Syracuse University and area community members came together this week in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the nation’s first comprehensive civil rights law addressing the needs of people with disabilities. It was a joyful evening featuring dance, discussion and viewing of the award winning documentary, Invitation to Dance. 

The afternoon began with a dance workshop lead by Tina Christina-Price, co-founder of the Aspire Dance Co. based out of Ithaca, New York. Christina-Price, who has dedicated her life to dispelling the myth that dance and disability cannot coexist, lead a group of a dozen participants through a series of dance and movement exercises on the stage of the Schine Auditorium.

Later that same evening, Christina-Price joined her dance partner and co-founder of the Aspire Dance Co., Rik Daniels in a moving performance meant to further change perceptions of dance and disability.

Following the performance, filmmakers Simi Linton and Christian von Tippelskirch presented a special screening of “Invitation to Dance”, their 2014 documentary that shares Linton's life journey through childhood,her disabling accident, and her later role as a disability-rights advocate.  Joining Linton and Tippelskirch on stage after the screening, Stephen Kuusisto, director of The Renée Crown University Honors Program and professor of disability studies, moderated a question and answer session, offering the audience a chance to reflect on the film's message. 

The ADA Celebration events are co-sponsored by the Office of the Provost, College of Arts & Sciences, College of Engineering & Computer Science, College of Law, College of Visual and Performing Arts, Falk College, Martin J. Whitman School of Management, School of Education, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, University College, The Renée Crown University Honors Program, Center on Human Policy, Law, and Disability Studies, Disability Cultural Center, Syracuse University Press, and Syracuse University Libraries.