[Nfbk] Press Release

[John Glisson]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

CONTACT:

Pamela Roark-Glisson, Executive Director

Independence Place, Inc.

(859) 266-2807

(859) 948-3663 (Cell)

pglisson at independenceplaceky.org

 

Statewide Disability Advocates Demonstrate Engaging Independence Through Access In Capitol Rotunda

 

Disability Rights Advocates Across Kentucky Converge Upon Frankfort's Capitol Rotunda to Exhibit Visibility and  Vigilence While Voicing Celebration of Freedom and Independence by the Americans with Disabilities Act

 

Lexington, KY (July 25, 2011):  Independence Place, Inc. - The Kentucky Center for Independent Living Serving Central and Eastern KY - hosts and joins with Disability Rights Advocates traveling from Ashland, Hopkinsville, Williamsburg, Murray, Independence, Bardstown, New Concord, Lancaster, Louisville, Covington, Hazard, Lexington and hundreds of Kentuckians passionate about access throughout the Commonwealth at 11 A.M. on Monday morning in the State Capitol Rotunda until 1 P.M.  Disability Rights Leaders exemplify the significance of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to inspire Peer Mentors with severe disabilities who ENGAGE the new era of accessibility and freedom to promote positive and inclusive RELATIONS among fellow community citizens.  2011 is the 21st year of the ADA.  Enormous strides have been accomplished to create full access to goods, services and meaningful life styles for Kentuckians with disabilities; yet the ADA must remain alive and well for the increasing numbers of YOUTH with disabilities to continue to mature into a new generation of Peer Mentors with the PASSION to "lead On". 

 

John Glisson, President of the Lexington Chapter of the Kentuckiana Regional Group of the Blinded Veterans Association (BVA), Inc. said:  "In this greatest land of opportunity, our children and adults with significant disability deserve the chance to aspire to reach their American Dream along side all Americans - a DREAM for which thousands upon thousands of men and women of these United States have chosen to give their lives!  Without goods and services accessible to and usable by people with disabilities through full and complete access, the billions and trillions of tax dollars channeled through our Federal and State rehabilitation programs can be nothing more than serving those without disability and establishing an immoral pattern of failure to reach the Goal."

 

1 in 4 Kentuckians has a significant disability.  People with disabilities constitute the nation's largest minority group, and the only group of which anyone can become a member at any time.  The unemployment rate of people with disabilities is ten times greater than the national unemployment rate, yet many of those unemployed individuals have the skills needed in the local community.  Nearly sixty million Americans have at least one disability, making them the largest minority group in the nation. As the baby boomer population ages and more veterans return from combat duty, this number will double in the next 20 years. Notwithstanding the strides made in advancing equality for people with disabilities during the past forty-five years, the majority of people with disabilities are poor, under-employed and under-educated due largely to unequal opportunities. People with disabilities make up an estimated 20 percent of the total population. It is a diverse group, crossing lines of age, ethnicity, gender, race, sexual orientation and socioeconomic status. It is the RIGHT THING TO DO to continue the MARCH toward FULL INCLUSION in Kentucky's communities, thus breaking the bonds of isolation, depression and terror!

 

"Every man, woman, and child with a disability now can pass through the once closed doors into a bright new era of freedom, independence, and equality (President George Bush, July 26, 1990)." 

 

For more information on Independence Place, Inc. and the movement to 'Engage Independence', please visit HTTP://www.independenceplaceky.org.

 

 

#######

 

 

About Independence Place, Inc.

 

Independence Place, Inc. is a nonprofit, consumer driven, nonresidential center for independent living, serving people with disabilities of all ages. The mission of Independence Place, Inc. is to assist people with disabilities to achieve their potential for community inclusion through improving access and equal opportunity. 

 
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/nfbk_nfbnet.org/attachments/20110724/c8552ac7/attachment.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: Statewide Advocates Demonstrate Engaging Independence Press	Release.doc
Type: application/msword
Size: 32256 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/nfbk_nfbnet.org/attachments/20110724/c8552ac7/attachment.doc>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: 2011_ADA_RALLY_FLYER.doc
Type: application/msword
Size: 126976 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/nfbk_nfbnet.org/attachments/20110724/c8552ac7/attachment-0001.doc>