WASHINGTON — Rep. James R. Langevin said that yesterday’s White House signing of legislation to benefit the disabled was “one of the most exciting things I’ve been part of since I’ve been in Washington.”

The Rhode Island Democrat was among those invited to the Oval Office — his first visit to the famous room — to watch President Bush sign an amended version of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Also on hand was the president’s father, former President George H. W. Bush, who signed the original bill into law. Langevin said he chatted with both leaders, telling them “what a difference the ADA made in my life.”

Langevin, who was active in the drafting of the new legislation, which passed the House last week, has been in a wheelchair since his spinal cord was damaged in an accidental shooting in 1980, when he was a teenaged cadet in the Warwick Police Department.

Langevin’s pursuit of a political career despite the crippling injury has given him special standing to argue a number of policy positions over the years, from his opposition to abortion to his support for research on stem cells from human embryos.

In the days before the ADA, he said public accommodations for the disabled “were considered more of a courtesy than a civil right,” and they were therefore often lacking. Since the ADA, it has become mandatory for public buildings, airliners and other entities to make their facilities and services accessible to the disabled.

Langevin said the new bill was intended to restore the old one to its original intent in the wake of a court ruling that those whose disabilities could be medically treated — diabetics, for example, were not eligible under the ADA. The new measure, in effect, reverses that ruling.

As Langevin put it during the House debate on the bill earlier this month, it will “finally renew our promise to the American people that discrimination, in any form, will never be tolerated.

“In July, we celebrated the 18th anniversary of the ADA. It was a day to reflect on our past accomplishments, our current challenges and future opportunities. I can think of no better way to honor the spirit of this landmark bill than by passing the ADA Amendments Act and reaffirming Congress’ intent to ensure the ADA’s broad protections.

“People with disabilities represent a tremendously valuable resource. By fostering an environment of inclusion and empowerment, we can provide the means for every individual to fulfill his or her potential.”

jmulligan@belo-dc.com