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August 5, 1999
Ohio's "Wheelchair Mom" Rolls Into History
Woman determined to go places and do things with her child like any
mother would
In her wildest dreams, Kelly Dillery never imagined her name would be
known from one end of the American disability community to the other.
Recognized by many today as "the wheelchair mom from Ohio," Dillery
has spent most of her 30 years living a relatively quiet and inconspicuous
life in Sandusky. That all changed in July 1998, when police charged her
with child endangerment.
Local authorities say Dillery put herself and her child at risk by maneuvering
through Sandusky streets in her motorized wheelchair with five-year-old
Kelsi strapped to her lap. Dillery, who has mobility and speech
disabilities resulting from Friedreich's Ataxia, claims inaccessible sidewalks
and curb cuts which force her to travel in the streets are the real danger.
The charge against Dillery was a first-degree misdemeanor carrying a
maximum sentence of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine. Offered
the chance to plead guilty, she declined-insisting that a jury hear the
case.
That decision and the sequence of events that followed are part of a
fascinating story that is still evolving but has already taken a place
in disability advocacy history. It's a story about Dillery's
struggle to be independent and self-sufficient in a community that is
largely inaccessible to her. Central to the story is Dillery's desire
to be a good mom in spite of the stereotypes and obstacles that confront
her.
There is no question that Dillery's story might have taken an entirely
different course had it not been for two Ohio independent living centers-LEAP/CIL
in Elyria and The Ability Center in Toledo. Concerned for Dillery
individually-and worried about the impact her case might have on disability
rights on a larger scale-these two centers put together a support network
and advocacy campaign second to none.
How did they do that? Why did they do it? Did they make a
difference? These questions and others are the focus of this issue
of ILRU Network. We talk a lot about systems change, advocacy, peer
support and other independent living ideals. Dillery's story provides
us an opportunity to actually look at-and learn from-them in the light
of a real example.
Dillery heads for new state and new start
Meanwhile DOJ investigation and civil suit for discrimination are underway
Kelly Dillery is leaving Sandusky. Within the next few weeks she
will move to Indiana to be close to her daughter, Kelsi, who will begin
school there this fall.
Kelsi's move was planned long before July 1998, when Sandusky police
charged Dillery with child endangerment. The original decision was
based on Dillery's belief that Kelsi, who will live with her aunt while
attending school, will get a better education there. Recently Dillery
told friends the decision seems even better because of her ongoing difficulties
with Sandusky police and her concern for Kelsi's safety and emotional
well-being.
Dillery was found not guilty of the child endangerment charge during
a jury trial last March. But that was not to be the end of her legal
problems. In May, she was cited for being a "pedestrian in the roadway,"
this time without Kelsi. Her attorneys are waiting to move on that
charge until they learn the outcome of an appeal for Dillery's conviction
on an identical charge last January. She was cited for that alleged offense
in early December 1998, a few days after she decided not to plead guilty
to the child endangerment charge.
The citations are a part of what Dillery, her family and close friends
believe is an ongoing campaign of harassment, discrimination and intimidation
by local authorities. On June 10, Dillery formalized her complaints
by filing a lawsuit against the city of Sandusky and several city officials
individually.
Harassment and discrimination
In addition to charges of harassment, Dillery claims Sandusky officials
have discriminated against her and violated her civil rights. The
lawsuit also alleges that the city has violated a number of federal laws,
including the Americans with Disabilities Act. The suit claims the
city does not have a transition plan, grievance plan or self-evaluation
as the ADA requires.
Dillery has long maintained that she must take to the streets when curb
cuts and sidewalks-when there are any at all-are dangerous to maneuver
over or are completely impassable. In the suit, she asks the court
to stop the city from building any new sidewalks or curb cuts that are
not in compliance with the ADA.
Beyond that she asks the court to order the city to correctly install
or re-install any curb cuts or sidewalks that have been built since January
1992, the first year the city should have been in compliance with the
ADA.
