“Nothing About Us Without Us”: Celebrating 34 Years of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) – An Interview with EPIC Service Warrior, Ewidji Vincent
This is a special guest post by Ethan Linsky, EPIC Assistant Director.
July is Disability Pride Month and an exciting time at EPIC and Triangle. Additionally, July 26th marks the 34th anniversary of the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), groundbreaking federal legislation to protect the rights of people with disabilities in the United States. At EPIC, July is a time for the EPIC Service Warriors to celebrate, reflect, and learn about the history of the disability rights movement and the work that lies ahead for the young leaders in the program.
EPIC’s mission is to prepare young people with disabilities to be actively engaged community leaders while eliminating ableism to equip the world for today’s disabled leaders. EPIC Service Warriors is a community service and leadership development program for youth with disabilities between the ages of 16-23 in Boston and Worcester. EPIC Service Warriors meet for one year to participate in community service projects and leadership development workshops. By creating the change they wish to see in the world, the Service Warriors learn more about local communities and develop practical skills to help them develop as leaders and pursue future goals.
In honor of Disability Pride Month and the anniversary of the ADA, we thought July would be an excellent opportunity to introduce and interview Ewidji Vincent, a current Boston EPIC Service Warrior. Ewidji is a young man with political aspirations. He often mentions how much he looks up to Mayor Michelle Wu of Boston and other politicians who embody Ewidji’s passion for serving their communities and advocating for change and legislation they deem necessary. In a joking manner, Ewidji has mentioned how much he wants to meet Mayor Wu so she can learn who will be following in her footsteps in the future. I had the honor of interviewing Ewidji about the ADA, his leadership, and what changes he would like to see for people with disabilities.
Ewidji, why is it important to celebrate and learn about the ADA?
“It’s important to know your history and know what people back then had to go through to get the ADA on the table. If we don’t recognize and celebrate ourselves, it will be forgotten. It’s a good thing to learn about because if you learn what people had to go through, you can teach others the history yourself. If people with disabilities don’t fight for it, it will be lost. Knowledge is power. If we don’t educate ourselves and others, there may be someone in power who can go, ‘PSYCH!’”
How has the ADA helped you in your life?
“If you are in college and have a disability, you can go to the Disability Resource Center to get accommodations. With the ADA, schools can provide extra time for test taking. People with disabilities now get accommodations. If you need someone to write for you, you can get someone who can write for you (scribe).”
We have come a long way in 34 years, but the work isn’t done. What else do you think needs to change?
“A lot of people going to college or leaving high school need more supports in that transition. I feel like if they (schools) put more support and more funding to help graduating students who want to go to college, who want a job, who want a career for themself, it would provide a spark or hope. Colleges, Congressmen, the State House, and the Government need to do more funding for that… I feel like a lot of people don’t feel like they have that support.
“There also needs to be more supports in housing. So many houses are not wheelchair accessible! There needs to be more supports for healthcare. I feel like a lot of people with disabilities don’t get support for mental health.”
After reflecting on tangible changes in the areas of education, housing, and mental health, Ewidji shifted to also speak about the need to change how we see people with disabilities as a society.
“A lot of people probably don’t understand what people with disabilities go through day to day. Many people only see the disability; they don’t see their hopes, their dreams, the things they accomplish. People don’t see what people with disabilities go through because people with disabilities go through hell and back.”
Given that we are currently in a presidential election year, what would be the first piece of advice you would give if you were to advise a current or future president?
“If any president wants to create laws for people with disabilities, make sure you have people with disabilities in the room, in the discussion! Make sure there is representation of people with disabilities!”
Ewidji made it clear how important he feels it is for people in power to include the voices of people with disabilities and ensure disability representation in all decisions that impact people with disabilities. His statement is so powerful and strongly correlates to the motto of the Disability Rights Movement: “Nothing about us without us!”
As we celebrate the 34th anniversary of the ADA, I have to say that I am excited to see what the future of the Disability Rights Movement holds with people like Ewidji and his fellow Warriors taking the lead.