Road To Freedom Bus Stops: Purpose and Planning

The purpose of Road To Freedom bus stops and news coverage: 

1. To increase public awareness of the compelling history of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the people’s movement that is the disability rights movement.

(See “A History of the ADA: A Movement Perspective” at: http://www.empowermentzone.com/ada_hist.txt and http://www.dbtac.vcu.edu/whatsada-history.aspx)

2. To educate the general public, members of the disability community, and policymakers regarding unfulfilled promise of the ADA and the weakening of disability rights protections in the courts.

(See “Failing to Fulfill the ADA’s Promise and Intent” at: http://c-c-d.org/task_forces/rights/ada/ADA%20cases%20memo-Fulfilling%20the%20Promise.pdf)

3. To mobilize members of the disability community and the mainstream public to take action, contact policymakers and the media, and build support for passage of the ADA Restoration Act.

(See NCD’s “Righting the ADA” at: http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2004/righting_ada.htm)

The following is a list of possible events for states to organize for Road To Freedom bus stops:

1. News Conference/Reception/Exhibit: General overview of the Road To Freedom bus tour, current local events related to disability rights, and the effort to promote and pass an ADA Restoration Act. Participants may include Road To Freedom/ADA Watch/NCDR staff, state and local disability leaders, consumers, and policymakers.

What has been successful to date, prior to a news conference, is to have a group of supporters greet the bus with welcome signs, etc. This creates good visuals and reinforces the state-to-state nature of this traveling road tour and exhibit. Local media should receive news advisory regarding time and location related to bus welcome.

The news conference ideally should be at the same location as where the exhibit will be displayed. This can be at the state capitol building, history museum, etc.

The Road To Freedom Exhibit consists of (9) 3x7’ display panels with photos by Tom Olin and Arlene Mayerson’s narrative of disability rights history leading to passage of the ADA. If video displays are provided we will also display a DVD or CD of Tom Olin’s photographs. Organizers can add to this exhibit by including local disability rights artifacts or displays as desired. Enlarged copies of local newspaper coverage of passage of the ADA and the White House signing ceremony are valuable additions to the exhibit.

2. ADA Town Meeting: Day or evening gathering of disability advocates, business representatives and policymakers. Should be set up to purposely create tension or conflict with the presentation of opposing views regarding the ADA. Organizers may need to identify local participants with opposing views by working with national organizations that have been critical of the ADA, such as the National Restaurant Association, American Enterprise Institute, Federalist Society, etc. Panel presentations of these representatives should precede general audience questions/statements. Participating panelists and their organizations should invite audience members so that the audience reflects range of views. Media should be made aware of the potential for conflict and opposing viewpoints. Media attention might be increased by using local anchor person or other celebrities as MCs for these town meeting events.

3. School/Campus Events: The Road To Freedom has seen great success with events planned at high schools and college campuses. Prior to a school-related bus stop, curriculum is presented focused on the ADA and general disability rights history. Events may include the display of the Road To Freedom exhibit, as well as a 15-20 minute presentation by Jim Ward, founder and president of ADA Watch/NCDR and local member(s) of disability community. This is followed by question and answer period. It is recommended that this presentation be to all students and not just “special education” students. Road To Freedom brochure and exhibit may be pre-screened by school officials, board, etc. A letter of reference from schools such as the Madison County School District in Mississippi and North Carolina State College may be provided.

Additional Options:

Disability History Week: The Road To Freedom is appropriate for pairing with advocacy efforts to pass official recognition of “Disability History Week.”  For example, in Boise, Idaho, the tour joined local advocates in marching to the state capitol, speaking at a rally in front of the capitol, and lobbying leaders for passage of “Disability History Week.” Last year, West Virginia was the first state to pass such legislation. 

Church Events: The Road To Freedom agenda has been successfully presented to church congregations and may include 10 – 15 minute overview by Jim Ward, set up of exhibit, distribution of brochures, etc. Events may include monetary collection to support Road To Freedom tour.

Editorial Board Meetings: A meeting with the editorial board of local newspapers or with managers at television and radio stations can help advocates get out the facts about the Road To Freedom Tour, Disability Rights History, attacks on the ADA and the need for passage of the ADA Restoration Act. If you cannot set up an editorial board meeting, request a simple “drop-by” for the traveling staff and local representatives to meet with a reporter and/or editor. Meetings should include a disability rights lawyer of representative of the local P&A. (For more information on setting up an editorial board meeting, see: http://www.dawninfo.org/co/tools/toolsPDF/how_to_ed_board.PDF)

Veterans Events: With large numbers of war veterans returning from Iraq with disabilities, the Road To Freedom Tour provides the opportunity to show our support for these soldiers and to bring attention to the fact that America is not keeping its promises to veterans and all Americans with disabilities.

Disability Rights Concerts: ADA Watch/NCDR has successfully hosted the Disability Rights Concert with Grammy Award-winning artists Bruce Hornsby and Sweet Honey In the Rock. If local organizers have connections to major recording artists, the Road To Freedom welcomes the idea of a disability rights concert in connection with local bus stops. These events take a great deal of advance work and require fairly “big” names to attract a substantial audience.

The Road To Freedom: Keeping the Promise of the ADA

a project of

ADA Watch and the National Coalition for Disability Rights

1201 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 300

Washington, DC 20004 

Please use the navigation links at the top of this page to download tools that will be helpful in planning your events.