[nfbmi-talk] Fw: Status of Protest at MI ADA Celebration

Tue Sep 15 12:29:57 UTC 2015

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Mark_Johnson at shepherd.org 
To: Robin Jones 
Cc: adaptdan at yahoo.com ; bwaltom at sbcglobal.net ; Darma Canter ; crippower at aol.com ; David Robinson NFB MI ; dwilkins at abilitycenter.org ; Eleanor Canter ; Fred wurtzel ; hetrick.cde at gmail.com ; janice.fialka at gmail.com ; Jill Gerrie ; joe harcz Comcast ; kelly at ncil.org ; Laura Hall ; Mark Eagle ; Norman DeLisle ; Leigh Campbell Earl ; Larry Posont NFBMI Pres. ; richardfeldman60 at gmail.com ; ruaw at aol.com ; Scott Heinzman ; ssnance at hotmail.com ; Susan Fitzmaurice ; terry Eagle ; thomasearle at libertyresources.org ; Clark Goodrich 
Sent: Monday, September 14, 2015 9:48 PM
Subject: Re: Status of Protest at MI ADA Celebration

-may not be a new phenomenon, but clearly time for a change
-interesting only one, from what I've been told, ILC belongs to APRIL and NCIL
-assume you've signed the petition, are circulating it and will be wearing a sticker
-also assume you'll be calling out the state for non compliance

Thanks,

Mark Johnson
Director of Advocacy
404-350-7490
http://www.shepherd.org

LIKE http://www.facebook.com/ADALegacy

From:        Robin Jones <guiness at uic.edu>
To:        "Mark_Johnson at shepherd.org" <Mark_Johnson at shepherd.org>, 
Cc:        Eleanor Canter <elnerannie at gmail.com>, Darma Canter <canter2000 at aol.com>, David Robinson NFB MI <drob1946 at gmail.com>, Fred wurtzel <f.wurtzel at comcast.net>, Jill Gerrie <jill.gerrie at arcmi.org>, joe harcz Comcast <joeharcz at comcast.net>, Laura Hall <laura at mymdrc.org>, Mark Eagle <markaeagle at yahoo.com>, Norman DeLisle <ndelisle at mymdrc.org>, Leigh Campbell Earl <nlcmom at comcast.net>, "Larry Posont NFBMI Pres." <president.nfb.mi at gmail.com>, Scott Heinzman <sheinzman at twmi.rr.com>, Susan Fitzmaurice <susanfitzm at gmail.com>, terry Eagle <terrydeagle at yahoo.com>, Clark Goodrich <weaseladapt at gmail.com>, "kelly at ncil.org" <kelly at ncil.org>, "bwaltom at sbcglobal.net" <bwaltom at sbcglobal.net>, "crippower at aol.com" <crippower at aol.com>, "ssnance at hotmail.com" <ssnance at hotmail.com>, "dwilkins at abilitycenter.org" <dwilkins at abilitycenter.org>, "janice.fialka at gmail.com" <janice.fialka at gmail.com>, "ruaw at aol.com" <ruaw at aol.com>, "richardfeldman60 at gmail.com" <richardfeldman60 at gmail.com>, "hetrick.cde at gmail.com" <hetrick.cde at gmail.com>, "thomasearle at libertyresources.org" <thomasearle at libertyresources.org>, "adaptdan at yahoo.com" <adaptdan at yahoo.com>
Date:        09/14/2015 09:10 PM
Subject:        Re: Status of Protest at MI ADA Celebration

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mark,

Thank you for providing the summary. As an FYI, MARO and Peckham, (both sponsors and major sheltered workshop providers in Michigan) have been part of the planning committee for this event almost from the get go and this event has been in the planning stages since last November, way before the CNN story and focus on the AbilityOne program.  Let's not forget that all of our communities are full of organizations that have been allowed through state and federal policy and funding to operate programs that are not in the best interest of persons with disabilities and lack any element of consumer control.  This is not a new phenomenon.  The community has a chance to use the backdrop of the anniversary of the most significant civil rights law for persons with disabilities to call for change and a draft a blue print for eliminating the policies and practices that exploit people with disabilities or deny people with disabilities equal access.  It will not happen overnight and it will not come easy but if people are willing in Michigan to harness their anger and frustration for something positive then I am confident that change will occur in Michigan and that overall the "good" that happens in Michigan every day by people with disabilities and those that work side by side with them will prevail.   I welcome any constructive thoughts that people have and wish to share regarding my involvement in this event.  

Robin Jones
Great Lakes ADA Center
guiness at uic.edu
312-208-0754(cell)
312-996-1059 (work)

On Sep 14, 2015, at 7:06 PM, "Mark_Johnson at shepherd.org" <Mark_Johnson at shepherd.org> wrote:

Dear Colleagues,

Following is a status (my understanding) of the Protest.  Feel free to reply to me with other updates?  Curious, did Peckham become a sponsor after the CNN story? 

1. Advocates intend to enter the Peckham, MARO, etc. sponsored event space and make it their event.
2. Stickers, etc. will be distributed, petition solicitation will occur.
3. Several national speakers have withdrawn, some quoting "dirty money."
4. Robin Jones, National ADA Network, agreed to be a keynoter with the intent of using her time as an opportunity for a call to action. 
5. Several other speakers provide an opportunity for some noise making.

-Norm DeLisle, Executive Director, Michigan Disability Rights Coalition (MDRC), will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award at the event.  Norm will use the platform to speak out against sub-minimum wages.

-Laura Hall, MDRC and ADAPT member, was to present an award to a state legislator who sponsored Michigan's Employment First legislation. She and others will be speaking with the legislator about the protest and the opportunity to say no to FLSA Section 14(c) certificates.

6. MDRC is requesting that the event planning committee return the donations (dirty money) that are tied to sub-minimum and substandard wages, to underscore our community's common fight against economic inequality. Also, 

As part of that continuing evolution, I want to promise all of you that MDRC will not accept donations from organizations that permit or promote substandard wages or other separate, unequal treatment of people with disabilities.

7. The ADA Bus may be coming after all, accommodations are being secured by the protest organizers.

       -parking, between Ottawa and Michigan across the street from the                                 Capitol

8. Several people are working the media.
9. All the information I'm receiving points to exploitation of people with disabilities, erosion of consumer control and lack of compliance to laws and implementation of policy in the state.

Peace,

Mark
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