New Haven makes strides in serving disabled

July 25--NEW HAVEN -- Michelle Duprey was still in school when the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 was signed into law, unaware of the impact the law would have on her life.

Now chief of the city's Department of Services for Persons with Disabilities, Duprey is an advocate for the disabled community and an eyewitness to the changes over the years.

"Before the ADA, I, like most people with disabilities, had suffered through discrimination, segregation, exclusion and ignorance," Duprey said. "Since that time, we have made great progress in some areas, and still have a long way to go in others."

Duprey gathered with Mayor Toni Harp and Fire Chief Allyn Wright Thursday to celebrate the upcoming anniversary of the transformative legislation, which was signed into law by President George H. W. Bush on July 26, 1990.

"The ADA is a testament to the power of activism and the influence that each and every person has," Harp said. "It took more than two decades, starting with the Civil Rights movement, for people with disabilities to successfully make their case to society and to Congress."

While the legislation certainly has initiated great change, Harp acknowledged the barriers still faced by people with disabilities.

"Even after it seemed the main battles of the Civil Rights movement were over, 1/10 of all Americans could not travel as they pleased, live where they wished, or work and learn on the same terms as their peers," Harp said. "For these Americans, activities that we take for granted -- going to the store, visiting their friends, even casting a vote -- were either inconvenient or impossible because of a disability. For these Americans, the freedom and independence we hold so dear in our society simply didn't exist."

Duprey trains city police and recruits on how to interact with people with disabilities. She said her class is popular among officers, behind only the firearms training.

Wright said he has a personal interest in serving the disabled community because of his family's history in special education services.

Wright will place a guide, "Tips for First Responders," in all of the department's apparatuses, emergency service vehicles and chief vehicles, including his own. He said he will use the guide to educate recruits. The guide offers information on how to interact with people impacted by disabilities, including autism, mobility impairments and visual impairments.

Duprey said with the ADA, as with many cases, the law comes first and attitude change follows.

"The ADA is changing attitudes, and it is still in progress, the ADA is not self-executed," she said.

Duprey said many people with disabilities are treated as customers "just like everybody else."

"Many of us our welcomed into establishments, programs and activities, and are not treated like an inconvenience at best, but are accepted and embraced as a customer just like everybody else," Duprey said.

She said one of the greatest impacts the legislation has had is on access to government services. Duprey said government buildings and services now are more accessible. Still, transportation remains a barrier faced by people with disabilities, she said.

"We all need to take responsibility for its (ADA) implementation," she said. "Pay attention to access. Do your part, because we all benefit when everybody is included in all aspects of living in this great city."

Call Rachel Chinapen at 203-789-5714. Have questions, feedback or ideas about our news coverage? Connect directly with New Haven Register editors at AskTheRegister.com.

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