The Americans with Disabilities Act, signed into law on July 26, 1990, prohibits discrimination in employment, transportation and many other areas of public life. Image by Getty Images
By Chris Carmody
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) held a week of events to commemorate the 33rd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the law that prohibits discrimination in employment, transportation and many other areas of public life.
Andrew Aston talks about his work in patient transport and how the Americans with Disabilities Act has affected his life.
The week culminated in a virtual seminar in which UAMS employees shared their experiences of living and working with disabilities. Andrew Aston said he came to UAMS as a participant in Project SEARCH, an internship program for young adults with developmental disabilities. His performance in patient transport made such an impression that it led to a full-time job.
“If you’d asked 18-year-old me if I’d ever get a job here, I would’ve said, ‘No way,’ Aston said. “But UAMS does a tremendous job of helping and accepting people with disabilities.”
Aston said his co-workers have been very accommodating, particularly in the way they take into account that he’s a visual learner. He credited the Americans with Disabilities Act for fostering workplace environments where he and many others can feel comfortable.
https://news.uams.edu/2023/08/18/uams-commemorates-anniversary-of-americans-with-disabilities-act/