The Disability Rights Leadership Series: Memories from the 10th Anniversary
Week Two: Senator Tom Harkin, Arlene Mayerson (Part 1 of 2), and Pat Wright
Pat Wright
Ward: “What was your proudest moment?”
“I think the passage in the Senate…Senator Kennedy called me out and we went for a walk…and then we came back and they cast the final vote. And …I think it really was kind of this realization that it actually was happening…I think I wasn’t sure that ever in my lifetime I would see civil rights for people with disabilities.” – Pat Wright
Arlene Mayerson
“The ADA, when you look at its history, didn’t start in ’89 or ’88 when it was first introduced, but really started much further back. It really started with the advent of a disability rights movement and disability rights issues becoming part of the national dialogue. And more specifically, in the ’80s…the work of the disability rights community in Washington, in several key pieces of legislation, which enabled the disability community to show its stuff, to show that it had political savvy…had the ability to politically organize. It had the ability to negotiate at high levels. It had its legal staff in order and to be able to really have a visibility and a credibility on the Hill.” – Arlene Mayerson
Senator Tom Harkin
“Well, I have said the passage of it [the ADA] is the highlight of my legislative career…To me, it represents one of the two or three major things that I have ever done in my entire lifetime.” – Senator Tom Harkin