Announcement

RTD celebrates 35 years of ADA with bus wrap, storytelling and celebration

Lucas Bosley

DENVER (Aug. 1, 2025) –– The Regional Transportation District (RTD) marked the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on Friday, Aug. 1 with a public event in downtown Denver. The celebration honored the landmark civil rights law and Denver’s legacy of civil rights activism.

The event, titled “35 Years of Progress: ADA Past, Present, and Future,” brought together community members, local advocates and regional partners at the Homewood Suites by Hilton Denver Downtown-Convention Center. Attendees reflected on ADA’s ongoing impact and Denver’s role in advancing accessibility. This includes a group of advocates known as the “Gang of 19,” who in 1978, blocked RTD buses at E. Colfax Avenueand Broadway to protest the lack of wheelchair access. Their act of civil disobedience led to the installation of lifts on RTD buses and sparked a nationwide movement that resulted in ratification of the ADA.

“The Americans with Disabilities Act is a piece of legislation that didn’t just open doors – it opened minds, changed systems and continues to affirm the civil rights of millions of Americans,” Angel Peña, RTD’s Deputy CEO, told attendees at Friday’s celebration. “Here in Denver – here at RTD – this moment carries special weight because history didn’t just pass through our region. It was made here. This agency, this city, this community played a vital, visible role in the long and unfinished fight for disability justice.”

The event culminated with the unveiling of a commemorative ADA 35th Anniversary bus wrap, designed by Justin Bravo, winner of RTD’s bus design contest. Bravo, who identifies as LGBTQ+ and lives with a disability, said the design reflects his personal journey and honors the progress of accessible transit. Guests also explored an ADA history exhibit and attended a panel discussion featuring speakers from across generations focusing on the ADA’s legacy and the future of accessibility.

RTD also premiered a video featuring stories from across its community. The video included interviews with a longtime bus operator known for his compassionate service, and a customer whose life has been changed by accessible transit. It also captured the installation of the ADA-themed bus wrap, showcasing the collaboration behind the project.

The event was made possible with support from partners across the region, including:

RTD remains committed to advancing equity and accessibility in public transportation and supporting Colorado’s disability community.

Written by Lucas Bosley