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الرئيسية / الألبومات 1903
- ADAPT (1758)
Access LISA News March/April 1993, Page 25 Title: Remembrances of Wade Blank “Ironically, Wade died in the same way he lived - swimming into the face of hostile (political) undercurrents, and giving of his life to help another fight for theirs.” - Access Living ”Leadership he provided and resulting momentum have been instrumental to clearing our biggest obstacles. I don't think we would see wheelchair lifts on buses or a campaign to establish a national Personal Attendant program today if not for the work he and ADAPT have done.” - Marca Bristo "There are some people, just by looking at them, you know they have fundamental deep character. He certainly was one. He participated in the civil rights activity of the 60's from which he learned and applied to our own struggle. He was always straightforward and said what he thought. He was filled with idealism and I hate to lose him." - R. Kent Jones, founder of Chicago 's ADAPT chapter ”He basically stood up for anybody’s right no matter who they were and did so passionately.” - Mike Ervin, Chicago ADAPT member “Wade was an activist with a heart. His family included all people with disabilities. Whether Wade was chanting ‘We will ride’ or ‘Free our people‘ or ‘People united will never be defeated‘ he knew that he must continue to fight for a better America for all people, including those with significant disabilities.” - Sen. Tom Harkin ”To dwell on the tragedy of Wade Blank’s death would be a very large disservice to the future. Wade's life is the message. His existence was a towering triumph that demands to be shouted, to be heard, to be acted on. ”He was a superb organizer. He had total honesty and total follow through. You could take his promises to the bank. ”He understood that love does not smother with criticism, care and control; it encourages, emancipates and empowers. ‘Wade's leadership of love made ADAPT the family for those who had no family.” - Justin Dart Photo: In a park setting Wade stands amid a crowd of people in wheelchairs. His long blonde hair falls over his shoulders and he is looking down at his hands. On a hill top behind there is a lone of what appear to be police officers walking away. Caption reads: Wade Blank, and his family, joined fellow ADAPT members on the protest trail. This photo was taken at an ADAPT action in Baltimore, 1991. - ADAPT (58)
Western Union Mailgram Mailgram Service Center Middletown VA, 22645 06/05/80 11:23P EST The Atlantis Community 4536 East Colfax Denver, CO 80220 THIS MAILGRAM IS A CONFIRMATION COPY OF THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE: MAYOR BILL MCNICHOLS ROOM 350 CITY AND COUNTY BLDG DENVER CO 80203 SIR THERE IS A GROWING FRUSTRATION AMONG THE DISABLED COMMUNITY CONCERNING THE LACK OF CURB CUTS THAT CAN BE DONE IN A PARTICULAR AREA ON REQUEST. WHILE WE APPLAUD THE CITIES PAST EFFORTS IN CUTTING MANY CURBS FOR WHEELCHAIRS, IN WHILE WE UNDERSTAND THE PRESENT POLICY OF CUTTING OF ALL CURBS THAT ARE REPAIRED-WE ARE PERPLEXED AND FRUSTRATED AT THE LACK OF ANY PROCEDURE BY THE CITY EOR CUTTING CURBS IN A PARTICULAR AREA SO A DISABELED PERSON CAN GET TO WORK, SCHOOL, CHURCH, OR TO A BUS STOP. WE WOULD APPRECIATE A MEETING WITH YOUR OFFICE TO DISCUSS THE PROBLEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE; WE HOPE THAT TOGETHER WE CAN REACH AN AMICABLE RESOLUTION OF THE PROBLEM SINCERELY WADE BLANK & GLENN KOPP CO-DIRECTORS OF THE ATLANTIS COMMUNITY 4536 EAST COLFAX DENVER CO 80220 - ADAPT (344)
Cheyenne Tribune 9/27/87 Title: Disabled to Protest for Public Transit Access SAN FRANCISCO (UPI) - Hundreds of disabled activists say they will demonstrate for more access to public transportation during the American Public Transit Association's four-day meeting, which starts Sunday. Organizers of the protests, aimed at making a point to 4,000 delegates from 400 public transit systems, expected more than 600 handicapped and disabled people from all over the country to participate. Groups including the September Alliance for Accessible Transit have been trying for years to get the APTA, the nation’s public transit lobbying arm, to declare a national policy giving disabled people the same access to buses and trains as able commuters. “If it were women or blacks who couldn't get on the bus, it would clearly be a civil rights issue," said Kitty Cone of the Berkeley, Calif., group. Her organization and Denver-based American Disabled for Accessible Public Transit threaten to block city streets, hotel lobbies and entrances to the Moscone Convention Center to show delegates how it feels to be denied access. Some demonstrators also promised to invade banquets and cocktail parties attended by delegates. “We are not going to allow these people to have a good meal,” said Bill Bolte of the Denver organization. He was arrested earlier this