National Council on Disability to Conduct Americans with Disabilities Act News Conference in Chicago

July 18, 2007

WASHINGTON-The National Council on Disability (NCD) will release two reports on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) at a news conference at the Crowne Plaza Chicago Metro, 733 West Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois, at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 26, the 17th anniversary of the ADA.

The Impact of the Americans with Disabilities Act: Assessing the Progress Toward Achieving the Goals of the ADA report describes a two-year retrospective study and review of the impact the ADA has had on the lives of Americans with disabilities over the past sixteen years, with particular focus on the four major goals of the ADA-equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency.

Implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act: Challenges, Best Practices, and New Opportunities for Success reflects the experiences and ideas of ADA stakeholders from around the country, including small and large businesses, employers, judges and legal professionals, governmental entities, and individuals with disabilities, concerning ADA implementation.

Speakers will include:

John R. Vaughn 
NCD Chairperson 
Washington, DC

Linda Wetters 
NCD Board Member 
Washington, DC

Peter Blanck, Ph.D, J.D. 
University Professor Chair, Burton Blatt Institute 
Syracuse University 
Syracuse, New York 

Silvia Yee 
Staff Attorney 
Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund 
Berkeley, CA 

Roy Flora 
Chief Operating Officer 
US Franchise Systems, Inc. 
Atlanta, GA 

Rene Luna 
Consumer 
Chicago, IL 

John Catlin
FAIA Partner LCM Architects 
Chicago, IL 

NCD is an independent federal agency and is composed of 15 members appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. It provides advice to the President, Congress, and executive branch agencies to promote policies, programs, practices, and procedures that guarantee equal opportunity for all individuals with disabilities, regardless of the nature or severity of the disability and to empower individuals with disabilities to achieve economic self-sufficiency, independent living, and inclusion and integration into all aspects of society.