International Dignitary, National and State Activists Slated for 10th Annual Disability Day at the Capitol
International Dignitary, National and State Activists Slated for 10th Annual Disability Day at the Capitol
Nearly 2,000 Georgians Will Rally to Show Legislators “My Vote is for Real”
ATLANTA, GA (Feb. 13, 2008) – Organizers will welcome a world-renowned disability advocate and international humanitarian, a national voting rights activist, state legislators, nearly 2,000 Georgia advocates, and even an independent film star to the 10th Annual Disability Day Rally February 21st at 11am on the Capitol Steps (Washington Street side). Sponsored by the Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD), Disability Day is the largest one day gathering held annually at the State Capitol during the legislative session to heighten public awareness of issues specific to people with disabilities.
Ambassador Luis Benigno Gallegos Chiriboga from Ecuador will deliver the keynote address. He has been honored across the globe, from Ecuador to New York, for his advocacy on behalf of persons with disabilities. He has chaired United Nations committees working for disability rights and, in 1995, received the Franklin Delano Roosevelt International Disability Award on behalf of Ecuador. In 2007, Ambassador Gallegos was awarded the American Association of People with Disabilities’ Justice for All Award.
“I think we have a joint vision between all of us who work in this field,” Ambassador Gallegos said. “We have to have a social change. Our societies must change in order to integrate people with disabilities into the mainstream of societies and make them active participants.”
Jim Dickson, vice president of government affairs for the Washington-based American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) will provide closing remarks and a special call for people with disabilities to get out and vote. Mr. Dickson and others will be on hand throughout the rally, encouraging those in attendance on February 21st to register to vote.
“With events like Disability Day, the Georgia Disability Vote Project is organizing a voting block that will finally get our issues front and center before Peach State policy makers,” Dickson said.
In 1987, Dickson became the first blind person to sail a boat alone from Rhode Island to Bermuda. He has organized grassroots, multi-issue organizations nationwide and his efforts helped pass the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) initiative.
The Rally, led by GCDD Chair Tom Seegmueller and Executive Director Eric E. Jacobson, is sponsored by GCDD with support from a host of national and state advocacy groups and features many activities throughout the day, including:
- voter registration at tables
- sign making by school children
- banner signing – on display for signing at the Georgia Freight Depot, the banner will be replicated as a giant post card and distributed later to legislators
- recognition of those with disabilities who have passed on (by Imam Furqan Muhammad, Disability Interfaith Connection Board of Directors)
- special announcement/recognition of the 2008 Georgia Self-Advocate of the Year
- a Korean unity chant (led by Reverend Jae Huy Choi and Sharon Chong representing the Atlanta Wheat Mission and symbolizing a new day of people of all diverse backgrounds joining together for a positive purpose)
- “My Vote is for Real” chant (led by Athens native, Darius Weems, star of the acclaimed independent film documentary, Darius Goes West, about 11 college age friends who embark on a 7,000 mile road trip, testing wheelchair accessibility across the country. The adventure, which began with his desire to travel to Los Angeles to trick out his wheelchair on MTV’s “Pimp My Ride,” marked the first time Darius had ever ventured out of his home town. In a wheelchair-accessible RV, the group of friends travelled across America, celebrating the 15th anniversary of the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) and raising awareness of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). Darius has been profiled on The Today Show, the Ellen DeGeneres Show, and in the LA Times and Atlanta Journal-Constitution.)
The day begins with a 9:30 a.m. breakfast at the Freight Depot where advocates from across Georgia will convene to network and prepare for the 11 a.m. “My Vote is for Real” rally on the Capitol steps to be followed by a 12:30 p.m. lunch at the Freight Depot with legislators from both sides of the aisle.
“This day of celebration, promoting community, diversity and disability rights has grown substantially over the last 10 years,” GCDD Chair Tom Seegmueller said. “This is proof that our goals are incredibly urgent, since disability affects one in every five Georgians.”
Among GCDD’s list of public policy priorities are the Unlock the Waiting Lists! Campaign calling for funding of community based services for nearly 7,000 persons on waiting lists for vital supports and Money Follows the Person (MFP) seeks to allow people to leave state and private institutions and nursing homes to move into the community with the necessary services.
“On Disability Day legislators have the opportunity to hear real stories from their constituents about how these issues affect them. ‘My Vote is for Real’ connects our election year activities to decisive action on behalf of persons with developmental disabilities. The Rally’s get-out-and-vote activities will support this goal,” Eric Jacobson, GCDD Executive Director, said.
A Developmental Disability is a severe, chronic mental and/or physical disability that occurs before age 22 and is expected to last a lifetime. It limits a person in three or more of the following life activities: self-care, language, learning, mobility, self-direction, independent living and economic self-sufficiency.
GCDD is a federally-funded state agency charged with creating systems for change for people with developmental disabilities and their families, with a goal to increase independence, inclusion, integration, self-determination and productivity through activities such as public policy research and analysis, project demonstrations, advocacy and public information.
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