Christopher Reeve Calls on America's Mayors to Join Effort to Expand Participation of Citizens With Disabilities

11/21/2002

From: Brewster Thackeray of the National Organization on Disability, 202-293-5960, Thackeray@nod.org

WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 -- National Organization on Disability (N.O.D.) Vice Chairman Christopher Reeve is calling on America's mayors to assimilate the roughly one-fifth of their population that have disabilities more fully into community life by joining N.O.D.'s Community Partnership Program. "It is in the communities of America that men, women and children who have disabilities seek basic life opportunities," Reeve says. "When communities are fully accessible and welcoming to those of us with disabilities, we -- and all of America -- gain culturally, socially, and economically.

"Mayors who enlist their towns and cities in the National Organization on Disability's Community Partnership Program send a strong message of inclusion and welcome to their citizens and visitors with disabilities," Reeve continued. In a recent letter to mayors nationwide, he emphasized how the entire community benefits when citizens with disabilities are welcome and involved.

Reeve also urged America's mayors to enter their communities in the second annual $25,000 "Accessible America 2002" award competition, open to all U.S. cities and towns, and sponsored by the UPS Foundation. Communities that enter will detail their efforts to integrate and include citizens with disabilities. Venice, Fla. won last year's contest, in which more than 60 communities submitted entries. To enter the competition, a community submits a statement signed by its mayor describing how the locale provides opportunities for people with disabilities to participate fully in community life. Entries must be postmarked by December 31.

Community Partnership Program member communities receive guidance, complimentary copies of N.O.D. research reports and publications, legislative updates, alerts and bulletins on disability issues, and tips for working with constituents with disabilities. The program shares information about and promotes replication of "best practices" and model local disability programs through its growing network of towns, cities and counties committed to mainstreaming people with disabilities. This ties in to such N.O.D. agenda items as employment, emergency preparedness, and voting rights, all of which are experienced on the local level. N.O.D. works to increase the participation and contribution of America's 54 million citizens with varied disabilities in all aspects of life.

A 2000 N.O.D./Harris Poll survey found 40 percent of people with severe disabilities are not at all involved in their communities, nor are 29 percent of those with less severe disabilities, compared to just 21 percent who have no disabilities.

To learn more about the Accessible America Competition and Community Partnership Program membership, visit http://www.nod.org, or call Program Director Nancy Starnes, 202-293-5960.

The National Organization on Disability, celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2002, promotes the full and equal participation and contribution of America's 54 million men, women and children with disabilities in all aspects of life. N.O.D. is funded entirely by private donations. Contact N.O.D. at 202/293-5960; TDD: 202-293-5968; or visit http://www.nod.org.