July is disability awareness month

In hopes of raising awareness on recognizing equal rights among all, including those with disabilities, Gov. Juan N. Babauta yesterday declared July as American with Disabilities Act Awareness Month.

Supporters gathered at the Honorable Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe to witness the proclamation signing.

“The signing declaring the ADA month will definitely increase awareness and reach out and touch people’s lives, especially the businesses and the public sector, making sure the ADA is followed as far as accessibility standards and policy [are concerned],” said Council on Developmental Disabilities executive director Thomas J. Camacho. “There will be a lot of activities that will bring a lot of awareness on policy, information technology, and accessibility guidelines, and I am pretty sure this is going to impact a lot of people.”

More than 9,000 citizens, or 13 percent, of the CNMI population are living with disabilities. In 1990, there were 49 million Americans with disabilities. The number has grown over the past 14 years, with 54 million living with disabilities.

“This month same time 14 years ago, on July 26, former President George W. Bush Sr. signed into law the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. In 1990, there were 49 million Americans with disabilities; today there are 54 million. The CNMI alone has over 9,000 individuals with some sort of disabilities,” Camacho.

The purpose of the ADA Technical Assistance Support is to build a partnership between disability and business and public communities, and to promote full and unrestricted participation in society for persons with disabilities through education and technical assistance.

“Since 1993, the ADA TA Support benefits hundreds of private and public entities who needed to know how to better accommodate their clients, customers or employees with disabilities, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and persons with disabilities who desire to participate in creating a fully accessible society,” Camacho said. “The ADA TA Support provides information, problem solving assistance and referrals for implementing the ADA and other federal and local disability-related laws.”

Camacho disclosed that, according to the Northern Marianas Protection and Advocacy Systems Inc., 387 cases of ADA complaints and litigations had been reported in 2003.

“Too often, people with disabilities are locked out, left out or overlooked. While the Americans with Disabilities Act addresses fundamental civil rights for people with disabilities, the basics of everyday life are still out of reach for too many Americans with disabilities: getting a job, accessing health care, finding housing, using transportation, getting an education, and voting independently,” he said

As part of celebrating ADA Awareness Month, the TriAgency Network—CDD, Northern Marianas Protection and Advocacy Systems Inc., and the University Center for Excellence on Developmental Disabilities—will host an ADA Symposium, slated to kick off on July 12. The theme for the event is “Independence Day for People with Disabilities.”

Camacho said the symposium would feature sessions that will be spread on 11 days between July 12 and 28. Sessions are scheduled to take place on July 12, 13, 14, 15, 19, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, and 28 at the World Resort.

The sessions are provided by nationally and locally recognized experts on disability-related issues including presenters and speakers involved in the ADA—U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Access Board, Pacific Disability and Business ADA & IT Technical Assistance Center, The Arc, and the CDD ADA Technical Assistance Support.

Camacho said the symposium aims to encourage the employment of people with disabilities, ensuring that people with disabilities get the health care they need, creating affordable housing options and accessible transportation services to allow people with disabilities to live in and be more active in their communities, and guaranteeing access to high quality educational services, and to make all polling places accessible so people with disabilities can vote.

Registration is free. To register, call 664-7000 or email to ada@cnmiddcouncil.org.