Local Advocacy Group Reinforces the Importance of Access to Public Accomdations

(Camp Hill, Pa.) – Accessible Communities Today (ACT), a local grassroots advocacy group came together with the Center for Independent Living of Central PA (CILCP) today, June 13, 2008 to call attention to the lack of accessibility at Simply Turkey & More, located at 32 Erford Road in Camp Hill, PA. In addition to protesting the ADA violations at Simply Turkey & More, they hope to educate businesses and property owners, as well as the general public on the importance and need for public accommodations to be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). 

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a civil rights law, signed into action July 26, 1990 by President George H.W. Bush. It guarantees the right of people with disabilities to receive equal access to employment, transportation, public services, public accommodations and telecommunications.

According to ADA, places frequented by the public such as (but not limited to) restaurants, hotels, theaters, doctors’ offices, pharmacies, retail stores, museums, libraries, parks, private schools and day care centers are examples of public accommodations.

According to the civil rights law, Simply Turkey & More must provide equal access, as they are a public accommodation. It was discovered in February 2008 by Ed Shelly of New Cumberland, PA that Simply Turkey & More is not accessible for individuals with disabilities, and more specifically for individuals in wheelchairs.

“I haven’t been in a wheelchair all of my life. I know firsthand that until you experience having a disability, you don’t know what it’s like or what barriers you may face. This is why our group works to educate the community, but if there’s no action taken in fixing the issues, then we keep moving forward to make it happen,” stated Ed Shelly.

After Ed’s visit to the restaurant in February 2008, CILCP met with Simply Turkey & More and provided information regarding the changes that are needed to make the restaurant accessible. This one-on-one meeting was followed up by a letter. The business agreed to make the required changes by April 2008.

Since no action has yet been taken to eliminate the barriers, CILCP and ACT is demanding a meeting with the building owner and the business owner; a detailed plan, outlining what the restaurant will do to become accessible; and progress reports; with the goal of allowing all people with disabilities to enter the site safely and dine.

“Our goal today was to not keep customers away, but to inform and educate businesses, such as Simply Turkey & More that the Americans with Disabilities Act is a civil rights law. Over 82,000 people in the counties we serve (Cumberland, Dauphin, Perry, Juniata and Mifflin) have a disability. We want to make sure we are advocating and working to serve all of these individuals. The Center for Independent Living can help any business or facility manager who has questions about accessibility. We provide trainings or on-site visits to educate businesses on what they need to do to be accessible. We want to work with the communities in making sure they comply with ADA,” stated Theotis Braddy, Executive Director of CILCP.

After today’s rally, Simply Turkey & More was notified that a formal complaint was filed with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission. Until documentation is provided by Simply Turkey & More, showing their steps to remove the barriers, the group will continue to protest.

The Simply Turkey & More rally is one of many to come this summer. ACT’s plans for the future are to continue educating, but also target those businesses that have consistently violated the rights of people with disabilities. The first course of action is always to educate the business or organization through a one-on-one meeting, or via a written letter. However, if the business does not make an effort to make the facility compliant, ACT and CILCP will take further action.

CILCP assists individuals in developing self-advocacy skills to uphold their rights under the ADA and other civil rights laws. CILCP provides a number of advocacy programs including local systems advocacy, statewide advocacy, and individual advocacy. The local systems advocacy involves the formation of local consumer groups to work on disability issues that are of concern to them. CILCP advises and assists people with disabilities to eliminate practices and barriers that prohibit access and inclusion in the community.

About ACT

In an effort to ensure the civil rights law is enforced in communities, Accessible Communities Today was formed in 1992 as a grassroots coalition advocating for changes that affect the community.  ACT works with a community organizer of CILCP to address issues including curb cuts; accessibility of restaurants, restrooms, public buildings; and, availability of housing and transportation.

About CILCP

The Center for Independent Living of Central Pennsylvania is a nonprofit, nonresidential organization established for and by people with disabilities and serves Cumberland, Dauphin, Perry, Mifflin and Juniata counties. CILCP’s vision is to empower people with disabilities to fully participate in all aspects of society. For more information on the CILCP visit www.cilcp.org, and for more information regarding the press release please contact Megan Kurtz (Megan@TheSuasionWay.com) or 717.432.2468.

###

Suasion Partners with Three Rivers Center for Independent Living to Launch Life-Altering Program

Suasion organized the unveiling of a new, life-altering program for people living with disabilities in Allegheny County. By partnering with the non-profit organization, Three Rivers Center for Independent Living (TRCIL), Suasion planned and coordinated a launch event for the media and stakeholders in the greater Pittsburgh area to announce the new program: Living Well With A Disability.

