News & Information
APIDC at the White House ADA Ceremonies
APIDC was well represented on July 26, 2010 at the White House on the South Lawn as President Obama commemorated the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disability Act. APIDC Board Member Johnna Cho and her son Kevin Chang from the Los Angeles area and APIDC Board Member Becky Nguyen and her son Taylor Nguyen from Orange County attended along with APIDC Executive Director Daphne Kwok.
Johnna Cho commented, “It was an honor to attend the White House celebration of the 20th anniversary of the ADA on behalf of APIDC. While we celebrate the ADA as a groundbreaking and transformative law, we are reminded that there is still much work to be done to ensure that people with disabilities, including those in the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, continue to have equal access and equal opportunity.”
Kevin Chang commented, “I liked President Obama's speech and I got to shake his hand.”
The President stated, “Equal access -- to the classroom, the workplace, and the transportation required to get there. Equal opportunity -- to live full and independent lives the way we choose. Not dependence -- but independence. That’s what the ADA was all about.”
He announced that the Department of Justice published two new rules “protecting disability-based discrimination -- or prohibiting disability-based discrimination by more than 80,000 state and local government entities, and 7 million private businesses.” In addition “all new buildings must be constructed in a way that’s compliant with the new 2010 standards for the design of doors and windows and elevators and bathrooms.” The President also stated, “ and for the very first time, these rules will cover recreational facilities like amusement parks and marinas and gyms and golf facilities and swimming pools and municipal facilities like courtrooms and prisons.”
To end the ceremony, the President signed an Executive Order to establish the Federal Government as a model employer in the hiring, promoting and retaining of employees with disabilities.
Read the President’s entire statement.
Read the full Executive Order.
Photos from the ADA Ceremonies
Waiting to enter the White House is Taylor Nguyen, Becky Nguyen, Kevin Chang, Johnna Cho
2nd of 5 security checks to enter the White House
Presidential Seal
The Group Prior to the Ceremony On the South Lawn of the White House
Daphne Kwok
Johnna and Becky with Tina Tchen, White House Director for Public Engagement and Executive Director, White House Council on Women and Girls
Ralph Neas, former Executive Director, Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, with Taylor and Becky
Ralph Neas with Daphne Kwok
Cooling Down
Actress Marlee Matlin
Singer Patti LaBelle
President Obama's Address
