A National Disability Awareness Campaign, Historical Exhibit and Bus Tour

November 15, 2006 to November 15, 2007

Jim Ward
Founder and President
ADA Watch and the National Coalition for Disability Rights (NCDR)

Most Americans remain unaware of the compelling history of the struggle for access, economic opportunity and civil rights leading to the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990. Even fewer know that, as evidenced by current indicators of disproportionately high unemployment, poverty and unnecessary institutionalization, the promise of the ADA remains unfulfilled.

Planned to increase public awareness and build community partnerships, the Road to Freedom is a yearlong, cross-country “bus” journey and multimedia exhibit of disability history, community and technology. In partnership with the National Youth Leadership Forum, youth interns will travel with seasoned professionals from the disability community and private industry to educate America about the history of the disability rights movement leading to the ADA.

Secured assets to date include a fully-accessible 2002 Four Winds Infinity and a 2006 Fleetwood Discovery 39V; full-vehicle vinyl wraps with design by Dircks Associates; coordinated website design and infrastructure; RoadToFreedom.org URL; coordinated campaign logo, graphics, marketing materials; Road To Freedom Exhibit and artifacts; office infrastructure and support staff; salaried road crew; regional and state coordinators; and more.

Central to the exhibit is the work of Tom Olin, whose photographic history of the disability rights movement has been exhibited at the Smithsonian. In partnership with the Assistive Technology Industry Association, the exhibit will include demonstrations of the technological advances that allow more and more Americans to access educational and economic opportunities. Educational forums and presentations will be featured in more than 70 “bus” stops at schools, malls, businesses, sporting and cultural events and more in every state.

The National Coalition for Disability Rights (NCDR) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit alliance of hundreds of disability, civil rights and social justice organization united to promote educational and economic opportunity for children and adults with physical, mental, cognitive and developmental disabilities. Our projects include ADA Watch, Wired On Wheels and The Disability Rights Concert. Our coalition partners include the National Organization on Disability, ADAPT, National Council on Independent Living, United Cerebral Palsy, Easter Seals, National Spinal Cord Injury Association, Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation, Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, National Disability Rights Network and many others.

Contact:

The Road to Freedom Tour
Attention: Jim Ward, NCDR
1201 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 300
Washington, DC 20004
(202) 415-4753

Road Tour Schedule

November 15, 2006 - November 15, 2007

2006:

Washington, DC Nov. 15

Baltimore, Maryland Nov. 16
National Association for Rights Protection and Advocacy Conference

Annapolis, Maryland Nov. 17

Philadelphia, PA Nov. 18 - 19
World Congress and Disability Expo

Trenton, New Jersey Nov. 20 - 21

Dover, Delaware Nov. 27 - 28

Richmond, Virginia Nov. 30 - Dec. 2

Raleigh, North Carolina Dec. 5 - 7

Columbia, So. Carolina Dec. 10 - 12

Atlanta, Georgia Dec. 15 - 18

2007:

Montgomery, Alabama Jan. 7 - 9

New Orleans, Louisiana Jan. 12 - 15
SILC - Independent Living Congress

Baton Rouge, Louisiana Jan. 16 - 18

Tallahassee, Florida Jan. 20 - 23

Orlando, Florida Jan. 24 - 27
ATIA Conference - Assistive Technology Industry Association

Orlando, Florida Jan. 28 - 30

Jackson, Mississippi Feb. 1 - 5

Little Rock, Arkansas Feb. 7 - 9

Oklahoma City, Ok. Feb. 18 - 20

Dallas, Texas Feb. 22 - March 1

Austin, Texas

Houston, Texas

Santa Fe, New Mexico March 7 - 10

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Phoenix, Arizona March 17 - 21

Las Vegas, NV March 31 - April 1

San Diego, California April 2 - 4

Los Angeles, California April 6 - 9

S.F. Bay Area, CA April 16 - 18

Sacramento, California April 19 - 21

Honolulu, Hawaii April 23 - 24

Carson City, Nevada May 1 - 2

Eugene, Oregon May 8 - 12

Salem, Oregon

Portland, Oregon

Olympia, Washington May 15 - 18

Seattle, Washington

Boise, Idaho May 24 - 25

Salt Lake City, Utah May 30 - June 1

Grand Junction, Colorado June 3 - 6

Denver, Colorado

Cheyenne, Wyoming June 14 - 16

Missoula, Montana June 27 - 29

Helena, Montana

Mount Rushmore July 4
Independence Day

Pierre, Montana July 6 - 7

Bismarck, North Dakota July 9 - 10

St. Paul, Minnesota July 12 - 14

Madison, Wisconsin July 16 -18

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Chicago, Illinois July 21
Disability Pride Parade

Chicago, Illinois July 22 - 26

Springfield, Illinois
ADA Anniversary Celebrations

Jackson City, Missouri July 28 - 30

Topeka, Kansas August 1 - 3

Lincoln, Nebraska August 5 - 7

Des Moines, Iowa August 9 - 11

Lansing, Michigan August 13 - 15

Detroit, Michigan

Juno, Alaska August 20 - 22

Buffalo, New York August 31

Niagara Falls, New York

Rochester, New York September 4

Albany, New York September 5 - 6

Burlington, Vermont September 13

Montpelier, Vermont September 14

Augusta, Maine September 27 - 29

Portland, Maine

Concord, NH October 2 - 4

Boston, Massachusetts October 6 - 8

Providence, RI October 11 - 12

Hartford, CT October 14 - 16

Cleveland, Ohio October 19 - 21

Toledo, Ohio

Columbus, Ohio

Indianapolis, Indiana Oct. 23 - 24

Frankfort, Kentucky October 26

Nashville, TN Oct. 21 - Nov.1

Charleston, West Virginia Nov. 3 - 4

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Nov. 6 - 9

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

New York, New York Nov. 12 - 13

Washington, DC November 15