One of the greatest advocates for people with disabilities has left this world a better place to live because of her dedication, her passion, and her determination that people with disabilities have rights.

In her words, they have earned it all:  “The right to play on any playing field? You have earned it.  The right to study in any school?  You have earned it.  The right to hold a job?  You have earned it.   The right to be anyone’s neighbor?  You have earned it.”

Founded by Eunice Shriver in the 1960′s, the Special Olympics had over 3.1 million persons with disabilities participate  in 228 Games in 170 nations.  Michael Gamel-McCormick, PhD, President of AUCD, mourned the loss of one of the most important advocates for persons with disabilities that the nation has known.  “Mrs. Shriver was the essence of advocacy and service.  To watch her at a Special Olympics event was to see someone who fully valued the lives of persons with developmental disabilities and who valued their full potential as well.  Her greatness was and will remain that she changed the way much of the country, much of the world, viewed persons with intellectual disabilities.”  The Special Olympics has grown into the largest, most important sports movement in history.

In 1984, President Ronald Reagon presented Eunice Kennedy Shriver with the President’s Medal of Freedom, America’s highest civilian award for public service.

Chicago mayor, Richard Daley, stated after the first Special Olympics Games were held in Chicago in 1968, “The world will never be the same after this.”

He was right.  Eunice Kennedy Shriver has forever changed the way that the world looks at people with disabilities.  Thank you, Mrs. Shriver, for leading the way for the rest of us.

The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) presents the AUCD Awards each year to persons who have made significant contributions to the understanding, support, and advancement of disability services and supports.  This is an opportunity to recognize the many hours of commitment and dedication, and the persistence and leadership of individuals, organizations and programs throughout the nation who are making a difference in the lives of people with disabilities.

There are several award categories, including: Distinguished Achievement; Outstanding Achievement; Leadership in Advocacy; Young Professional; Special Recognition; Meritorious Service; and the Anne Rudigier Award. Marvin G. Fifield, EdD, who served as director of the Center for Persons with Disabilities for 28 years,  received the Distinguished Achievement Award in 2000,  the highest accolade presented by AUCD given to individuals or organizations making distinguished lifetime contributions to people with developmental disabilities and their families

Nominations for the 2009 Awards are now open and will be accepted through September 11, 2009.  Is there someone or some organization/program that you feel is deserving of receiving one of these awards?  Take a minute to nominate them now!

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The River Park Senior Housing, a low rent Neighborhood Nonprofit Development, is now available for eligible persons 55 years or older or who have a disability.  Rents range from $315-$500, depending on occupancy and income, which includes heat, hot water, sewer, & trash.  Free laundry facilities are on-site and the 1-2 bedroom units are cable TV ready.

This beautiful, river-front apartment complex answers a need for modest housing for seniors and those with disabilities in the Cache Valley area.  Units are still available to those who are eligible.  For questions you can contact Rosa at (435) 753-5700.  To pick up an application, you can go to the River Park Senior Housing Office at 784 South Riverwalk Parkway on the south end of Logan.

The Cache Valley Community Garden's raised beds under construction.

Gardening is a way to relax and work at the same time. The rewards go far beyond the harvest. They begin when the gardener is surrounded by living things, watching their progress day by day.

This very peaceful hobby is now available to people of all abilities, thanks to the work of many different groups and individuals. The Center for Persons with Disabilities was one of at least  seven organizations that helped develop the Cache Valley Community Garden. This spring, dozens of volunteers from throughout the valley showed up to work on the garden and fill its raised, accessible beds with soil.

This week, Logan’s Herald Journal newspaper focused on the garden and its accessible  plots. The article also highlights a gardening class for people of all abilities that will be taught at the garden on Friday. People with and without disabilities are invited to come to the class and enjoy the community resource.

Volunteers help finish the community garden in May.

On July 24, President Obama invited a group of 12 representatives of the disability community to meet privately with him, Attorney General Holder, Secretary of Labor Solis, and senior White House officials in advance of an East Room ceremony marking the 19th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  At this historic meeting, Pres. Obama announced the Administration’s decision to sign and seek Senate ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Those invited to attend from the disability community included representatives from Family Voices, the National Council on Independent Living, The ARC, the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities and many others.

The disability community representatives came away from that meeting believing that the President, his cabinet representatives, and his senior White House staff are committed to working with communities to achieve the goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

One week later, on July 31, 2009, U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice signed the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, an international treaty to protect and promote the rights of the world’s estimated 650 million persons with disabilities.  That brings the total number of signatories to 141, with the treaty being ratified by 60 countries.  By signing and then ratifying the treaty, countries commit themselves to enact laws and other measure to improve disability rights, as well as abolish discriminatory legislation, customs and practices.

“We are glad the United States has shown its commitment to be part of the common effort to ensure the full recognition of the rights of persons with disabilities in our societies,” said Akiki Ito, the Chief of the Secretariat of the Convention which is housed in the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs.  “We look forward to working with the US and hope to add their strength to our work for persons with disabilities worldwide.”