1) 2010 Annual Conference: An Introduction
2) Annual Meeting and Elections
3) Awards
Regional Awards
National Advocacy Awards
4) Legislative and Advocacy Update!
Victories!
5) March and Rally on Capitol Hill
The 2010 Annual Conference was a huge success. Over 900 NCIL members, presenters, and sponsors gathered in downtown Washington D.C. to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act and bring our message to Capitol Hill. It was the largest Annual Conference in many years, and a sense of pride and determination was palpable in the air.
From the Annual Council Meeting to the closing Awards Banquet, NCIL members brought the spirit of Independent Living. Attendees worked hard throughout the week to plan and execute meetings with elected members of Congress, which led to several victories for the IL Movement.
NCIL Members celebrate almost as well as we advocate. In addition to our typical Conference activities, this year’s event featured The Spirit of the ADA, a celebration of our history and the future we work toward. The dance floor was packed throughout the night, as Flame, a rock band made up of people with disabilities, rocked the crowd.
This year, to everyone’s delight, Marchers were joined by the new Justin Dart parade puppet. The protesters braved and survived a scorching D.C. summer day to watch as a crowd of Senators and Representatives lined up for the opportunity to speak directly to people with disabilities on the historic 20th Anniversary of the ADA.
NCIL would like to thank our members for their tireless efforts to bring about full equality for Americans with disabilities, the NCIL staff and Board for their hard work, and the sponsors that made this event possible. For those of you who were lucky enough to join us at this year’s Conference, we hope this Special Edition WhAM! brings back fond memories. For those of you who could not be there, this wrap-up is only a glimpse at the myriad of activities our dedicated members led and participated in, but we hope you enjoy it! Photos by Tom Olin will be distributed shortly.
The Annual Council Meeting of NCIL membership was held on the first day of the conference. While they were no resolutions up for consideration this year, members still met to elect Board members and to learn more about NCIL’s activities and priorities since last year’s Annual Meeting. This year, the positions of Vice-President, Secretary, and Diversity Chair were up for election, as well as the Regional Representatives in even-numbered regions and 4 Member-at-Large positions.
Board Officers and Diversity Chair elections were first on the agenda. Lou Ann Kibbee, IL Specialist at SKIL Resource Center in Hays, Kansas, ran unopposed for the position of Vice-President, a position she has held since she was elected to complete the remaining term of Dan Kessler at last year’s Annual Meeting, when Dan was elected to serve as NCIL’s President. Lou Ann was elected by unanimous consent and will continue to serve as NCIL’s Vice-President until the 2012 Annual Meeting. Pat Puckett, the Executive Director of the Georgia SILC, ran unopposed for the position of Secretary. She was elected by unanimous consent and will serve until the 2012 Annual Meeting. Ann McDaniel, NCIL’s previous Secretary, had exhausted her term limit as Secretary and was unable to seek re-election. The NCIL staff thanks Ann for her outstanding service and looks forward to working with Pat! Stan Holbrook, Executive Director of the Three Rivers Center for Independent Living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, ran unopposed to continue his service as NCIL’s Diversity Committee Chair, a Board position and member of NCIL’s Executive Committee. Stan was elected by unanimous consent and will serve through the 2012 Annual Meeting.
Regional Representatives are elected in shifts, according to the year; even-numbered regions elect their representatives in even-numbered years and odd-numbered regions elect their representatives in odd-numbered years. This year, Anita Cameron, Systems Advocate at the Center for Disability Rights in Rochester, New York was elected to represent Region 2 (New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands). Julia Sain, Executive Director of Disability Rights & Resources in Charlotte, North Carolina was re-elected to continue to represent Region 4 (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee). Carla Lawson, Executive Director of Ability Resources in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was re-elected to serve as the Region 6 representative (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas). Carla was also re-elected by her fellow Regional Representatives to continue to serve as the Regional Representatives Chair, a member of NCIL’s Executive Committee. Carol Jean Reynolds, Executive Director of the Disability Center for Independent Living in Denver, Colorado, was re-elected to represent Region 8 (Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming). Jim Beck, Executive Director of Access Alaska, was re-elected to continue his service as the representative of Region 10 (Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington).
