It’s been 30 years since the passage of the Americans With Disabilities Act, or ADA. That’s the civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public.

Throughout the month of July WGCU is celebrating the 30th anniversary with the “Move to Include” initiative, a nationwide public media effort that seeks to inspire and motivate people to embrace different abilities and include all people in all aspects of life.

This week on Gulf Coast Life we learn bout LARC, or Lee Association for Remarkable Citizens. This organization has served people of all ages with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities, and their families, here in Southwest Florida since 1954 — that’s 36 years before the ADA was passed. We get some history, and a sense of where they are today, with LARC's Executive Director, Kevin Lewis; and Katie Vazquez, she is the Learn-Achieve-Become (LAB) coordinator at LARC.