History
of the HACEPD
The Huntsville Area
Committee on Employment of
People With Disabilities was
formed in 1968 on LEAP Year
Day, to help the community
LEAP ahead in its awareness
of the abilities and
accomplishments of people
with disabilities. On that
day, a representative from
the President's Disabilities
met with twenty community
leaders to discuss forming a
local committee on
Employment of People With
Disabilities. Huntsville's
committee was the first
local People With
Disabilities organization to
be formed in Alabama.
Over the years, the work of
the committee has been
enhanced by the increased
awareness of people with
disabilities, both locally
and nationwide. In 1992, the
Americans With Disabilities
Act (ADA) was passed. This
law made it illegal for
employers to discriminate
against people with
disabilities, and it also
required employers to make
reasonable accommodations
for employees with
disabilities. Transportation
systems and public places
(i.e. restaurants, hotels,
stores) were required to
remove barriers and to make
their services and products
accessible. The ADA extended
to state and local
governments, making
discrimination and failure
to accommodate disabilities
illegal. Telephone companies
were required to offer
telephone relay services to
individuals who use
telecommunications devices
for the deaf (TDDs).
The term "handicapped," was
eventually replaced with
more appropriate terms such
as "person with a
disability," and "wheelchair
user." "National Employ the
Handicapped Week" was
replaced with "National
Disabilities Month,"
celebrated each year in
October.