Atlanta, Georgia – Thirty-six years after the Americans with Disabilities Act reshaped public life, Fulton County is turning its anniversary into more than a ceremonial date. The county is inviting the public to see how accessibility works in practice, and where more progress is still needed.
The ADA36 Rally will bring employees, residents, advocates, community partners and service providers together for three hours of information, performances and direct conversation about disability rights and independent living.
Hosted by the Fulton County Department of Diversity and Civil Rights Compliance, or DCRC, the event is scheduled for Thursday, July 23, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Atrium of the Fulton County Government Center in downtown Atlanta. It will take place three days before the ADA’s official anniversary on July 26.
The rally will feature exhibitors and resource providers sharing information about programs, services, technology and other tools intended to support accessibility and independence. Attendees will also be able to connect with county employees, residents, advocates and community organizations, creating space for new partnerships and stronger relationships across metro Atlanta and beyond.
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Performances and innovative exhibits are also planned as part of the event. Together, the activities are designed to celebrate what the ADA has achieved while keeping attention on the work that remains.
Signed into law in 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in employment, education, transportation and public accommodations. The law has remained a central foundation for equal access and opportunity for millions of Americans.
In Fulton County, DCRC supports those protections by working to make county programs, services, activities and facilities accessible. Its responsibilities include helping ensure that people with disabilities can receive reasonable accommodations and effective communication in forms that meet individual needs.
Those services may include accessible formats, adaptive equipment, Braille materials, closed captioning, Communication Access Realtime Translation services and sign language interpreting. The department’s work extends beyond physical access, recognizing that meaningful inclusion also depends on communication, information and participation.
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The July 23 gathering will give residents an opportunity to learn what resources are already available, meet the people and organizations providing them and better understand how accessibility affects everyday life.
As Fulton County marks ADA36, the message behind the rally is both celebratory and forward-looking: progress deserves recognition, but inclusion requires continued education, awareness, engagement and action.
More information about accommodations and accessibility services is available through Fulton County’s Disability Affairs and Accommodation webpage.