DOJ investigates complaint
Meanwhile, as this article is being written, Sandusky is getting a visit
from an investigator from the U.S. Dept. of Justice. The visit
is a follow up to a civil rights complaint filed with DOJ last month.
The complaint is based on an investigation of Dillery launched by Erie
County Children's Services days after she filed the lawsuit.
Attorney Linda Van Tine says the investigation is "separate and apart"
from the lawsuit. "They are focusing on the question of whether
the city's or county's actions equate to acts of retaliation against Kelly
for filing the ADA suit," she explains. "If they find it does, they
will have the option of filing a separate suit in her behalf or attempting
to enter into a consent agreement with the governmental entities outlining
an agreement including damages for Kelly."
Dillery leaves, message stays
Dillery is happy about a new start in a new city. Some people in
Sandusky are happy for her. Some are just happy to see her to go.
News accounts from the beginning of Dillery's ordeal reveal a community
that is clearly divided in its opinions about her. While some applaud
her efforts to be independent and mobile, others chastise her for taking
risks and challenging authority.
Some blame Dillery for drawing the unwelcome attention of outsiders-especially
disability activists who came from other cities to support her cause.
Others say that outsiders had to come in, because people with disabilities
in Sandusky are intimidated and afraid of being harassed like Dillery.
Dillery's departure may end the day-to-day debate about her circumstances.
But there is no question she has made a lasting impression on the town
she has called home for years.
Dislike Dillery if you must. At the same time recognize her
courage for telling people--in fact, telling a whole city--what it didn't
want to hear, and for refusing to have her issue ignored." Sandusky Register
Editorial - July 18, 1999
The tale of two centers for independent living and how
they turned the spotlight on Sandusky
CILs put advocacy and peer support skills to the test
to support Dillery
When Kelly Dillery declined a plea bargain in favor of a
jury trial, she had no reason to believe she would have any support beyond
that of her lawyers, family and a few friends. While there are surely
other people with disabilities living in Sandusky, by all accounts, they
are not organized or visible as a group. It didn't occur to Dillery
to expect their support.
Little did she know that accounts of her troubles were about
to trigger an avalanche of support from people she'd never met before
or even knew existed. In nearby Elyria, Mary Butler read newspaper stories
about Dillery's plight and determined she had to do something to help.
In Toledo, Shona Eakin, having read similar stories, had come to the same
conclusion. Unbeknownst to each other, they each started making calls
and asking questions to learn more about the situation and how they might
help Dillery.
Butler and Eakin were not total strangers, neither did they
know each other very well. They held similar jobs at different centers
for independent living. Butler is the advocacy and outreach coordinator
for LEAP/CIL. Eakin is the advocacy director at The Ability Center.
They attended the same monthly meetings in Columbus.
They were at one such meeting in November 1998, during which
Eakin began to tell Dillery's story. Butler recognized the story
immediately and realized that she and Eakin had taken almost exactly the
same steps-including trying to get in touch with Dillery-up to that point.
"We need to talk," they said simultaneously. Before they left the meeting
they made a date to visit Dillery together. And the rest is--literally-disability
history. Butler and Eakin ignited the spark that set off a
national explosion of support for Dillery. They and their respective
CILs formed a unique collaboration focused on a good outcome for Dillery-not
turf or credit.
Not only about Dillery
From the very beginning, Butler and Eakin knew they were
motivated by the same thing--a concern that if Dillery lost her case it
would set a terrible precedent with implications for people all over the
country. "I'm a systems thinker," Eakin says. "I look at a
situation to see how it affects the greater good." "It's not that we weren't
concerned about Kelly as a person-we were and are. But it has never
been only about her," says Butler.
With that very similar "big picture" outlook, Butler and
Eakin also realized there were differences in their approaches to some
things. "I learned early on that Shona was definitely more comfortable
with confrontation than I was at the time," Butler recalls with a chuckle.
