Photos courtesy of Tom Olin
Honoring the Disability Rights Movement
July 26, 2025 marks the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) — the landmark civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in all areas of public life, including employment, education, transportation, and access to public services and spaces.
Decades of advocacy, organizing, and direct action led by disabled people made the ADA possible. From the Capitol Crawl to local organizing here in Los Angeles, the disability rights movement continues to push society toward inclusion, justice, and equal opportunity.
This year, we recognize the advocates, artists, leaders, and everyday community members who work to advance disability rights and challenge ableism — not only during Disability Pride Month, but every day of the year.
Making the Movement Visible: Interview with Tom Olin
In celebration of the 35th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, legendary disability rights photographer Tom Olin joins Stephen David Simon, Executive Director of the City of Los Angeles Department on Disability, for a conversation honoring the legacy of the ADA and the movement that brought it to life.
For more than four decades, Tom Olin has used his camera to document the disability rights movement—from grassroots actions to defining moments like the Capitol Crawl. In this powerful exchange, Tom shares how photography can elevate voices, illuminate injustice, and advance Equity through Access by capturing the strength, solidarity, and impact of disabled communities.
Transcript
- Download the Full Transcript and Video Description (PDF)
- Download as a Word Document (.docx) – will download automatically when clicked
Alternative formats are available upon request. Please contact 213-202-2764 (Voice), Dial 711 for CA Relay, or email DOD.Contact@lacity.org.
Video Description: A Zoom video interview is displayed in a three-person grid format. In the top left corner is Stephen David Simon, a bald man wearing glasses, a dark suit jacket, and a light blue shirt. His virtual background includes the City of Los Angeles seal and text that reads: “Stephen David Simon, Executive Director and General Manager, City of Los Angeles Department on Disability, Pronouns: He, Him, His.” Below his name, his Zoom display name reads: “Stephen David Simon (He/him).”
In the top right corner is an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter named Alexis, a light-skinned woman with short brown hair, wearing a dark gray shirt, signing in ASL against a solid blue background.
In the bottom center is Tom Olin, an older white man with glasses, wearing a baseball cap and a yellow T-shirt that reads “MY MEDICAID MATTERS” in bold black letters. Behind him is one of his black-and-white photos featuring a person with a disability getting arrested at a protest.
The timestamp from the Zoom recording is placed in the bottom right corner.