FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 16, 2010
Contact: Stefanie Monte, 802-229-0580
ADA Celebration Bigger And Better This Year
MONTPELIER – The 20th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act will be celebrated on the Statehouse lawn July 22 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The theme of this year’s event is “What Are You Doing for the ADA?”
For the first time ever, the ADA celebration will feature a community dance. The Inaccessibles, VCIL’s house band for inclusive dance tunes, will be rocking a variety of classic rock songs beginning at 3 p.m.
The event will also include a free picnic lunch and the presentation of the 5th Annual Deborah Lisi-Baker Leader of Tomorrow Award. Rides on adaptive bicycles will be available. Master of ceremonies will be Vermont Center for Independent Living Executive Director Sarah Launderville. A variety of local, state and federal dignitaries are expected to attend.
VCIL and the Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired are sponsoring this year’s celebration. Co-sponsors include Disability Rights Vermont, the Vermont Developmental Disabilities Council, VABIR, the Vermont Human Rights Commission, VTrans, the Vermont Department of Libraries Special Services Unit, Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports, the Vermont Statewide Independent Living Council, the Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging & Independent Living, VocRehab Vermont, the Vermont Assistive
Technology Program, the VT AT Reuse Project and Vermont Family Network. A number of local businesses and organizations have donated food and raffle prizes for the event.
Congress passed the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990 with an eye toward preventing discrimination, in all aspects of society, against people with disabilities.
President George H.W. Bush signed the act into law, proclaiming, “Let the shameful walls of exclusion finally come tumbling down.”
ASL interpreters will be available. For more information, please call Ericka at 229-0501 or 1-800-639-1522.
