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Greetings!
Long pause, you might have noticed.
Been engrossed with creating the new area of my web site - and learning Dreamweaver on the fly!
I think it turned out pretty well. Watch for a facelift on the rest of the Modern Disability site.
Disability means business. Read about it below.
Gary
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Justin Dart
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Historic Disability Leader
Justin Dart. One of those people who made a huge, individual difference in the world.
Justin and his wife Yoshiko have been completely devoted to disability rights, working full time to lead the vision with incredible passion and ability. Dart passed away on June 22, 2002. Yoshiko is still with us with their call to action, "Lead On!"
Dart had the advantage of being born into wealth, his grandfather having founded Walgreen's drugstores.
 He contracted polio in 1948 at the age of 18, having been less than a stellar student. Seven high schools, and never graduated.
Influenced by Ghandi, he independently studied studied history and education at the University of Houston, where he was then refused a teaching certificate because of his disability. (Same story for another major disability figure,
Judy Heumann.) The Justin Dart, Jr. Center for Students with Disabilities now resides at UH.
Dart started and sold successful businesses, and then he and Yoshiko went on retreat in Japan without electricity for an extended period of deep meditation.
As of 1974, they fully immersed themselves in disability activism.
Justin was an amazingly passionate speaker. I heard him speak in 1997 when I was researching Life On Wheels and no one on the disability scene had ever heard of me. As I was leaving the room, Dart went way out of his way to head me off, look me in the eye, shake my hand, and thank me for being there. I was amazed not only by the gesture, but by his intense charisma and devotion to every single person who shared his mission.
 By 1990, Justin Dart was sitting next to President George H.W. Bush for the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. He is often referred to as "the grandfather of the ADA." He did not subscribe to the term himself, noting, properly, that a lot of people were involved in the process.
Justin Dart, right, with George H.W. Bush
at the signing of the ADA on July 26, 1990.
Evan Kemp, another disability advocacy star
who is no longer with us is at right.
 I've had the real pleasure of a couple of encounters with Yoshiko Dart, right, who is entirely sweet and modest and full of energy and passionate belief.
Justin and Yoshiko Dart. Amazing people who truly inspire by the example of their lives. They have made a real and lasting difference for us all.
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The New Web Area
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The Business Side of Modern Disability
Announcing a new area of my Modern Disability web site devoted to business and disability.Here's some of what you'll find:- The BizCase for workers with disabilities
- Lots of disability etiquette guidance
- What is disability / who are they?
- Reasonable accommodation, stay-at-work
- Resource listings
...and, of course, information about my work as a speaker and trainer.I designed it to be very easy and efficient to surf, written in a tight, concise form, and introducing the "A Little More" feature. Hope you like it.Go straight to the Business Case page, and explore!Did it all by myself. The economy being what it is, who can afford a web developer?Help me make it even better. What else would you like to see in the business area? |
Cool Web Site
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I'm Hooked on the Podcasts
Being the history buff that I am (particularly amazing, given that I hated it in school; thanks to clearly talentless teaching!), I'm totally hooked on "Things You Missed in History Class" from howstuffworks.com.Wanna know what Marie Antoinette really meant when she said, "Let them eat cake"? Did Mrs. O'Leary's cow really burn down Chicago? Was there an actual Count Dracula? What led up to the tragedies at Kent State? Did Lady Godiva really ride a horse naked through town?You can get to these through the web site, or you can subscribe through iTunes. |
My New Co-Sponsor
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Welcome to Colours
 Which means you'll see me riding in one of their very hip, high quality chairs. Colours has long been devoted to style as well as design.
For the first time in my life, I'm going with color. I'm getting the Razorblade model in Midnight blue. (Gonna play it safe at first.)
Check them out at colourswheelchair.com.
This will be the sixth year of my relationship with the Reeve Foundation, speaking at universities and rehab centers across the U.S. Between now and next June I'll speak at 26 sites.
This fall I'll visit Washington D.C., Omaha, Boston, and Atlanta (where I'll also speak and sign books at the Abilities Expo show).
Visit the Reeve Resource Center web site to learn about the amazing range of programs they run. Their well-stocked library is on hand to send you books at no charge, they provide resource phone support, and have published a great resource guide you can get for free. The PRC is also active in advocacy, research, and provides grants to quality of life programs.
This is the side of the Reeve Foundation that is about living well with paralysis, thus their support of my work.
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Latest Rave |
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"You set a personal example for everyone to see the potential in the huge, untapped resource of people with disabilities. You have a perfect pitch for a professional audience, and are the ultimate professional without being preachy."
- Marie Bernard, Project Hired
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| Studio photos copyright, charliesamuels.com.
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