year for a demonstration at a transit meeting in Phoenix. The transit group's policy is that questions of access should be left to local transit districts. “Mainstream access may work well in the Bay Area but don't tell systems in Akron, Ohio, or Buffalo, N.Y., that they have to do the same thing,” said Jack Gilstrap, executive vice president of the association. He said many systems in smaller areas cannot afford to renovate buses and trains or to purchase new vehicles, so have chosen to provide door-to-door van service for the disabled. He also said that protests or no protests, no major policy changes were expected to be adopted during the meeting. Federal regulations approved in 1986 give local agencies the option of using mainstream or so-called paratransit services, such as the door-to-door vans. - ADAPT (257)
The Cincinnati Post May 27, 1986 Wheelchair protesters freed early Post staff report A motion for early release of three wheelchair-bound activists was granted today by Hamilton County Municipal Court Judge J. Howard Sundermann Jr. On Friday, Sundermann sentenced Michael Auberger of Denver, George Cooper of Dallas and Bob Kafka of Austin, Texas, to 10 days in jail for their part in a protest last week at the main office of Queen City Metro. Attorney Joni Wilkens had argued against a jail term for health reasons. Today Sundermann ordered the three released after serving six days of their sentences for trespassing. Before granting the motion for early release, Sundermann asked them if they planned to go to another city and “do the same thing?” Auberger and Kafka said no, that they planned to return to their homes. Cooper did not reply.w “I think we made our point. The issue (of access to public transportation) won’t go away,” Kafka said following the hearing. Auberger, Cooper and Kafka are members of Americans Disabled for Public Transportation, which demonstrated against the lack of access by the handicapped to Queen City Metro buses. - ADAPT (201)
San Antonio Light Wednesday April 24, 1985 Front page Street Final [1?]04th year, No.93 The Largest and Best Newspaper in South Texas [Headline] Disabled Block Buses 50 protesters in wheelchairs clog downtown S.A. traffic. See Below. PHOTO by Roberta Barnes, San Antonio Light: On a city street a bare-chested man (Claude Holcolm) in a power chair sits in front of a GMC city bus blocking it. On Claude's left a man in a manual chair (Joe Carle?) rolls toward the back of the bus. On Claude's right a man on a scooter rolls down the other side of the bus. Inside the windshield of the bus is a sign that says "APTA." Caption reads: Stopping The Bus: Three Wheelchair-bound protesters block the path of a bus downtown as part of a protest over access for the disabled. - ADAPT (66)
Dallas Times Herald Wednesday, January 14, 1986 [Headline] Community Close-Up [Subheading] Police on sidewalk wheelchair ramps changed By Lori Montgomery After months of controversy and numerous protests by handicapped residents, the Irving City Council agreed last week to build wheelchair ramps when curbs near intersections are dismantled for any reason. Without amending a disputed 1981 ordinance that requires the city to build ramps only during new sidewalk construction, the council reached a “policy consensus" at last week's work session ordering city road and utility workers to replace curbs with ramps in the course of routine maintenance, said Public Works Director Lewis Patrick. “Any time 50 percent of the curb or 75 percent of the sidewalk is disturbed, we will go to the additional expense of taking the whole (curb) out and replacing it with a ramp," Patrick said, adding that the new policy will “eliminate the guesswork" of deciding when to replace a curb with a ramp. Construction of a standard curb costs about $103, Patrick said, while wheelchair ramps cost as much as $600 to build. The new policy, which takes effect immediately, could cost the city an additional $212,478 annually, Patrick said. “We have no objections to building ramps, but we need these guidelines to determine where you draw the line to spend that extra $500," Patrick said. Most council members dismissed the added financial burden as a necessary expense. "Let's not quibble" over when to build a ramp, Councilman Lars Ehnebuske said. “If a curb is 49 percent (disturbed), let’s go ahead and do it right. We ought to err in that direction rather than err the other way." Councilwoman Jackie Townsell recommended that the council immediately increase the budget for the Department of Public Works and review the financial impact of the new policy when the council meets for its annual budget session this summer. “The idea is to make the entire city accessible,” Townsell said. Townsell also suggested that the city take on the additional responsibility of building ramps on curbs destroyed during maintenance work by utility companies. The council agreed