In this episode of ⁠Pushing Forward with Alycia⁠, I sit down with the Honorable ⁠Tony Coelho⁠, retired U.S. Congressman and the principal author of the ⁠Americans with Disabilities Act⁠, for a conversation that reaches far beyond disability policy. It’s a history lesson, a civics class, and a moral compass all in one thirty minute session.

As a nation founded in defiance of oppression and animated by the promise of freedom, we need the values in this conversation now—dignity, equal access, and the courage to stand up to power with truth and love. This is not just a disability story; it’s a blueprint for renewing the American experiment. Tony’s story is America’s story: perseverance in the face of stigma, faith in community, and courageous, bipartisan coalition-building that turned lived experience into law. He reminds us that the ADA wasn’t a gift; it was won through testimony, organizing, and unlikely alliances that honored human dignity over party lines. He also offers a clear charge for today: rights on paper are meaningless without enforcement, and opportunity is the measure of whether our promises are real.

As we begin our celebration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) let us remember we can’t afford to ignore the warnings of our past. If we don’t learn from history, we are bound to repeat it.

Key Points on the Clock

00:00 Introduction to Pushing Forward with Alycia

00:26 Meet Tony Coelho: Champion of Disability Rights

02:41 Tony's Personal Journey with Epilepsy

07:30 Finding Purpose and Entering Politics

16:32 Crafting the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

26:15 The Impact and Future of the ADA

32:55 Final Thoughts and Farewell

A Quote by Tony

“ Give me the opportunity to fail... then I may be able to succeed.” ~ Hon. Tony Coelho

What You’ll Find in this Episode

👋 Meeting a Legend

🌿 The Personal and Spiritual Journey

💔 Heartfelt Dilemma: Love or Respect

🎠 A Merry-Go-Round Changed Everything

🚪 The Power of Opportunity

🔥 Unstoppable Commitment

🏛️ A Legacy of Advocacy

💡 The Inspiration Behind the ADA

🛡️ The ADA as Our Life Insurance Policy

💖 Love Yourself: The Ultimate Key to Empowerment

Connect with the Hon. Tony Coelho

Tony's Website | Tony on X

Follow Up with Alycia

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Editor’s Note (Context Matters)

This conversation with the Hon. Tony Coelho was recorded on August 12, 2025, more than a month before today’s release. Since then, the landscape has shifted dramatically. As of October 1, 2025, the U.S. federal government has shut down after Congress failed to pass a funding bill. (The government shutdown took effect just 24 hours before this episode’s release)

At the heart of this stalemate are health-care provisions, including Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium subsidies and Medicaid funding. Lawmakers’ dispute over extending ACA subsidies and reversing recent Medicaid/ACA cuts is a central driver of the impasse, with multiple outlets reporting that the shutdown fight is fundamentally about these health-care stakes.

Why this matters here: ACA and Medicaid policy is inseparable from disability rights. Analyses from leading health policy organizations and advocates show that millions of people with disabilities rely on Medicaid and ACA Marketplaces for coverage; proposed cuts or subsidy expirations would raise premiums sharply and put essential services and community-based supports at risk.

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