Independent Living News

On October 3, 2000, disability rights advocates from across the country came together in the Upper Senate Park in Washington, DC. The crowd was estimated at more than seven thousand. They were there to show support for Patricia Garrett and the civil rights for all Americans. The crowd heard Jessie Jackson, Dick Gregory, and Rev. Martin Luther King III speak of the civil rights struggles of the past. They also spoke of mutual understanding, unity and support for the disability rights movement. The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the Americans with Disabilities Act Title II case of Garrett vs. the University of Alabama on October 11, 2000. The Court won't render a decision in the case until the spring of 2001. What follows are the accounts of three consumer advocates. Nakisha Adams, Adam Hay, and Randall Pruitt will share their feelings and impression of the experience. Thanks to the State of Alabama Developmental Disabilities Planning Council for supporting some participants in the March for Justice.

Our Supreme Court
by Adam Hay

In October I had the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C. to attend the March for Justice. Ten days before, on September 22 we had a rally to send the Rolling Freedom Express on it's way. I was one of the speakers. Both events were in support of a case that was heard by the United States Supreme Court on October 11, 2000.

Washington is a very large city and it almost seems unreal when you think about the people who live there and the decisions that are made every day. We learned to use the subway system which is very different from anything that we have back here in Alabama. On Tuesday, October 3, 2000, we rode the subway to Union Station, which is a beautiful and historic building. We then walked to the park behind the Capitol Building. Once we got to the rally site, I was intimidated. I had never seen so many people in one place. There were signs being held up with the names of each state. We found the group from Alabama and proudly stood with the others from our state. It was a wonderful feeling to know that we were all there for one reason, to support the ADA and show the Supreme Court and nation that people with disabilities COUNT.

We saw and heard from many important people during the day. Jessie Jackson and Ted Kennedy, Jr. were among the speakers. Justin Dart, founder of Tupperware of Japan and a wheelchair user, lead the demonstrators as we marched from the park to the Supreme Court Building. No one was allowed to go in or even to stand on the steps of the Court. It seems that if it is OUR Supreme Court , we should have some access to it, but even the interpreters for the hearing impaired couldn't stand on the steps to be seen over the crowd. The police made sure of that.

I felt very proud to be able to stand with my group from Alabama and to make a stand for the support of the ADA. I felt both significant and very, very insignificant because I was only one of thousands. I know each person symbolized all those who could not attend.

My Memories of Washington
by Nakisha Adams

I was one of the lucky consumers who was chosen to travel to Washington for the Freedom March. The Freedom March was timed to coincide with the opening session of the Supreme Court. The Court was scheduled to hear the ADA Title II case of Garrett vs. the University of Alabama. I didn't realize just how important this trip to Washington was until I got there. People from all across America were coming together to show their support for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

On the morning of November 3, 2000, I was blown away by the sight of the thousands of people who had traveled to Washington to show the Court and America how important the ADA was to them. There is a world of difference between reading about and viewing the coverage of a civil rights movement like this, and actually being a part of one. We demonstrated our commitment and our unity on October 3rd in Washington.

I was excited to see and hear Civil Rights leaders like Jessie Jackson and Martin Luther King III joining with disability rights leaders like Justin Dart, Bob Kafka, and Steve Gold.

The thing I will remember most about the trip is participating in an ADAPT Action. Following a display of strength on the steps of the Supreme Court, some of us moved over to Republican National Headquarters. Republican Party leaders had promised to meet with representatives of the disability community to discuss our issues and how the Republicans could address those issues. ADAPT claimed the Republican Party didn't honor that commitment. People in wheelchairs, on walkers, blind and hearing impaired individuals blocked all the doors, including the loading dock. It was like a civil disobedience action of the sixties.

I came back to Birmingham with a new feeling of empowerment. I understand, now, that the ADA was won for us by one generation of advocates; but if we are to maintain the gains they fought for we must be vigilant. We can't be complacent. Our generation can't rest on their laurels. Remember!

