The ADA Legacy Tour

Attendees of the Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL) Youth Conference pose for a photo with the Road to Freedom bus. The drawing of Justin Dart, seen at far right, was done by Michaela Kouti, one of the youth in attendance.

Photo by Jon Wick

The ADA Legacy Tour

The ADA Legacy Tour is rolling across the country raising awareness and building excitement around ADA25 – the 25th anniversary of the ADA in 2015. The Tour kicked off July 26, 2014, in Houston, Texas – home of President George H. W. Bush, signer of the ADA – and will end up in Washington, D.C., on July 26, 2015, for ADA25 festivities. The Tour includes:

• the “Road to Freedom” ADA Bus – which traveled to 48 states in 2007 to raise support for the ADA Amendments Act – courtesy of the Disability Rights Center and driven by veteran disability rights photographer Tom Olin;

• a four-panel display on the history of self-advocacy, courtesy of the Museum of disABILITY History;

• displays on the ADA Legacy Project and its efforts to preserve disability history, celebrate its milestones, and educate future generations of advocates;

• a “Because of the ADA ...” booth where you can post your thoughts and photos to illustrate the difference the ADA has made in your life;

• displays on the history of the Road to Freedom Tour;

• a table with information on the ADA and The ADA Legacy Project, fun giveaways, and material from our partners and sponsors; and

• events, workshops, artifacts, and other programming provided by local hosts.

The ADA Legacy Tour schedule appears at right, although dates and locations may be modified. If you are along the route and can make a minimum donation of $250 (the cost of a tank of gas), it may be possible for the Tour to stop briefly in your community for a photo opportunity with Tom Olin and the “Road to Freedom” ADA Bus. Your support will help “Keep Freedom Rolling.”

Tour Schedule

January

TBD: Tampa, FL 27-31: Orlando, FL

February 22: Boca Raton, FL

March

1-4: Austin, TX 9-13: Denver, CO 17-20: Topeka, KS 30-31: Columbia, MO

April

2-4: Bentonville, AR 7-8: Hot Springs, AR 10-11: Memphis, TN 14-17: Nashville, TN 19-23: Washington, DC 29-30: Buffalo, NY

May

10-11: Atlanta, GA TBD: Birmingham and Montgomery, AL

June

1-8: Anderson, SC, Greenville, SC, Charlotte, NC, and Charleston, SC 12-13: Atlanta, GA 16: Springfield, IL 17-20: Indiana 24-27: Milwaukee, WI

July

1-4: Missoula, MT 11: Rochester, NY 13-14: New York, NY 18: Chicago, IL July 20: Toledo, OH July 22: Cleveland, OH July 25: Philadelphia, PA 26-28: Washington, DC

For more information about celebration events and Tour schedule, visit www.adalegacytour.com.