By Valerie Brew-Parrish

Disabled and Proud 2006. This was the theme of the third annual Disability Pride Parade which occurred on Saturday, July 22 in downtown Chicago.

The Grand Marshal was Robert David Hall, better known as Dr. Albert Robbins from the hit TV series CSI. Although Hall is a great actor, too few people are aware of his commitment to the disability rights movement.

In 1978, an 18-wheel truck smashed into Hall's vehicle causing his gas tank to explode. He was severely burned and had to have both of his legs amputated. Hall's involvement with disability organizations is very impressive. In 1998 he was presented the Harold Russell Award from the Media Access Office. This award is bestowed upon an actor who serves as a positive role model to other actors with disabilities.

Sarah Triano founded the Disability Pride Parade three years ago. As the Pride Parade proclaims on their web site, (www.disabilityprideparade.com) "We are not a society that can afford to throw away any person. Life and the many ways in which we live it is a prideful and precious thing. Not only do we as disabled people need to celebrate ourselves, our fellow citizens need to recognize the many ways in which we add to the world. Disability Pride is knowing that everything we are is something in which to take pride."

Celebrating our disabilities is truly a novel idea considering how society has always devalued and ostracized those of us with disabilities. Recently, I was aghast to read of an incident that occurred five years ago at Arizona State University. The director of the program for students with disabilities uses a ventilator and was attending a musician's performance. A person in the audience stood up, pointed a finger at her and shouted, "You should not be allowed in this theater!" Apparently, the ventilator was too noisy. Solutions to this problem included providing access to the mechanical room at the back of the auditorium so the vent user could view the performance on a small screen and listen through speakers. What a solution!

Segregation is strictly forbidden by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Many vent users are so ashamed of the noise from their vents they opt not to attend events. They are not Disabled and Proud.

Itzhak Perlman, the world's greatest violinist, and a polio survivor invited a group of students and staff with disabilities from Arizona State University to sit on the stage with him while he performed. The sounds of the vent didn't bother him at all. Itzhak is Disabled and Proud.

As the many people with disabilities trotted their way to Daley Plaza on this picturesque day in the Windy City, there was a great feeling of solidarity and camaraderie. Daley Plaza had a wide variety of booths loaded with disability information, T-shirts, videos, etc.

Robert David Hall wore a blue shirt that proclaimed that he was Disabled and Proud. His speech was humble and inspiring. Hall spoke about the roles often offered to actors with disabilities such as the stereotypical disgruntled gimp with a chip on their shoulder. He said his character on CSI just goes about doing his job as a pathologist. The disability is not the main focus of his Dr. Robbins character.

Next year the Disability Pride Parade will be held on July 21, 2007. Every person with a disability, every Center for Independent Living, and every chapter of CCDI should make a valiant effort to support and attend this wonderful event. Perhaps grants could be written or philanthropic organizations could be contacted throughout Illinois to help off-set the cost of accessible transportation to the parade. Those of us with disabilities need to shed the mantle of shame and replace it by celebrating being Disabled and Proud!

Valerie Brew-Parrish is a polio survivor & long time advocate. Contact her at: Val4info@comcast.net

CCDI's legal counsel has prepared the following open letter to our membership as a response to recent concerns that have arisen over personnel issues at the state office.

August 24, 2006

Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities in Illinois
300 East Monroe Street, Suite 100
Springfield, IL 62701

Re: Recent Actions by Board of Directors Concerning Personnel Matters

Dear Coalition Members:

I am writing in response to questions and accusations that have arisen concerning the recent personnel actions by the Board of the Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities. As many of you are aware, I have served as legal counsel to the Coalition for the last three years and have advised the Coalition on many issues that have arisen during that time. As the legal counsel to the Coalition, I feel the need to respond in defense of the Board's actions concerning the handling of certain personnel matters and the circumstances surrounding those matters and assure the membership that these difficult matters were handled properly.

There have been concerns expressed about the Special Board Meeting that was called on March 20, 2006, at the CCDI state offices at 300 East Monroe, Springfield, Illinois. I was in attendance at that meeting and witnessed the activities of both the Board and the members. The meeting was held for the specific purpose of discussing a personnel matter. There were several members who sought and were granted attendance to this meeting. The room in which the meeting occurred was configured to accommodate all individual members that wished to attend; and at the stated meeting time, all members seeking admission were admitted to the room. There was sufficient room for everyone, and everyone who was there at that time and wished to attend did in fact enter into the room. The meeting was called to order. A motion was made for the Board to go into closed session, which is the appropriate and in fact legally required place to discuss personnel matters, and the members who were not on the Board were then asked to leave the room. The meeting was held in a place that was accessible, and reasonable accommodations for all persons were made.

