2025 is a milestone year in disability rights history: 35 years since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Reflecting on this landmark legislation, I encourage us to think beyond compliance or accommodations. Of course, adhering to the law and ensuring accessibility is essential, but what’s truly at the heart of the ADA? The stories of the people who fought with everything they had for disability rights.
As both a passionate storyteller and someone with a deep curiosity about humanity, I believe stories are the key to changing the world. After all, though you can create a policy, you cannot legislate an attitude. We can only shift toward a world more welcoming to people with disabilities by strengthening understanding and connection.
Consider this: I can simply tell you that curb cuts and captioning are legally required, though it’s more powerful to breathe life into these concepts by sharing stories of how I navigate the sidewalks in my neighborhood or the disappointment of missing a joke because I couldn’t hear.
With this in mind, I knew that the way Able News could best recognize the 35th anniversary of the ADA was to continue our mission to amplify stories of the diverse, vibrant disability community. That’s what you’ll find in these pages: the stories of 35 New York-based leaders, past and present, who truly embody the spirit and the legacy of the ADA.
The people we’ve profiled (and the talented profile writers) are incredible movers, shakers, and changemakers, and we are honored to feature them. However, by no means is our list complete, because there is no singular list of people who have made or continue to make a difference. As we look ahead to ADA 35 and beyond, let’s remember that all of us have stories that matter, and all of us can contribute to making a difference—together.