Road to Freedom Tour comes to Oregon

Submitted by Shelley Joyce on Sun, 04/22/2007 - 2:26pm.

Keeping the Promise of the Americans with Disabilities Act
Oregon Stops: Eugene May 8-9; Salem May 11; Portland May 12

Most people remain unaware of the compelling history of the disability civil rights movement in America that lead to the greatest accomplishment of the disability rights struggle: enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act more than 15 years ago.

Even fewer may be aware that – following a string of setbacks in the Courts – people with physical, mental, cognitive and developmental disabilities, along with family members, advocates and policymakers, must reclaim the civil rights protections they once thought secure.

A coalition of disability, civil rights and social justice organizations have united to produce a national year-long, cross-country bus tour to promote and strengthen the call for the most basic freedoms: access to public buildings, the opportunity to live independently, and the chance to work to support one’s self and one’s family.

The tour stops include a display highlighting the disability civil rights movement in America featuring narrative, photographs and artifacts. Also on hand will be a team of experienced disability community leaders, including photojournalist Tom Olin, whose images are central to the exhibit and whose work has been featured at the Smithsonian.

At each stop, there is an opportunity for people with disabilities and advocates to share personal stories about living life with a disability and the promises of the ADA – those kept and broken.

Three “Bus Stops” on the tour are planned for Oregon:
• Eugene – May 8: 10 AM --4 PM, LTD Plaza, 10th and Olive Sts. across the street from the City Library.
• Salem – May 11: State Capitol, 900 Court St. 10 AM to 2 PM
• Portland – May 12: Oaks Park,

Support this historic struggle to keep the promise of the ADA by:
• Volunteering to help with a stop/event
• Sponsoring an information table at the Salem Capitol on May 11th
• Sharing testimony on how ADA has had a positive impact on your life
• Write a letter to the editor about the Road to Freedom Tour stop in your city

For information please contact:
• Eugene : Jon West, Lane Independent Living Alliance (LILA), 541-607-7020; jwest@lilaoregon.org
• Salem: Bill Olson, Oregon Cross Disability Coalition, 503-316-9844; fwolson@comcast.net
• Portland: Barry Quamme, Independent Living Resources (ILR), 503-232-7411; barry@ilr.org

The Tour is sponsored by an alliance of national coalition partners including Paralyzed Veterans of America, Easter Seals, Consortium of Citizens with Disabilities, National Organization on Disability, National Spinal Cord Injury Association, Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation, National Disability Rights Network, AARP, National Spinal Cord Injury Association, ADAPT, Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, National Association of Rights Protection and Advocacy, Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, National Council on Independent Living, American Diabetes Association, Epilepsy Foundation, Consortium of Citizens with Disabilities, and more.

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