Call to Unify: Inaugural Disability Events Around the Country

Status Update from AAPD and our Consumer Controlled Coalition

We have been working on coordinating disability inaugural events around the country, to mobilize the disability community and build the groundswell we need to have people with disabilities heard in the new administration. I'm writing to give a progress report and ask your help.

>>> For our original release

Events planned so far:

1) Portland, Oregon: "People First: A Disability Networking and Resource Event," Thursday, January 22, 5-7 pm

2) Marin County, California

3) Oakland, California: Disability Inaugural Event, Wednesday, January 21, 4-7 pm

4) Columbia, Missouri: "Speak Up, Speak Out!" Legislative Training, Friday, January 30

5) Washington, DC: Potluck Dinner, Roundtable to discuss issues and concerns of the disability community

6) Raleigh, North Carolina: Fundraiser and Inaugural Celebration, Saturday, January 17

Possible Events in:

Chicago, Illinois and Macomb County, Michigan

Next Steps:

* We'd like to get more events planned around the country! Can you think about contacts you have in key areas around the country? Please email us with names that you have - we can do the work of contacting them if necessary, but we need your contacts!

Some areas that might be useful: Maryland (district of House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer), Ohio (House Republican Leader John Boehner), Nevada (Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid)...

* Some of you may be hosting small inauguration parties at your homes, inviting other people with disabilities to watch with you - please let us know so we can include these on the list of nationwide events!

* We will turn the disability policy paper into a letter that every gathering around the country can have attendees sign and send in - potentially to the Pres & VP, plus House & Senate leadership. Let us know if you want to help with this.

* A sample press release will go out by Wednesday or Thursday.

Thanks for all your help on this. With our work, we hope to use the excitement around Obama's inauguration to bring out more of our community and prepare for strong and effective action over the next four years and beyond.

 For more information, to request materials, or to report an event you have organized

Email disabilitymovement@gmail.com or call Jessica Lehman at (510) 427-7535 or Rebecca (Hare) Cokley at (202) 420-1847