When the closed session of the meeting was concluded, the meeting was reopened to members but no members remained. Thereafter, the meeting was appropriately adjourned. While there were a number of members who were at this meeting, all were appropriately accommodated.

As you all may be aware, personnel matters within the context of an association such as the Coalition must be handled in the strictest of confidence. It is required that the sessions concerning personnel matters be held by the Board in closed session. Board members involved in these closed sessions or who learn the details of these sessions in their official capacity are bound to keep them confidential. This confidentiality requirement does not, however, bind members of the Board that are not privy to confidential information or any employee in question. At the direction of President Pinkley, I informed the Executive Board specifically of their obligation to keep the personnel information learned in Executive Session strictly confidential and then later in the closed session with the full Board counseled them similarly. It is my understanding, based upon reasonable investigation, that any confidential information concerning the Executive Committee Sessions or Board Sessions where personnel matters were discussed originated not from the Board members involved but from outside sources. I am reasonably confident that no breach of confidentiality concerning personnel issues occurred.

The issues concerning the change of Executive Director and the personnel decisions that have occurred prior to that change have been challenging to all parties involved. No one took such a decision lightly. While the Board wishes it could respond to all of the various allegations and fully discuss in a public forum its decisions and the reasons for its decisions, this simply is not legally permissible. While an employee is able to discuss his or her employment status and all circumstances surrounding it, truthfully or otherwise, an employer such as the Coalition and its Board simply cannot discuss these matters without breaching that employee's right to confidentiality. Thus, an employer must simply sit back and take it when an employee chooses to discuss or distort details concerning his or her employment status or termination thereof.

Based on my knowledge of everything that has happened in the Coalition concerning all recent personnel matters, the Coalition Board and its President, Fern Pinkley, have in all respects fulfilled both their fiduciary and legal duty obligation to the organization. While all of the members may not agree with the results and some have vehemently voiced their opinions, I can assure you that the process was conducted properly.

Sincerely,
Michael G. Horstman Jr.



The Campaign for Real Choice in Illinois headed up a sea of yellow shirted disability rights advocates at Governor's Day and Republican Day (August 16-17, 2006) during the Illinois State Fair. This publication contains a variety of stories and information on Freedom Days!

By Ann Ford, Illinois Network of Centers for Independent Living Executive Director

During the State Fair in Springfield, INCIL, CCDI, IATP and other organizations participated in an effort spearheaded by the Campaign for Real Choice in Illinois to have a visible disability presence at the rallies of both the Democratic and Republican parties. We had a good turn-out - about 100 each day. Wearing bright gold t-shirts we looked like a huge crowd.

I was proud that we had such a strong showing. But I was profoundly disappointed by the behavior of both parties, and the obvious fact that while they talk about their "big tents" and how inclusive they are, neither has room for us. It occurred to me that we are not even a blip on their radar screen, even when we're right in front of them.

I tell you this to lead into my answer to the questions above. The people whose attention we were trying to get at these rallies are the people who make the laws and establish the policies that impact our lives. Whether our own personal concerns are specifically disability related or broader in nature, these are the people we need to be able to communicate with. And they overlook us completely. Why? Because their primary concern is getting elected. They don't see us as voters. They don't see us as potential supporters who might also share our thoughts with colleagues, friends and family and encourage them to vote for our candidates.

This needs to change, and that change needs to start with you. Are you registered to vote? Is your registration current - correct name and address? If not, you can't vote. If you're not registered, or if your registration is not current, contact your Center for Independent Living. They can get you registered and ready.

Once you're registered, get familiar with the candidates. In Illinois we'll be electing a governor, lieutenant governor, all constitutional officers, some state senators, all state representatives and all Illinois members of Congress. For the ones you are interested in, you can get information on their positions from their campaign offices. Get an idea what they stand for and what their positions are on issues important to you. They are asking to represent you - they should tell you why.

You and you alone should choose who you want to vote for. Your choice should be guided by information you get about the candidates.

Our visibility at the polls will create an image of us as true participants in our democracy. It will help those who want our votes understand that we are part of their constituency, and they need to pay attention to our issues as well as others.

You are only one person, but you are a very important one. You can start the ball rolling. Register now. Get all your friends to register. And on November 7, go out and vote. It's your right and most certainly it's your responsibility.



By Campaign for Real Choice Founder Lester Pritchard

The State Fair experience both inspired and dismayed me at the same time. It was the first time in Illinois I’ve ever seen large numbers of folks with disabilities in front of politicians as a group. It was like we were coming out of the shadows. However, the politicians appeared not to know what to do with us or how to react. John Shimkus, a federal Representative, was the only public official who recognized us on the stage in an appropriate way. Topinka mentioned us from the stage, but referred to the issue of Medicaid reimbursements as if that was our only issue. The Democrats did not recognize us from the stage at all.

