WNY Independent Living, Inc. 3108 Main Street • Buffalo, New York 14214 Phone (716) 836-0822 • Fax (716) 835-3967 www.wnyil.org January 10, 2019 For Immediate Release Contact: Ernest Churchwell Public Information Officer-Writer Office of Community Eng...
WNY Independent Living, Inc.
3108 Main Street • Buffalo, New York 14214
Phone (716) 836-0822 • Fax (716) 835-3967
www.wnyil.org
January 10, 2019
For Immediate Release
Contact: Ernest Churchwell
Public Information Officer-Writer
Office of Community Engagement
(716) 284-4131, ext. 181
Disability Rights Advocates from across Western New York to participate in a national conference on the introduction of landmark Congressional legislation
The Centers for Independent Living in Buffalo, in Niagara Falls and in Batavia will join our sister Centers for Independent Living (CILs), nationwide, the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) and chapters of the grass-roots disability rights advocate ADAPT to participate in a national conference from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM on Tuesday January 15, 2019.
The occasion is there-introduction of the Disability Integration Act (DIA, S.910, H.R. 2471) in Washington D.C. This bill would make more enforceable the right of people with disabilities, who require long-term care, to live in the least restrictive and most integrated setting, (usually outside of institutions), a principle from the Americans with Disabilities Act asserted by the U.S. Supreme Court’s “Olmstead versus L.C. and E.W.” decision.
So that the nationwide public can tune-in, as well, NCIL and ADAPT will be making a video and audio of the introductory event available to stream on-line. An American Sign Language for the Deaf Interpreter and live open captions will be visible on the streaming video, and a live Spanish translation will be available by phone on a conference call line.
It was thanks to the ongoing efforts of ADAPT that Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Representative Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) set January 15thas the date to reintroduce the DIA in the new 116th Congress. It is the hope of disability rights advocates that the enthusiasm generated by this early introduction will help build momentum for the DIA in this new Congress.
Local friends of disability rights are invited to observe potential history in the making: at Western New York Independent Living (WNYIL), 3108 Main Street, Buffalo; at Independent Living of Niagara County (ILNC) at 746 Portage Road in Niagara Falls; and at Independent Living of the Genesee Region (ILGR)’s brand new office at 319 West Main Street in Batavia. Refreshments will be served, and participants will be urged to contact their elected federal legislators to encourage them to support the DIA.
For more information, call Marykate Waringa at (716) 836-0822 ext. 146.
The Western New York Independent Living, Inc. family of agencies offer an expanding array of services to aid individuals with disabilities to take control of their own lives.