Hi DIT Fam!
I want to highlight and share the Pacific ADA Center Monthly Highlights with you all.
As you know, February celebrates Black History Month. It is a time to honor the many contributions and rich history of Black Americans who have shaped this country and society. This year’s theme, African Americans and Labor, highlights the important ways that work, in all its forms, intersects with the Black American experience. Black people with disabilities have and will continue to lead the way in advocating for equal employment and business opportunities. Some current leaders to celebrate include:
- Haben Girma: A disability rights lawyer who advocates for inclusive businesses and organizations.
- Keisha Greaves: CEO/Founder of Girls Chronically Rock, an adaptive clothing company.
- Daryl "Chill" Mitchell: An actor and advocate for employing Black and actors with disabilities in the entertainment industry. He served as an ambassador for the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation.
In the fight for disability rights, Black Americans with disabilities, including Brad Lomax and Lois Curtis, played key roles. Brad Lomax helped lead a successful sit-in as part of a nationwide anti-discrimination campaign on behalf of people with disabilities. Lois Curtis was one of the plaintiffs in the landmark Supreme Court case Olmstead v. L.C. (1999), which established the right of individuals with disabilities to live in their communities or the least restrictive settings possible.
To learn more about Black History Month, visit the:
Library of Congress website