Tabia Lee and Jack Neblo, NACDD interns, delivered stories of people with I/DD to Capitol Hill during the ADA’s 35th anniversary.
On August 11, I had the incredible opportunity to walk the halls of Congress with my fellow intern, Jack, to deliver something truly meaningful: the voices of people with disabilities from across the country. These weren’t just papers in a folder. They were lived experiences, collected by NACDD and our partners in the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD), honoring the 35th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Centering Stories, Centering Disability
The ADA 35th Anniversary Story Collection is powerful because it brings policy to life. Three of the stories selected by CCD were from our own NACDD network, Dielle De Noon, Emmanuel Jenkins, and Kevin Nunez. Additional stories contributed from self-advocates, young adults, married individuals with families, motivational speakers, lawyers, college students, authors, and community leaders –from rural towns to urban centers to suburban neighborhoods –who shared how the ADA has shaped their lives. Some spoke about gaining access to education or transportation, while others highlighted the barriers that persist in transportation, housing, healthcare, and employment. You can read CCD’s letter and all the stories here.
What stood out to me is that these weren’t just accounts of challenge—they were testaments to persistence, resilience, and the daily fight for dignity. Delivering them to Congress was never about checking off a task; it was about ensuring lawmakers heard directly from the people most impacted by their decisions.
Deliveries on the Hill
Jack and I divided up congressional offices across Longworth, Rayburn, and Cannon. We walked into rooms representing both Democrats and Republicans, delivering packets to offices ranging from Congressman Steny Hoyer and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro to Congressman Andrew Clyde and Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman.
Everywhere we went, the response was warm and receptive. Staffers welcomed us, asked questions, and expressed appreciation for having these perspectives placed directly in their hands. In one office, a staff member told me they would keep our packet close at hand for when disability-related issues came up. That moment reminded me why we needed not to be just delivering documents—we were making face-to-face connections and centering disability in the process.
Why This Mattered to Me
As a Howard University undergraduate student, being part of this effort was powerful. I’ve studied advocacy, I’ve read about civil rights laws, but to stand in those spaces—on behalf of people whose lives are shaped every day by the Americans with Disabilities Act—was different. It made me realize how essential it is to carry community voices directly into policymaking spaces.
The ADA is often described as a cornerstone of civil rights, but anniversaries like this remind us that the work is not finished. By bringing these stories to Congress, we were reminding lawmakers that disability rights are civil rights, and that real people—not statistics—must guide legislative decisions.
Looking Ahead
Walking out of the buildings that day, I felt both proud and challenged. Proud that NACDD entrusted us with this responsibility and challenged to keep pushing for a future where the ADA’s promises are fully realized.
For me, this wasn’t just about delivering stories—it was about carrying a message: nothing about us without us. And as long as I am in this work, that’s the message I’ll keep delivering.
Written by:
Tabia Lee
Intern, NACDD
Tabia Lee is an undergraduate intern with NACDD and a B.A. candidate in Criminology, with a concentration in Sociology, at Howard University. She serves as the Founder and President-Elect of the Howard University Chapter of the National Action Network (NAN) and founded the campus’s Disability Justice Advisory Board under the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs. Previously, she supported housing and youth homelessness initiatives as a Baltimore Civic Site Intern at the Annie E. Casey Foundation and advanced civic engagement as a Democracy Fellow with the New Jersey Black Empowerment Coalition. A published multicultural children’s book author, with works registered with the U.S. Copyright Office (Library of Congress), and a STEM advocate, Tabia is committed to advancing equity, inclusion, and opportunity for people with disabilities and other underrepresented communities.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the National Association of Council on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) or its partner organizations.