"My process is to try to do it the nice way first," Eakin
responds. "But then I go ahead and do what I have to do. Mary
probably has more patience than me."
Something big, something fast
If the difference in their styles would matter, there wasn't
time to worry about it. With her trial scheduled for January 1999,
they didn't get to meet Dillery until Dec. 16. At that meeting,
Butler and Eakin--both wheelchair users--asked to see where Dillery had
been cited for child endangerment.
"I was appalled," Eakin recalls. "The route
was totally obstructed. In an hour and a half we never even made
it to the actual location. We could see it, but we couldn't get
to it. I knew for sure then that Kelly hadn't done anything illegal.
We needed to do something big. And we needed to do it fast."
Two weeks later, on Dec. 29, approximately 85 Dillery supporters-including
many who are wheelchair users- from throughout Ohio and several nearby
states marched to Sandusky's city hall. It was the biggest disability
rights rally in Sandusky's history. In fact, at that time it was
the only disability rights protest in the town of 80,000. "People
seemed surprised there was such a strong show of support for Kelly," Butler
recalls.
None were more surprised than Dillery. "She was absolutely
blown away by the immense presence of the disability community," Eakin
says.
How did they organize such a big event in such a short time?
"Countless, countless hours of work," Eakin recalls. "We never really
stopped to map out a plan," Butler adds. "We just dove right in
and worked our strengths."
It worked out that Eakin, an avid and active ADAPT member,
had the better contacts and community organizing skills. While she
rounded up supporters, Butler focused on getting information to the international
disability community with postings to disability listservs on the internet
and messages to her personal contacts. They shared responsibility
for contacting the news media and other tasks based on who had the time
or was best equipped to handle a certain task.
Notable vigilance
Dillery's child endangerment trial began on March 9.
If people were impressed by the protest march, they were likely amazed
by the showing of support at the trial. Over two nights, braving
bitter cold, snow and wind, small groups of supporters took turns keeping
vigil beneath a makeshift tent pitched on the courthouse lawn. During
the three days of trial, Eakin estimates as many as 50 crowded inside.
Limited wheelchair seating in the courtroom forced some to watch the proceedings
in the hall on closed-circuit TV. People from all over the country-who
couldn't be in Sandusky-were represented by a steady flow of phone calls,
letters and e-mail messages to city officials and the news media.
The show of support prompted the judge presiding over the
trial to compliment advocates on the show of support in his statements
before announcing the verdict-not guilty. "People finally had to
take us seriously," Eakin states. "Even the judge acknowledged he
had never seen a group as dedicated to a cause."
It's not about turf
But they are quick to point out that the effort went far
beyond what they brought to it. And the first people they credit are their
respective bosses-the directors of their CILs. Tracy Justesen is
the executive director of The Ability Center. Doris Brennan is his counterpart
at LEAP/CIL.
"If they had been concerned about turf or protecting their
own territory," Butler says, "we could have never worked together the
way we did."
"Our directors didn't sit on us. They let us do what
we needed to do," Eakin adds. "They made this possible." Next, the two
organizers pay tribute to the dozens of advocates who took the time and
made the effort to be in Sandusky when a physical presence was important.
And there were those who couldn't be present who showed their support
in a variety of ways including writing letters, making phone calls, or
gathering and circulating information.
"Kelly has the inner strength to be her own advocate," Eakin
reflects, pointing out that Dillery was prepared to fight her battle alone.
"I would like to think this experience has shown her the disability community
is behind her. She doesn't have to fight alone."
And maybe, Eakin says, other people with disabilities will
get the same message. " People with disabilities have to get out
and fight for equality. If they know they'll get support from the
whole community, maybe more people will be willing to."
More to come
While Dillery will move on to Indiana, Butler and Eakin
will still be focused on Sandusky. They plan to provide whatever
support Dillery needs as her lawsuit moves through the system.
Beyond that, The Ability Center is joining individuals in the disability
community to file their own lawsuit against the city of Sandusky.
