The program began with facilitators Anne and Jeremy talking about Activism.
- Activism is putting our ideas and analysis into practice.
- Activism is: standing up for justice, asking for change, another world is possible!, practicing what you preach
- When we talk about oppression we are talking about a larger systemic problem and not individuals
- All oppression is connected (racism, sexism, homophobia, classism, ableism, etc)
- People with disabilities are often forced to self-advocate. For example, to report ADA violations, you must have a disability or file a complaint on behalf of a specific individual with a disability. This system is set-up to make it difficult to enforce change and makes it hard to be an ally.
- Activism works! MARTA and para-transit activism was citied as a local success story.
At this point, the floor was opened to people representing specific organizations to tell us a brief synopsis of the work they do:
Concrete Change:
To get involved contact: Eleanor Smith at Concrete Change
404-378-7455
concretechange@mindspring.com
www.concretechange.org
- Does work around housing accessibility
- Works to have zero steps, 32” clear doorways and large bathrooms in homes
- Works with architects and in legislature to ensure housing accessibility
- Also working with the Beltline project to ensure new homes built are accessible
Interfaith Disability Connection:
www.interfaithdisability.org
- Works with clergy and congregations
- Give people with disabilities resources to connect them with communities of faith
Georgia Council of the Blind (A chapter of the American Council of the Blind)
850 Dogwood Road
Suite A-400-604
Lawrenceville, GA 30044-7218
1 (877)-667-6815
www.georgiacounciloftheblind.org
- Locally: Currently working to pass a bill in the state legislature to set-up a commission on the blind under the governor’s office
- On a national level, the American Council of the Blind is doing work around accessible currency and accessible money. They are also doing work around affordability and training for technology that serves people in the blind community. (National website: http://acb.org)
Georgians for Choice
P.O. Box 8551
Atlanta, GA 31106
(404) 532-0022
gfchoice@mindspring.com
www.georgiansforchoice.org
- Doing work around disability and reproductive justice. This includes forced sterilization and genetic and reproductive technologies
Deaf/Blind Community
- Working with the Department of Labor’s Vocational Rehab program
- The government often ignores the needs of the deaf/blind community
- Help bring awareness
MARTA Accessibility
For many people with disabilities, MARTA is their primary means of mobility, and thus, independence. It is imperative that MARTA be accessible. Despite their claims, MARTA
currently is not fully accessible.
The next MARTA EDAAC (Elderly and Disabled Access Advisory Committee) meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 11, from 9:30-11:00 am, at the MARTA annex building at Lindbergh station. There is time at the end of these meetings for people to voice their concerns, complaints, and commendations about MARTA. EDAAC provides MARTA with suggestions and advice that is used to improve MARTA's delivery of services to seniors and people with disabilities. Contact Al Kaufman at the Center for the Visually Impaired at 404-602-4316 if you have any questions.
For more information on MARTA's accessibility, go here:
http://www.itsmarta.com/accessibility/index.htm
Disability Arts Community
- Spencer Dance and Full Radius Dance (www.fullradiusdance.org) do dance classes and performances
- Alternate ROOTS does art activism (www.alternateroots.org)
We then as a large group, discussed the future of these types of programs at Charis and asked for people to help create a list of programs they would like to see happen.
What’s Next?
The following disability-specific programs have already been scheduled at Charis:
Disability Resources for Breast Cancer Awareness Thursday October 11, 2007 from 7:30-9:00pm at Charis Books and More
Did you know that there are wheelchair accessible mammogram locations in the Atlanta-Metro area? Did you know that Medicare and Medicaid can pay for a mammogram screening? Did you know that October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month? The Disability Resource Group of Atlanta is doing educational outreach to people with disabilities on breast cancer. This effort will include informational sessions that are fun and interactive to help educate people with disabilities about the importance of breast cancer awareness. This presentation will include exciting door prizes, gifts, and information packets. If you have questions about this program, please contact Empish Thomas at 770-981-3673 or e-mail empish@bellsouth.net.
DisAbling the Revolution: Everyday Activism Thursday November 29th, 2007 from 7:30-9:00pm at Charis Books and More
As a group, we also created this list of potential future programs:
- Disability, Race and Culture
- Disability and Immigration
- Disability and Poverty
- Careers and Vocational Rehab
- Disability and Domestic Violence
- Disability and Relationships
- Disability and Sex
- Breaking through to the progressive community
- Religion and Disability
- Advocacy in Education, Special Education
- Invisible Disabilities (i.e. Autism)
Want to get involved? Do you have lots of knowledge about this or another area and want to present a program or be involved with presenting a program? Please get in touch! We would love to have you work with us! |