DISABILITY NEWS

Are you familiar with the American Association
of People with Disabilities (AAPD)?

Their Vision Statement: The vision of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) is a world where all people with disabilities are able to make choices, have careers, live independently, and contribute as full participants in all aspects of society.

Their Mission Statement: The mission of AAPD is to empower, politically and economically, all people with disabilities in the United States.

In pursuit of its vision and mission, AAPD will work externally with its members, the broader disability community, and diverse partners so that people with disabilities will exercise power through civic participation: AAPD will build and work with cross-disability coalitions, including
parent groups, to increase the participation of voters with disabilities across the country, resulting in staffed efforts at the national and/or state levels to reach over 10 million voters with strong disability interests.

AAPD will spearhead efforts to make voting easy, accessible, and secure for all voters.

AAPD will advocate for full and timely implementation of accessibility requirements in the Help America Vote Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

AAPD will ensure that voters with disabilities are identified in political polling and exit polling.

AAPD will promote public and community service among people with disabilities throughout the United States.

AAPD will help launch an association of elected and appointed officials with disabilities.

Check out their website at http://www.aapd-dc.org/index.php.

Remember, this is the year to vote . . . begin preparing now.

VM WINTER RETREAT
February 20 - 22, 2009
Presenter: Fr. David Kraus, O.M.I.