Johnson County celebrates 35th Anniversary of ADA, 80 years of NDEAM with event on on Oct. 10

A celebration of the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) and National Disability Employee Awareness Month (NDEAM) will be held from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, in the Iowa City Ped Mall, near the Iowa City Public Library.

Organized by the Iowa City Area Disability Services Committee, the ADA/NDEAM Celebration will offer a career and resource fair featuring groups that serve the disability community, and a program with awards ceremony, performances, and more. The program will start at 2 p.m.

Sponsors for the event include Johnson County, Iowa's University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, the University of Iowa Office of Civil Rights Compliance, IowaWorks, and the City of Iowa City.

History of ADA/NDEAM

The ADA was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush on July 26, 1990. The ADA provides civil rights protections for individuals with disabilities and ensures equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities to access to businesses, employment, transportation, state and local government programs and services, and telecommunications.

NDEAM is intended to educate the public about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of America's workers with disabilities. Its history traces back to 1945, when it started as a week focused only on people with physical disabilities. Later, it expanded to a full month, and its scope evolved to acknowledge the importance of increasing the workforce inclusion of people with all nature of disabilities.

Ensuring Access

The City of Iowa City is committed to providing access to its programs, activities, and services for all residents, including those with disabilities, in compliance with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Learn more at https://www.icgov.org/ADA.

If you have accessibility-related questions, concerns, complaints, or requests for accommodations, those can be directed to Iowa City's ADA Coordinator, at [email protected] or 319-356-5010.

Individuals who believe they have been discriminated against in the areas of employment, credit, education, housing, or public accommodations may also contact the Office of Human Rights, at [email protected] or 319-356-5022.