Home > Advocacy in Action > WV Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Celebration
Photo description: Anne Weeks, guest speaker at the 2005 ADA celebration
On July 26, 2005 was one of the hottest days of the year with the sun beating down on us and a heat index of 110 degrees. People with disabilities across West Virginia gathered at the Cultural Center at the State Capitol Complex in Charleston to celebrate their independence day and 15 years of improved independence through the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Attendees had the opportunity to view a video of the original signing of the ADA on July 26, 1990 and to visit with exhibitors. We were entertained by the music of Griffith and Cross and Derek Mortland.
Merilyn Sleet, a Mountain State Centers for Independent Living board member won the Creative Expressions Contest that was held in conjunction with the 15th Anniversary Celebration of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The contest was divided between youth and adults with disabilities to express through poetry, narrative, or art mediums What the ADA Means to Me.
Merilyn painted a picture of soaring eagles with the accompanying poem, I Can Soar Like an Eagle Over All Obstacles and Barriers to Live a Free and Equal Life. She received a certificate identifying her as having the best entry, which was signed by David Stewart coordinator for the West Virginia ADA Coalition. She also received a t-shirt commemorating the 15th Anniversary, and her painting and poem were featured on the cover of the program for the ADA 15th Anniversary Celebration.
Merilyn was unable to attend the celebration and Anne Weeks from MTSTCIL accepted her award on her behalf. Anne will present the award to Merilyn at the next board meeting.
View the ADA Celebration 2005 - Merilyn Sleet painting.
James Qualls, also a MTSTCIL board member, received an honorable mention certificate and t-shirt for his Top 10 Reasons We Need to Protect & Keep the ADA. His Top 10 were printed on the back of the ADA Celebration program, and read by Kelly Simpson during the awards ceremonies.
10. 1 person can't do it all, it has to take a lot of people to help.
9. Explain to everybody that ADA stands for Americans with Disabilities Act, not the American Dental Association.
8. Explain the differences between Real disability, Hidden disability and Fake disability.
7. We need to protect not only ADA, but also healthcare (Medicare, Medicaid) right now, not later.
6. One problem: every candidate from GOP and Democrats want to twist and brainwash everybody's minds with lots of lies.
5. Support each other if one or more needs help.
4. Create lots and lots of fundraisers for the disabled (Not the politicians, not the rich, etc.).
3. Create a statewide People First as well as more centers for Independent Living in Summersville, Wheeling, Parkersburg, etc.
2. Write (or call) and complain to anyone, anybody who says cruel comments about the disabled (handicapped, retarded, etc.)
1. 1 word times 3: advocate, advocate, advocate!
-James Qualls
Anne Weeks, MTSTCIL President/CEO, was one of the guest speakers at the Celebration. Ms. Weeks shared with her audience how far the ADA had come, how it has impacted West Virginia within the last 15 years, and how far we have yet to go.
Anne shared two landmark ADA cases in West Virginia during the last 15 years that had a successful outcome. The cases included MTSTCIL's lawsuit against the City of Huntington, WV for curb cuts and Appalachian Center for Independent Living's Executive Director, Larry Paxton, took on the WV Lottery Commission to insure the local lottery retailers were accessible to the disability community.
www.mtstcil.org