Expected to be filed in the next few weeks, Eakin says this suit will
focus on Sandusky's failure to comply with the ADA and its provisions
for accessible sidewalks and curb cuts. Butler and Eakin have formed
a tight bond and lasting friendship. As for their differences
in style, they agree they only make them a more effective team.
Says Butler, "We're just getting started."
Recognized for successes, Ohio organizers share their strategies
for effective advocacy
In June, the National Council on Independent Living honored Mary
Butler and Shona Eakin with its Region V Advocacy Award.
They are proud of the honor and recognition, especially
that it came from their peers. At the same time, they say effective
advocacy is not about who gets credit. They hope the recognition
of their work will inspire others to get involved in their own communities.
Based on what they have learned through their own experiences,
Butler and Eakin offer the following tips:
Take it personally. Get mad when you see discrimination
and prejudice. A crime against one of us is a crime against us
all.
Think big. Look at the big picture. If you
know that one person's rights are being violated, you can be pretty
sure there are others in the same boat.
Think beyond territory. The fight for disability
rights is not about turf . We can get more done if we work together.
Don't say "that's not my job." This is everybody's
job. If we don't do it, nobody will do it for us. Appreciate the
strengths that others bring to the effort. Nobody's an expert
at everything but everybody's good at something.
Learn about the system. Learn about the laws. Learn
how to organize and move people to act. Learn how to work with the media.
The more you know about the issues-and how to communicate them-the more
you can accomplish.
"Political hunger" is the key to change
Is it possible to know when and where systems change begins?
Can one person change a system? Some would say that the change underway
in Sandusky started near the intersection of Columbus and Perkins avenues
on July 30, 1998. That's when and where Kelly Dillery was cited for
child endangerment for riding in the street in her wheelchair with her
daughter strapped to her lap. Some would argue this is not systems change-just
one woman's fight with the city.
Steve Gold, attorney for ADAPT and widely respected in
the disability rights community, believes individuals can bring about
systems change in several ways. "When the law has not been definitively
clarified, individuals can impact the system," he says. As one
example he offers the recent Supreme Court ruling in the Olmstead case
brought against the state of Georgia by two individuals. Creating
or changing a law would be another way to change a system.
To this point Dillery's experience doesn't fall into either
of these categories. Instead, from Gold's perspective, it represents
a third approach-"raising the consciousness" of a community. Her
case has raised awareness of the "hatred and fear" that exist in the
community. And that, he says, can bring about change.
But to talk about systems change in these terms alone
is simply to "gloss over" what Gold believes is really important.
"Just bringing a lawsuit isn't enough," he says. What it really
takes to change a system is "lots of grass roots political action."
"I have no doubt that other centers can be doing
what the people in Ohio are doing," Gold says. But they don't seem
"offended" when they see discrimination and prejudice against people
with disabilities, he says, or at least not offended enough to do anything
about it.
"It takes a political hunger for change," Gold says. "That's
what changes systems."
Principle before profit
Attorneys put civil rights first
With much of the spotlight on the events in Sandusky focused
on the advocacy effort, there has been relatively little mention
of two of Kelly Dillery's most important advocates-her attorneys.
Linda Van Tine and K. Ronald Bailey combined their respective talents
and skills to stage a legal battle on Dillery's behalf that some have
described as "no less than brilliant." All of that and they've
done it pro bono. That's right, for free.
It's not that they would turn down compensation for their
legal services on Dillery's behalf. But they haven't let the fact there
is no immediate prospect for payment keep them from getting involved.
Van Tine, who specializes in civil law, first worked
with Dillery on a family matter. That was months before Dillery's
problems with the city began. When she was charged with
child endangering-a criminal misdemeanor-Dillery followed Van Tine's
advice and applied for assistance from the public defender's office.
