A Note from the Executive Director:

Dear Advocates and Friends,

This year’s Annual Conference, our 25th Anniversary Celebration, was an incredible success, and was the most well-attended Independent Living Conference to date!  It served as an opportunity for accomplished and emerging leaders from across the country not only to affect real political change, as you will read below, but to converge at our nation’s capital and to stand together with solidarity of mission with our brethren. We spoke clearly and with one voice. 

At the Opening Plenary, NCIL President Kelly Buckland acknowledged our past and challenged us for the future.  A Keynote Address was given by Betsy Valnes, Executive Director of the National Youth Leadership Network and member of the South Dakota Statewide Independent Living Council.  Betsy expressed the excitement felt by everyone in the room, stating, “…young people are now identifying that we are lucky enough to be born into a time when there was already a movement, and now we have visions to create and strengthen a community.  The goal of my message today is to identify that we have an opportunity.  The best and most exciting responsibility before us is to determine that we will have an all-inclusive community…  The opportunity isn't one that we have to look forward to.  The opportunity is right in front of us, right now!”

Regional Advocacy Awards were presented to Deborah Lisi-Baker, Beata Karpinska-Prehn, Daniese McMullin-Powell, Dr. Otis Stevens, F.R.I.D.A. (Feminist Response in Disability Action), Paula Margeson, Dr. Robert Harder, David Foster, Marilyn Golden, and Rita Walker for their advancement of disability rights in their respective regions. 

Workshop topics included everything from independent living philosophy and history to the direction of the disability community.  Our youth oriented track supported by Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation was extremely well-attended by emerging young leaders in our IL Movement. Diane Coleman of Not Dead Yet gave a needed presentation on how to avoid death by “futility” judgment.  Other hot topics included bioethics and IL philosophy, the oppression of sexuality for people with disabilities, and elimination of the Medicare “In-Home Restriction”; accompanied by substantial discussions focused on this year’s Conference theme: Celebrating Accomplishments and Forging New Leaders.

The Diversity Caucuses organized by NCIL’s Diversity Committee were extremely active and full of ideas to boost NCIL membership and expand IL into all of our Nation’s culturally rich and diverse communities. NCIL has received feedback and we have some concrete advice to improve inclusion and cultural competence.

At the Awards Banquet, NCIL members were treated to remarks by Senator Tom Harkin and Congressman Patrick Kennedy, who both spoke at length about their commitment to the ADA and the civil and human rights of Americans with Disabilities.  The Max Starkloff Lifetime Achievement Award was announced and the first annual award was presented to Bob Michaels. Attendees were treated to a speech by Max, NCIL’s first President and founder of one of the first CILs – Paraquad in St. Louis.  President’s Awards were given to Linda Gonzales of APRIL and Betsy Valnes.  Corey Rowley of the PA SILC won the Frank Harkin Memorial Award and Angela Vasquez of Access Living took home the Diana Vietz Award.  National Advocacy Awards were presented to NCIL co-founders Charlie Carr, Marca Bristo, and Judy Heumann, who spoke of the impact of the Independent Living Movement. They described their experiences with the movement in its infancy, a sense of hopefulness for the future, and a promise to new leaders of support and encouragement.  Emerging leaders, led by the evening’s Master of Ceremonies, Zach Coble, spoke of the values and accomplishments of the founders of our Movement as the inspiration for their dedicated and passionate efforts.  Lee Schulz of Independence First in Milwaukee, Wisconsin won a 2008 Corvette with his lucky ticket #0001, the first ticket sold! 

At this year’s Annual Council Meeting, NCIL members voted for Governing Board officers and members-at-large, then considered resolutions to guide NCIL’s advocacy work.  We are pleased to announce that President Kelly Buckland was re-elected to lead the organization for two more years.  Treasurer Frank Shible was also re-elected.  Members-at-large vacating their positions this year were Lee Schulz, Phil Pangrazio, and Pat Puckett.  Phil was re-elected.  Lee and Pat chose not to run and were replaced by Jeff Hughes, former Region 6 Representative, and Brenda Curtiss, NCIL’s newest board member.  Elections for Representatives from Regions 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 were held prior to the conference.  All Regional Representatives ran for re-election and were maintained.  We welcome back Mary Margaret Moore for Region 1; Mark Derry for Region 3; Tim Sheehan for Region 5; Lou Ann Kibbee for Region 7; and Louis Frick for Region 9.   Congratulations to all of our new and returning Governing Board Members.  Information on this year’s resolutions can be viewed at www.ncil.org.

NCIL’s 25th Anniversary Celebration was an historic milestone, in which NCIL staff, board, and leadership are honored to have played a role. Our sincerest appreciation goes out to all NCIL members whose groundbreaking work has made NCIL and the Independent Living Movement a huge success – indeed, a cultural transformation.

The Annual Conference’s success would not have been possible without the generous support of our attendees, sponsors, advertisers, exhibitors, and presenters.  We especially thank our sponsors AARP, Wal-Mart, ILRU, Visual Language Interpreting, Sunrise Medical, Tenacity Corporation, AT&T, The National Organization on Disability, SKIL Resource Center, Inc., Verizon, TASH, Independence First, SEIU LTC, NCART, AdvaMed, Edison Electric Institute, U.S. Agency on Aging, SComm Inc., Yoshiko Dart, Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation, and Independence Technology.  I hope you enjoy the Annual Conference Update included in this issue, and please save the date for next year’s conference, July 21st - 25th, 2008!

John A. Lancaster

Continue to Annual Conference Update with Photos!