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Epilepsy Foundation » Newsroom » News » President Bush Signs Bill to Further Protect Americans with Disabilities 

Congress and President Restore the Promise of the Americans with Disabilities Act

WASHINGTON, D.C., September 25, 2008—President Bush signed the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (S. 3406) into law today in a private ceremony, securing protections against workplace discrimination for every American with a disability.

Bush signs the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act
President George W. Bush signs the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act Thursday, Sept. 25, 2008, in the Oval Office of the White House. Joining him for the signing of the law that amends the ADA Act of 1990, are, from left: Former President George H.W. Bush, Republican Rep. James Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin and his spouse, Cheryl Sensenbrenner; Democratic Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland; Republican Rep. Buck McKeon of California; Democratic Rep. Jerry Nadler of New York; Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa); Senator Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.); Democratic Rep. Jim Langevin of Rhode Island, and U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey. White House photo by Joyce N. Boghosian.

The bill marks a historic move toward securing the promise of the original Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which was signed into law by President George H. W. Bush in 1990. The elder Bush also attended the ceremony.

"For those of us with epilepsy, this legislation is even more important than the passage of the original ADA.

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Senate Unanimously Passes ADA Amendments Act»

ADA Background Information»

This bill was primarily focused on correcting our exclusion from the ADA by misguided court decisions. Congress listened to us and we thank them," said Tony Coelho, immediate past chair of the Epilepsy Foundation Board of Directors and former congressman from California. Coelho served as the primary author of the original ADA.

VIDEO
 House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) Speaks at a Press Conference Following the unanimous Senate passage of the ADA Amendments Act of 2008. Kristina Foster, 17, an Epilepsy Foundation Kids Speak Up!advocate from Virginia Beach, Va., and Tony Coelho, immediate past board chair of the Epilepsy Foundationand primary author of the original ADA, also spoke at the event.


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The ADA opened many doors for people with disabilities. It changed our country’s expectations and opinions of people with disabilities, setting a positive standard for the rest of the world; however, Supreme Court decisions over the past 18 years narrowed the definition of disability leaving thousands of people without civil rights protections in the workplace. The new law will overturn several Supreme Court decisions that have inappropriately narrowed the protections of the ADA.

The Foundation joined hundreds of employer, disability, faith, civil rights and veterans’ organizations in a strong collaboration with bi-partisan congressional leaders to give new hope to the 45 million Americans living with disabilities, including the 3 million people coping with epilepsy.

Representatives of the broad-based employer and disability alliance gathered following the historic signing to applaud the new law. Epilepsy Foundation President and CEO, Eric Hargis, said, "Now future generations of people with epilepsy will not have to prove they're disabled if they're discriminated against in the workplace, educational institutions or any other venue."

The widow of renowned disability rights leader, Justin Dart, said, "I am very happy so many good organizations, particularly the Epilepsy Foundation, really came out and worked so hard to get this done." She said, of her late husband, "I always feel his loving spirit and tremendous passion to try and get our community united and get the job done."

Elizabeth Goldberg, who has epilepsy and is the founder of the Epilepsy Foundation's youth council, said, "This means a lot. I am 24 years old—I have a whole life of work ahead of me."