Change is Coming

MCIL invited friends and collaborators into the office at 1633 Madison Avenue for one last meal and a public forum of changes that are coming. The message was that MCIL was still focused on our mission to fully integrate people with disabilities into all aspects of community life, but we were going to change locations. MCIL also had to note that there were many other changes going on and the MCIL staff were dedicated to continue to advocate for people with disabilities.

The highlight of the meeting was when individuals gave unscripted testimony about what all MCIL had given to them. It was an unplanned outpouring of love and support that was touching. It felt like people were saying goodbye, but Sandi Klink was able to reinforce the message that MCIL was keeping with the mission.

The Executive Director of MCIL, Sandi, gave a clear outline of the changes that people could expect from MCIL and the things that were changing. She also balanced her presentation with a clear statement that the mission and passion of MCIL were not changing and people can expect that we will continue to assertively advocate for independence and equality.

The Center also wished to confirm our continued support for the Memphis 3.0 process and the contemplative changes that Memphis can expect. Tim Wheat, the Program Director, facilitated a discussion on questions about the ADA that may impact the upcoming Transition Plan and the focus of MCIL.

People with disabilities had a lot to say about the future of the ADA in Memphis. MCIL kept a brief summary of the questions and answers:

1. Tell us all about a time when the ADA has made a difference in your life? One person said that the ADA made a difference everyday, others mentioned curb-ramps from MCIL’s lawsuit Uttilla v. Memphis, crossing signals and ramps.
   
2. Right now, Memphis 3.0 is planning for the future of Memphis, where do you see people with disabilities in our city in 5 years and in 30 years? Some people saw good things for the future and some saw problems. People wanted employment to change and they saw many people leaving the city.
   
3. What do you find as the most overlooked protection of the ADA? There were a lot of things and it is not fully discussed here, but a short list would be: accommodations, access to the city, employment, transportation, information and housing.
   
4. What do you feel are the most important changes for Memphis to consider when the City creates its ADA Transition Plan? The ability to come together and have our voices heard, the need to work together, for each of us to know more about the ADA and teach others, have workshops on the ADA and MATA to understand the ADA.
   
5. What do you think MCIL can do to help enforce the Civil Rights protections of the ADA? Work with MATA, educate people about accessibility and closed captioning for all media.
   
6. Using the ADA as a yardstick, how does Memphis measure in employment, public access, government services and communication? The group agreed that Memphis was poor in access, some gave good examples such as: Chattanooga, Denver, Vegas, Nashville, Houston and Florida.
   
7. What do you find is the most important Civil Rights protection for you? ADA employment protections, equality and government services, access protections to public accommodations, communication, the Fair Housing Amendment Act or other civil rights protections? Housing and denial of services.
   
8. Employment of people with disabilities has stayed much the same as it was before the ADA, what could make the biggest impact in getting more people with disabilities into the workforce? People answered that advocacy and knowledge of employers about how to accommodate and integrate employees with disabilities would be important. They also suggested MCIL should train employers to see the ability not the liability. They also added sensitivity training.
   
9. Do you know any examples of the ADA being abused or disability rights being extended too far? The group did have some examples of abuse like service animals, nursing home services and online applications.
   
10. What do you see locally as the greatest success of the ADA? People mentioned audible crossing signals the crosstown concourse as a great example of accessibility if improvements in areas of town in curb ramps and the yellow marks on sidewalks.

Beginning October 1 MCIL will be moving to 5100 Poplar Ave., Memphis, TN it in the clock tower building in East Memphis. Sandy showed some pictures of the new office and invited everyone to come and visit us after the move.