Guest Blog: The First ADA Celebration in Austin
Bryson Smith
July 26, 2014
On July 26, 1990, President George H. W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) into law. A lot of Austin advocates had traveled to Washington, D.C. that day to witness the signing, but some of us stuck around.
There was a press conference scheduled on the south steps of the Texas Capitol to celebrate the momentous occasion. By some twist of fate, I was asked to be the speaker, an honor I was glad to accept.
I wrote my speech the night before the press conference, at the South Austin Recreation Center with the help of my friend, Tom Billings. I probably read it a million times that night, which would come in handy later.
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For once, Texas weather cooperated, and the 26th was a beautiful, breezy summer day. There were all kinds of balloons and festive fanfare on the Capitol grounds. But when I got up to the podium to present my speech, the news cameras and media couldn’t see me for the balloons blowing in my face, and they had to come down. Already, barriers to my participation in public life were falling away! [Left: Bryson reads his speech]
As I was making the speech, with my notes on a podium, a giant gust of wind came along and blew my notes onto the Capitol grounds. I went ahead and finished the speech, thanks to my memory from reading it so many times the night before. I assume those notes are somewhere in West Texas by now.
Mishaps aside, the turnout was good, and the press conference was followed by a reception in the Lt. Governor’s reception room.
I was proud and honored to do my part at Austin's first ADA celebration.
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About Bryson
CTD volunteer/ former employee and professional man-about-town, Bryson has a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin. With a history of advocacy work and a lifetime involvement in wheelchair athletics, he currently serves with such groups as the Austin Mayor's Committee on People with Disabilities, the League of Women Voters- Austin area, Community NOW!, and ADAPT of Texas. He is also on the steering committee of Austin's White Cane Day and Disability Mentoring Day.
