Agenda Text
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Proclaiming this 12th day of November, 2020 to be a day to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and rededicating ourselves to make Somerville accessible and inclusive for all who live here.
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Official Text
Whereas People with disabilities make up more than twenty percent of the American population; and
Whereas People with disabilities constitute their own vibrant community with a rich history and culture, whose members have made major contributions to all fields of endeavor, from art and culture, to science and technology, to law and politics, and which includes people of all races, ethnicities, genders, sexualities, ages, and religions; and
Whereas People with disabilities faced systematic exclusion from the institutions of public life, including transportation, civic participation, housing, employment, and education due to a severe lack of accessibility; and
Whereas Through the efforts of thousands of disabled activists, including several from Somerville, in 1990 the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed and signed into law; and
Whereas The Americans with Disabilities Act constituted a historic piece of civil rights legislation that has changed the lives of millions of people, including tens of thousands of Somerville residents; and
Whereas Despite this remarkable achievement, people with disabilities across the country and here in Somerville still face substantial barriers to full inclusion in our society and access to the critical resources needed to live an independent life; NOW THEREFORE BE IT
resolved That the Somerville City Council and Mayor Joseph Curtatone hereby proclaim this 12th day of November, 2020 a celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and hereby rededicate ourselves to the work of making Somerville a city that is genuinely accessible and inclusive for all who live here.