highlighting [...]