In addition, there were four Member-at-Large positions up for election at this year’s Annual Meeting. Typically, only three Members-at-Large are elected at the Annual Meeting, but Jeff Hughes regretfully submitted his resignation as Member-at-Large and Rehab Act Chair shortly before the conference. Jeff is taking some time off from the NCIL Board to focus on his health. We thank Jeff for his leadership and hard work and wish him the very best! As Jeff resigned mid-term, there were three full term (two year) Member-at-Large positions and one half term (one year) Member-at-Large position to fill. The election for the three full term positions was held first. Ann McDaniel, Executive Director of the West Virginia SILC; Mark Derry, founder of Eastlake, Derry and Associates, an ADA consulting company in Morgantown, West Virginia; and, Shannon Jones, Executive Director of the SILC of Kansas were elected to serve as Members-at-Large to the NCIL Governing Board through 2012. In the election to complete Jeff Hughes term, Jason Wilson, a Board Member of Living Independence for Everyone (LIFE) CIL in Savannah, Georgia, was elected to serve as a Member-at-Large to NCIL’s Governing Board through the 2011 Annual Meeting. NCIL’s new Governing Board is as follows.
Executive Committee:
- President, Daniel Kessler
- Vice-President, Lou Ann Kibbee
- Secretary, Pat Puckett
- Treasurer, Phil Pangrazio
- Diversity Chair, Stanley Holbrook
- Regional Representative Chair, Carla Lawson
- Executive Director, Kelly Buckland
Regional Representatives:
- Region 1 Representative, Mary Margaret Moore
- Region 2 Representative, Anita Cameron
- Region 3 Representative, David Burds
- Region 4 Representative, Julia Sain
- Region 5 Representative, Maureen Ryan
- Region 6 Representative, Carla Lawson
- Region 7 Representative, Michelle Krajewski
- Region 8 Representative, Carol Jean Reynolds
- Region 9 Representative, Kent Mickelson
- Region 10 Representative, Jim Beck
Members-at-Large:
- Ann McDaniel
- Mark Derry
- Shannon Jones
- Bruce Darling
- Jason Wilson
- Frank Shible
Inarguably, the most distinguished event of every Annual Conference is the Awards Banquet. This is our opportunity, as a community, to thank and congratulate our very best advocates for their outstanding service and support. Each of our award winners have for years, some for decades, dedicated their lives and work to the advancement of the Independent Living Movement and increasing opportunities and access for all people with disabilities. We salute these individuals with our most sincere congratulations and gratitude.
This year’s Awards Banquet was hosted by Phil Pangrazio, NCIL’s Treasurer and Executive Director of the Arizona Bridge to Independent Living, a Center for Independent Living in Phoenix, Arizona. After Phil welcomed the crowd and thanked our sponsors, he introduced Carla Lawson to present the Regional Advocacy Awards.
Regional Awards
- The members of Region 1 honored Gary Waterhouse of South Windsor, Connecticut for his dedication to the IL Movement. As Executive Director of the CT Association of CILs, a member of the Area Agency on Aging Advisory Council, CT Long Term Care Advisory Council, and a Governor’s appointee to the CT Council for People with Disabilities, it’s no wonder why Gary’s peers selected him to receive this year’s Region 1 Advocacy Award.
- Region 2 members selected Leslie Saunders of Buffalo, New York as this year’s Advocacy Award winner for his work advocating on behalf of New Yorkers with mental health disabilities, and his dedication to promoting the IL philosophy within the New York Mental Health system.
- NCIL members in Region 3 recognized Ed Turner of Richmond, Virginia for his lifelong commitment to disability advocacy in the Commonwealth of Virginia and his distinguished appointment as the first Special Advisor to the Governor on Disability Issues under Virginia’s previous Governor, Tim Kaine.
- In Region 4, Keith Greenarch of Sylva, North Carolina was chosen by his peers as the Advocacy Award winner for his coordination of advocacy efforts at the NCIL Conference over the past four years and his recent election by his peers to Chair the North Carolina Disability Action Network Board.
- John Johnson of East Grand Forks, Minnesota was selected by his peers in Region 5 to receive this year’s Advocacy Award. John’s peers cited his leadership among rural CILs in Minnesota, unyielding advocacy efforts, and long time commitment to Minnesotans with disabilities.
