Anywhere, USA
Are you a JFActivist? Are you a grassroots advocate responding to action alerts or leading the charge for disability rights in your own community?
If you'd like your work featured on JFActivist in the JFActivist Photo Album, send your digital photo (if available), your city and state, and a brief description of the work you've been doing to the Moderator at JFAModerator@aol.com.
Portland, Oregon
Picture description: Joe Vanderveer, wearing a black shirt, and Pam VanderVeer, wearing a yellow shirt, with heads touching, smile for the camera.
AAPD Members Joe and Pam VanderVeer of Portland, Oregon operate a disability rights website (www.theunderrepresented.com) that promotes political self-advocacy and provides updates on a wide variety of legislative and policy initiatives.
Oak Park, Illinois
Joel Sheffel of Oak Park, Illinois, is the Executive Director of West Suburban Access News Association (www.wsana.org). Joel, who has epilepsy, was a resident in a nursing home for 18 months before he transitioned into his own apartment, which fuels his passion for independent living. Joel founded WSANA, which as of 2005 distributes its information about independent living and civil and human rights via its website, which has had just shy of 100,000 visitors since its creation.
Medford Lakes, NJ
Picture description: Canine and Abled, Inc. founder, Kimberly Carnevale, with daughter Sarah & service dog, Dawson.
Kimberly Carnevale was vying for a spot on the United States Equestrian team when she sustained a traumatic brain injury in 1998 and had to relearn to read, write, and talk. She was also diagnosed with MS in 2003. Since being partnered with her first service dog, Kimberly has experienced countless access denials and rude behavior because of lack of education about service dogs and the laws that govern their use. These experiences motivated Kimberly to found Canine and Abled, Inc. (www.CanineAndAbled.com), an educational program that teaches audiences all about the tremendous benefits that service dogs provide for their partners with disabilities.
Austin, Texas
Picture description: Rebecca Swan, wearing a teal blue and white shirt with a large flower print stands smiling behind a row of peach, yellow, and white flowers.
Rebecca Swan of Austin, Texas has taken action to support ADA Restoration by sending emails to her U.S. Senators to urge their sponsorship of the legislation.
