Approved by the NCIL Membership June 2002
WHEREAS Independent Living Centers are funded to provide services and advocacy by and for people with disabilities, who are guaranteed access to facilities, programs, and activities in other public programs such as rehabilitation facilities, hospitals, schools, libraries, social services agencies, publicly-funded housing, and many workplaces, and
WHEREAS at this time, people with chemical, electrical, and other environmental sensitivities (a.k.a. Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, Electrical Sensitivities, Environmental Illness), which can be disabling, are often denied access to public and commercial facilities and programs because of 1) Environmental barriers; 2) Societal attitudes and lack of awareness; and 3.) Disregard for their rights, and
WHEREAS the Americans with Disabilities Act Access Guidelines (ADAAG) thus far fail to specify accessibility standards or enforceable regulations to protect the access of people with chemical, electrical, and other environmental sensitivities, and
WHEREAS it is reasonable to expect Independent Living Centers, our programs, and activities to be accessible to and useable by all people with disabilities, and
WHEREAS it is commonly reported by people with chemical, electrical and other environmental sensitivities that NCIL activities and committee work, and some Independent Living Centers, their programs, and / or activities are not accessible to and useable by people with chemical, electrical, and other environmental sensitivities, therefore
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED: by the National Council on Independent Living that NCIL and NCIL’s committees will:
1. Include people with such disabilities in all public education and outreach, accessibility surveys, planning for new or renovated facilities or programs, and
2. Serve, advocate for and with, recruit for committee and board positions, and employ people with such disabilities, making reasonable accommodations as necessary.
Submitted by:
New Horizons I.L.C. in Prescott Valley, AZ
Independent Living Resource Center in San Francisco, CA
Chemical and Electrical Access Assistance in Snowflake, AZ
CyberCIL in Tempe, AZ
National Center for Environmental Health Strategies in Voorhees, NJ
Endependence Center of Northern Virginia in Arlington, VA
Independent Living Services of Northern California in Chico, CA
