ADAPT is deeply saddened by the loss of Congressman Elijah Cummings. An initial cosponsor of the Disability Integration Act (DIA), Cummings had a long history of supporting the Disability Community. Cummings who had been labeled disabled and placed in special education during his elementary schooling, always showed a keen understanding of how our societal institutions contribute to and shape the discrimination faced by the Disability Community! He was quick to see the parallels and connections between the Disability Rights Movement and other social movements.
Whenever ADAPT met with Representative Cummings he was very proud of the work he had done with our community during his time in both the Maryland Statehouse and Congress, but never satisfied that job was complete. He was always interested in what more needed to be done.
Even his colleagues in congress seemed to understand this. In a speech at Marca Bristow’s memorial service, Senator Dick Durbin mused about Congressman Cummings, Justin Dart and Marca convening for the cause of Justice.
If they are up there, we imagine Congressman Cummings is telling Marca and Justin that we are now just nineteen sponsors from having majorities in both houses and trying to figure out how they can convince speaker Pelosi to honor Marca’s last request of her to move DIA to a vote.
Our love and support go out to his wife Dr. Maya Rockeymoore Cummings and his children as well as his friends and staff, and his beloved city of Baltimore who have lost one of their fiercest advocates. We have all lost with the Congressman’s passing!