Suasion’s team developed and designed marketing materials including brochures and giveaway items; obtained key speakers; prepared a Web site; and developed press materials prior to the event. Prior to the launch, Suasion also organized a media schedule to include the three 30-second television spots produced by Suasion. These innovative spots showcase people with disabilities “living well.”  Suasion President Victoria Radabaugh said, “Having worked extensively with the disability community, we understand the importance of showcasing people with disabilities as just that – people who happen to have a disability.  We developed these spots to feature people first – the viewer is actually surprised at a later point in the spot to see that the person has a disability.”  The spots were very well received in other markets in which they ran. (View the spots by visiting http://www.livingwellwithadisability.org.) 

In addition, Suasion provided media relations services, resulting in media exposure in the Pittsburgh area.

With nearly 150 advocates and individuals from social service and disability related organizations in attendance, the press conference at the Westin Convention Center was truly a success.

Non-Profit Organization Launches Life-Altering Program for People with Disabilities in Allegheny County

(Pittsburgh, Pa.)–The Three Rivers Center for Independent Living (TRCIL), a non-profit, non-residential organization that empowers people with disabilities to fully participate in all aspects of society, unveiled a new, life-altering program yesterday. The program, Living Well With A Disability, will assist people with disabilities living in Allegheny County to live well in all aspects of life.

According to Stanley Holbrook, President and CEO of TRCIL, “the new program, Living Well With A Disability, is designed to assist a person, regardless of their disability to LIVE WELL in every aspect of their life. The free, one-stop resource is accessed by calling a toll-free hotline at 1-877-TO-LIV-WELL. The program will identify and define what living well means to the individual - from joining a sports league, finding a job, or running a marathon, no request is too small or too large.”

The Pennsylvania Department of State’s Deputy Secretary for Administration, Harry A. Vansickle, and Milton Henderson, Chair of the Pennsylvania Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) joined Stanley Holbrook in announcing the new program. Over 150 advocates and individuals from social service and disability related organizations attended the press conference at the Westin Convention Center to recognize the importance and life-changing support the program offers individuals with disabilities.

Vansickle spoke of the significance in supporting individuals with disabilities in every area of life and focused on issues regarding employment, social activities, and elections. Vansickle acknowledged the need for residents of Pennsylvania, living with a disability, to feel supported and empowered to succeed in anything they choose.

As Chair of an organization appointed by the Governor of Pennsylvania, Milton Henderson stressed how the SILC works to promote disability rights and solve the issues people with disabilities are facing. “It is the Statewide Independent Living Council’s goal to make this state a place where people with disabilities can have a full and independent life. With this new program, Pittsburgh is well on its way in helping us accomplish this for the state of Pennsylvania,” stated Henderson. 

Living Well With A Disability, provides a thorough 25-point lifestyle assessment conducted by a qualified, living well specialist. It includes questions about the individual’s needs as well as their interests, hopes for the future, goals and dreams. Once the one-on-one assessment is complete, the Living Well With A Disability team develops a comprehensive menu of services and options tailored for the individual. The assessment considers all aspects of living well with a disability including housing options, community access, employment, physical fitness, and much more. Furthermore, this program is managed by people who have disabilities, who know firsthand the challenges that exist, and how to overcome them. This is unlike any other known organization or program in the Pittsburgh area.

Holbrook emphasized that the specialists not only assist people with disabilities to obtain basic services and programs, but also provide options for what could be life-changing opportunities that the consumer may not have envisioned. Holbrook strongly believes the program will continue to change and empower the lives of people with disabilities. 

Today, three, 30-second television spots will air on stations across the Pittsburgh area featuring people Living Well With A Disability.  The Web site (www.LivingWellWithADisability.org) and toll-free hotline (1-877-TO-LIV-WELL) are available to generate awareness, and encourage people with disabilities to start living well today.

About Living Well With A Disability

Living Well With A Disability is a valuable resource for anyone with any type of disability – and it’s free. The program connects the individual with a qualified Living Well specialist who will work with the person to identify his or her needs and goals, and develop a plan for meeting them. To begin, the individual will call the Living Well hotline. A specialist will meet with the person to conduct a 25-point lifestyle assessment. It includes questions about the individual’s needs as well as their interests, hopes for the future, goals and dreams. From achieving a small task to accomplishing a life-changing goal, Living Well With A Disability is designed to help people with disabilities exceed their lifestyle expectations through one point of contact.  For more information, call the toll-free hotline at 1-877-TO-LIV-WELL or visit the Web site at www.LivingWellWithADisability.org. 

About TRCIL

TRCIL is a nonprofit, nonresidential organization established for and by people with disabilities. Services are also available to families of individuals with disabilities, community service providers, governmental agencies, and private businesses.  TRCIL’s mission is to empower people with disabilities to enjoy self-directed, personally meaningful lives by providing consumer controlled services and by advocating for effective community change.

For more information regarding this press release or program, please contact Megan Kurtz at 717-432-2468 or email at Megan@TheSuasionWay.com.

###