Texas Medical Center NEWS


Vol.22, No.5		March 15, 2000

President Bush Presents Bush Medal To Six ADA Advocates

by NANCY HUDGINS
TIRR

President Bush presented former Attorney General Dick Thornburgh (right) with the Bush Medal honoring his commitment to people with disabilities. With them is Governor Thornburgh's wife, Ginny.

President George Bush presented the George Bush Medal to six individuals, two posthumously, who have distinguished themselves in the movement for equal rights and opportunity for people with disabilities worldwide during a February 24 gala luncheon in Houston. "Lighting The Way," the theme of the luncheon, brought leaders of the disability-advocacy community together to recognize the inspired leadership of the six individuals who were honored. Their passionate commitment to equality and opportunity for all has helped to make the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) a valuable part of the American culture.

The Bush Medal Committee and TIRR (The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research) hosted the luncheon. President George Bush personally presented the awards to honorees: Elizabeth Boggs (deceased), founder of The Arc, formerly the Association of Retarded Citizens; Justin Dart, Jr., well-known disability rights advocate; Evan J. Kemp, Jr. (deceased), former chairman of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); Joshua Malinga, Zimbabwe, Africa, President of Disabled Peoples'

International; Dick Thornburgh, former U.S. Attorney General; and Patrisha A. Wright, widely considered the primary force behind the ADA lobbying campaign.

"This was an incredible experience, particularly for those of us who have invested so much of our energy and time into the Americans With Disbabilities Act for these 10 years," said Lex Frieden, senior vice president, TIRR. "It was wonderful to recognize the accomplishments that have been made in this nation with access and job and educational opportunities for people with disabilities. It was very exciting seeing President Bush light the torch that will be carried from Houston to California and then to Washington, D.C. on July 26 to mark the tenth anniversary of the ADA. Presidents change and times change, but the commitment to opportunity doesn't change," said Frieden.

Continental Airlines Chairman and CEO Gordon Bethune was the keynote speaker at the luncheon. Entertainment was provided by the Dionysus Theatre Troupe of The River Performing and Visual Arts Center. In keeping with the luncheon theme "Lighting the Way," President Bush lit a torch to conclude the program and to ceremoniously begin "The Spirit of ADA Torch Relay: Renew the Pledge." The torch will be passed hand-to-hand through a 23-city relay that ends in Washington, D.C. on July 26, the 10th anniversary of Bush signing the Americans with Disabilities Act on the South Lawn of the White House.Two former TIRR patients, Emily Conner and Christopher Arcidiacono, participated in the lighting of the torch with President Bush, and then handed it off to Randy Snow, a nationally recognized wheelchair athlete. Randy joined 9 other athletes with disabilities who took the torch caravan-style through the streets of Houston to the Multi-Service Center on W. Gray, a universally designed recreation center.

The Bush Medal was first awarded in 1993. Past recipients of the award are: President Bush, Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Ed Roberts (founder of the first Center for Independent Living), and Bengt Lindqvist, Stockholm, Sweden (special envoy on disability to the United Nations). The purpose of the George Bush Medal is to reinforce the nation's commitment to keep the promise of the ADA to all Americans and to encourage the spirit of the ADA throughout the world.

Key sponsors of the luncheon, in addition to the Bush Medal Committee and TIRR, included Continental Airlines, Volkswagen of America, Audi of America, the University of Houston Health Law & Policy Institute, and the Houston Mayor's Committee for Employment of People with Disabilities.

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