Celebration of the 27th Anniversary of the ADA

Join Us for a Celebration of the 27th Anniversary of the ADA

Access for All / ADA 27man in buffet line with crowd under awning in backgroundDisability Network Southwest Michigan will host a community-wide celebration of the 27th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Please join us on Friday, July 21 at our Kalamazoo office (517 E. Crosstown Parkway) from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for a free lunch, presentations and awards ceremony. This year we are pleased to welcome RoAnne Chaney, Executive Director of Michigan Disability Rights Coalition, as our keynote speaker.

The ADA anniversary celebration has become an annual tradition at Disability Network as we gather with our customers, community partners, neighbors and elected officials to celebrate the passage of this important civil rights legislation which grants protection against the discrimination of people with disabilities.

At our ADA celebration, Disability Network awards the Jim Neubacher Lifetime Achievement Award in memory of Jim Neubacher, a person with a disability and a reporter for the Detroit Free Press. Jim wrote about the inclusion and civil rights of people with disabilities and was instrumental in his disability rights advocacy to provide examples through his writings of the significance of “equality for all”.  All of us at Disability Network are excited this year to recognize Judy Sivak with this award. Judy’s unending commitment over four decades to advocate for the inclusion of older citizens as they age in place and her unwavering dedication to pursue the provision of additional vital support services to ensure as people live longer, services will be available to support them in their own home is deserving of our lifetime achievement award.

Additionally, each year present the Bob Davis Independent Living award to an individual with a disability who has made great progress in meeting their independent living goals. We are pleased to present the award to Robert Schindler from Berrien County who has successfully secured employment, moved into his own apartment and continues to reach out for new opportunities in his community.

Thank you to Kalamazoo Valley Community College for allowing us to use their parking lot just behind our building on Dutton Street for this event. Look for the ADA event parking signs.

This event is free and open to the public. If you have questions, contact Kristen Potts at pottsk@dnswm.org or (269) 345-1516 x119.