Dread's Personal ADAPT Site

Welcome! I am a member of a group called ADAPT, which is at the forefront of the disability rights movement. ADAPT was founded twenty-two years ago in Denver, Colorado. It now has 60 chapters in 49 states, with several sister chapters in the United Kingdom. There are ADAPT members in Canada, Germany, Japan, and Sweden as well!

ADAPT is a national, grassroots organization fighting for the rights of people with disabilities. I have been a member for 19 years. ADAPT's goal is to educate the public about issues concerning people with disabilities. These include, but are not limited to: A national attendant services program, accessible, affordable, integrated housing, accessible public transit, access to public places, the right to work and earn liveable wages, and the right for children with disabilities to attend school in their own neighborhoods with their non-disabled siblings and friends. We work to change laws and policies that discriminate against folks with disabilites, and to create laws that give us the right to live in, and to have equal access within our communities. ADAPT does this in a variety of ways. This can include speaking engagements, meetings, phone calls, letter writing campaigns, drafting new legislation, and protests involving nonviolent civil disobedience.

I want to raise your level of awareness about people with disabilities. That's why I have taken the time to create this site. Forget all of the stereotypes and misinformation that you have heard about us. I want to show you that we are ordinary folks, just like you! We aren't "special", or "brave", and we don't want, or need anyone's pity! People with disabilities want equal rights, not special rights! We can do anything we put our minds to, though sometimes, we may do it differently than you. We aren't sick, nor are we helpless. We are parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, sisters, brothers, and lovers!

Now, get ready to enter a world that you have never seen before--a world where people with disabilities are not only living ordinary lives, but are working to make this world a better place for all. There are links, pics, profiles, and other cool stuff. Many of the pictures that you will see were taken by me, or other ADAPT members. Thanks to Babs Johnson, Carolyn Long, Justin and Yoshiko Dart, Ron Ford, Don Locke, Scott Hinton, Katy Siegal, Tom Olin, Mike McCarty, Tim Wheat, Tisha, Mark, and Malachai Cunningham, and my brother, Erik for the pics. I also want to thank my brother, Jimmi for the cool background image that he made for me! Shall we begin?

Links

The Official ADAPT Website--This is where you'll find quite a bit of information about ADAPT, and what we are doing!

American Association of People with Disabilities--The largest disability rights group in the country.

Atlantis Community--The second oldest Independent Living Center in the country. It's also the home of ADAPT.

The How To Place--The culmination of a dream of my best friend, Dawn Russell, The How To Place is a drop-in center where the Community can do a variety of things. Some activities include the use of the Business Center, research in the Library, and exchange of services via a Barter Board.

Colorado Cross Disability Coalition--A local group here in Colorado. There are ADAPT members who are also members of this group.

Boulder ADAPT--Boulder ADAPT is part of Colorado ADAPT. We often do actions together. This site is the work of my friends, Tim Wheat, Judy Neal, and Mike McCarty.

ColoradoAdvocates--My friend, Mike McCarty, of Boulder ADAPT created this site for Colorado-based disability rights advocates.

Center for Disability Rights--The most active Independent Living Center in New York, and the home of the Rochester, NY chapter of NYS ADAPT.

Regional Center for Independent Living--An affiliate of the Center for Disability Rights, and where I work. We share office space, staff, and resources with CDR.

Disabled Rights Action Committee--This is the site for DRAC/Utah ADAPT, a very strong and active chapter.

DIRECT Action--A non-profit disability rights organization in Washington, DC. My friend, Bobby Coward, is the founder and chair of Direct Action.

Disabled Action Network--ADAPT's sister group in the U.K.

Concrete Change--A sister group in Atlanta, GA, whose main focus is housing.

The UnderRepresented--A really cool forum and blog that focuses on issues and events of interest to people with disabilities.

Profiles

Wade's Page--A memorial tribute to Wade Blank, one of the founders of ADAPT.

Dread In Action--More of me, and my role in ADAPT.

Gil's Page--Meet Gil. You'll love him!

Dawn's Page--Check out Dawn. You won't forget her!

Scott's Page--A memorial tribute to my friend, Scott Hinton.

Current Events

What's Happening--ADAPT events of 2002-2003.

The Courtyard--Check out my little online community! This is also where you'll find the current events for ADAPT this year.

My Scrapbook--See the pictures and stories from the Free Our People March!

Letters and Such

Thank You Notes--Letters of thanks that ADAPT has received from different groups and organizations.

The Written Word

Here are links to some ADAPT related stuff that I have written over the years.

The Colorado ADAPT Guide To Surviving A Vigil.

Our Homes Not Nursing Homes.

War.

The Battle Of HCPF.

And The Steps Came Tumbling Down.

It Pays To Support Independence.