Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program to Hold Annual Summit

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program (ADAP) will hold its third annual Summit on Thursday, Aug. 14, at the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church and the Capitol Building in Montgomery.

The Summit will be a day-long event with a roster of dynamic speakers, including Gov. Bob Riley who is scheduled to speak at 11:00 a.m. at the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church. The speakers will address issues such as Alabama’s progress in community integration, accessible voting, Alabama’s $675 million deficit, projected cuts in services and their effect on persons with disabilities of all ages and needs, and the pros and the cons of tax reform.

ADAP is Alabama’s federally funded protection and advocacy agency for persons with disabilities. The program employs a team of advocates, social workers and attorneys to protect and expand the rights of Alabama citizens with disabilities through legally based advocacy services. ADAP is affiliated with the clinical program of The University of Alabama School of Law.

“People with disabilities in Alabama have accomplished a lot this year through their advocacy efforts,” ADAP Executive Director Reuben Cook said. “We’re going to celebrate those accomplishments and discuss how the state’s projected money crisis might impact on the gains we’ve achieved.”

Other speakers for the morning session include Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation Kathy Sawyer, Alabama Secretary of State Nancy Worley, and Nick Dupree, a tireless self advocate from Mobile who is a nationally recognized disability rights activist. Following the morning speakers, conferees will march to the Capitol for a box lunch and the afternoon programming.

During the afternoon session, representatives from a variety of agencies that serve persons with disabilities will speak to conferees on planned programming for the coming year, the potential budget cuts these agencies are facing and what these cuts may mean to the community. Bill O’Connor from the Campaign for Alabama and John Rice from the Tax Accountability Coalition will speak on the pros and cons of Gov. Riley’s proposed tax reform plan. The Summit will conclude with a question-and-answer session.

“Our goal for the Summit was to create a timely and thought provoking event that will get people talking and, most importantly, voting as their consciences dictate,” Cook commented.

The registration fee for the event is $10, which covers the cost of a box lunch. Scholarships are available to cover the registration fee and mileage expenses. For more information about scholarships or registration, call 1-800-826-1675. Aug. 8 is the registration deadline.