On July 26, 1990, President George H. W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) into law. That moment forever changed the future for millions of Americans with disabilities, including John Cronin, co-founder of John’s Crazy Socks.
John is now 29 years old. He has Down syndrome and is a proud entrepreneur, Special Olympics athlete, and keynote speaker. He has spoken at the United Nations, delivered two TEDx talks, and testified before Congress. And none of that would have been possible without the ADA.
How the ADA Transformed John’s Life
Before the ADA, people with disabilities were routinely excluded from employment, education, public spaces, and civic life. The ADA changed that. It became a civil rights milestone that prohibited discrimination, mandated accessibility, and guaranteed people with disabilities the right to fully participate in society.
For John, that meant access to inclusive public schools, transportation, and opportunities to pursue his passions. It also meant the freedom to chase a dream: to build a business that would show what people with differing abilities can achieve.
When John finished high school, meaningful employment wasn’t readily available.So, he said to his father, “Dad, I want to go into business with you.” That conversation sparked the creation of John’s Crazy Socks, a social enterprise with a mission to spread happiness and promote inclusion.
A Company Rooted in the Values of the ADA
Today, John helps lead a company that has created 34 jobs, 22 of which are held by people with differing abilities. That is the ADA in action. It ensures that John and his colleagues are protected against discrimination and are supported by a system that values their abilities, not their limitations.
The ADA gave John the right to work. It also gave him the right to lead.
Every package from John’s Crazy Socks, complete with socks, a thank-you note from John, and some candy, is a small symbol of what's possible when inclusion becomes policy and when dignity is protected by law.
Advocacy from the Stage to the Senate
Thanks to the ADA, John has been able to take his message far beyond the walls of his business. From congressional hearings to global summits, John has spoken up for the rights of people with disabilities. The ADA ensured those stages were not only accessible but also welcoming.
When John testified before Congress, he did so not as a guest, but as a peer—someone with both lived experience and the legal right to be heard.
Honoring the Champions of Change
John and his father, Mark X. Cronin, have had the honor of personally thanking two of the ADA’s chief architects: Senator Tom Harkin and Congressman Tony Coelho. Their leadershipdidn’t just create policy—it created real change for families like the Cronins and businesses like John’s Crazy Socks.
A Legacy Still in the Making
More than three decades later, the ADA remains a vital foundation for equity and opportunity. But the work is far from finished. There is still a need for more inclusive workplaces, more accessible housing, and more visibility for people with differing abilities in every part of public life.
John’s Crazy Socks exists because of the ADA. It is a living example of what can happen when we build a society that values everyone. It is a business that thrives not in spite of disability—but because of the talents and contributions of people with differing abilities.
As John always says, “Down syndrome never holds me back.”
And thanks to the ADA, it never has to.
