Mélange Accessibility for All Magazine October 2022 | Page 76

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In the late 1980s , I somehow landed a position on the National Council on Disability under President Reagan . One of the first initiatives our Council tackled was lack of access in public places . Working with other disability groups , we were able to send to Congress a landmark bill to improve access for Americans with disabilities . Finally , in 1990 , I sat on the White House lawn with other Council members and watched President Bush sign into law the Americans with Disabilities Act .
I don ’ t often think about those days I served on the National Council on Disability . However , during a recent vacation in Yosemite National Park , Ken and I noticed that everywhere we went , the paths were paved and marked with access symbols . I was pleasantly surprised to discover miles of trails that I could wander . And for those who places I couldn ’ t wheel , there were accessible trams .
At one point while wheeling along the Yosemite Valley floor , I stopped to reflect tearfully on the days when I would make my way through dark alleys and back doors . That was then . And now ? Virtually the whole national parks system is open to me . This month marks the 32nd anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act into law . And I thank God that he used my wheelchair so many years ago to help bring it about .
Beyond Advocacy : A Vision for Belonging
Of course , people living with disabilities need more than just smooth sidewalks , lowered drinking fountains , and exit ramps . Here in the U . S ., laws enforcing accessibility standards are helpful , but they cannot deliver the sense of ‘ belonging ’ that disabled people so often lack . Nearly one quarter of century has passed since the ADA and still , people with disabilities find themselves isolated and marginalized .
A higher law than the ADA is needed . Jesus tells us in Luke 14:13 to " invite the poor , the crippled , the lame , the blind , and you will be blessed ." At Joni and Friends , we take this directive to heart . We envision a world where every person with a disability finds hope , dignity , and their place in the body of
Christ . It ’ s a God-sized vision ; and by his grace , my coworkers and I are doing our part to make it a reality , one day at a time .
Here in the U . S . we hold Family Retreats where special needs parents receive much-needed respite and whole families discover that they belong , not just within a community that understands them , but in the Body of Christ . We are mindful of the thousands of veterans have returned from war struggling with physical wounds , moral injuries , and PTSD . So , we hold Warrior Getaways for these brave servicemen and women and their families . We are also aware of the desperate needs in communities like East St . Louis , Nashville , and Downtown Los Angeles . We are growing our programs and resourcing churches in the cities to bring people with disabilities into the fold … into God ’ s house .
Global Reach for a Global Need
My heart breaks when I think of the one billion disabled people around the world , most of whom live in poverty and with little hope of things changing .