A celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act will be held Monday at the Nicollet Island Pavilion in Minneapolis.

The act — which protects people with disabilities from discrimination and provides for equal access and opportunity — was signed into law on July 26, 1990, by President George H.W. Bush.

The theme of Monday's event is "Celebrate, but continue the fight," said Margo Imdieke of the Minnesota State Council on Disability. (I have worked with Margo and the council in the past on legislative projects.)

"We do have cause to celebrate — the law has made a huge impact for people with disabilities and society at large," she said. "Buildings are more accessible, we see more images of people with disabilities in the media and the use of interpreters is much more common."

The light rail line in Minneapolis and the coming line connecting St. Paul and Minneapolis are both very accessible, thanks to the law and changes in attitudes, she said.

But there's still a way to go, she said.

"There are still many health care issues for people with disabilities and equal access has not been achieved everywhere. We still see inaccessible pedestrian bridges and curbs without usable curb cuts," she said.

People are working hard to shore up those inadequacies, and the ADA gets credit for spurring on positive changes, she said.

"The law has been taken seriously. It's not a perfect law; there was lots of negotiation and compromise, but it's a strong and important law that made a huge difference in our society, and made us the envy of other nations around the world," she said.

Monday's free event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Speakers and entertainers include:

• Comedian Josh Blue
• Former U.S. Sen. David Durenberger
• Local and national politicians
• American Sign Language storyteller Nic Zapko
• ADA expert Peter Berg

Of course there will be ASL interpreters, PCA assistance and audio descriptors.