- The members of Region 6 honored Jeff Hughes of Norman, Oklahoma for his ability to be such an effective advocate at the State and local level, while also effectively advocating at the Federal level and serving on NCIL’s Board of Directors and as Rehab Act Chair.
- Region 7 advocates recognized Bill Cochran of Parsons, Kansas for his leadership and expertise in developing “The Kansas Truth Is” website, which features interviews and an abundance of information on Kansans with disabilities that are forced to wait for services.
- Members of Region 8 chose to honor Bradley Taylor of Greeley, Colorado for his outstanding work helping other people with disabilities in the Denver area get out of nursing homes.
- In Region 9, Denika Boardman was selected by her peers to receive the Advocacy Award for improving the lives of Californians with disabilities through the creation of a local housing coalition and impactful advocacy and education, especially with legislators and the media.
- Rebecca Traylor of Fairbanks, Alaska was chosen to receive the Advocacy Award by the members of Region 10 for her work creating the Wall Busters advocacy group, leadership in preventing and responding to abuse of people with disabilities, and other efforts to make transportation and voting accessible to all Alaskans.
Following the presentation of the Regional Advocacy Awards, Marca Bristo and David Morrissey of the United States International Council on Disabilities (USICD) thanked NCIL for its support of USICD. Marca and David presented Dan Kessler, NCIL President with a beautiful plaque and wall clock for serving as Secretariat to USICD and providing office space over the past three years. NCIL congratulations USICD on their growth and wishes them the best as they settle into their own office space later this summer.
National Advocacy Awards
Next was the presentation of the Diana Vietz Award for an outstanding young advocate. This year’s winner was Allie Cannington of Marin, California. Allie was selected because of her leadership advocating for the disability history curriculum to be included in California schools. Allie was unable to attend, but Eli Gelardin, Director of the Marin Center for Independent Living where Allie interned last summer was on hand to accept the Award on Allie’s behalf. Eli shared that Allie said “That is so freaking cool!” when she found out she was being recognized by NCIL for her advocacy.
Dan Kessler presented NCIL’s 2010 President’s Award to Tim Sheehan, Executive Director of the Center for Independent Living of Western Wisconsin in Menomonie, Wisconsin. In addition to his decades-long commitment to the Movement, Tim was recognized for his advocacy with Representative David Obey, which resulted in 100 million dollars in funding for Centers and SILCs being included in the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.
Lou Ann Kibbee presented the Corey Rowley National Advocacy Award to Connie Garner for her leadership in advocating for people with disabilities while working for Senator Edward Kennedy. Since the Senator’s death, Connie has continued her commitment to people with disabilities with the founding of Advanced CLASS, an organization dedicated to the effective implementation of the CLASS Act, legislation she was instrumental in passing and which gives working people the opportunity to set aside tax deferred income for their own long term care needs.
Lou Ann then surprised Kelly Buckland, NCIL’s Director, with the presentation of a second Corey Rowley National Advocacy Award in his name. Kelly was honored by the Board and Legislative & Advocacy Committee for his outstanding leadership and advocacy during his first year as NCIL’s Executive Director.
Next in the presentations, Dan Kessler introduced this year’s Max Starkloff Lifetime Achievement recipient, John Lancaster. While most of us know John as NCIL’s previous Executive Director, he has spent the past four decades advocating for people with disabilities, not only in the United States, but around the world. In addition to his life-long commitment to people with disabilities, John was recognized for his role in successfully advocating for passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, 20 years ago.
Finally, Dan Kessler introduced the Frank Harkin Memorial Award. Each year, Senator Tom Harkin is gracious enough to join us at the Awards Banquet to present this Award, created in his brother’s honor, to an individual that has shown unyielding dedication to independence, hard work, and advancement of the Independent Living movement. This year, however, the Board thought it would be appropriate, and not a little fun, to present the Award to Senator Tom Harkin himself. After all, what better ally do people with disabilities have in Congress than Senator Harkin! Senator Harkin gave a rousing speech in honor of his brothers and in support of the Independent Living Movement. It was a fantastic closing to a magnificent conference!
