Category: Advocacy

Media dis&dat

Sometimes serendipitous discoveries are made via the posts from other bloggers. A post by a fellow librarian, brought the site, Media dis&dat to my attention. I found it an interesting site and I plan to visit it often.

The site is a  database of news and information about people with disabilities and disability issues.  The topics are wide-ranging and many are  human interest stories such as this one about  Ecuador’s vice president who is a paraplegic and a passionate advocate for disability rights.

It can be easy to overlook the tiny South American nation of Ecuador. Yet Ecuador stands out as one of the region’s most advanced countries for disabled people. A major force behind this effort is Lenin Moreno, Ecuador’s vice president. A paraplegic, Moreno is one of the world’s highest-ranking leaders using a wheelchair.

To read the full story:  Ecuador’s paraplegic Vice President Lenin Moreno a major force for disability rights

For Collegians With Disabilities, Success Linked to Active Participation and Mentoring

A Rutgers study of recent New Jersey college graduates with disabilities has found that students attributed their academic success to a combination of possessing strong personality traits as perseverance and their relationship with a faculty or staff mentor.

Accessing campus accommodations was not a major issue but learning about such help “was not always the smoothest process,” the report noted. The research also determined that students mainly used campus resources for assistance rather than a combination of college and community services. Additionally, investigators examined problems faced by college disability and special services offices, including record-keeping and student-faculty outreach.

To read the full report visit – College Students with Disabilities: What Factors Influence Successful Degree Completion? A Case Study

The 2010 by 2010 Campaign

This summer, while doing some research for an article about the 20th anniversary of the ADA, I ran across a reference to the “2010 by 2010 Campaign.” Curious, I decided to investigate.

The 2010 by 2010 Campaign is a project of the National ADA Symposium. The project goal is to collect 2,010 “Proclamations of Recommitment” to the mission of the ADA by the end of 2010. Through the 2010 by 2010 Campaign, state and local governments, schools and colleges, businesses, organizations, service providers, and advocates are invited to join the Symposium’s “Proclamation of Recommitment” to the spirit of the ADA. The proclamation can be found at Proclamation of Recommitment and is also reproduced below.

Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act

a Proclamation of Recommitment to Full Implementation of the ADA

On July 26, 1990, President George H. Bush signed into law the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to ensure the civil rights of people with disabilities. This legislation established a clear and comprehensive national mandate for the elimination of discrimination against individuals with disabilities.

The ADA has expanded opportunities for Americans with disabilities by reducing barriers and changing perceptions, increasing full participation in community life. However, the full promise of the ADA will only be reached if public entities remain committed in their efforts to fully implement the ADA.

On the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, we (_name of public entity_) celebrate and recognize the progress that has been made by reaffirming the principals of equality and inclusion and recommitting our efforts to reach full ADA compliance.

NOW THEREFORE, the ______________ (County Board of Commissioners/City Council/Mayor/President) do hereby reaffirm our commitment to work toward full ADA compliance in _________________ (name of public entity).

Information about how to submit a proclamation can found at “Submit a Proclamation”. The list of entities that have already submitted a proclamation can also be found at “The List.” As of September 25, 2010, 1,578 proclamations have been received; only 432 more are needed to meet the goal.

At least 43 Nebraska entitles and 45 individuals have submitted proclamations; in Iowa 84 entities have done so. In Nebraska, signees include the cities of Grand Island, Lincoln, Omaha and Bellevue and the Governor and Legislature of the State of Nebraska. In Iowa, signees include the State of Iowa, the cities of Cambridge, Cedar Rapids, Ames and Des Moines, and Linn County.

The National ADA Symposium is a national initiative of the ADA Network and is hosted by the Great Plains and Rocky Mt. ADA Centers. The ADA Network consists of 10 regional centers established in 1992 by the U.S. Department of Education to provide information, training, and technical assistance on the ADA. The Great Plains Network serves the states of Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri; the Rocky Mountain ADA Center provides information on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to Colorado, Utah, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota and South Dakota.