In 1986, the National Council on Disability issued a statement, “Toward Independence,” recommending that a law requiring equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities be enacted. The council drafted the first version of the ADA, which was introduced in 1988 during the 100th Congress. The Task Force on Rights and Empowerment of Americans with Disabilities, under the energetic chairmanship of Justin Dart, Jr., built support nationally, holding hearings in every state.
A second version of the act was introduced in May 1989, with further amendments passed by the Senate on September 7, 1989 and the House passed its version of the bill on May 22, 1990.
On the morning of July 26, 1990, on the south lawn of the White House, with 3,000 disability rights advocates, as well as members of Congress and the administration, looking on, President Bush signed the ADA into law.
