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This year marks the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a landmark civil rights law affirming that people with disabilities deserve equal rights, access, and dignity. This progress was fueled by tireless advocates who challenged neglect and fought to make these rights real.

Few embodied this commitment more than Ginny Thornburgh. Her journey began in the 1960s when she became stepmother to Peter, a young boy who had sustained a brain injury. Rejecting the prevailing norm of institutionalization, Ginny and her husband sought quality education and therapy, refusing to accept the low expectations imposed on children with disabilities.

In the early 1970s, Ginny joined Arc Allegheny — now part of The Arc of Greater Pittsburgh at Achieva. Alongside other determined mothers, she uncovered the inhumane conditions in Pennsylvania’s state-run institutions: overcrowding, neglect, and unsafe living situations. Ginny’s response was resolute: residents deserved better, and she would not rest until change happened.

Her advocacy was hands-on and unrelenting. She led unannounced inspections, documented violations, confronted officials, and engaged the media to expose abuse. When preventable deaths occurred at Western Center, her testimony before legislators prompted emergency funding to improve care. She championed the movement from institutions to community-based living, proving that meaningful change is possible through persistence and partnership.

Today, that same spirit drives The Arc of Greater Pittsburgh at Achieva. We work to protect rights, expand services, and promote inclusion for people with disabilities across our region. Advocacy remains as critical as ever — from influencing policy to ensuring that every individual has access to education, employment, and community life.

Ginny’s legacy is a reminder that advocacy is not optional; it is essential. It is about rights, not charity, and it requires all of us to speak out, stand up, and take action.

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