Out of personal interest, Van Tine was in court
the day Dillery refused to plead guilty to the child endangering charge
and insisted on a jury trial. Sensing the significance of the
case, Van Tine was concerned that an "extremely overworked" public
defender might not be able to commit sufficient time or attention to
it. She called on Ron Bailey who is regarded, she says, as an
excellent and aggressive criminal defense attorney.
"I told him that if there was ever a case that he should
become involved with, it was this one," Van Tine recalls. Not
only did Bailey agree to get involved, he agreed to donate his services,
too. Bailey took the lead in developing Dillery's defense. Van
Tine supplied her knowledge of ADA and other disability related issues.
The combination was effective judging by Dillery's acquittal.
Now the two attorneys are working together on Dillery's
civil suit against the city filed early this summer.
If Dillery wins that suit she will be awarded funds to
pay Van Tine and Bailey for their services. In the meantime they continue
to work on contingency. An unexpected gift from the Rutherford
Institute saved them from having to spend their own money to produce
exhibits and other materials needed for the criminal trial. The institute,
dedicated to preserving human rights and defending civil liberties,
sent $5,000 to assist in Dillery's defense.
Asked what CILs can learn from the legal side of Dillery's
story, Van Tine points to the financial aspects of taking a case through
the legal processes. Not every attorney can donate time to a cause,
she says. And even if they can, they may not have the financial
resources to conduct research, pay for supplies or develop materials.
"If they could help with the cash flow," Van Tine suggests, CILs everywhere
might find more lawyers willing or able to take on a legal battle.
Having said that, Van Tine is also quick to point out
the important contributions the independent living community did make
to Dillery's case. They were extremely helpful, she said, in providing
good background and connecting the attorneys to information resources
to bolster the case. They were invaluable in the "PR aspect" of
the case. "They kept the pressure on," Van Tine says. "With
their marches and other activities they kept the issue in front of people."
When curb cuts don't cut it, advocates cut loose
Illinois and Pennsylvania advocates took to the streets
to be able to use sidewalks
Sandusky's not the only place where accessible curb cuts
and sidewalks are an issue. ADA requirements aside, people with disabilities
in cities and towns large and small still encounter public passageways
that just don't pass muster.
If it's a problem in smaller communities, what must it
be like in the big cities? We checked in with the folks at Access
Living in Chicago to find out. Jim Charlton, program director
for the independent living center, says for the most part Chicago streets
and sidewalks are in pretty good shape. "There is no place on earth
flatter than Chicago," he jokes, so there aren't too many steep
inclines to begin with.
Nonetheless there was a time, 10 to 15 years ago, when
street and sidewalk access was an issue. "We started at the city council
to get an ordinance to prohibit new construction that didn't meet code,"
he recalls. That took some work, he says, but the real work started
after the ordinance took effect. "Then we had to monitor new construction
to make sure it was right. When it wasn't we had to draw attention
to it." Charlton remembers a couple of occasions when advocates tore
up curb cuts when they weren't properly installed. "There's something
about a quad with a jack hammer that gets people's attention."
It at least helped make the point that a bad curb cut is no better than
no curb cut, he says.
It didn't take too much of that and the accompanying media
coverage, Charlton says, for the city to get the message and begin to
be more consistent in proper installation. "I think monitoring
is the key," he advises. "You at least need to stick with it until
they keep getting it right."
It took folks in Philadelphia a trip to the state supreme
court to be able to travel their streets and sidewalks. According
to Cassie James, program manager and ADAPT organizer at Liberty Resources,
the city "simply refused" to fund curb cuts until the 1993 court ruling
mandated it. As the case made its way through the legal process, James
said advocates "took over the mayor's office a couple of times" and
engaged in "street activism" to make their point. "Sometimes you've
just got to use the rights you have in order to get the things you need,"
she says.
