News at a Glance
Group to Promote Wheelchair-Accessible
Taxi Service Nationwide
New York, NY––To mark the anniversary
of the passage of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), United
Spinal Association has launched Taxis For All–North America
(TFANA), a new initiative designed to inform individuals with disabilities
about the benefits of wheelchair-accessible taxi service and to provide
advocacy tools to help start such service in any community.
The project was developed in response to the lack of accessible
transportation services, which is contributing to keeping persons
with disabilities out of the labor force and isolated in their homes.
As the ADA proved to be landmark legislation, protecting the basic
civil rights of over 43 million Americans with disabilities, it is
envisioned that TFANA will help eliminate some of the mobility and
transportations issues that are not addressed in the ADA.
Paul J. Tobin, Executive Director
of United Spinal Association, noted, “We have learned a great deal through our leadership
in New York City’s Taxis For All Campaign coalition, and we
are just beginning to see the fruits of our labor here. By spreading
information about our accessible taxi advocacy experience, United
Spinal Association can make an important contribution toward improving
accessible transportation services for all persons with disabilities.”
Roseville Couple Honored with
Advocacy Award
Joe and JoAnn Zwack of Roseville
received an advocacy award from the National Alliance on Mental Illness
(NAMI) at its national convention, held in Washington, DC, June 28-July
2. The Zwacks are founders of the NAMI-MN Forensic Network, which
works to advocate for persons with mental illness who are in prisons
or jails and support family members through monthly educational meetings.
The Zwacks have been active
in advocating for such things as improved psychiatric treatment for
prisoners, discharge planning and mental health courts, which can
redirect persons with mental illness to treatment programs rather
than jails.
NAMI is the leading advocacy
organization in America for persons with mental illness and their
families, and has over 230,000 members active in all 50 states. ![]()
