Celebrate the ADA with a call to action from Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid

STATEMENT — Thirty-five years ago, the Americans with Disabilities Act was lauded as groundbreaking legislation, enshrining the rights of people with disabilities to live life as full participants of communities throughout our nation. 

Today, the celebratory spirit of its anniversary, exuded by Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid and our team at the Minnesota Disability Law Center, is infused with this call to action: Tell your congressional representatives and everyone you know to protect the ADA by preserving Protection and Advocacy (P&A) groups to make sure the law is followed. 

“Our Minnesota Disability Law Center is a P&A,” says Deputy Director Jenn Purrington. “We rely on the ADA to protect the basic rights of people with disabilities.

Take a look at our track record, says Purrington, “When residents with disabilities in group homes were essentially trapped in those living arrangements, we were there ensuring they get to live in the community of their choice (Murphy v. Harpstead). When students with disabilities didn’t get all days of schooling they were entitled to, we went to court successfully reclaiming those days (K.O. v. Jett). Our team takes on case after case to ensure those who ignore the ADA course correct (Attorney’s record of wins). That’s the power of the law, which relies on the power of P&As.

“The ADA is law,” adds Executive Director Milo Mumgaard. “It has achieved so much positive progress for all of us, and it, thankfully, remains the law. But for those of us whose job it is to help ensure the law is followed, we know our tireless attorneys and advocates can’t do the work without funding. We are now seeing our federal support which is YOUR support, threatened in ways we never imagined. Today’s anniversary is a great reason to contact our congressional representatives, tell them to save our P&As.””

Visit our website and see the additional action steps you can take. P&As can never go away. Hand in hand with the law, they are the power behind the Americans with Disabilities Act.

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Media contact:
Lisa Ramirez | Lramirez@mylegalaid.org
Communications Director
Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid
612.746.3641