A Great Movement
by Randall Pruitt

The thing I will remember most about my trip to Washington is people who felt so strong about their rights that they were willing to go to jail for them! On October 3, 2000, we marched from the Upper Senate Park to the Supreme Court. There was a large delegation of deaf and hearing impaired, many from Gallaudet University in Washington participating in the March. The sign language interpreters were going to stand on the steps of the Court building to be seen over the crowd. The police would not allow them to do that. The interpreters tried to explain the need to be seen over the crowd but the police wouldn't listen. The police told the interpreters if they didn't step down they would arrest them. They didn't move. Almost at the same time, one of the officers brought out a chair from the Court building for the interpreter to stand on. The interpreters were willing to be arrested and go to jail to insure that all the people participating in the demonstration understood all of what was taking place.

My life has been changed. I am a stronger person today that I was on October 2, 2000. I would like to thank everyone who made my trip to Washington possible.

The Olympic Experience
by Elizabeth Ray

There is no possible way I can recapture my wonderful experience at the 2000 Paralympics for you but I will try. The Paralympic Village was cool. There were 4,000 athletes, approximately 3,000 referees and officials, and 4,000 terrific volunteers. There was a huge dinning hall that served 6,000 meals a day, 24 hours a day. The dinning hall had all kinds of food: American, Asian, Italian, Indian, as well as, McDonald's. We had free laundry, a bank, hospital, post office, and stores. The village was very accessible.

The opening ceremonies were exciting. When we emerged from the tunnel into the Stadium, the crowd broke into USA, USA!! There were speeches, dancers, huge balloons, fire works, and a torch lighting ceremony. Schools were let out for the games. Usually all the venues were sold out. The Australians were terrific. They were so happy to have us in their country.

When we went on the bocci court for our matches, it was awesome! There was music as we paraded on court. Our names were announced and posted on large overhead scoreboards. We played hard but we didn't get out of our pool, individually or as a team. It was so disappointing. However, it gave me some time for sightseeing.

The Olympians and the Paralympians were honored in Washington on November 27. They attended a Presidential reception and dinner.

Center Welcomes New Staff Member

We welcome Kumbia Nia Omari who recently joined our staff. Kumbia Nia will assist homeless people with disabilities working toward independence. He is a native of Birmingham and Air Force veteran.

Determined Mother Wins

Wendy Parsons is a mother of three boys. Jason and Collin Parsons are seven year old twins. The twins have cerebral palsy. They experienced a series of strokes at birth or shortly after birth. Their hearing, speech, and mobility were affected. The twins throat muscles are paralyzed and they are tube fed.

The Parsons struggled to keep their sons at home. When the opportunity opened up for him to take early retirement, Mr. Parsons did so to share with Mrs. Parsons the responsibilities for the boys' care. By this time Mrs. Parsons was pregnant with the couple's third son.

Medicaid services for Collin and Jason were cut back several times in the first three years of the boys' lives. Providers were changed three times. When the state made cutbacks, friends intervened to help the couple with the boys' care and Medicaid made an additional cutback.

When the baby was born the responsibilities overwhelmed the couple. Wendy Parsons quickly became exhausted and so did her husband when he attempted to shoulder additional responsibility.

Collin and Jason were reluctantly placed in a pediatric nursing home in Montgomery some 90 miles from Mom, Dad, and their new baby brother. When Wendy Parsons heard about the Olmstead decision, she began searching for information, a search that lead her here to BILC.

Ms. Parsons attended a meeting at Birmingham Independent Living Center with disability advocates to discuss her options. Armed with information about the Olmstead decision, directing states to provide services in the most integrated setting, Ms. Parsons successfully advocated for services in her home for Jason and Collin. Both twins have been home since September.

Wendy Parsons has not given up the battle. She continues to advocate for those families who are fighting to bring their children home, too.

Alabama recently received funding from the Center for Health Care Strategy and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to develop a plan to implement the Olmstead decision. The Supreme Court stated in the Olmstead decision that "unjustified placement or retention of persons in institutions, severely limiting their exposure to the outside community, constitutes a form of discrimination." The Court went on to say that confinement in an institution diminished the everyday life activities of individuals, including family relations, social contacts, work options, economic independence, educational advancement and cultural enrichment.

We wish you the best for the coming New Year!

Major Funding for Birmingham Independent Living Center is provided by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, award number H132A930111-99.

This document is available in alternate formats -- Braille, large print, audio tape, e-mail or diskette -- upon request. Contact Mike Norris at 205-251-2223, ext. 115 or e-mail: minorris@bellsouth.net

The Mission of the Birmingham Independent Living Center is to provide a range of consumer controlled programs and services which empower people with disabilities and promote equality opportunity.