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The Systems Advocacy Year-End Report
Highlights of this year in grass roots community organizing and 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act systems advocacy

By Tim Wheat
1990 Americans with Disabilities Act Community Organizer
The Memphis Center for Independent Living

. The year 2000 has been miserable for civil rights for persons with disabilities across the nation. The backlash against the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act has been very successful on a massive scale and the strong coalition of people with disabilities that fought for the ADA is powerless to rebuild the alliance.

In the deteriorating environment of civil rights protections, Memphis has had some success. We celebrate these small victories, yet must realize that we are losing the war. The high ideals expressed in the ADA have sustained efforts to build a new national attitude since July 26, 1990. This year, however, the powerful backlash has been made clear in Alabama v. Garrett. The momentum of the ADA was turned around this year and persons with disabilities, who had barely taken the offensive to assert civil rights, are relegated to defending our basic human rights.

The simple thing to do would be to join the throng, provide sympathetic services, and support charitable benevolence toward people with disabilities. This is being accomplished on a national scale by moving people with disabilities from the "equal participation" category envisioned by the ADA, back to the historical class of "less fortunates."

The Memphis Center for Independent Living will not do the simple thing. We will continue to empower people with disabilities; we will continue to strengthen the Independent Living movement; and we will fight-back to regain the momentum of the ADA.

Back in 1998 for my year-end report I said that I had come "...to the realization that ending discrimination against people with disabilities would not happen over-night." Now I cannot even imagine how idealistic I was to think that I would see realistic accomplishments in civil rights in Memphis in a day, not to mention four years. As disconsolate as I am about the prospects for the ADA, I am delighted by our general progress here in Memphis.

When traveling around the country, people in our field know of the Memphis Center for Independent Living. We are recognized nationally for or efforts and have a reputation for being true to the spirit of the Independent Living Movement. I am pleased to work at MCIL, confident in the staff, and proud to work for our executive director, Deborah Cunningham.

For my part of the year-end report, I am providing a list of the best efforts that I have had a part in.

PHOTO: President Clinton speaks at the ADA tenth anniversary
PHOTO: President Clinton speaks at the ADA tenth anniversary

  • Senator Frist visits MCIL (April 2000)

  • ADAPT Action Reports (June and September 2000)

  • Identifying over 1700 barriers in new construction (May 2000)

  • The Rolling Freedom Express (September 2000)

  • "Don't Tread on the ADA" Rally in Little Rock Arkansas - Article published in Spinewire (February 2000)

  • The Tenth Anniversary of the ADA Celebration at the FDR Memorial with President Clinton (July 2000)

  • MiCASSA introduced by Tom Harkin (November 1999)

  • SEDBTAC Advocacy Award (December 1999)

  • "MATA Backs Down" (March 2000)

  • MCIL "Advocate of the year" Award from the Mid-South Arc. (November 1999)

  • MATA to fix problems in the Rider's Guide (September 2000)

  • HUD "Best Practices" Award and congratulations letters from Senator Frist and Corky Neale (August 2000)

  • Melvin Douglas escapes Tennessee Nursing Home Incarceration (May 2000)

  • Eleanor Smith and Visitability (September 2000)

  • MATAplus fare increase is not justified (April 2000)

  • Elected Sectary of the Fair Housing Alliance of Greater Memphis (September 2000)

  • Greyhound to install lifts (October 1999)

  • Article "ADAPT Wants Opinion" - Columbus Ohio (November 1999)

  • Call for a person with a disability to be on the MATA board of directors (Feb. 2000)

  • Ramps for Independent Living (October 1999)

  • Sale of Sher Stewart's "The ADA Tenth Anniversary Montage" (July 2000)

  • Correcting Ramp Barriers on MATAplus (March 2000)

  • Freedom Day - Tennessee Nurse's Association (January 2000)

  • Memphis Fair Housing Conference (April 2000)

  • Demand for MATA to publish a Rider's Guide (April 2000)

  • Pain Relief Promotion Act (October 1999)

  • MATA's "Backwards" Policy (February 2000)

  • Housing for people with disabilities strategic planning (December 1999)

  • The Spirit of the ADA Torch Relay (July 2000)

  • The United Way Day of Caring (August 2000)

  • Paratransit Quiz (May 2000)

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