ACT Memo

As you requested, this is your ACT Self-Advocacy Resource Network Memo facilitating a national dialogue among self-advocates and supporters and a clearinghouse for materials and training that support self-advocacy.

September 10, 2008

Even Barriers Make Us Stronger

The Bemidji (MN) post office has a problem. The front door is not ADA compliant. Last summer, a group went to the postmaster to talk about this problem. They believed they had a solution: an automatic door! Problem solved.

But wait: A new postmaster arrived. He did not have the installation of an automatic door in the budget. Back to square one. Same problem, same group—but wiser now. We bet they’ll win.

We have a right to access public places. Let’s use it.

1.	A Tool to Help Us
2.	Group Activity
3.	Resource


1.	A Tool to Help Us
	Access to public places and public services is a right. Thanks to disability laws, we have a powerful tool to make sure we get that access. The tool is called a “temporary restraining order” (TRO). Here’s how it works. Any program with public funding must provide access to a person with a disability. If it doesn’t, you can shut down that service or building with a TRO until they provide access. Now that’s what you call leverage.

2.	Group Activity
	Make a list of public buildings (or publicly funded services) in your town. Talk about how they are accessible—or not—to people with disabilities.

3.	Resource
	Know Your Rights Learn about the major US laws that protect disability rights with this self-led workshop.

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Today’s Trivia Question:

Which of the following is NOT one of the goals of the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (a bill now before the US Senate)?

a.	Reject Supreme Court actions that have weakened the protections for people with disabilities under the ADA.
b.	Make sure “disability” is construed broadly to cover anyone who is discriminated against on the basis of disability.
c.	Weaken the ADA so that it covers fewer people and fewer rights.
d.	Clarify the definition of disability to more clearly prohibit discrimination against people with physical or mental impairments.

(The answer will be published
in the next Memo.)

Answer to September 3rd Trivia Question:
c. 1882

Question was: The first observance of Labor Day in the US is believed to have been a parade of 10,000 workers in New York City in what year?

a. 1682

b. 1782

c. 1882

d. 1982

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