STATEMENT 16 ENGLISH version:

" ADA Transform Lives "

By Luz Z. Collazo, DCDD Council

I would like to share a short story in celebration of the 30th Anniversary of ADA. A few years ago, I had a co-worker, he was a peer counselor at Independent Living Center, he was from Santa Cruz Island in the Caribbean. Athanas Longville was a leader and self-advocate for the rights of people with I/DD in Puerto Rico. I remember him making us, his co-workers, more aware of his wheelchair, an extension of his body. Therefore, his wheelchair would be treated with sensitivity and respect.

At the workplace, Athanas requested a reasonable accommodation, this allowed a modification of his desk to be raised to approximately three inches for better access for his electric wheelchair. In addition, workplace had accessible areas, an accessible bathroom, and an accessible ramp with railing for access to the main entrance of the building. This allowed Athanas as an employee to have a safe and accessible work environment. In addition, the accessible facilities helped many people with disabilities, these had access to independent living services, peer counseling, advocacy training and other accessible services aimed at promoting a life of fullness and inclusion in society.

I remember that Athanas was a leader that advocated for removing architectural barriers and attitudinal barriers in the areas of ​​employment, transportation and housing. His voice and action contributed to promoting a change in attitudes, sensitivity and respect towards individuals with I/DD, through education and awareness of employees, services providers and drivers of accessible transportation services of “Llave y Viaje”.

I remember, Athanas Longville, a black man, a leader with a calm character, with his muscular dystrophy condition, using sign language (ASL) and his soft determining voice, advocating for his civil rights. At every opportunity, he made us more conscious of the importance to ask the person with a disability, first if they want any help, since the individuals with disabilities have the right to decide and choose their support and services. I remember, on one occasion a group of colleagues went on a trip along the southwest coast of the island. We rent an accessible vehicle. We entered a restaurant and Athanas asked the manager to see the entire tourist resort to assess if the place was ADA compliance. In the end, he said "I can return here for a good vacation”, because he realized that the resort was very accessible.

Athanas, along with other leaders, had the opportunity to participate in a training of leaders with the sponsorship the Puerto Rico DD Council in Washington D.C. This experience allowed him to strengthen his public policy skills and share with other leaders of that coalitions, that advocate for the rights of the individuals with disabilities. Athanas Longville, as a leader with I/DD, became a Councilmember of the PRDD Council. He collaborated in public policy initiatives to improve accessibility on sidewalks, advocated for the increase an accessible transportation and housing. Also, he promoted the assistance of technology in his daily life. Today great strides have been made for people with disabilities to live full and inclusive lives in the community.

I wanted to share this story because it's about the power of leadership, the power of being a role model as a human being, and the power of legislation such as ADA, to transform lives. Today, I remember and appreciate all the things that I learned from my friend, Athanas Longville, his leadership, his life as a role model. He taught me the value of self-determination, self-advocacy, the power of words and action that transforms lives. This is a reflection and affirmation, that together we can contribute to a better quality of life for people with I/DD. If in our daily lives we enforce the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), we will transform our community into a better place to live, with equal opportunity and inclusion for all human beings in the District of Columbia.