Contributor Choice
#1304

Topics and News at TRCIL

Road to Freedom Bus Tour
Market Square Rally
Kittanning Rally

The mission of Road to Freedom Bus Tour is to alert Americans to the need for Congress to keep the promise of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by restoring the protections that
have been eroded over the years. 

Bring your Friends and Family to join the Road to Freedom Bus at TRCIL!

www.roadtofreedom.org 

WHAT:  Road to Freedom Bus Tour, Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania Stop 

·        exhibit highlighting the Disability Rights struggle with photographs by award-winning photographer Tom Olin. 

·        resource information and speakers, including Jim Ward, President of ADA Watch; George Steese, prior National and State Commander of Disabled American Veterans; Marty Omoto, Director of California Disability Community Action Network.

·        ADA Town Meeting with representations from organizations with pro views of the ADA and opposing views of the ADA. 

WHEN:   Wednesday, November 7th 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM 

WHERE:   Three Rivers Center for Independent Living
             900 Rebecca Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15221 (in Wilkinsburg) 

For more information or to see how you or your organization can be involved please contact Terri Adams at 412-371-7700 x147, TTY 412-371-6230, or tadams@trcil.org.

 Nationwide Bus Tour Urges Full Realization of the Promise of the ADA

Market Square Rally
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Celebration

Three Rivers Center for Independent Living celebrated the 17^th anniversary of the passing of the Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Act at Market Square in Pittsburgh on July 24, 2007.

With over 100 onlookers and supporters at Market Square, Board Member and Rally Chairman, Milton Henderson along with TRCIL staff, kicked off the celebration with a warm welcome and the reading of the city of Pittsburgh’s proclamation signed by Mayor Luke Ravenstahl. The proclamation honors TRCIL’s Disability Pride Day and declares July 24^th and 25^th, 2007 as “Three Rivers Center for Independent Living Disability Pride Days” in our most livable city of Pittsburgh.

Following Pittsburgh’s proclamation reading was the reading of the County of Allegheny’s proclamation which proclaims July 24^th, 2007 as “Americans with Disabilities Act Day” in Allegheny County, signed by Allegheny County Chief Executive, Dan Onorato.

TRCIL celebrated the barriers that people with disabilities have overcome, addressed the critical issues that continue to affect people with disabilities, and also celebrated the new partnership between TRCIL and the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh. Speakers at the rally included Board Member and Rally Chairman, Milton Henderson; James Eichenlaub from the PA Builders Association; TRCIL Skills Trainer, Anne Nalepa; Executive Director at the Consumer Health Coalition, Jessica Seaberry; Community Organizer at the Consumer Health Coalition, Sally Jo Snyder; and TRCIL Peer Counselor, Don Mervis.

Inequality and discrimination is still found in employment, housing, transportation, healthcare and many other aspects of life for people with disabilities. By advocating for effective community change, we can make a difference in the lives of the people we care about. The ADA continues to be a catalyst for national dialogue, action, and change, and as such, it remains a living historic document that must never become stagnant, forgotten or ignored. 

Thanks to everyone who attended the rally and for supporting TRCIL’s mission to empower people with disabilities to enjoy self-directed, personally meaningful lives by providing outstanding consumer-controlled services and by advocating for effective community change.

 Kittanning Rally
Rally and March for Access Now

Staff members from Three Rivers Center for Independent Living, members of Kittanning’s Disability Investigative Group (DIG), and Kittanning’s disability community marched along Arch Street in Kittanning, Pennsylvania on July 26^th to Kittanning’s Post Office.  

The steps in front of the post office are completely inaccessible to people with disabilities that use wheelchairs. The members of both groups wanted to schedule a meeting date with the postal officials to discuss what can be done about the inaccessible facility. Some members of the group blocked access to the Post Office by sitting in front of the doors so that no body could enter.  

Before marching through Kittanning, TRCIL members, DIG members, and other supporters celebrated the passing of the American’s with Disabilities (ADA) Act at the Riverfront Park in Kittanning. Speakers, as well as Kittanning’s Mayor John P. Meyers, spoke about the barriers that people with disabilities have over come and the critical issues that continue to affect them today.       

News Article about the Kittanning Rally:

"Disability group puts post office on notice"
By Tom Mitchell, Leader Times
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/leadertimes/s_519358.html

Click here to read more about the Americans with Disabilities Act.