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ADA 17th Anniversary Remarks

Remarks by Deborah Lisi-Baker, VCIL's Executive Director, at the 17th Anniversary Celebration of the Americans with Disabilities Act

Thank you for being here today.

We come together today for a dual purpose: to celebrate the 17th anniversary of an important piece of Civil Rights legislation, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and to recognize a leader, a young person who decided not to wait till the future to begin his work to build a better world. I said before that the ADA is an important bill, a landmark bill for citizens with disabilities. It is the most powerful of a series of civil rights laws, (the others include the Rehabilitation Act, IDEA, Fair Housing Law and related federal and state laws and statutes), assuring civil rights protections, independent living choices and social and economic opportunities for individuals with diverse disabilities in America. Laws are the work of people and they come into being and are strengthened and renewed by our actions and by the actions of those who came before us and those who follow. My thanks to the state legislators and officials who have promoted, legislated and enforced implementation of civil rights protections and to our congressional delegation for their leadership and support for national laws supporting equal rights, community inclusion, and advocacy assistance for citizens with disabilities in this state and across the nation. And thanks to all of you and all those others who are not here today who used their own history of disability discrimination to fight for these laws, the friends and family members who fought beside them, and the allies who have helped move the promise of the ADA into our communities, our voting halls, our government programs, and our wilderness areas and places of work and learning.

Our thanks too, to Ash Brittenham, the young man we are recognizing today. We met Ash and his mother, Kim, through our Home Access Program and our lives are the richer for it! As I said earlier, laws only work if they are acted on by people and it is in the lives and the actions of ordinary people who make the choice to speak up, be active in the community, and challenge and transform beliefs about the lives, power and value of individuals with disabilities that we find the spirit, the promise, and the fulfillment of the ADA: those who refuse to be second class citizens, those who choose to use their own voice and experiences to convince others that change is possible and necessary, those who help us - all of us - make the promise of the ADA a reality. Like last year's recipient, Ben Wimett, Ash is changing the world and shaping a better future with what he does today, in our shared present. Ash is using his life, his voice and the art of cartoons to transform attitudes and reveal new possibilities in his own life and in the lives of others with and without disabilities. In the process he is bringing people together: in community, in good will and in action. Ash has shown that the power to change the world doesn't wait for adulthood. He shows us that the vision of young leaders can move us toward the kind of future that the ADA and other civil rights laws give to all Americans, when we honor the intention of these laws and enforce their implementation. He reminds us all to use and not take for granted our ability, our human gift, to transform the world for the better.

Ben Wimett, last year's award recipient, is very sorry not to be here today. He asked me to share these words. As some of you know, Ben is a strong advocate for independent living and disability rights and a former participant in youth leadership program. A few years ago, Ben worked with Castleton State College on making their campus more accessible and - like Ash -he never stops speaking up and convincing others to help change the world. Ash, here is what Ben wrote to you:

7/23/2007

First of all let me take a moment to apologize for not being able to be there in person to address you all in person. Unfortunately, I am taking an Introductory to Geology course this summer and it conflicts with me being able to be with you all today. Please know that although I am physically not there my spirit and thoughts are with you all on this wonderful day. And trust me I would much rather be there than learning about tectonic plate movements any day.

It is my understanding that the recipient of this wonderful award this year will be presented to a young individual around the age of 10 or so. I wish you could see the expression on my face when I learned this; this is because in terms of the youth movement, I'm getting, well for lack of a better word, old. To know that somebody has been chosen for this award and recognized at such a young age for showing such promise truly warms my heart.

Now let me take a minute to give you some words of advice: As the weeks, months, and years continue to pass you are going to overcome many great challenges. I'd be lying to you if I told you that there was not going to be obstacles along the way throughout your journey in your young life but, don't be afraid to go around, over, underneath or when all else fails to smash through these obstacles. If you have a dream don't be afraid to follow it because with perseverance you'd be surprised how many of your dreams will quickly become a reality. Lastly and on that note set your goals high: You'll be surprised what your mind is capable of regardless of your "disability." Let me also assure you that it also brings me great joy to hear about individuals such as yourself because in order to receive this award you have obviously begun to do the previous things. Keep it up!

Lastly never stop smiling whatever happens along your journey in life. The power of hope and perseverance is truly unmeasurable.

Sincerely yours,

Benjamin Wimett