WASHINGTON–U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn), a member of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, joined U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) to introduce a resolution recognizing the importance of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 on the lives of individuals with disabilities and calling for further action from the federal government, in cooperation with states and cities, to advance access, opportunity, and equity for people with disabilities.

The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibited organizations and employers receiving federal financial assistance – including federal agencies – from discrimination on the basis of disability. The Act laid the groundwork for the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

“The Rehabilitation Act was a pivotal piece of legislation that marked the first time Congress addressed the civil rights of people with disabilities. We’ve come a long way in our fight to provide greater protections and equal opportunities for the disability community, but there’s more work to do. I’ll continue to work to help remove the barriers that people with disabilities too often face and ensure they have equal access to educational and employment opportunities, health care, and community-based services,” said Murphy.

“The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and its regulations encoded the vision of disabled activists of an accessible world. The Act continues to regulate key areas of society and serves as a base that we continue to build upon. For the last fifty years, the Act has made it possible for our communities to be more inclusive, and for disabled Americans to enforce their rights,” said Susan Henderson, Executive Director of the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund.

“Passed 50 years ago, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 remains a fundamental source of protections for people with disabilities to this day. A lot has changed since then, but unfortunately stigma, discrimination and paternalistic attitudes about people with disabilities persist, and the need for strong civil rights protections is as great today as it was 50 years ago when the Rehabilitation Act was enacted,” said Megan Schuller, Legal Director at Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law.

“The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 pulled a large brick from the wall of inaccessibility and let a glimmer of light through. We look forward to working with Congress and agencies to continue breaking down barriers to ensure that individuals with disabilities have access to information and communication technologies,” said Doug Towne, Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Access Ready.

U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) also co-sponsored the resolution.

The resolution is endorsed by American Association of People with Disabilities, Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, Paralyzed Veterans of America, National Council on Learning Disabilities, Center for American Progress, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Perkins School for the Blind, Center for Learning Equity, Pandemic Patients, Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network, Access Ready, Assistive Technology Industry Association, Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, and Permobil Americas.

A copy of the resolution can be found HERE

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