NCIL Annual Conference 2010

20 Years of the ADA: The Fight Goes On!

Save the Date!

July 19-22, 2010

Grand Hyatt, Washington, D.C.

2010 Conference Photos by Tom Olin!

• Part 1
• Part 2
• Part 3

Conference Evaluation for Attendees

Dear Advocates and Friends,

On the 20th Anniversary of the ADA, our community is overwhelmed with a sense of pride for our accomplishments and determination to finally bring full social, economic, and political equality to people with disabilities.

This week, we will celebrate the future we work toward: a day when our brothers and sisters breathe the free air outside institutions, regain the strength of independence, and bring down “the shameful wall of exclusion” once and for all! This year’s Annual Conference, 20 Years of the ADA: The Fight Goes On!, is designed to give us the tools to do just that.

In the two decades since President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act into law on July 26, 1990, we have seen access and attitudes improve exponentially. However, successes like the Olmstead Decision have been dampened by a lack of action or urgency by Federal and state governments. And recent state budget cuts have actually moved us backward!

The promises of equal opportunity in hiring and employment have been decimated by a skeptical judiciary.  And the substantial increases in accessible housing and transportation are hardly exciting considering that nationwide, the lack of these vital resources remains the largest barrier to the independence.

It is in the context of this balance, between success and continuing challenges, that we celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

I would like to thank the NCIL Board and staff for their tireless efforts to bring about this opportunity and our generous sponsors for making this event a success! Please take a moment to stop at the exhibit fair and review the advertisements in this program, as each of these contributors has shown a dedication to NCIL and the advancement of Independent Living through their donations.

I would especially like to thank our top sponsors AT&T, Pride Mobility Products Corp., the Center for Disability Rights, AMERIGROUP, Arizona Bridge to Independent Living, LegaWear, and the SILC of Georgia.

Sincerely,

Kelly Buckland, Executive Director