James cautions advocates who may be dealing with similar
issues in their own towns to avoid "letting people off the hook" when
it comes to demanding curb cuts. She says some communities are
using community development block grant funds-dollars intended for housing
and community needs-to construct curb cuts. "That's giving up
one thing we need to get another thing," she says. "Our folks
need to pay attention to where the money comes from. If cities
get federal dollars, they should be using dollars from their own budgets
to fund curb cuts."
Personal Perspective: Do we have time for advocacy?
...by Kathleen Kleinmann
Executive Director, Tri-County Patriots for Independent Living
Kathleen Kleinmann was among the estimated 50 advocates
who traveled to Sandusky in support of Kelly Dillery during her trial
on a child endangerment charge. Kleinmann is the executive director
of Tri-County Patriots for Independent Living in Washington, PA.
The following is an excerpt from an excellent written account of her
experience which details her struggle with two issues familiar to all
of us-time and priorities.
As a wheelchair user who raised two children, I for one
trembled with fear that we were on the verge of social catastrophe.
You would think with all the emotion that it stirred in me, I would
be ready to join the fight immediately. But, when the call came
from Shona Eakin asking me to come to Sandusky to help organize the
advocates who would be coming to watch the trial, I had a busy week
planned, as usual.
Being a director of a CIL in Washington, PA, there is
NEVER enough time to do every thing that you want to do or needs to
get done. You get used to saying "no, sorry, I can't." It
was a Friday, and I was far from feeling that the work week was done.
I told Shona that I wished them all success, and that I knew that they
could do the job without me.
I proceeded to have three sleepless night in a row.
How could I be too busy to help with a crisis of this magnitude?
If being a CIL director means that you cannot perform this kind of work,
who the hell needs it? If a CIL director with access to travel
dollars and command over their own time does not have time to take a
stand for justice, who is left to do it?
If Shona said that she needed my help, it must be true
and to disbelieve her is the height of disrespect to her and to her
efforts. I called first thing Monday morning to apologize to Shona and
to assure her that I would be there and would bring others, too.
I am willing to share my personal shame over this incident only to teach
others the lesson that I have learned.
When I got there, I found two other CIL directors had
come, one from Toledo and one from Dayton. Each had struggled
with personal issues and work related issues and had made sacrifices
to be there. We each knew that we were there to help but that
we were also there to salvage the good name of CIL directors, in general.
We knew that as CIL directors we were charged with the responsibility
of being a good role model and a leader in the disability movement as
a whole, and to our own staff, in particular.
We were grateful that we had found wisdom in time to know
that CIL directors had to be represented in the crowd of advocates at
the courthouse in order to maintain the credibility of all CIL directors.
Press relations and advocacy media keeps issue in
the public eye
"Wheelchair user faces sidewalk dilemma." The Sandusky
Register carried its first story about Kelly Dillery in August 1998,
shortly after her citation for riding her wheelchair in the street with
daughter, Kelsi, on her lap.
Since then the newspaper has chronicled each new development
in the story. "Mom charged for carting girl around on wheelchair wants
trial." "Disability activists to rally today in Sandusky." "Cold
and quiet marks first night of vigil." "Dillery's 'real happy'
with not guilty verdict." "Dillery sues Sandusky." "Dillery moves
on; ADA problems stay."
These and other articles-seasoned with a smattering of
editorials-documented a local story with a world of significance to
the international independent living community. In a an editorial
dated Dec. 12, 1998, managing editor Todd Franko wrote that the stories
and editorials "... have generated the most response we've seen here
in some time-possibly ever-over one issue."
This is the kind of media coverage that disability rights
advocates trying to bring public attention to an issue pray for-but
don't always get. Some complain that the media isn't interested
in our issues. That may be true, in some cases. But it may
also be a matter of our own education about what makes news and what
prompts reporters and their editors to pick up a story.
Michael Brice, staff writer for the Sandusky Register,
wrote many of the stories about Dillery. It's unusual for a reporter
to agree to be interviewed about an ongoing news story. But, stressing
that he does not want to become part of the story, Brice did agree
to discuss aspects of covering it that might give centers and SILCs
a better understanding of how reporters work.
