On July 26, 1990, the world’s first civil rights law for people with disabilities, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law in the U.S. July is now dubbed Disability Pride Month to commemorate the ADA. Thirty five years after the act became law, four disability rights activists spoke in South Minneapolis about the need for actual disability justice, more protections, awareness, resources, and more accessibility.

“Disability justice emphasizes that access is fundamental,” said Nadia Haar, a panelist and member of the disabled community during a discussion titled Disability Justice is Liberation.

The morning panel event in late February at the Lucy Parsons Center started with a youth doing a Braille readout. The panel featured Haar, organizers with Healthcare Workers For Palestine Twin Cities (HCW4P), professor Dr. Sam Sharp and psychiatrist Sulwa Nubani, along with disability rights activist and videographer Aaron Johnson.

Each panelist answered questions centered around disability rights, healthcare, and access. Full story and more in link below.