“In was born in Williamsburg County South Carolina to sharecroppers. At the age four, I was stricken with polio. I moved to Washington DC in 1980 and really discovered what disability discrimination really means. I have encountered and have seen so many people with disabilities encounter undeniable discrimination in the workplace, housing, education and so forth. So many of us helped pave the way for the creation of the ADA which has allowed people with disabilities to become mainstream - in essence, “normal.” We are no longer teetering on the margins but are participating in so many aspects of society. Our journey and fight continue but 30 years of the ADA has given us a lot more freedom, equity, and inclusion to reach goals and to live our dreams and aspirations.”