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You simply cannot miss the incredible line-up CTD has put together for you! US Senate candidate Representative Rick Noriega (photo, with CTD's Dennis Borel) has confirmed as Keynote speaker for CTD’s 30th Annual Convention. State Senator Judith Zaffirini, Texas’ top legislator on disability issues and Vice Chair of the Senate Finance Committee and Barbara Ann Radnofsky, always a friend of the disability community and planning on running for Texas Attorney General in 2010, round out a great slate of speakers from the world of politics. In conjunction with the Texas Chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), and local co-host SAILS, CTD’s 30th Annual Convention will be held on September 5-7 in San Antonio at the El Tropicano Riverwalk Hotel. In addition, we will hold the following four breakout sessions:
On Saturday, we will feature the Texas premiere of “Swim”, a documentary film about two servicemen who attempt to swim across the Straits of Gibraltar, separating Europe and Africa. This journey, featured on Good Morning America, occurred to raise awareness of the many veterans returning to the U.S. with service-related disabilities. "Swim" just won the American Pride Films Award at the GI Film Festival in Washington over Memorial Day weekend.
CTD will hold an Extreme Sports Panel on Sunday, featuring athletes with disabilities who participate in quad rugby, kayaking, skydiving and shooting sports. Plus, help determine CTD’s advocacy goals in the classic grass roots resolutions process. And more!
Click here to register for CTD's 30th Annual Convention Online.
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Last October, CTD met with AT&T execs to discuss cell phone accessibility. Cell phones are key tools for independent community living and CTD jumped at this opportunity. Executive Director Dennis Borel, Technology Assistant William Greer, a person with a visual impairment, and two of our founders, Larry Johnson and Pat Pound, both persons with complete blindness, advised AT&T Mobility on the needs of people with disabilities for accessible/affordable cell phones and software. We addressed how although people with disabilities are among the lowest income demographic the hardware and software that make devices such as cell phones accessible to them are expensive.
Almost five months later, AT&T contacted us with great news resulting from our roundtable discussion and advocacy. AT&T announced it will require Universal Design, which is a set of accessibility standards, for products they offer in their stores worldwide.
Most manufacturers will need time to meet these new standards, but this is a huge step forward for the industry and people with disabilities. There is an indirect advantage for everyone involved, because cell phones will be equally accessible to everyone, which will save users with disabilities huge amounts of money while making their lives easier and more productive.
To view AT&T’s document on Universal Design, visit http://developer.att.com/universaldesign
Still hard to believe, but true; CTD pulled off the unthinkable and made history twice: first, becoming the largest cross-disability team to reach Mt. Everest Base Camp at 17,500 ft., then again when Expedition Leader Gary Guller became the first person with one arm to summit Mt. Everest at over 29,000 ft.
From the trailhead at Lukla, Team Everest spent 18 days trekking through the high Himalaya, enduring cold and snow, difficult trails, thinning air and primitive tent camping conditions. They gained lasting admiration from high altitude indigenous villagers and the following advice: “You have achieved much, now it is time for you to turn back. The trail to Base Camp is extremely demanding for the able-bodied and impossible for you.” The team did not take this advice. Several days of snowstorms halted the team only one day shy of Base Camp, but the weather broke and the team climbed over ice fields, witnessed avalanches and triumphed, reaching Base Camp on April 6, 2003! In a place where one out of ten able-bodied trekkers makes it to Base Camp, an astounding 9 of the 16 people with disabilities made it-four using wheelchairs! For the summit attempt, Gary Guller represented all people with disabilities as he acclimated to the altitude and waited patiently for a clear window. On May 23, 2003, Gary became the first person with one arm to stand at the top of the world.
When the Dallas Morning News sent a reporter and photographer, dispatches and photos from the expedition in Nepal went over international wire, scoring CTD and Team Everest a major media coup. The team’s success was spotlighted in hundreds of TV and radio stories and internet, newspaper and magazine articles throughout the world, including Sports Illustrated, ABC World News Tonight, Outside Magazine, Newsweek and Time, inspiring millions around the world. This photo of Matt Standridge celebrating at Base Camp was published worldwide.
“The best thing any Texas group in any field has done this year.” -Dallas Morning News, May 2003
CTD, partnering with the Secretary of State’s Elections Division, is conducting VOTEXAS outreach, providing brochures on voting for people with disabilities and assuring Texans that if they are registered to vote in Texas, they can vote privately and independently.
Available in English and Spanish, the brochures detail polling place expectations, special help available at polling locations, curbside voting, mail and early voting, and further information regarding services for voters with disabilities. Additionally, there is a list of rights for registered voters in Texas. CTD will send you brochures for free! If you are interested in receiving brochures for voters with disabilities, please contact:
Brittany Williams bwilliams@cotwd.orgClick here if you are having trouble reading the newsletter.
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