Fall 2002, Volume3
LICIL Library on the Works
From the desk of the Executive Director Patricia Moore:
LICIL’s
staff and volunteers are working hard to develop a lending library that will
offer a wide variety of books and videos that will be of interest to persons
with disabilities, their families and others who wish to learn more about the
disability experience. We need your help in making the LICIL library a
reality. One way in which you can help is by participating in our Gift-A-Book
Program.
This program will allow you to
purchase a book as a gift to commemorate a special occasion in someone’s life.
This gift will be acknowledged on the inside cover, with a decorative bookplate
displaying your dedication. The program can be used to honor the memory of a
loved one, or simply state that you yourself have donated a book to the
library. The library will also offer a place to come and browse the shelves,
have access to a computer, bring a friend to play a game of chess, and enjoy
special events or lectures. In the upcoming weeks you will receive more
information about the Gift-A-Book Program, we are counting on you
to help us make this unique resource a success.
LICIL STREAMLINES EFFORTS TOWARD SYSTEMS CHANGE
By Therése E. Aprile, M.A,
Director of Systems Advocacy
Those of you who know me probably associate me with things
like benefits advisement, peer counseling and direction of various support
groups and workshops. But we live in a
world of constant change. In accordance
with that tenor, I have taken on a new role here at LICIL. As
the Director of Systems Advocacy I face new challenges and undertake a
different set of responsibilities.
Yet, it has been said
that the more things change the more they stay the same. In that spirit, I am pleased to say that my
sense of conviction about the rights and responsibilities of individuals with
disabilities remains as strong as ever.
In fact, the notion of
change defines the very essence of my new position. This role affords me the opportunity to focus my energies on one
of the most crucial aspects of the Independent Living Philosophy – the call to
advocate for meaningful change within the systems that drive our
community. In keeping with the tenets
of the Independent Living Movement, equal and unfettered access to education,
employment, commerce, healthcare, citizenship, voting, and the social arena
must be expected and demanded by the community of individuals with
disabilities.
Yet, that sentiment
raises a pivotal question: What will it
take to institute prevalent community change that extends beyond the latest
trend in social policymaking? The
answer is both quite simple and enormously complex. It is simple in that, as history has taught us, meaningful
progress requires motivated people. At
the same time, though, the answer is complex because any cause worth fighting
for presents a long and hard road to victory.
Indeed, the issues to be grappled with are many: from increasing barrier
free access to public places to heightening awareness about educational,
employment, and voting rights for individuals with disabilities….And the list
goes on….
In the interest of
addressing these global concerns, LICIL has taken measures to redouble its efforts through the creation of
Citizens Opening Doors for Integration (CODI), a committee charged with the
identification and implementation of community change in the variety of areas
mentioned above. Under my direction,
this select group of consumers with disabilities will participate in an ongoing
series of training, programming, activities and meetings to prepare them to
take a hands-on, pro-active role in optimizing full community participation for
members of the disability community.
There is no question that the time has come to revitalize
our commitment to transforming the world around us. It has been 12 years since the passage of the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA) and although some significant progress has been made, we
have barely tapped the degree of personal liberty promised by the landmark
legislation. 70% of persons with
disabilities remain unemployed or under-employed.
School districts and
universities continue to demonstrate a pervasive lack of awareness about equal
education rights. Restaurants, stores,
and even medical facilities present roadblocks to equal physical and
attitudinal access. Yet, we cannot sit
back and expect the laws themselves to promote necessary change. If legislation like the ADA is to live up to
the spirit in which it was designed, we, the citizens for whom and by whom it
was framed, must be willing to step up to the plate and refuse to back down
until the job is done.
Clearly, solutions to
the problems at hand are neither easily nor instantaneously achieved. Rather, they will be realized only as a result
of unwavering diligence on the part of individuals willing to devote themselves
to a great deal of hard work. I am
confident that “Team CODI” will play a vital and successful role in addressing
and bridging many of the systemic gaps currently preventing persons with
disabilities from enjoying the full spectrum of equal rights, which define the
American Promise.
The requisite
bridge-building will take shape in attention to multiple key areas. Everything from the establishment of
coalitions with various community organizations to the development of media
contacts and public awareness campaigns will be a part of our agenda. In addition we will distribute alerts on
issues to be brought to the attention of federal, state and local political representatives. Finally, our ongoing initiative to increase
ADA compliance among local businesses and municipalities will remain a top
priority.
As I take my place at
the helm of LICIL’s Systems Advocacy
programming, I wish to extend my thanks to those consumers who have given of
themselves for the cause. I look
forward to their continued dedication and involvement, and encourage
participation from many more consumers who are motivated to make a difference.
In the future, look for
regular CENTERFOCUS coverage of LICIL’s Systems Advocacy efforts, as well as
periodic mailings updating our progress.
For more information, contact me at 516/796-0144 (Voice); or
516/796-0135 (TTY).
No
matter what, don’t give up the fight!….
Twenty-three and a half million people with disabilities
did not vote in the 1996 presidential election. We don’t have the statistics
for the last presidential election, but if people with disabilities had voted
at the same rate as other Americans, five million of those people would have
cast a ballot. Why did these Americans
with disabilities not vote?
Poor voter turnout by people with disabilities is partly a
result of low voter registration. More
than nine million people with disabilities are not registered. Are you one of these Americans?
LICIL is a voter registration site. If you are not registered to vote and would
like to register, you can either visit or call our office and ask for the “voter registration form.” Our number is 516-796-0144 voice,
516-796-0135 TDD. If you need
assistance with filling out the form we can assist you.