to ask utility companies to notify the city when such work is planned. "I think that's the minimum we can do because l think our city’s really behind in this area," Councilwoman Fran Bonilla said. The dispute over wheelchair ramps erupted last fall when handicapped residents charged at a meeting of the council's Community Services Committee that the city was violating the spirit of a 1981 ordinance by refusing to build ramps on curbs torn up during the course of maintenance projects. Such projects were under way throughout the city. In early December, a small group of protesters rolled in wheelchairs past maintenance workers on Rochelle Road, painting newly replaced standard curbs with the slogan “This curb is illegal." Although the city violated neither state law nor, technically, its own ordinance in rebuilding standard curbs, state officials said last month that most cities in Texas replace curbs near intersections with wheelchair ramps at any time a curb is disturbed. Cathy Johnson [Cathy Thomas], who was among seven handicapped residents at last week's work session, said the City “is on the right track" with the new policy. But, she said, the policy should be expanded and made permanent by amending the 1981 ordinance to require the city to build ramps when even a small part of the curb is disturbed. “I don't see what kind of criteria they're going to use to say what's 30 percent (of curb destruction) and what's 50 percent," Johnson said. "If this were the golf course, they'd go ahead and spend the money." - ADAPT (36)
This is the one side of a brochure called Ramp by Ramp. The other side is in ADAPT 35 In the center of the page on this side is a hand drawn map of downtown Denver, not to scale and only including the highlights listed here. Below are the descriptions of the highlighted places: [Headline] "Mapping the Denver Disability Movement's History" [Subheading] McDonald's Restaurant E. Colfax & Pennsylvania St. This restaurant was built in 1985. It replaces an earlier inaccessible McDonald's, which was the first to be blocked by Atlantis activists in 1984. The furniture was bolted to the floor, restricting access for customers with disabilities. Wheelchair users were referred to the drive-up window. After blockades at McDonald's in seven cities, and many arrests for civil disobedience, restaurant officials agreed to develop access requirements so that all travelers could be assured of a meal and restroom. McDonald's also agreed to use disabled actors in their ads, a trend since adopted by many companies. [Subheading] "Groundbreaking" Curb Cuts E. Colfax & Colorado Blvd. At this site in 1980, Atlantis protesters using wheelchairs swung sledgehammers to make way for needed curb ramps. City officials had refused to start planning for curb cuts, stating that it would be impossible to ramp all 44,000 curbs in Denver. Publicity from the sledgehammer action convinced officials to establish a curb cut program, and all Denver curbs are expected to be accessible by the year 1996. [Subheading] Radisson Hotel 16th St. Mall/Tremont Pl. This was the site of the first demonstration by ADAPT (American Disabled for Accessible Public Transit) in October 1983. The nation's transit officials were meeting at the hotel when disabled protesters blocked every entrance. Then Secretary of Transportation Elizabeth Dole, the keynote speaker, was forced to sneak in through a tunnel. During the next seven years, ADAPT continued to protest the policy of “local option," which allowed cities to offer separate, very limited van services, rather than to equip regular buses with lifts. ADAPT members disrupted meetings, blocked inaccessible buses, and committed other acts of civil disobedience for their cause; hundreds were arrested. These actions, and the national media exposure they gained, finally prompted the federal government to require lifts on all new buses. [Subheading] Air Force Academy Chapel Colorado Springs This most-visited tourist attraction on Colorado's front range became accessible only after Atlantis activists staged a “crawl-in" up the steps in 1986. The sight of hundreds of people trying to step over protesters created pressure to force the installation of an elevator in this tax-supported academy. This brochure is dedicated to the memory of Wade and Lincoln Blank. - ADAPT (348)
The front of the march with the rest of the marchers in the background and tall city buildings in the background. Across the front row young Jennifer Keelan is being pushed in her chair by her mother Cindy. Next to her is Bob Kafka in his manual chair and with his no steps ADAPT logo T-shirt and a piece of blue duct tape on his knee. Beside him is Diane Coleman in her motorized wheelchair and with red tape on her knee. Over her head you can partially see a sign reading "We the People..." Beside the sign Julie Farrar's face is visible and behind Bob you can see Justin Dart. Behind Jennifer and Cindy a motorcycle policeman is visible. - ADAPT (134)