Why did the paper pick up the story? "It was the
human aspect of a person trying to have some sort of normalcy to her
life," Brice says. "And the road blocks she was running into."
From the time the first story was published, Dillery's story generated
strong public opinion. Brice lists that as another reason his paper
continued to cover the story. "People were interested in it-both
ways." A Dillery family member -- not the independent living community
-- first brought the story to the Register's attention. As reported
elsewhere in this newsletter, Mary Butler and Shona Eakin were drawn
to Dillery by the first news reports of her story and eventually took
on the responsibility for working with the press. Brice says they
did a good job of educating reporters about disability issues.
He recalls a packet of materials given out before the
march to city hall that was useful. It included information about
how to avoid stereotyping and offensive terms in writing about disability
issues. Butler, Eakin and others were also helpful as subject
matter experts. "They offered their own time, made us aware of
seminars, put us in contact with ADA consultants, and looked at buildings
for accessibility." Reporters want to be accurate, he says, and
these are things that help.
Speaking of the march, Brice commented on the number of
things that made that a "good" story. Seventy people-many of them using
wheelchairs-out on a cold winter day got attention, he says. The only
thing that would have been better from the perspective of a local reporter,
he says, would have been to have more local people on hand. "Reporters
prefer to interview local people whenever possible."
Brice gives the organizers high marks for being "very
reachable-even after hours." They provided their home telephone
numbers for those occasions when the reporters needed information beyond
"normal" work hours.
Brice commends the advocates for keeping him and other
Register reporters "in the loop as far as developments in the story."
He says that's important, even if the developments don't seem directly
related to the story.
It can be a sensitive issue for local reporters when regional
and national media "descend" on a story, Brice says. Sometimes
local sources give more information to the networks and larger papers,
even though it was the local news organization that broke the story
and will still be there when the others leave. Loyalty, he says,
is important to an ongoing relationship between a reporter and
a source.
Bright
ideas?
We're always on the lookout for ideas for future issues.
Call or write us With topics you think would be interesting and useful
to the independent living community. If you know of materials
or people who would be good resources for developing a topic, let us
know about them, too. Use the information on the back page to
contact us. Thanks!
SOURCES & RESOURCES
For more information about the stories in this newsletter,
go straight to the sources. Thanks to the following for sharing
their valuable time, knowledge and experience in our effort to advance
the independence of all people with disabilities.
K. Ronald Bailey
K. Ronald Bailey & Associates
220 W Market St
Sandusky, OH 44870
(419) 625-6740
Mike Brice
Staff Writer
Sandusky Register
314 W. Market St.
Sandusky, OH
(800) 737-7572 #309
mikebrice@sanduskyregister.com
Mary Butler
Advocacy & Outreach Coordinator
LEAP/CIL
2100 North Ridge Road
Elyria, OH 44035
(440) 324-3444 (440) 324-2113 (tty)
leap@kellnet.com
Jim Charlton
Program Director
Access Living
310 South Peoria, Suite 201
Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 226-5900
Shona Eakin
Advocacy Director
Ability Center of Greater Toledo
5605 Monroe Street
Sylvania, OH 43560
(419) 885-5733 [Voice]
seakin@abilitycenter.org
Steve Gold
Public Interest Law Center
125 South 9th ST. #700
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 627-7100
sfgold@compuserve. com
Cassie James
Liberty Resources, Inc.
1341 N. Delaware Avenue
Suite 105
Philadelphia, PA 19125
(215) 634-2000 (voice)
lri@libertynet.org
Kathleen Kleinmann
ExecutiveDirector
Tri-County Partnership for IL
69 East Beau Street
Washington, PA 15301
(724) 223-5115
kleinman@tripil.com
Linda Van Tine
Attorney At Law
1410 Central Ave.
Sandusky, OH 44870
(419) 625-4010
lvantine@worldnet.att.net
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