In a collaborative effort, 15 local organizations have arranged for an ADA Legacy Tour Bus stop in Mid-Missouri to create awareness and celebrate the 25thanniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This tour is one in a series of monthly events the group has planned to create excitement for ADA25. The Legacy Bus Tour is part of the ADA Legacy Project to “Preserve the Past, Celebrate the Present and Educate the Future”. The Tour includes:

• The “Road to Freedom” ADA Bus – which traveled to 48 states in 2007 to raise support for the ADA Amendments Act – courtesy of the Disability Rights Center and driven by veteran disability rights photographer, Tom Olin;
• A four-panel display on the history of self-advocacy, courtesy of the Museum of disABILITY History;
• Displays on The ADA Legacy Project and its effort to preserve of disability history; celebrate disability history milestones; and educate future generations of disability advocates;
• A “Because of the ADA . . .” booth where you can post your thoughts and photos to illustrate the difference the ADA has made in your life;
• The ADA quilt – add your signature to thousands of others who have participated in the Tour;
• Displays on the history of the Road to Freedom Tour;
• An information table with handouts on The ADA Legacy Project and the ADA, plus information from our partners and sponsors; and
• Events, workshops, artifacts, and other programming provided by local hosts.  [Read more…]

The disability rights community was informed about the events for the commemoration of the anniversary of “Bloody Sunday” and the marches of Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in an announcement from the White House sent out to social justice advocates.

On March 7, 1965 approximately 600 civil rights activists set out to participate in a peaceful demonstration based on obtaining the right to vote by walking over the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama. They were confronted by and beaten, tear gassed, and trampled over by Alabama State Troopers who stopped their advancement to Montgomery. The events of that day and the weeks that followed were the catalyst to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

This year marks the 50^th Anniversary of these events. Representative John Lewis (D-GA) was then a young civil rights activist and was badly beaten on “Bloody Sunday”. He was one of the leaders of the group that attempted to cross the bridge. He remains an active member of the civil and voting rights movement today.

Taryn Mackenzie Williams, Associate Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement, sent the announcement below in early February informing the disability rights community about President Obama’s plans for the weekend in Alabama.

Dear Friends,

President Obama will travel to Selma, Alabama on March 7th to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery marches. This visit will also highlight the President and his Administration’s overall efforts to mark the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. More details of this trip will be announced at a later date. Please share with your networks and if you questions regarding this visit please email [email protected]

Best,
Taryn Mackenzie Williams

From the President’s remarks:

Because of what they did, the doors of opportunity swung open not just for black folks, but for every American. Women marched through those doors. Latinos marched through those doors. Asian Americans, gay Americans, Americans with disabilities — they all came through those doors. (Applause.) Their endeavors gave the entire South the chance to rise again, not by reasserting the past, but by transcending the past. 

• Read the President’s remarks in full

It was through the wonderful relationship NCIL has created with Taryn Mackenzie Williams and the White House that a group of leaders from Alabama Centers for Independent Living were able to participate in the events in Selma, shake both President Obama and the First Lady Michelle Obama’s hand, and take pictures with great civil rights leaders like House Minority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD). Participants looked fabulous in their ADA25th Anniversary T-shirts – and we thank Mark Johnson of the Shepherd Center for sending them to Alabama via overnight delivery!

From Dan Kessler, Immediate Past-Chair of NCIL Board and Executive Director of the Disability Rights and Resources, based in Birmingham, Alabama.

This once in a lifetime experience was all made possible by Taryn Mackenzie Williams! Thanks to Taryn, Kelly Buckland, and Dara Baldwin.

Alabama CILs were well represented at the President’s speech at Selma. Traveling to Selma were Dan Kessler and Gail Kessler from Birmingham, Carmen and Kent Crenshaw of Montgomery, Maze and Donyelle Marshall of Montgomery, and Janice and Fred O’Neal of Montgomery. Maze and Fred are veterans with disabilities.

Friday morning, buses pulled up in front of the 16th St. Baptist Church, one block from Disability Rights and Resources. We learned that John Lewis and his entourage had been paying a visit to the 16th St. Baptist Church and Birmingham Civil Rights Institute on their way to Selma.

Our small convoy left Montgomery early on Saturday morning, through rolling hills, past pecan orchards, cotton fields and farms, arriving in Selma at about 7:30 a.m. The atmosphere was festive and charged in anticipation of the President’s visit. While waiting in line, we saw members of the King family and civil rights leader Hosea Williams’ family.

From where we were stationed inside the venue, some of us saw Representative John Lewis (D-GA) – who spoke at a NCIL rally several years ago – Minority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Dick Gregory, Danny Glover, Al Sharpton, Birmingham Mayor William Bell, Representative Terri Sewell (D-AL), Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL), Jessie Jackson, and many more civil rights leaders. The First Lady and President approached the accessible seating area and shook hands with Kent and Carmen Crenshaw who were wearing their ADA25 shirts! Carmen got some great photos of the President and First Lady.

Amongst historic buildings lining the wide streets of Selma, we waited approximately 5 hours before the President spoke in front of the Edmund Pettus Bridge. The weather was perfect—sunny and in the 60s. We met people of all ages who came from great distances, including sisters and former Selma residents now residing in cities like Boston and Baltimore. Off to our right were hundreds of members of the media from across the globe. Several rows behind us, protesters were drumming and chanting during the President’s speech, drawing the attention of Alabama state troopers and others who came to hear the President.

Prior to the President’s speech, speakers included Alabama Governor Bentley, Representative Terri Sewell, and the legendary Representative John Lewis, who introduced the President. The President gave a powerful speech, evoking the sacrifices made by civil rights activists 50 years ago and reminding us that “the march is not over”. I agree with those who think this was one of the President’s best speeches.

Kent Crenshaw summed up the day perfectly, “I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to meet and shake hands with President Obama at the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday. This was a pivotal moment that I and so many others will never forget. This will further motivate me to continue to fight for civil rights and the rights of people with disabilities.”

To learn more about Disability Rights and Resources, visit www.drradvocates.org.

More Information:

• Reuters: Thousands march on Selma, Alabama bridge to mark ‘Bloody Sunday’
• New York Times: Threats to Voting Rights Remain, Selma Gathering Is Told

The ADA Bus is currently traveling the country prior to the celebration planned for Washington, DC in July, 2015 for the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

The team has received overwhelming interest in having Tom Olin and the ADA Bus visit additional locations. There is only one ADA Bus and only one Tom Olin. We couldn’t nearly make all the stops we wanted, so the tour continues. The Road to Freedom Tour will continue into 2016 and beyond!

Read more at roadtofreedomtour.blogspot.com and adalegacy.com/ada25.

Thursday, March 12, 2015; 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST (Note: Pacific Time!)

Event will be live streamed. Check the People With Disabilities Foundation website for updates.

Speaker: Steven Bruce, Esq., Legal Director, People With Disabilities Foundation

A plaintiff with a psychiatric and/or developmental disability such as autism, severe anxiety, depression, dementia, or psychosis, e.g., schizophrenia, may have more difficulties pursuing discrimination litigation than someone with a physical or intellectual disability. This may be due to a vulnerable mental state (e.g., suicide), because of difficulty in establishing medical evidence, or due to the advocate’s fear or stigma of the disability.  This program will discuss ways to overcome barriers to litigating on behalf of this population. These solutions will include strategies for different pathologies and will be based on strategies PWDF used successfully in U.S. federal court (e.g., reasonable accommodations for depositions) for clients with a variety of mental and/or developmental disabilities.  [Read more…]

July 27, 2015; 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Grand Hyatt

Washington, DC