Accessible Adventures Await! is the theme of Minnesota’s 32nd annual American with Disabilities Act (ADA) celebration. Join the anniversary committee, disability community leaders and a host of great guest presenters noon-1:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 26 for a virtual event.
The event is free and open to the public, but participants must preregister, and seek accommodations by July 12. Visit https://celebrateadamn.com/
Recognizing the challenges the past two years and the COVID-19 pandemic have brought, the ADA anniversary planning committee planned a celebration to help Minnesotans with disabilities reconnect with one another and nature in new and exciting ways.
Accessible Adventures Await! will highlight a host of accessible programs across the state and opportunities to explore the great outdoors — even from indoors. The ADA celebration is an informative and fun event to learn more about the variety of organizations, state agencies, and others offering a range of accessible adventures across the state.
Popular radio host Larry “Moon” Thompson from the Moon & Staci Show on KS95 will act as the event emcee. Gov. Thompson stepped away from the microphone in 2021 after 17 years with the show. He was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2005. He had worked in radio since age 16.
“As a person with MS who is in a chair full time, I know how easy it is to have your world shrink. Minnesota has done a good job of ensuring there are ways to experience the outdoors even if you have a disability,” he said. “I’m excited to be a part of this celebration. Without the ADA a lot of us would be stuck inside.”
Tim Walz will present a proclamation honoring the ADA.
Noted national ADA expert Peter Berg will deliver the keynote presentation. Berg will focus on the application of the ADA to publicly and privately owned and operated outdoor areas including trails, beaches, campsites, and picnic areas.
Enjoy video demonstrations of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) new accessible all-terrain track chair and its accessible bison buggy at Blue Mounds State Park. The Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute Adaptive Sports and Recreation program will also be among programs featured. The videos are a great way to learn about accessible outdoor options.
Singer-songwriter Joseph Baird is among the entertainers for the virtual event.
Deadline for accommodations is Tuesday, July 12. Accommodations available are American Sign Language (ASL), audio description and Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART). Language descriptions available are Spanish, Somali and Hmong language description will also be provided. If additional accommodations or an audio description file are needed, contact Cindy at 651-603-2015 or cindyt@mcil-mn.org.
Follow the event at its Facebook page, and its website at https://celebrateadamn.com/
