Tomorrow, March 25, at 9pm, E.T., PBS will broadcast a film documentary, “Change, Not Charity”, that highlights some of the key moments that led to the historic Americans with Disabilities Act, the most important civil rights law enacted since the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
Recently, I had an opportunity to view a screening of the film at the National Museum of American History. While a 60 minute documentary cannot possibly do justice to all the important events and the thousands of individuals who helped pass the ADA, I believe the documentary is exceptionally powerful and inspirational. Hopefully, this film will be the first of many such media initiatives that underscore that disability rights are fundamental civil and human rights.
Quite importantly, the documentary also shares with the American people how government should work and hopefully will work again. Real and lasting change starts outside of the nation’s capital. And there is plenty of spellbinding footage showing persons with disabilities and their allies demonstrating around the country as well as in and outside the Capitol Building itself. Institutions were forced to respond to those countless courageous and effective demonstrators.
And it was refreshing to watch Democrats and Republican members of Congress fashion strong and fair compromises with the support of President George H.W. Bush. Unfortunately, congressional negotiations, behind closed doors, are not conducive to filmmaking. But the documentary gives deserved credit to Senators Tom Harkin, Ted Kennedy, and Bob Dole and Representatives Steny Hoyer, Steve Bartlett, and Tony Coelho, among others.
The First Amendment and the right of Americans to petition their government emerge as winners. Scores of Washington insiders in coordination with thousands of activists around the nation effectively lobbied not only for the enactment of the ADA, but also to emphasize that the Act’s purpose was to allow people with disabilities to live full and independent lives and that it is not a government program with benefits.
My gratitude to all the exceptionally talented individuals who put together this needed film. And I sincerely hope and pray that “Change, Not Charity ”, is the beginning of what will become a full history of the making of the ADA.
And may those who view the film rededicate themselves, and encourage others, to recapturing bipartisanship, civility, consensus, and principled compromises that advance America’s interests. Such a commitment can help make American government work again.
