Disabled May Sue The Olympic Committee! (fwd)

[F. Pennell]

Thought that you all might find this to be of interest.  Francie Pennell

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 23 Jul 1996 11:36:02 -0700
From: "Helen Y. Gore" <hygore at NETCOM.COM>
Reply-To: SJU Advocacy List <ADVOCACY at SJUVM.STJOHNS.EDU>
To: Multiple recipients of list ADVOCACY <ADVOCACY at SJUVM.STJOHNS.EDU>
Subject: Disabled May Sue The Olympic Committee!

                                                     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                Disabled May Sue The Olympic Committee!

While the nation and the world celebrate the Olympic Games, the disabled
are seethe over discrimination.

"The Americans with Disabilities Act requires full and equal access to all
programs," disability activist, Martin Schaaf told the Bay Guardian today.
"That means competitive programs as well as sitting in the bleachers!"

Disabled athletes compete in many of the same sports as the abled.  They
ski, sail, swim, play basketball, ride bicycles, and many other sports.

The Americans with Disabilities Act names both places "of exercise and
recreation" and places "of public gathering" as "public accommodations"
that must follow the law.  To follow the law, "policy, practice and
procedure" must change to avoid discrimination.

The Olympic Committee sent a message to the world," concluded Schaaf.  "By
making _no_ plans for inclusion of disabled athletes, they sent the wrong
message about the U.S.A.  We have filed a formal complaint with the
Department of Justice."