Media Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 23, 2007
For more information, contact Chris O’Hanlon or Keith Ruff at 338-3870
 

Disability Culture and Advocacy Days

The ADA Celebration Committee offers the Iowa City area festivities to celebrate the 17^th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the ADA. The celebrations will take place on Thursday, July 26 and Saturday, July 28, 2007.

The Thursday events take place from noon to 5pm at the Evert Conner Center located at 730 S. Dubuque Street and from 6-8pm at Fitzpatrick’s, located at 310 E. Prentiss Street. From noon to 3pm there will be a fine arts show and open house.  At 3pm, Dr. Douglas Baynton, Associate Professor of history at the University of Iowa, will give a presentation on the history of disability law and activism.   From 4:15 to 5pm, the media are invited to meet and greet the art show participants and Evert Conner Center staff. 

Starting at 6pm at Fitzpatrick’s, there will be an open mike from 6-7pm, where persons with disabilities are invited to share their talent and stories.  At 7pm, Peter Leidy will share his musical satire with the audience.  In 2006, Peter Leidy won 'Best Commentary' in the state-wide Wisconsin Broadcasters Association News Awards for his song, Surviving the Election.  He is a popular songwriter and performer out of Madison, Wisconsin.

On Saturday July 29, 207 starting at 10am in Emma J. Harvat Hall in City Hall located at 410 E. Washington Street in Iowa City, there will be speakers and an open mike.  A Mayor’s proclamation will be read, Congress Member Dave Loebsack (D- 2^nd Congressional District) will provide remarks, and all Presidential campaigns have been invited to share their platform on disability rights and services.  The keynote speaker will be Keith Ruff, Peer/Personal Assistant Coordinator at the Conner Center, who will focus his remarks on community based options in disability rights.

This event is sponsored by the Everet Conner Center, City of Iowa City, the Johnson County Coalition of Persons with Disabilities, the ARC of Johnson County, the Emma Goldman Clinic, Congress Member Dave Loebsack (D- 2^nd Congressional District), and the Women’s Resource and Action Center.

All events are free and open to everyone.  If you need an accommodation in order to attend, contact the Everet Connor Center at 319/ 338-3870 or email info@ownersvoices.com.  Contact JC SEATS for ride to schedule rides.

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