Lawrence Disability Pride, a local organization geared towards raising awareness for people with disabilities, is set to celebrate the 36th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The celebration will feature a panel of guest speakers, resource tables, door prizes and a social hour.
The ADA, spearheaded by U.S. senators such as Bob Dole of Kansas and Tom Harkin of Iowa, is a historic civil rights law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability.
“It’s very important to bring awareness to where we’ve been and where we’re going, and to basically let future generations know where we’ve been and where we need to go,” said Rex Ellebracht, who serves on the Disability Planning Committee for the ADA Celebration. Ellebracht is a double amputee who has lived in Lawrence for nearly 30 years.
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“In 36 years there’s been a lot of change, which has been good, but we still have a long way to go to get where we need to be,” he continued.
Ellebracht said the event will aim to spread awareness, foster a more accessible and disability-aware community, and create a network of people to support each other.
Guest speakers will include City of Lawrence ADA Compliance Administrator Evan Korynta, Rep. Brooklynne Mosley of Kansas House District 46, national disability rights activist Mike Oxford, and a panel of speakers who have reached adulthood under the protection of the ADA. Harkin will give a videotaped welcome address.
“You don’t have to have a lifelong disability to understand people with disabilities,” Ellebracht said. “That can be huge, to understand those challenges and changes — and eventually we all may or may not be disabled, or know somebody that has a disability.”
Now in its fourth year, the local ADA celebration will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 25 at the Dole Institute of Politics, 2350 Petefish Drive. Those interested in attending are asked to register at the form linked here.
The event will be interpreted in American Sign Language, and free parking is available adjacent to the venue.
Door prizes include Kansas City Royals tickets, a stay at the Eldridge Hotel, a Branson fishing trip and various gift cards to local businesses.
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Hannah Loub (she/her), reporting correspondent with The Lawrence Times since January 2026, is a 2026 graduate of the University of Kansas who majored in journalism and global and international studies. She also served as lead digital producer for KUJH and worked as a beat reporter for the University Daily Kansan. Read her work for the Times here.
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