Memphis and Shelby County Recognize the 11th Anniversary of the ADA

ADAPT members in a somber row bound with a chain

(MEMPHIS July 26) As ADAPT members sat draped in chains to remind everyone that the most critical part of the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is the "integration mandate," some city and county officials reported on what their departments were doing to comply with the federal law.

Memphis City Council Chair E.C. Jones began the statements by public officials and mentioned the public transit, although no one from MATA was present. Carlene Leaper from the Arc and officials from City and County Schools followed the councilman.

Ernie Gunn from Shelby County stated that 6 to 8 members of the county government were designated to ensure compliance with the ADA and that funds would be in the budget each year. Mr. Gunn also reported that the office of County Construction Code Enforcement was trained and would be more diligent in their efforts.

Finally, from the Housing and Community Development Ms. Mary Knox-Lanier told of two initiatives to assist persons with disabilities in the Mayor's new Fair Housing Ordinance. The first is to ensure that Shelby County Construction Code Enforcement inspected for the accessibility issues in the 1988 Fair Housing Act Amendments and the second is to require Visitability in new home construction.

Mary Knox-Lanier

ADAPT advocates sat stoically in the back of the room symbolically bound in chain and holding photos of individuals that have left Tennessee because this state fails to enforce the integration mandate of the ADA. Tennessee likewise is failing to comply with President George W. Bush's Executive order of June 19th that is intended to help states obey the federal mandate.

ADAPT took the opportunity of the 11th anniversary to remind friends that the most important, yet to be realized, part of the ADA is the integration mandate. An empty wheelchair held the photo of Melvin Douglas, who moved out of a Tennessee nursing home to live in his own home. The photo asked: "HAVE YOU SEEN THIS PERSON?" Melvin left this state to live in Colorado because Tennessee illegally concentrates persons with disabilities in nursing homes.

- Tim Wheat