Making an Impact with Activism and Advocacy
Presented on February 26, 2020
With a disability of any sort, personal advocacy (getting the care, equipment, etc. that you need) is part and parcel of your daily life. Making the jump from self-advocacy to public, wide-reaching activism can seem like a daunting task. Join us for a panel discussion with local activists who found issues in the world to address and then found ways to pursue them: Kenny Salvini shares his experience with the Air Carrier Access Amendments Act, Conrad Reynoldson discusses championing curb cuts in Seattle, and Bruce Hanson covers his and Kate Willette’s work securing funding in the Washington State budget for SCI research. Hear firsthand about how they got started with an issue, dealt with obstacles, and ultimately succeeded in making an impact in the world. They will also offer ideas, advice, and their experience on how anyone can get involved in making change happen
Presentation time: 65 minutes. After watching, please complete our two-minute survey!
View this video on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4l7-62GQ-rE
Information discussed during this panel:
- Request a curb ramp cut in Seattle at https://www.seattle.gov/transportation/permits-and-services/make-an-ada-request/request-a-curb-ramp.
- Don’t Call It a Miracle: The Movement to Cure Spinal Cord Injury by Kate Willette – book available for free PDF download through the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation.
- Listen to SCI Forum podcast Being a Research Subject: Follow-Up on Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation, featuring Dr. Chet Moritz and Jon Schlueter.
Local, State, and National Activism Organizations:
- Disability Rights Washington (www.disabilityrightswa.org)
A private non-profit organization that protects the rights of people with disabilities statewide. Sub-organizations include:
- Alliance to End Sexual Violence in Long Term Care
- AVID (Amplifying Voices of Inmates with Disabilities)
- Office of Developmental Disabilities Ombuds (www.ddombuds.org)
- Community Inclusion & Services Program
- Public Policy Research, Analysis, & Education
- Rights Investigation & Accountability
- Rooted in Rights (www.rootedinrights.org)
- Treatment Facilities Program
- Alliance of People with disAbilities (www.disabilitypride.org)
The Independent Living Center for King County, Washington State. The Alliance provides a variety of services to any person in the community who has any disability. - Unite2Fight Paralysis (www.u2fp.org)
Unites and empowers the international spinal cord injury community to cure paralysis through advocacy, education, and support for research. Hosts of the annual Working 2 Walk Science & Advocacy Symposium. - United Spinal Association (www.unitedspinal.org/action-center)
A national nonprofit membership organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life of all people living with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D). Parent organization of VetsFirst (www.vetsfirst.org) - ADAPT (www.adapt.org)
A national grass-roots community that organizes disability rights activists to engage in nonviolent direct action, including civil disobedience, to assure the civil rights of people with disabilities to live in freedom. - Paralyzed Veterans of America (www.pva.org/research-resources/disability-rights-advocacy)
A congressionally chartered veterans service organization, which advocates for quality health care for paralyzed veterans, research and education, benefits available as a result of military service, and civil rights and opportunities that maximize the independence of paralyzed members. - International Disability Alliance (www.internationaldisabilityalliance.org)
An Alliance of 14 global and regional organizations of persons with disabilities, who advocate at the United Nations for a more inclusive global environment. Works to promote the rights of persons with disabilities across the United Nations' efforts to advance human rights and sustainable development.