D. Butler
On February 14, 2008 Houston, Texas was announced as the winner of the Accessible America Contest. This is a yearly contest that is administered by NOD’s Community Partnership Program.
The city is recognized as a model of services for it’s handicapped. By forming committees that included handicapped people they addressed several areas of concern in the Houston area. These committees were instrumental in identifying and offering possible remedy for many and varied issues of access. They have set precedent by not only recruiting but embracing the disabled community to be active participants in the community/government.
This model includes parks and recreation, transportation and employment. They have insured that the disabled have access to all the park and recreational facilities. Taxi cabs and other forms of public transport are also accessible to the handicapped. The city has pushed to increase the number of disabled that are within the work force. They have also developed a very strong emergency management protocol for those with disabilities. They have set precedent by not only recruiting but embracing the disabled community to be active participants in the community/government.
The $25,000 award money will go to fund local disability-related efforts.
Governor Tom Ridge, Chairman of the National Organization on Disability, and former Secretary of Homeland Security noted, "The work of the communities participating in the Accessible America Award competition serves as an important reminder that people with disabilities are not passive consumers of help, but can contribute meaningfully to America's communities. The City of Houston exemplifies a community that has enriched its civic life by the full participation of citizens with disabilities."
The National Organization on Disability, founded in 1982, promotes the full and equal participation and contribution of America’s 54 million men, women and children with disabilities in all aspects of life. The Accessible America Contest, administered by NOD’s Community Partnership Program, is sponsored by generous grants from UPS, AARP and the Chrysler Foundation. The five leading national disability advocates and experts who served as Accessible America Contest judges chose the winners based on comprehensive accessibility and opportunity for people with disabilities. Accessible America applicants demonstrate an exceptional commitment to offering their citizens with disabilities full and equal opportunities to participate in the life of their community, including access to jobs, education, religious worship, voting, transportation, housing, emergency preparedness planning, and services. The Accessible America Contest promotes nationwide replication of these best practices.
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