18th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

For Immediate Release: Contact: July 24, 2008

Contact: Melanie Mowry Etters Communication Director 850-488-4257

Recognizing those Committed to the Americans with Disabilities Act

TALLAHASSEE— About 100 people gathered at the top of the Capitol to celebrate the 18th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum spoke about the opportunities the ADA provides to citizens and the recourse it gives his agency to protect the rights of all Floridians, including those with disabilities.

As part of the festivities, the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) Interim Director Jim DeBeaugrine presented certificates to three organizations that are committed to the spirit of the ADA. DeBeaugrine said, “It is important to take time to recognize milestones that have changed society like the ADA. It is equally important to recognize those organizations that have made a true commitment to including people with disabilities in their mission. I am especially pleased that the three winners are public organizations dedicated to serving all citizens.”

· Maggie Allesee National Center for Choreography in Florida State University’s Department of Dance (MANCC) For the past two years the FSU Department of Dance has hosted

the AXIS Dance Company, which has dancers with and without disabilities.
The school researched and implemented accommodations to ensure that AXIS members did not have problems maneuvering throughout the school. Months in advance of the company’s arrival, MANCC assembled a committee to ensure that the dancers would have the highest level of disability access and accommodations. MANCC also sponsored a series of workshops, showings, and events for students and the arts community at large.

Director of the Maggie Allesee National Center for Choreography Jennifer Calienes said, "Bringing the AXIS Dance Company to Tallahassee was a rewarding experience for everyone involved. We are grateful to Ability 1st and the many individuals who guided us along the way to ensure that our facilities on campus and in Tallahassee were as accommodating as possible for the dancers. We feel many doors (and eyes) were opened along the journey and hope to continue to build a platform to advance artistic excellence for people of all abilities."

· Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Greenways and Trails The Department of Environmental Protection’s Greenways and Trails have partnered with other organizations like the Felburn Foundation to build accessible playgrounds along public trails. The first one is on the Cross Florida Greenway in Marion County. The second one opened this year in Wakulla County along the St. Marks Trail. The Boundless Playgrounds® accommodate children with and without disabilities. These inclusive playgrounds allow children in wheelchairs or with other restrictions to play with their friends who do not have disabilities. In expressing appreciation to APD for this recognition, Jena Brooks, Director of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Office of Greenways & Trails (OGT) noted that, "All children should have access to outdoor recreation and this concept is a key component of OGT's facilitation of a statewide system of greenways and trails in Florida. Thanks to the generous support of the nature-based Felburn Foundation, we are proud to feature Boundless Playgrounds on two of our managed properties, giving children of all abilities the opportunity to play freely together in a healthy environment."

· State Courts System of Florida The Court Accessibility Subcommittee of the Supreme Court’s Standing Committee on Fairness and Diversity recently completed a survey for ADA compliance of more than 140 state court facilities in Florida. While conducting the survey, various issues were identified with many being corrected promptly. The effort raised ADA awareness and increased compliance throughout the state. Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Peggy Quince accepted the award on behalf of the court system.

Former Chief Justice R. Fred Lewis who spearheaded this ADA effort said,
"During the court accessibility initiative – and due in large part to the leadership of the chief judges, court administrators, and ADA coordinators – the courts built a coalition of the judiciary, counties, clerks of court, the disability community, and others. This dynamic assemblage of Floridians successfully engaged in a collaborative, nonadversarial initiative to improve the accessibility of court facilities across the state." Also during the ADA event, Special Counsel Ollie Cantos from the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., talked about the ADA Amendment Act and how it will bring about positive change for people with disabilities. Florida’s Agency for Persons with Disabilities partnered with the Governor’s Commission on Disabilities, Vocational Rehabilitation (VR), Ability 1st (Center for Independent Living of North Florida), and the Able Trust to hold the ADA 18th anniversary event.