AC Transit and BART will be hosting a celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on Sept. 16 at 1:30 p.m., set to coincide with the grand opening of the new East Bay Paratransit Office in Uptown Oakland.
The ADA is one of the cornerstone legislative achievements of the 20th century, an unprecedented leap forward in expanding accessibility as a civil right for people with disabilities. Since the ADA’s signing in 1990, AC Transit and BART have worked to ensure disabled residents are able to enjoy the many benefits of public transportation. The two agencies joined together in 1996 to form the East Bay Paratransit Consortium (EBPC).
The celebration will include a tour of the new facilities, an explanation of the services EBPC provides, and speeches highlighting the critical importance of disabled access 25 years after the ADA’s signing. Jan Garrett, Program Manager at Pacific ADA Center and former Executive Director of the Center for Independent Living, will be giving the keynote speech alongside other honorable speakers such as Policy Director for Transportation and Infrastructure Matt Nichols and both AC Transit and BART Board presidents.