Cartoon by Denver Post Field Syndicate Mike Keefe of a city bus, RTD written on the side, with a guy in a wheelchair holding on to a rope tied to the back of the bus. The guy in the wheelchair has a sour expression on his face. The bus driver is looking out the window and yelling back at the guy being pulled "QUIT BELLYACHING! We’re In Compliance with the law . . . As We Interpret It." - ADAPT (276)
PHOTO by ?: A man in a manual, sports-type, wheelchair (Glenn Horton) has his mouth wide open chanting, and beside him another man in older manual chair (Bernard Baker) chants with him. Behind him two police officers look like they are taking Glenn away. A third officer faces Glenn and looks down at him. The dark police uniforms, cause Glenn to stand out, and his dark sunglasses give him a slightly crazed look. Behind this little group you can see other officers and a TV camera man by a downtown office building. - ADAPT (100)
Rocky Mountain News, Mon., June 7, 1982 Denver, Colo. p.37 WE’RE ACCESSIBLE! We set our sights on July 1 for increased accessibility. We've beat our goal by nearly a month. During peak hours 50 percent of all Denver-area local service is now equipped with wheelchair lifts. Nearly 100 percent of off-peak local service is now accessible. Please check your schedule for times of lift-equipped buses. Trips will be marked with the wheelchair symbol. If you need special assistance in learning how to use the lift, just give us a call at 628-9000, extension 2118. We are pleased to be able to accommodate our handicapped patrons with expanded service nearly one month ahead of schedule! (signature) L.A. Kimball Executive Director and General Manager 3 PHOTOS (in clockwise order; no credits given). First: A man in a wheelchair sits on a lift into the front door of a city bus. An access symbol is visible by the driver's door of the bus. Second: A woman in a manual wheelchair entering the front of an accessible bus, by the farebox. Three: An RTD bus with RTD "The Ride" written on the side of the bus. In large print at the bottom it says: Striving for the Best Service RTD The Ride - ADAPT (502)
THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF THE ARTICLE IN ADAPT 492. See ADAPT 492 for the complete story. - ADAPT (242)
PHOTO: AP LASERPHOTO: A small man with curly hair and glasses (Jack Warren) stands, looking a bit unsteady and concentrating, on the steps of the front doorway of a bus. A police officer in front of him holds Jack's right hand, supporting him as he holds the railing with his left hand. Behind him, inside the bus, another police officer leans forward toward the man's back, presumably supporting him from behind. The officer in front is holding his other hand out gesturing toward a scooter that is in front of the steps. Bus protest Cincinnati police help Jack Warren, of Cleveland, to his motorized cart after he was told he could not ride a bus Monday. Warren is a member of group protesting the inaccessibility of buses to the handicapped. The bus company serves handicapped riders with special vans rather than letting them ride buses. Bus officials say cuts in federal funding for public transportation have left the agency without money to equip its regular buses with wheelchair lifts. - ADAPT (9)
Congress of the United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515 March 3, 1975 Wade Blank Ingo Antonitsch Mayor's Commission on the Disabled 1700 Grant St. Denver, C0 80203 Dear Messrs. Blank and Antonitsch: I was so pleased to read in the paper a few days ago that the state has agreed to help fund the Atlantis Project. I hope things continue to proceed smoothly for you in this most worth-while endeavor. If there is any way in which I can be of further assistance, please don't hesitate to let me know. With kind regards, Sincerely, Patricia Schroeder Member of Congress - ADAPT (556)
Cover of the magazine Habilitation! there is a line of only partially readable text:something Research and something Coalition The picture which fills the cover is of a crowd of people with various disabilities sitting in wheelchairs, 15 people are visable but it seems they are just a part of a much bigger crowd. Most are ADAPT members wearing various ADAPT T-shirts, one fellow has a white button down shirt and tie. Facing the camera, they are cheering and clapping . At the bottom of the picture six more people, again apparently part of a much larger group, face the rest, backs to the camera. In the center Justin Dart sits sideways to the camera. He is wearing his signature hat, black rimmed glasses, a coat and tie; in his lap are papers and he is holding something like a pen in one hand. He appears to be addressing the crowd around him. Directly behind him, her back to his back, stands a short woman who appears to be a sign language interpreter.