The ADA Amendment Act of 2008 was passed by both the U.S. House and Senate, with the Senate passing it unanimously on September 11, 2008. The amendment brings us one step closer to ensuring that individuals with dyslexia are covered by the ADA.
The Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity (YCDC) and, indeed, the dyslexia community owe a huge debt of thanks to two special friends of The Center: The Honorable Sam Gejdenson, a ten-term congressman from Conn. and a member of the YCDC Advisory Council, and a more recent and passionately dedicated friend of YCDC and of those who are dyslexic, Rep. Pete Stark (CA-D).
Gejdenson's guidance and leadership were invaluable to YCDC's policy efforts on behalf of dyslexia. Rep. Stark brought dyslexia and important issues affecting people who are dyslexic directly and effectively to the House floor. In addressing the House on September 17, 2008, Rep. Stark argued for the case of including dyslexia and other disabilities in this latest ADA amendment:
Specific learning disabilities, such as dyslexia, are neurologically based impairments that substantially limit the way these individuals perform major life activities, like reading or learning, or, limit the time it takes to perform such activities, often referred to as the condition, manner, or duration.
This legislation will reestablish coverage for these individuals by ensuring that the definition of this ability is broadly construed and the determination does not consider the use of mitigating measures.
This ensures that dyslexia and these critical perspectives will be permanently recorded in the Congressional Record. Thank you, Rep. Stark!!
For More Information on
the ADA Amendment Act of 2008, click here.
