Day of Remembering
[SARN Memo for May 27, 2009]
Memorial Day is a day to remember people who are no longer with us.
Let’s take time this year to remember people who made a difference for self-advocates:
People who spoke up when it was not popular.
People who fought to make laws better.
People who led by example.
People who never gave up.
People who did small but important things.
Progress happens because people worked for it. Let’s remember them.
Respond to this memo!1. Make a List
When your group gets together, go around the circle and invite each person to think of someone from the past who helped self-advocates or helped self-advocacy in the community or in the country. Encourage people to think past the famous “hero” types. What are some changes in your community? Who helped make them happen?
Write the list on a big piece of paper. Talk about how we stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before. Talk about what our own legacy will be.
2. Resource
Know Your Rights
Many people, including Ed Roberts and Justin Dart, struggled for years to pass laws that protect our rights. Use this resource to get familiar with the three key disability rights laws.
Today’s Trivia Question:
Who was the original host of the TV game show Jeopardy?
- Joan Rivers
- Ethyl Winfrey (Oprah’s mom)
- Art Fleming
- Frank Sinatra
- Clifford Beers
(The answer will be published in the next Memo.)
Answer to May 20th Trivia Question: Yes
Question was: Yes or no: In President Obama’s stimulus bill, was any of the money directed to services or programs for persons with disabilities?
Do you have a trivia item you’d like to submit?
Create a trivia question and we will review your question for possible use.
Your trivia question:
The correct answer:
Would you like your name to appear as the author of the trivia question? If yes, give us your name and where you are from.
Reader Responses
I don’t think you should be using Memorial Day like this. Make a separate day to remember advocates, but please do not degrade our service members and those who died for our nation’s freedoms. Thanks for reading.