News from DAC NW
Our 4th annual Bridging Communities event celebrating the 36th anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act will be held on July 25th, 11am-3pm in Riverfront Park, Spokane.
“Disability is present in every culture and every economic background,” said Mark Leeper, Executive Director of the Disability Action Center NW. “We want to celebrate the many cultures in our area and how they intersect with disability.”
The event kicks off with an ADA Proclamation and speech from Mayor Lisa Brown.
Multi-cultural music presentations by River Street Latin Band and dance by local Native American tribes will be featured on the stage. There will also be the presentation of the Tom McTevia Award will be to Sara Bryant from Spokane’s Therapeutic Recreation Services. This award is given each year to community organizations for removing barriers for people with disabilities in memory of community activist and outdoor recreation aficionado, Tom McTevia.
FREE food and t-shirts will be available while supplies last. A resource fair will have over 20 vendors, all located on the orange bridge. There will be aKid’s Zone with games, crafts, face painting and sidewalk chalk.
NEW this year will be the Wheelchair Obstacle Course. This course was designed by mechanical engineering students from Washington State University. It allows visitors to experience common barriers found in a community like opening a door on a slope, objects in the path of travel, overhanging shrubs, pot holes and cracks in sidewalks.
Free raffle prizes, and ADA Trivia games round out the event.
“People with disabilities are a part of human diversity. It is also the largest minority group that everyone will join, if they live long enough,” said Leeper. “We need to band together to protect our rights to live in our communities and not in institutions.”