I came away thinking that we need to do things like this again and again, communicating to public officials as a group until they realize that we are fundamentally no different than others. We also need to teach them what our issues are. We need to keep coming out of the shadows.

I am incredibly grateful and impressed with the folks at the Centers for Independent Living across the state of Illinois, especially Pete Roberts and Ann Ford in Springfield. They all pitched in and did what needed to be done to pull off this successful event.



By Michael Meiselman, CCDI Lifetime Member

It was hot and uncomfortable. Nearly a hundred disability rights activists were surrounded by thousands of Democrats - it was Democrat day at the Illinois State Fair. We were wearing bright yellow t-shirts. The Democrats wore blue. We arrived two hours before the program was to start to ensure front row seats. We went to provide witness of our commitment to see our brothers and sisters freed from the yoke of state operated institutions. The Democrats were there for a photo opportunity for the upcoming campaign. As the buses carrying the party faithful arrived, more blue shirts surrounded us. Individuals carrying signs snaked into our midst. We moved our chairs, blankets and support dogs closer.

One hundred or so young African American people were led to fill the gap between the stage and us. If we were going to be able to keep our ground and make our statement, we were going to have to fight. Union leaders and party functionaries gave their marching orders to their troops: Occupy the area in front of the stage so the photographs would show a wall of support for the leaders of the Democratic Party. Slowly, our resistance began. Shoulders moved together, powerchairs inched forward. The stronger we became the weaker and more uncertain they became. Their leaders caucused while the yellow shirts became bolder in defending our rights and turf. We cheered as one of our own loudly lectured the blue shirts saying we weren't going to allow our issues to disappear.

The blue shirts started leaving. We could hardly believe it. Save for a few they were leaving the areas they had once infiltrated! One of the blue shirted leaders even asked if he could wear our yellow shirt. It was a rout! We looked at each other with pride. Those with arms high-fived each other!

Most of us rarely enjoy the power and purpose that we felt. We won. Our leaders, as good as they are didn't negotiate this victory. We didn't win in court. We won as a result of a ragtag action army.

The next day was Republican Day. We still had our yellow shirts - they had sport shirts and golf pants. Again, we showed up two hours early to take our position at the front of the stage. However, they would not let us in. Admission was by ticket only. We lined up in front of the entrance. They learned their lesson from the day before and soon we were welcomed guests enjoying front row access. In addition the Republican leadership agreed to meet with our leaders to discuss the issues.

It's a couple of days later, and I know a lot of us are still smiling. We are thinking of the young and powerful blue shirts complaining about being grabbed, yelled at (often in a language they couldn't understand) and being nudged by wheelchairs. We are thinking how our yellow shirt's held onto our turf! We are thinking of how fast the politicians caved to our moral authority.

This is the glory of building movements. To savor the victories together, however small, that come from the passion, action and the unity of individuals.



Jesse White's Secretary of State PoliceConduct Disability Parking Enforcement at the Illinois State Fair

Illinois Secretary of State police conducted compliance checkpoints during the Illinois State Fair in an effort to crackdown on the misuse and abuse of disability placards and license plates. The checkpoints were located throughout the fairgrounds and a total of six citations were issued. Recent enforcement details conducted by the Secretary of State police department and other police agencies indicate that many people still consider it worth the risk to abuse the laws reserving parking spaces for persons with disabilities or use a placard or disability plate without the authorized holder present.

Secretary of State Jesse White has initiated reforms to the Parking Program for Persons with Disabilities including creating placards featuring information that allows law enforcement to easily identify the cardholder.

In addition, Illinois became the first state to begin using hologram imaging on placards in an effort to reduce abuse.

Under the current law, initiated by White, which became effective January 1, 2006:

• Vehicles not displaying either a disability license plate or disabled veteran plate, or a placard parked in spaces reserved for persons with disabilities, receive a minimum fine of $250. The maximum fine is $350.
• Vehicles displaying a disability license plate, disabled veteran plate or placard that park in a disability parking space without the authorized holder present will face a $500 fine. In addition, the Secretary of State can suspend or revoke the driver's license of the driver and the license plates or placard.

While few citations were issued during the State Fair, Secretary of State police accessible parking detail, the presence of law enforcement sends a clear message to potential offenders. CCDI applauds the Secretary of State's dedication to enforcing accessible parking laws in Illinois.

It is against the law to use a placard or disability license plates without the authorized holder present, or to alter or create a fraudulent placard. For more information about the Parking Program for Persons with Disabilities, visit http:// www.Cyber DriveIllinois.com .