To commemorate the passing of the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 20th anniversary, the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation organized a world record breaking event. On July 25, 2010, the eve of the Americans with Disabilities Act's 20th anniversary, 193 wheelchair users broke the Guinness world record for most wheelchairs in a moving line. Blowing away the old record of 105 set in 2008 in Woodstock, New York.
The event was held at Los Angeles's Dodgers stadium on a balmy L.A. Sunday morning. Speakers such as, Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, Maggie Goldberg of the Reeve Foundation, Author/Speaker Gary Karp, ADA Attorney David Geffen, and Jesse Billauer of the Life Rolls On Foundation inspired the crowd. A random drawing was held and Flip phones, Skull ear buds and iTune gift cards were doled out to an excited crowd. And wheelchair dance troupe “Chairlie’s Angels” pumped up their audience with an energy blast of music and moves.
Impact of Americans with Disabilities Act
The Reeve Foundation event marks the anniversary of The Americans with Disabilities Act, passed on July 26, 1990 and celebrates how the law has changed the lives and perception of people with disabilities. ADA gives citizens who are living with a disability better access to jobs, public transportation, buildings and communication. The speakers at the event, most wheelchair users themselves, spoke about how profoundly ADA has improved their ability to participate in the everyday activities most members of society enjoy.
Speaker Jesse Billauer of the Life Rolls On Foundation, encouraged people to "get out into the world and let society see you participating," reminding the crowd of the inadvertent cost of "out of sight is out of mind." He also gave a well deserved shout out to the caregivers, family and friends of the disabled and reminded everyone to thank the people in their lives that help them through each day.
Speaker Gary Karp expressed his appreciation for the Americans with Disabilities Act saying, "ADA gives us access to our potential and it allows us to participate and contribute" adding "we want in the game - ADA makes this possible," he asserts "it's not the disability that limits us - it's the barriers."
Karp also acknowledged the great advancement of wheelchair technology. Noting wheelchair technology has come a long way since the heavy, cumbersome wheelchairs that were produced 20 years ago. A surprising round of applause broke out when mentioning the wheelchair companies, Colours, Ti and Quickie.
Attorney David Geffen frames the American's with Disabilities Act as a civil rights law that benefits everyone, stating, "ADA is a bridge - and everyone will cross over the bridge at some time in their life." And L.A. Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas congratulated the participants for “setting a new record today and setting new standards for tomorrow.”
Breaking the Guinness World Record for Longest Moving Wheelchair Line
Once the event speakers concluded and a lengthy group photo session ended, the wheelchair users lined up in orderly rows to start the world record breaking wheelchair moving line. One by one the participants starting moving around orange cones in a "S" shape to honor the beloved actor and activist Christopher Reeve and his memorable roll as Superman, on and off the screen. The count off started and as the 106th participate was counted a rousing cheer erupted. The count continued to 193, beating the old record by over 80 percent.
Dagmar Barlow - Dawn Barlow is a graduate of UC Riverside majoring in English and education. She worked in the travel industry for several years, taught ...
Join the Conversation