AAPD’s ADA Day Event
American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) was founded on the fifth anniversary of the ADA. It promotes public policies that advance the goals of the ADA: equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency. Each year, AAPD sponsors an event to commemorate the ADA anniversary, at which it presents Justice for All Awards as a way of recognizing individuals who have proven to be extraordinary champions of political and economic empowerment for people with disabilities.
At Tuesdays event, AAPD presented Justice for All Awards to Congressional champions of disability rights, Representatives Danny Davis and Jim Ramstad; Corey Rowley, Pennsylvania SILC Executive Director; Bob Kafka, ADAPT National Organizer; and The Honorable Rick Lazio, Executive Vice President of JPMorgan Chase & Co. and a former member of congress all received JFA Awards. Additionally this year, AAPD also presented a Thomas Paine Award to MIT Professor Ted Selker.
Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI), who also has a disability, was there, as well as several other lawmakers. Rep Major Owens (D-NY) spoke. Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) presented the JFA award to Bob Kafka, who recalled some memorable ADAPT actions, and spoke of the importance and the need for disability activists to have and to utilize a sense of anger that they could then channel into positive action. Bob recognized the work of ADAPT members such as myself, Irene Norwood, who has passed away, and Bobby Coward. Other luminaries in the disability community such as Yoshiko Dart, the widow of Justin Dart, I. King Jordan, president of Gallaudet University, Doris Ray, of NCNV, The Honorable Judy Heumann, Margaret Gianini, of the Department of Health and Human Services, Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI), and his wife, AAPD Board Member, Cheryl Sensenbrenner were also present.
Rep. Davis and I have a friend in common, Dennis Schreiber. Davis never fails to mention him in any of public speeches about the need for in-home services for people with disabilities. I took the opportunity to personally speak to Rep. Davis, who recognized me from the old days when I worked with Dennis, and he was a local activist. I got a big hug from him, and a message of regards to Dennis.
I enjoyed myself at the event, and was proud and honored that an ADAPT member was among the awardees. I got to see some old friends, do some networking, and hobnob with some famous folks. It was cool!