Press/Journalists

Press Release
July 24, 2012

Presidential Libraries Mark the Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act

Washington, DC…To commemorate the 22nd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the National Archives is featuring Presidential records related to disability history on a new web research page at [www.archives.gov/research/americans-with-disabilities/]. The ADA was signed by President George H.W. Bush on July 26, 1990 and was the first comprehensive declaration of equality for people with disabilities.

The National Archives holds many records that relate to American citizens with disabilities. From personal letters to historic legislation, these records provide insight into efforts over the past century to establish programs and to protect the rights of people with disabilities.

This web resource provides digital access to over 50 documents from the holdings of the Presidential Libraries. Additional records from the holdings of the National Archives will be featured on the Americans with Disabilities web research page.

The documents will also be accessible through Disability.gov, a partner of this project.

Featured documents include:

  • The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA)
  • President George H.W. Bush's speech notes from the ADA signing ceremony
  • A White House memo regarding correspondence between Eunice Kennedy Shriver and President
  • Lyndon B. Johnson about advocacy for intellectual disabilities
  • A statement by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on the founding of the March of Dimes.
  • Letters from Helen Keller to President Herbert Hoover

The National Archives invites the public to explore the Americans with Disabilities web page [www.archives.gov/research/americans-with-disabilities/].

The National Archives and Records Administration is an independent Federal agency that serves American democracy by safeguarding and preserving the records of our Government, ensuring that the people can discover, use, and learn from this documentary heritage. The National Archives ensures continuing access to the essential documentation of the rights of American citizens and the actions of their government. From the Declaration of Independence to accounts of ordinary Americans, the holdings of the National Archives directly touch the lives of millions of people. The agency supports democracy, promote civic education, and facilitate historical understanding of our national experience. The National Archives carries out its mission through a nationwide network of archives, records centers, and Presidential Libraries, and on the Internet at www.archives.gov.

The Presidential Libraries of the National Archives are not libraries in the usual sense. They are archives and museums that bring together in one place the documents and artifacts of a President and his administration and present them to the public for study and discussion without regard for political considerations or affiliations. Presidential Libraries and Museums, like their holdings, belong to the American people. They promote understanding of the Presidency and the American experience, preserve and provide access to historical materials, support research, and create interactive programs and exhibits that educate and inspire.

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For press information, contact the National Archives Public Affairs staff at 202-357-5300.

Follow the ADA anniversary commemoration on social media:
Presidential Libraries on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ourpresidents
Presidential Libraries on Tumblr: http://ourpresidents.tumblr.com/

National Archives on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/usnationalarchives
National Archives on Twitter: http://twitter.com/usnatarchives
Prologue: Pieces of History Blog: http://blogs.archives.gov/prologue/

Disability.gov on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Disability.gov
Disability.gov on Twitter: http://twitter.com/disabilitygov

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The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration
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