The Road To Freedom traveling exhibit and awareness campaign is an ongoing, cross-country bus tour produced by ADA Watch and the National Coalition for Disability Rights (NCDR). Advance work for the tour is in partnership with the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF). The educational tour promotes an understanding of disability rights history and the "people's movement" that led to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). In response to the weakening of the ADA in the courts, a separate advocacy component of the tour promotes disability rights as essential civil rights, engages the disability community in the judicial selection process and calls on Congress to pass the ADA Restoration Act. To read the our blog, go to http://www.roadtofreedom.wordpress.com and for additional information, go to http://www.roadtofreedom.org. SPONSORS OF THE ROAD TO FREEDOM EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDE:The Open Society Institute, IndependenceFirst, AARP, AOL, Ted Leonsis Foundation, Bruce Hornsby, Sweet Honey In The Rock, Dircks & Associates, Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Resource Center, Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation, Arizona Bridge to Independent Living, National Disability Rights Network, Democracy In Action, Embassy of Croatia, and more. [Photos by Tom Olin]
THE FREEDOM BUS
The Road To Freedom bus is fully accessible with a Braun wheelchair lift, a roll-in shower and other custom features. This bus is one of two traveling cross-country to educate America about the history of the disability rights movement and to promote restoration of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The Road To Freedom bus is fully accessible with a Braun wheelchair lift, a roll-in shower and other custom features. This bus is one of two traveling cross-country to educate America about the history of the disability rights movement and to promote restoration of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
THE ADA EXHIBIT
The Road To Freedom traveling exhibit features the historic photographs of Tom Olin and Arlene Mayerson's "People's History of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)." The exhibit is shown here in Washington, DC at our send-off gala hosted by the Embassy of Croatia at the Austrian Embassy.
The Road To Freedom traveling exhibit features the historic photographs of Tom Olin and Arlene Mayerson's "People's History of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)." The exhibit is shown here in Washington, DC at our send-off gala hosted by the Embassy of Croatia at the Austrian Embassy.
THE DISABILITY HISTORY EXHIBIT
The Road To Freedom traveling exhibit also includes a 24 panel exhibit of disability history produced by Advocates Coming Together (ACT) of St. Paul, Minnesota. The exhibit is shown here at the Road To Freedom bus stop at the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site.
The Road To Freedom traveling exhibit also includes a 24 panel exhibit of disability history produced by Advocates Coming Together (ACT) of St. Paul, Minnesota. The exhibit is shown here at the Road To Freedom bus stop at the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site.
WASHINGTON, DC WITH YOSHIKO DART
The Road To Freedom bus tour launched from Washington, D.C. on November 15, 2006. The inaugural bus crew included Yoshiko Dart who traveled with us on our first leg of the journey. The late Justin Dart, Jr. and Yoshiko traveled the country collecting "Disability Discrimination Diaries" and building support for passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990. Shown here is Debbie Fletter Ward, former VP and Director of Accessibility for AOL, ADA Watch's Jim Ward, Bobby Coward of ADAPT and Yoshiko (holding Justin's famous hat).
The Road To Freedom bus tour launched from Washington, D.C. on November 15, 2006. The inaugural bus crew included Yoshiko Dart who traveled with us on our first leg of the journey. The late Justin Dart, Jr. and Yoshiko traveled the country collecting "Disability Discrimination Diaries" and building support for passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990. Shown here is Debbie Fletter Ward, former VP and Director of Accessibility for AOL, ADA Watch's Jim Ward, Bobby Coward of ADAPT and Yoshiko (holding Justin's famous hat).
PHOTOGRAPHER TOM OLIN
Tom Olin in front of the Road To Freedom bus. Tom joined the tour in January, 2007 and is living on and driving one of the two tour buses. In addition to photographing bus stop events, Tom's photographs of grassroots actions leading to passage of the ADA are featured in the Road To Freedom traveling exhibit.
Tom Olin in front of the Road To Freedom bus. Tom joined the tour in January, 2007 and is living on and driving one of the two tour buses. In addition to photographing bus stop events, Tom's photographs of grassroots actions leading to passage of the ADA are featured in the Road To Freedom traveling exhibit.
SENATOR TOM HARKIN SIGNS ADA PETITION
Senator Tom Harkin, at the Road To Freedom event in Des Moines, Iowa where he was the keynote speaker, signs ADA Watch's petition urging Congress to pass the ADA Restoration Act. ADA Watch's Jim Ward, shown here, joined Sen. Harkin, other members of Congress, and other disability leaders in Washington, DC on July 26th as they introduced the ADA Restoration Act of 2007.
Senator Tom Harkin, at the Road To Freedom event in Des Moines, Iowa where he was the keynote speaker, signs ADA Watch's petition urging Congress to pass the ADA Restoration Act. ADA Watch's Jim Ward, shown here, joined Sen. Harkin, other members of Congress, and other disability leaders in Washington, DC on July 26th as they introduced the ADA Restoration Act of 2007.
CONGRESSMAN LANGEVIN IN RHODE ISLAND
Rhode Island advocates joined Congressman Jim Langevin (center) and the Road To Freedom bus crew at the State Capitol.
Rhode Island advocates joined Congressman Jim Langevin (center) and the Road To Freedom bus crew at the State Capitol.
OHIO CONGRESSWOMAN MARCY KAPTUR ON THE ROAD TO FREEDOM
Ohio Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur joined ADA Watch's Jim Ward, our host Tim Harrington, executive director of the Ability Center of Toledo, along with other speakers and performers who welcomed the Road To Freedom bus and rallied to get out the disability vote.
Ohio Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur joined ADA Watch's Jim Ward, our host Tim Harrington, executive director of the Ability Center of Toledo, along with other speakers and performers who welcomed the Road To Freedom bus and rallied to get out the disability vote.
SCLC ON THE ROAD TO FREEDOM AT NATIONAL CIVIL RIGHTS MUSEUM
Dr. Dwight Montgomery, president of the Memphis Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) with Carol Westlake, executive director of the Tennessee Disability Coalition, Jim Ward of ADA Watch, and Sharon Mount of the Tennessee Chapter of Paralyzed Veterans of America.
Dr. Dwight Montgomery, president of the Memphis Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) with Carol Westlake, executive director of the Tennessee Disability Coalition, Jim Ward of ADA Watch, and Sharon Mount of the Tennessee Chapter of Paralyzed Veterans of America.
TENNESSEE CONGRESSMAN STEVE COHEN
Tennessee Congressman Steve Cohen, shown here with Jim Ward viewing the disability history exhibit, joined the Road To Freedom event at the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis.
Tennessee Congressman Steve Cohen, shown here with Jim Ward viewing the disability history exhibit, joined the Road To Freedom event at the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis.
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