During the 2010 Legislative & Advocacy Update, the Chairs of NCIL’s L&A Committee and its various Subcommittees updated attendees on pressing issues affecting Independent Living nationally. Speakers included Lou Ann Kibbee, Chair of the L&A Committee; Shannon Jones, Co-Chair of the Rehabilitation Act Subcommittee; Mark Derry, Chair of the Civil Rights Subcommittee; Julie Alexander, Co-Chair of the Mental Health Civil Rights Taskforce; Diane Rovai, Co-Chair of the Housing Subcommittee; and Bryon McDonald, Chair of the Employment / Social Security Subcommittee. The speakers provided an update on the following legislative initiatives:
Employment
- Reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act
Civil Rights
- The support of Judicial Nomination of Elena Kagan
Healthcare
- Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) (Pub. L. 111 – 148), which Includes Community First Choice Option and CLASS Act
- Ending the Medicare Waiting Period Act (H.R. 1708 and S. 700)
- Competitive Bidding (H.R 3790)
- Community Choice Act (H.R. 1670 and S. 683)
Housing
- Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act (H.R. 1205)
- Frank Melville Supportive housing Investment Act (H.R. 1675 and S. 1481)
- Inclusive Home Design Act (H.R. 1408)
- National Housing Trust Fund
In addition, heavy focus was dedicated to:
- Creation of an Independent Living Administration,
- Reauthorization of the Rehabilitation Act,
- Passage of The Independent Living Centers Technical Adjustment Act (H.R. 5610, which became Public Law No: 111-213) and,
- The Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (H.R. 3101).
Over the past year, NCIL has been working to create an Independent Living Administration (ILA). We are working with Senate staff to include the ILA during reauthorization of the Rehabilitation Act and participating in meetings with the Whitehouse and House staff to build support.
Victories!
Passage of the Independent Living Centers Technical Adjustment Act was achieved as a direct result of NCIL Member activism. With the help of the California advocates who provided detailed fact sheets for NCIL members and legislators, H.R. 5610 was passed and signed in to law on July 29, 2010. This bill fixed a funding error for Part C Centers for Independent Living.
In addition to this victory, the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act passed the House of Representatives on July 26, 2010 and has been sent to the Senate for consideration.
5) March and Rally on Capitol Hill
700 NCIL members marched from the Grand Hyatt to Capitol grounds while chanting and demanding independence for people with disabilities. The 2010 Rally on Capitol Hill honored the 20th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Billy Altom opened the festivities with a rendition of Tom Petty’s “Won’t Back Down”. He was then joined by several youth advocates, who provided the back-up vocals to the song “Lead On,” (lyrics and composition by Justin and IDAR Dart, adapted to the tune of the song “Amen”).
Dan Kessler, NCIL President and master of ceremonies, and introduced the following guest speakers, who energized and excited the crowd, despite the blistering heat.
- Billy Altom, The Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL)
- Senator Amy Klobuchar (Minnesota)
- Representative Ander Crenshaw (Florida)
- Representative Mark Critz (Pennsylvania)
- Representative Jan Schakowsky (Illinois)
- Representative Steve Cohen (Tennesee)
- Representative Michael A. Arcuri (New York)
- Senator Mike Crapo (Idaho)
- Representative John Lewis (Georgia)
- Representative Jim Langevin (Rhode Island)
- Tony Coelho
- Andy Imparato, American Association of People with Disabilities
- Kareem Dale, Special Assistant to the President
Each speaker talked about the significance of the ADA and the need for further gains for Americans with Disabilities.
Representative Crenshaw, who sponsored the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act, spoke about opening the doors to a better quality of life for people with disabilities.
Representative Schakowsky gave a powerful speech. She stressed how proud she is of the ADA, how far we have come as a society, and the need for continued progress.
Representative John Lewis, often called "one of the most courageous persons the Civil Rights Movement ever produced," said that he had been arrested many times fighting for justice, so he understands what we were doing. During his speech, he spoke about what he calls "The Beloved Community" in America.
Representative Jim Langevin became the first person who uses a wheelchair to preside over the House the following week, thanks to a renovated Speaker’s Podium. He spoke about his personal experience as a person with a disability and the effect the ADA has had on his life.
NCIL is thankful to each speaker, who brought their own unique dynamic perspective to the rally and made it a memorable experience.
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August 10, 2010