2/9/2007
Media Contact:
Justin Ohlemiller,
327-3690
Angie Nussmeyer,
327-5235 |
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Indianapolis a Top 10 city for disability friendliness, outreach
City receives national attention for inclusion efforts INDIANAPOLIS – For the third year in a row, the city of Indianapolis was recognized for its commitment to promote and offer services to residents and visitors with disabilities.
Recently, the National Organization on Disability announced the winners and finalists in the 2006 Accessible America Contest. Indianapolis was one of ten cities honored as a nationwide model for its focus on full and equal opportunities to participate in the life of their community, including access to transportation, recreation, jobs, housing, voting, emergency planning and services.
“The city of Indianapolis has a lot to be proud of when it comes to inclusion,” said Mayor Bart Peterson. “Last year, the city provided several networking opportunities to students and adults with disabilities; hosted a job fair for persons with disabilities; and helped to pass an ordinance that promotes contracting opportunities for businesses owned by persons with disabilities.”
During the upcoming year, the city of Indianapolis will be expanding its reach by organizing the Mayor’s Summit on Inclusive Employment, an event designed to enhance opportunities for people with disabilities. Tentatively planned for the fall of 2007, the event will include a job fair and disability networking day.
In addition, the Mayor’s Advisory Council on Disabilities will work with businesses and jobseekers to produce an employer resource guide that puts disability resources at their fingertips. Included in the guide will be information on tax credits/deductions for small businesses that make buildings more physically accessible as well as disability etiquette and great places to work in Indianapolis for jobseekers with disabilities.
The Mayor’s Office of Disability Affairs will also be focusing on the inclusion of persons with disabilities in city-wide emergency planning; working with the Marion County Clerk to promote voter accessibility; and producing a video to better educate construction contractors on using the appropriate ramps that conform to ADA standards.
Finally, Indianapolis will host the annual Access and Inclusion Awards this year. This event celebrates local businesses, organizations and individuals that have excelled in the inclusion of citizens with disabilities in the areas of employment, accessibility and lifetime service.
“We have more energy and momentum than ever to continue working to that number one spot,” said Juli Paini, the director of the Mayor’s Office of Disability Affairs (MODA). “I am confident that by building on our past successes and focusing on our new agenda we will have a lot to celebrate at the end of the year.”
In 2000, Mayor Bart Peterson created the MODA to go above and beyond the fundamental requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. MODA works closely with the Mayor’s Advisory Council on Disability whose mission is to promote the inclusion and empowerment of people with disabilities within the Indianapolis community, and to advise the Mayor and city administration on issues that impact people with disabilities.
Indianapolis is pleased to share the spotlight with the contest winter and runner- up, Berkeley, CA and Chicago, IL. Other contest finalists included Bloomington, IN; Louisville, KY; Miami Beach, FL; New Haven, CT; San Francisco, CA and Sioux Falls, SD.
The National Organization on Disability, founded in 1982, promotes the full and equal participation and contribution of America’s 54 million men, women and children with disabilities in all aspects of life.
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