MOSI, Hillsborough County Celebrate Americans With Disabilities Act

By Libby Hopkins On Saturday, July 18, Hillsborough County will mark the 25th anniversary of the signing of the landmark American with Disabilities Act at the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI). “MOSI has a great relationship with Hillsborough County and its entities,” said Megan Haskins, MOSI’s marketing and communications specialist. “The Hillsborough County Alliance for Citizens with Disabilities is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, so when they approached us looking for a place to host their event, we were more than happy to open our doors.”

The Hillsborough County Alliance for Citizens with Disabilities is a community coalition serving as an advisory group to Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners to assist on issues of disability. They provide input on such topics as accessibility issues, universal design, transportation concerns affecting people who are transportation dependent and equal employment opportunities to name a few.

The celebration will feature 40 exhibits from organizations providing services to people with disabilities in the community and interactive presentations on such topics as service dogs, braille literacy, sign language and autism awareness, as well as live entertainment. The event will be held from 9:30 a.m.–2 p.m. with a sensory-friendly experience taking place from 9:30–10 a.m.

“The sensory-friendly experience will feature activities that will not overwhelm any guests who are on the autism spectrum,” Haskins said. “These activities will promote flexibility of thought and social interaction.”

At 11:30 a.m., Hillsborough County Commissioners will be participating in four award presentations at the event recognizing individuals, youth, organizations and veterans who have made a difference in promoting accessibility for all.

To learn more about The Hillsborough County Alliance for Citizens with Disabilities, visit www.hillsboroughcounty.org. To learn more about MOSI, visit www.mosi.org. MOSI is located at 4801 E. Fowler Ave. in Tampa.