LA28: Los Angeles Mayor Bass signs Games Host City Accessibility Committement

On Friday (25 July), ahead of the 35th anniversary of the American with Disabilities Act, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass joined International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Chief Paralympic Games Officer Colleen Wrenn, LA28 Chief Executive Officer Reynold Hoover, Councilmember Imelda Padilla, Paralympic athletes and other city and community leaders to reaffirm the City’s commitment to a “Games For All” ahead of the Paralympic Games in 2028. 

The City of Los Angeles is taking action to prepare Los Angeles to ensure the delivery and legacy of the Games are inclusive of people with disabilities, including by signing an official Games Host City Accessibility Commitment, developing and overseeing the implementation of a Games Accessibility Plan and by appointing the City’s first-ever Accessibility Chief within the Mayor’s Office of Major Events. The City’s Department on Disability and Braille Institute also collaborated to install Braille translation for the Olympic and Paralympic Flag Installation in City Hall.

“While we have come a long way since the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed 35 years ago, we still have more to do to ensure that Angelenos of all abilities can thrive in Los Angeles,” Mayor Karen Bass said.

“We are working across City departments and alongside private partners to develop and implement a Games Accessibility Plan so that L.A. hosts the most accessible Games possible. For too long, people with disabilities have not been treated with the dignity they deserve, and as we prepare to host the City's first-ever Paralympic Games, it’s time that there is equal access to all Games-related programmes, services, activities, facilities, and information so that everyone is uplifted by the legacy of the Games.”

Councilmember Imelda Padilla said: “As someone who experienced mobility challenges as a child, I know firsthand how critical accessibility is—not just for function, but for dignity and inclusion.

“That’s why I introduced the City’s motion to develop a comprehensive Paralympic Games Accessibility Plan, ensuring that access is built into every step of the planning process for LA28. Hosting the Paralympic Games for the first time is a historic honour, and we must rise to the moment by creating a Games—and a city—that is truly welcoming to all.”

Colleen Wrenn, IPC Chief Paralympic Games Officer, said: "The commitment of the City of LA and LA28 to host open and accessible Paralympic Games and Olympic Games provides an incredible opportunity to advance the promise of the ADA.

“Through the platform of the Paralympics, the LA28 Games will drive impact that extends far beyond the sport venues. The Paralympic Games shows the world what happens when barriers to success are removed and inspires us to imagine what could happen if barriers were removed elsewhere, any place where people with disabilities could live, work, play and contribute to wider society if given the opportunity.”

“As Los Angeles prepares to host its first-ever Paralympics in 2028, we have an incredible opportunity to help reshape the conversation around individuals with disabilities,” said LA28 Chief Executive Officer Reynold Hoover. “Just last year, LA28 became the first Organising Committee in history to propose and add a new sport to the Paralympic sport programme, making LA28 the largest Paralympic Games in history. We’re grateful to Mayor Bass for her leadership and commitment to an exceptional and accessible Games experience and look forward to our continued partnership and collaboration with the City of Los Angeles.”

“My experience as a Paralympian taught me that the greatest barriers aren’t always physical — they’re attitudinal,” said Scott Blanks, Vice President of Accessibility and Employment at Braille Institute. “The Paralympics are a powerful reminder of human potential, and LA28 can be a catalyst — not just for athletes on the world stage, but for every Angeleno with a disability seeking access, opportunity, and respect. Let the 35th anniversary of the ADA be more than a celebration — let it be a call to action. And let the promise of LA28 galvanise us to build a Los Angeles that is truly inclusive and accessible to all.”

”As we mark the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Los Angeles is approaching an unprecedented opportunity to truly honour its legacy,” said Stephen David Simon, Executive Director of the City of Los Angeles Department on Disability. “The City’s commitment to an accessible Paralympic and Olympic Games builds on decades of advocacy, progress, and partnership. The LA28 Games represent not just a global event -- it is a chance to dramatically expand equity, elevate disability leadership, and shape a future where inclusion is the standard for all Angelenos.”

"As a third-generation Angeleno with a nonvisible disability, I take great pride in knowing that our City is building on the promise of the ADA,” said Akiko Tagawa, City of Los Angeles Commission on Disability President. “Through the leadership of Mayor Bass and the work of the Department on Disability and the Commission, today’s commitment reflects both the progress we’ve made and our ongoing efforts to build a more inclusive and accessible Los Angeles."

The Mayor hosted this event at the LA84/John C. Argue Swim Stadium, a venue originally built for the L.A. Olympic Games in 1932. Following the L.A. Olympic Games in 1984 and the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the building was renovated to include accessible features including elevators, accessible restrooms and several swimming pool lifts, among other elements. The LA84/John C. Argue Swim Stadium currently offers free and adaptive swimming classes as part of the PlayLA program which recently achieved over 1 million enrolments.

The Americans with Disabilities Act is a landmark civil rights statute signed on 26 July 1990 that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including employment, education, transportation, and access to public and private spaces open to the general public.

The City is committed to hosting a “Games for All” in 2028 and an incredible Paralympic Games, with a lasting legacy that all Angelenos will benefit from.  The LA28 Paralympic Games take place from 15-27 August 2028.
 

Read the Mayor’s commitment here.