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The nation recently marked the 20th anniversary of the enactment of the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), with President Barack Obama leading the milestone event. The president called the legislation “one of the most comprehensive civil rights bills in the history of this country.”

“Equal access. Equal opportunity. The freedom to make our lives what we will. These aren’t principles that belong to any one group or any one,” he said at the White House ceremony attended by several guests, including top Asian American advocates.

Norman Y. Mineta, former U.S. congressman and later former commerce and transportation secretary, said a schedule conflict prevented him from attending the ceremony.

“I wanted to be there, because I had a hand in pushing for that legislation,” he added during his Smithsonian portrait unveiling. Mineta was one of the co-sponsors of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

At last year’s anniversary of the ADA, Mineta recalled a promise to a couple with disabilities when he assumed his post as mayor of San Jose, California, according to Progress Transport. Later, as congressman, he worked on the transportation provisions of the ADA. As the nation’s transportation secretary, he led efforts on transportation accessibility.

Among those present at the ceremony was Matthew Sapolin, executive director of the New York Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities. His office serves “as a bridge between the city and the disabled community and as a tireless advocate for a community that contributes so much to our city.” It aims to help people with disabilities live a full, productive life (civic, social and economic life).

On July 20, 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act into law, saying, “Let the shameful wall of exclusion finally come tumbling down.”

The law prohibited discrimination against people with disabilities in employment, public accommodations, transportation and telecommunications. There are about 50 million people with disabilities in the country.

Many advocates said the country has made a lot of progress since the law was enacted. But they noted much more needs to be done, such as making the Internet and other technological advances accessible to people with disabilities.

On the law’s anniversary, Andrew J. Imparato, president and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities, answered questions in an online Washington Post public service feature.

In reply to a suggestion that TV network streaming videos and rented DVD movies be captioned or subtitled, he said the House of Representatives “is poised to pass HR 3101, the 21st Century Telecommunications and Video Accessibility Act” on that day. He also said his organization was leading the Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology.