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[Headline] A county bids farewell: Wade Blank remembered at ceremony

It was a sunny day, Mother's Day, Sunday, May 9, 1993. Over 2,000 disability activists from around the country came to the steps of the Capitol, in Washington, D.C., to honor Wade Blank's life.

Blank, who drowned, tragically, with his son Lincoln in February, was one of the shining lights in the disability rights movement. He was being remembered for his history breaking life.

Emotions ran high as eulogies were read. Justin Dart, chair of the President's Commission on Employment of Persons with Disabilities, read a moving speech and spoke about Wade's unending devotion to what he believed. He continued that Wade saw every life as important, with the right to live free. He built his life around this premise, and from those ideals, he guided the formation of Atlantis and ADAPT, to the position they have today. All people with disabilities owe a debt to the life of Wade Blank.

Against his doctor's advice, Evan Kemp, chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, came to read an extremely moving tribute. Kemp, wearing an "ADAPT - Free Our People" shirt, had special words for Wade on how he came to Kemp's aid when Kemp's position at the EEOC was in “a sticky situation". Kemp got into trouble for speaking out against the pity approach of Jerry Lewis's MDA telethon. Kemp stated that Wade pledged to personally walk from Denver to Las Vegas, if necessary, to save Kemp's job at the EEOC.

The ceremony started at 11 :30 am with a series of disability rights songs, sung by Elaine Kolb, in tribute to Wade. They noted how the disability movement has changed over the past dozen years. Later, an international flavor was added when Johnny Crescendo, from Great Britain, sang a selection of is disability rights songs. Crescendo dedicated his latest album to the memory of Wade.

Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa sent a representative to read a copy of the tribute to Wade that Harkin read into the Congressional Record from the floor of Congress. This was followed by Congresswoman Patricia Schroder, who remembered how she met Wade at the historic seizure of two inaccessible buses in Denver, July 5 & 6 in 1978.

The Clinton White House sent over Paul Miller, Disability Policy & Outreach, to read a prepared statement on the administration's dedication to the goals Wade Blank and ADAPT have for independence for persons with disabilities.

Several speakers from ADAPT including Wade's co-director, Mike Auberger gave tearful expressions of love for the memory of the historic accomplishments of Wade. They remembered working towards the independence of persons with severe disabilities. They are dedicated to see Wade's work continue until there is no need for institutions, like nursing homes, in our society.

After more than two hours in the hot sun, the assembled activists then solemnly marched to the White House. For two hours they ringed the White House grounds in memory of Wade Blank and the 1 1/2 million persons in nursing homes, Wade had- been working to free, so they could live independent lives.

After two hours, they planted 300 crosses cm the White House lawn in memory of the 9 1/2 million people that have died in nursing homes. They pledged never to give up the struggle, no matter where it took them.

Created on

Tuesday 16 July 2013

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Thursday 12 September 2019

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• Washington DC, Spring 1993

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