Category: IL Leaders

September 17, 2018 Sue Rorke

Fred Fay became a role model and activist after he fell from a trapeze at the age of 16 and injured his spinal cord. He worked hard to become independent, from driving himself around (including getting from his wheelchair to the car and then stowing the chair), to attending the University of Illinois. He was… Read More

Fred Fay

September 17, 2018 Sue Rorke

Few people in the disability rights movement understand the power, importance, and nature of grassroots organizing as well as Justin Dart. For over two decades he has been an advocate for justice, civil rights, and human potential in the United States and the world. In addition to their time, Justin and his wife Yoshiko have… Read More

Justin Dart

September 17, 2018 Sue Rorke

Tim Cook was the first lawyer for ADAPT. Below, Eric Von Schetterling pays tribute to Tim Cook in his description of an important court case about transportation rights. In addition to his important work as an activist lawyer, Tim wrote the movement-defining article A Little History Worth Knowing. ADAPT COMES TO PHILLY Philly meets ADAPT… Read More

Tim Cook

September 17, 2018 Sue Rorke

Appointed by Secretary Bigby in August 2007, Charles Carr was the Commissioner of the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) until 2015. He has dedicated his career as an advocate of advancing independence for people with disabilities through his many roles – social, economic policies and programs, and now government. Commissioner Carr, who was paralyzed in a… Read More

Charlie Carr

September 17, 2018 Sue Rorke

As a nationally and internationally acclaimed leader in the disability rights movement, Marca Bristo led the campaign to promote the United States ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities.  She passed away on September 8, 2019. Bridget Hayman at Access Living, the organization that Marca founded and ran, described her… Read More

Marca Bristo

September 17, 2018 Sue Rorke

From the New York Sun.  August 29, 2007 by Stephen Miller Frank Bowe, who died August 21 at 60, led a 10-city protest in 1977 that focused attention on the plight of the handicapped and forced implementation of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Bowe was known in the disability rights community as “the father of… Read More

Frank Bowe