[nagdu] Ed honored in the Federal Register

[Toni Eames]

>Hi all,

>The memorial service for Ed will be held on Saturday, Dec. 12 at 
>noon at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Fresno.  I would like 
>to complete a memory book and urge you to send me a special memory 
>you have of Ed.  Did you spend a funny or touching time with 
>him?  Did he help you with an advocacy situation?  How has his life 
>and death impacted you?  Please e-mail your thoughts to me with 
>memories of Ed in the subject line.
>
>An IAADP member, Marty Van Duyne, orchestrated this Federal Register 
>entry about Ed.  How touching and well-deserved!
>
>HONORING ED EAMES
>HON. ROBERT J. WITTMAN
>OF VIRGINIA
>IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
>Tuesday, November 17, 2009
>Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise
>today to pay tribute to Mr. Ed Eames.
>Ed Eames was a resident of Fresno, California
>and was a committed advocate for individuals
>with disabilities. At the age of 42, Mr.
>Eames lost his sight and this life-altering circumstance
>motivated him to strive for the improvement
>of services for the disabled.
>Ed was a devoted husband to his beloved
>wife, Toni, who is also blind. They met when
>he was writing a book on guide dog schools
>and asked her to be a co-author. Ed and Toni
>co-authored two books, numerous magazine
>columns and articles, and even scripted the
>award-winning video, ''Partners in Independence''.
>The couple also co-taught a class on
>the sociology of disabilities at California State
>University, Fresno. Furthermore, along with
>their guide dogs, Latrell and Keebler, Ed and
>Toni traveled the world to further their joint
>commitment to assistance dog programs for
>the disabled.
>Mr. Eames was active in his community and
>was a fervent supporter of the addition of sidewalks
>for wheelchair ease and accessibility in
>the Fresno area. Mr. Ed Eames was the
>founder and President of the International Association
>of Assistance Dog Partners. He
>served on the Americans With Disabilities Act
>Advisory Committee for Fresno Area Express
>and was also a member and former president
>of the North Fresno Lions Club.
>On October 25, 2009 at the age of 79, Ed
>Eames passed away. He will be greatly
>missed by all who knew him and the work that
>he did for the disabled will never be forgotten
>.
>