Lieutenant Governor Sally Pederson is presenting awards today to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the federal law which gave civil rights protection to 54-million Americans with a disability. The Americans With Disabilities Act or A-D-A was enacted on July 26th, 1990 and Pederson’s husband, Jim Autry, was at the White House for the bill signing. Autry was president of the Epilepsy Foundation of America at the time. His son has epilepsy.Pederson will lead awards ceremonies in Coralville, Cedar Rapids and Cedar Falls.Pederson says while progress has been made in helping the disabled, there’s much more work to do.Pederson says A-D-A accommodations, such as ramps instead of steps outside businesses, help more than the disabled. She says many of the barriers that’re removed for the disabled, also help older Iowans get around.At 10 a-m, a ceremony at Handicare, Incorporated, honored its director, Ann Riley and the New Pioneer Co-op of Iowa City. A one o’clock ceremony in Cedar Rapids will honor Pam and Buzz Hand and Cathy Halverson and Donna Fugate of United Fire and Casualty. At four o’clock, a ceremony will honor the Gallagher Bluedorn Arts Center and Mike Stark, a grocer at Deels Super Valu in Cedar Falls.
