Action Alert

September 29 , 2005

NCIL Action Alert: Disability Rights Rally At The U.S. Supreme Court on October 5, 2005

Please find below an announcement from Not Dead Yet announcing a disability rights rally at the US Supreme Court on October 5th – the day that that oral arguments in two cases of major significance to disability rights advocates will be argued before the US Supreme Court. NCIL encourages those who are able to attend to support this effort.

DISABILITY RIGHTS RALLY AT THE U.S. SUPREME COURT

OCTOBER 5, 2005
9:00 A.M.  to 12:00 NOON
1 FIRST ST. NE, WASHINGTON, DC
(Close to Capitol South and Union Station METRO stations )

Oral argument in two major disability cases is scheduled for October 5th, 2005:
Gonzales v. Oregon (assisted suicide)
Schaffer v. Weast (burden of proof in education cases).

People with disabilities can make a big first impression on the new U.S. Supreme Court. If we are successful, it will be a major news story, as it was in 1997.

There has been some uncertainty about the U.S. Supreme Court schedule in light of its pending vacancies, but expectations are that the oral argument schedule will not be changed.  We know that some committed activists will come from around the country, but much of the turn out will depend on the disability community in the states around Washington, D.C.  Please start making your plans today.  An investment in getting the message of disability rights to this Court can pay off for decades to come.

Public Transit:  Closest to Metro Stations Capitol South and Union Station

OPTIONAL October 4th evening meeting:  ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia, 3100 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington, VA.  (703) 525-3268.  Near Orange Line Metro, Clarendon stop.  5:30pm.

TRAVEL FUNDS:  There will be a limited amount of funding to support the travel expenses of activists with disabilities.  Please contact Diane Coleman (ndycoleman@aol.com) to apply for travel funds.  And if you can find a local funder to match the NDY funds, you can help the funds stretch further.

FOR MORE INFORMATION on the cases pending before the court:

Gonzales v. State of Oregon http://www.notdeadyet.org/docs/gonzalesbkgd091405.html

Schaffer v. Weast http://www.wrightslaw.com/news/05/schaffer.weast.html