By Patrick J. Kennedy
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), championed by my late father, Sen. Ted Kennedy, and Sen. Tom Harkin, was one of the great civil rights laws of our generation. July 26 marks its 30th anniversary. This landmark legislation served to fully integrate people with disabilities into everyday life and stop discrimination by employers, by state and local governments, and by private businesses. It’s hard to imagine where we’d be without it.
Today, I continue to champion the ADA from my perspective as a mental health advocate. Far too many people continue to be discriminated against due to mental illness, which is often viewed as a moral failing rather than an actual brain disease.
Since our health care system still relegates those with mental illness to a separate and unequal system of care, it should come as no surprise that many workplaces still fail to recognize the impact of mental illness as well.
