National Topics and Events
Georgia Teen with Disability Travels the Nation to Assess Accessibility on the Anniversary of ADA (07/21/2005)
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Athens, GA, July 21, 2005 – On July 22, Darius Weems, a 15-year-old with muscular dystrophy, and 11 young men will leave Athens, Georgia, on a cross-country tour to assess just how accessible our country is for 54 million Americans with disabilities. The project – Darius Goes West – aims to raise awareness for people with disabilities across America.
United Cerebral Palsy (UCP), through the generosity of national trustee Loreen Arbus, has given $25,000 towards the Darius Goes West project in honor of the 15th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
“UCP is proud to support Darius’ journey across America,” said Stephen Bennett, President and CEO of United Cerebral Palsy. “While we celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Darius reminds Americans that people with disabilities depend on fair laws like the ADA to protect their right to full participation.”
Darius Weems, a 15-year-old from Athens, GA, has Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). DMD is a degenerative genetic disease that deteriorates voluntary muscles. Darius’ older brother, Mario, passed away as a result of DMD six years ago, at the age of 19.
“Darius Goes West is about raising awareness for people with disabilities and taking our friend on a trip of a lifetime,” said Logan Smalley, spokesman for Darius Goes West. “We decided there was no need for Darius’ quality of life to suffer along with his muscles.”
Darius and his 11 friends will travel in a wheelchair-accessible RV from Athens to Los Angeles and back, stopping along the way to assess the accessibility of some of the country’s most notable cities and tourist sites.
Darius Goes West plans to film Darius’ first trip beyond Georgia borders to document his life, with the intention of releasing it at film festivals nationwide. They hope the documentary will help improve the quality of life of people with disabilities by providing what they call a “road map” for travelers with disabilities and to advance public awareness of the 15-year-old Americans with Disabilities Act.
The Americans with Disabilities Act, the world’s first comprehensive civil rights law for people with disabilities, was passed with broad bipartisan support and signed into law by President George H.W. Bush on July 26, 1990. The legislation prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in employment, public services, public accommodations and telecommunications.
Weems and the Darius Goes West crew will also serve as ambassadors for WhoWillCare.net, a campaign to save our nation’s professional caregivers, sponsored by United Cerebral Palsy and the American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR). By logging on to www.WhoWillCare.net, the public can send a free letter to their Members of Congress to protect caregivers, who provide vital support to tens of millions of people with disabilities and aging Americans.
About United Cerebral Palsy
United Cerebral Palsy is one of the nation’s leading organizations serving and advocating for the more than 54 million Americans with disabilities. Most UCP consumers are people with disabilities other than cerebral palsy. Through its nationwide network, United Cerebral Palsy offers services to individuals, families and communities such as job training and placement, physical therapy, individual and family support, early intervention, social and recreation programs, community living, state and local referrals, and instruction on how to use technology to perform everyday tasks. For more information, visit www.ucp.org or call (800) 872-5827.