UCP: CONGRESSIONAL REPORT SHOWS NEED FOR IMMEDIATE CHANGE 

Office of Compliance highlights inaccessibility of Capitol buildings 

Washington, DC (October 19, 2012) – United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) released the following statement today in response to the Office of Compliance’s Biennial Report on the 111th Congress, “Americans with Disabilities Act Inspections Relating to Public Services and Accommodations.”

The report, which is required by the Congressional Accountability Act and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), examined the accessibility of the House Office Buildings, as well as bathrooms throughout the Capitol complex. The findings show that while progress has been made in making the buildings more accessible, there are still significant problems:

·      93% of curb ramps on the sidewalks are not in compliance with ADA Accessibility Standards.

·      54% of the total exterior pathway barriers are a safety risk for people with disabilities.

·      None of the bathrooms inspected met ADA standards.

“For the 57 million Americans living with disabilities today, this is more than just a report— this is stark reminder that 22 years after the passage of the ADA, the fight for basic civil rights is not over. All Americans should have the ability to access their representatives and attend and testify at hearings, but it is clear that this is not the case. We urge Congress to act immediately to correct the safety issues, and work to ensure that all of the problems are fixed,” said Stephen Bennett, President & CEO of UCP. “The findings in this report are very disappointing, and show how much progress is still needed to ensure that all Americans have the same rights and opportunities.”

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About United Cerebral Palsy

United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) educates, advocates and provides support services through an affiliate network to ensure a life without limits for people with a spectrum of disabilities. Together with nearly 100 affiliates, UCP has a mission to advance the independence, productivity and full citizenship of people with disabilities by supporting more than 176,000 children and adults every day—one person at a time, one family at a time. UCP works to enact real change—to revolutionize care, raise standards of living and create opportunities—impacting the lives of millions living with disabilities. For more than 60 years, UCP has worked to ensure the inclusion of individuals with disabilities in every facet of society. Together, with parents and caregivers, UCP will continue to push for the social, legal and technological changes that increase accessibility and independence, allowing people with disabilities to dream their own dreams, for the next 60 years, and beyond. For more information, please visit www.ucp.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Kaelan Richards: 202-973-7175,

UCP CELEBRATES 22ND ADA ANNIVERSARY

Renews call for progress for Americans living with disabilities

Washington, DC (July 26, 2012) – United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) issued the following statement today in recognition of the 22nd anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which ensured that people living with disabilities were afforded the same access rights as every other American.

“Today we celebrate the anniversary of a great moment in our nation’s history, the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, by continuing to advocate and actively push for civil rights protections and public policies that ensure fair and full citizenship for people with disabilities. The ADA is a promise that America has made to its citizens: that every man, woman and child is an equal and valued citizen,” said Stephen Bennett, UCP President & CEO. “But we still have a long way to go, particularly in areas such as health care, education and employment opportunities, to ensure that Americans living with disabilities have the support, access and tools they need to live their lives to the fullest. So while today is a day of celebration for the disability community, it should also serve as a call to action for us all.”

United Cerebral Palsy works with its nearly 100 affiliates throughout the country to provide services to people living with disabilities every day. Additionally, UCP is working to develop and support policies that will expand access to health care and education, as well as employment opportunities and technology.

Team up with UCP as it advocates for life without limits for all by joining the conversation on Facebook and Twitter, this week, to add your voice to the movement. 

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About United Cerebral Palsy
United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) educates, advocates and provides support services through an affiliate network to ensure a life without limits for people with a spectrum of disabilities. Together with nearly 100 affiliates, UCP has a mission to advance the independence, productivity and full citizenship of people with disabilities by supporting more than 176,000 children and adults every day—one person at a time, one family at a time. UCP works to enact real change—to revolutionize care, raise standards of living and create opportunities—impacting the lives of millions living with disabilities. For more than 60 years, UCP has worked to ensure the inclusion of individuals with disabilities in every facet of society. Together, with parents and caregivers, UCP will continue to push for the social, legal and technological changes that increase accessibility and independence, allowing people with disabilities to dream their own dreams, for the next 60 years, and beyond. For more information, please visit www.ucp.org. 

UNITED CEREBRAL PALSY & CAPABILITY SCOTLAND CELEBRATE EFFORTS TO ADVANCE THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

British Ambassador & Lady Sheinwald Graciously Host Event at Embassy Residence 

Actor & United Cerebral Palsy Board Trustee Cheryl Hines Helped Commemorate Anniversaries of Americans with Disabilities Act & Disability Discrimination Act

Washington, DC (June 18, 2010) – United Cerebral Palsy (UCP), a leading service provider and advocate for children and adults with disabilities, along with UCP affiliate Capability Scotland, and by kind permission of the British Ambassador and Lady Sheinwald, commemorated the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the 15th anniversary of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) in the United Kingdom. The event honored the efforts of those who created these landmark laws and continue to work to achieve a Life Without Limits for people with disabilities yesterday evening at the at the Embassy Residence of the British Ambassador in Washington, DC.

“The excitement generated at last night’s event hosted by the British Ambassador and Lady Sheinwald is a critical step in our global movement to achieve a Life Without Limits for people with disabilities,” said Stephen Bennett, President & CEO, United Cerebral Palsy. “Celebrating historic pieces of civil rights legislation that radically changed the lives of all people with disabilities – the Americans with Disabilities Act and the UK’s Disability Discrimination Act – compound how far we have come in the last 60 years since United Cerebral Palsy was founded. We should use the 20th and 15th anniversaries of this legislation as benchmarks for the key landmarks that will come next for people with disabilities. We must sustain a movement with a single goal: ensuring a life without limits for people with disabilities.”

In addition to the hosts, British Ambassador & Lady Sheinwald, attendees included Actor and UCP Board Trustee Cheryl Hines; Alan Dickson, Chief Executive, Capability Scotland; Stephen Bennett, President & CEO, United Cerebral Palsy; Bruce Merlin Fried, Chair, Board of Trustees, United Cerebral Palsy; Joe Stettinius, President, Cassidy Turley, the event’s Transatlantic Underwriter; Linda, Jack and David Maguire; current and former legislators; government officials; corporate leaders; advocates; members of the United Cerebral Palsy Board of Trustees, the majority of whom are people, or part of family, impacted by disabilities; and embassy staff.

Also in attendance were the United Cerebral Palsy Young Benefactors, a new group of young men and women who support, communicate and extend the vision of Life Without Limits for people with disabilities and transform the cause to bring this vision closer to reality.

Photos
Please contact Lauren Cozzi for event photos or a high resolution headshot of Cheryl Hines.

British Ambassador’s blog
An overview of last night’s event, written by the British Ambassador, is available on his blog.

About United Cerebral Palsy
Founded more than 60 years ago by parents of children with cerebral palsy, today United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) is a leading service provider and advocate for children and adults with disabilities. The UCP mission is to advance the independence, productivity and full citizenship of people with disabilities through an affiliate network. This includes approximately 100 local service providers reaching more than 176,000 individuals daily in the U.S., Canada, Scotland and Australia. The national office in Washington DC advocates on behalf of individuals with disabilities; advances federal disability public policy (Disability Policy Collaboration); and develops forward-thinking programs like Life Without Limits and My Child Without Limits. For more information, please visit www.UCP.org.

About Capability Scotland
Like United Cerebral Palsy (UCP), Capability Scotland was founded over 60 years ago by parents of children with cerebral palsy. Today, the organisation campaigns with, and provides education, employment and support services to, disabled children and adults across Scotland in order that they achieve equality and have choice and control in their lives. For more information, please visit the Capability Scotland website:www.capability-scotland.org.uk.

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