Overview: 2010 will mark the 20th anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The past 20 years have been witness to dramatic change in terms of social, political, and economic rights and opportunities for individuals with disabilities. However, the years following passage of the Act have also been marked by significant legal and social challenges to ADA, setting the basis for the passage the ADA Amendments Act of 2008. The 20th Anniversary provides us with the opportunity to reflect upon and analyze the advantages and disadvantages of formulating social and civil change through population focused federal legislative policy.

Thematic topics include: The role of disability policy in forging civil and social justice change The strengths and weakness of specialized rights legislation Alternatives to legislating equality

Format

• Invited and submitted papers will present work in progress to the audience. Papers will be made available two weeks prior to the Annual APHA meeting so that audience members can read and formulate responses.
• Work in progress will represent historical, conceptual, and empirical analyses of disability policy and public health.
• 20-minute papers will be followed by critical analysis and discussion of ideas presented.
• Proceedings will be published that include both the paper, a summary of the critical feedback and a response from the original authors.

Submissions cannot duplicate abstracts already submitted to the Disability Section for this year\\\'s scientific program without the permission of the Chair of the Disability Section. Please send abstracts of 200-300 words and a brief biographical statement electronically by Friday, August 7, 2010 to Disability Section Chair, Stephen Gilson at Stephen_Gilson@umit.maine.edu.