NOW Foundation and AAPD to Co-Sponsor Women with Disabilities & Allies Forum

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Three-Day Conference to be Held in October in Bethesda, Md.

April 25, 2003

The National Organization for Women (NOW) Foundation and the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) will hold a joint forum on disability and women's rights Oct. 17-19, 2003. Entitled Women with Disabilities & Allies Forum: Linking Arms for Equality & Justice for All, the three-day summit will address issues of mutual concern to the feminist and disability rights movements.

"All women—including women with disabilities—share the dream of full equality, economic and personal independence, educational and employment opportunity, reproductive freedom and full participation in society," said NOW Foundation President Kim Gandy. "Women living with disabilities face multiple forms of discrimination, making it even harder to achieve their goals. Breaking down these barriers is a longstanding priority of the NOW Foundation."

"Now more than ever, disability rights advocates must cultivate diverse allies in our common struggle for justice, dignity, and respect for human and civil rights. AAPD is delighted to join with the NOW Foundation to bring together leading activists and organizers this October for an historic opportunity to reinforce and reinvigorate our combined efforts to achieve equality, empowerment, and justice for all," said AAPD President and CEO Andrew J. Imparato.

When: Starts — Friday, October 17 at 5:00 p.m.
Ends — Sunday, October 19 at 4:00 p.m.

Where: Hyatt Regency Bethesda
Bethesda, Maryland

"The NOW Foundation and AAPD will bring together a diverse group of women from across the country to discuss a broad range of issues," said Gandy. "At this forum, women with disabilities and allies will celebrate our common ground, share our ideas and work toward creating a future that values and embraces all women."

The forum will kick off Friday evening with a welcome reception and entertainment. Saturday and Sunday will feature plenary sessions, workshops and facilitated panel discussions. Topics on the forum agenda will include: women's economic empowerment, political activism and grassroots organizing, judicial nominees, Title IX, prenatal testing and abortion rights, health care, hate crimes, violence against women and inaccessibility of shelters, the future of civil rights, and how to link together disability rights and feminist issues.

The forum's registration form will be available in late July on both the NOW Foundation (www.nowfoundation.org/forum) and AAPD (www.aapd-dc.org) web sites, and the early-bird registration deadline will be Aug. 26. Please visit those web sites for additional information and future announcements regarding the Women with Disabilities & Allies Forum: Linking Arms for Equality & Justice for All.

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The NOW Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization established in 1986 to enhance the status of women in the United States and worldwide through education, advocacy and litigation. The NOW Foundation is affiliated with the National Organization for Women, the largest women's rights organization in the U.S. In its educational and advocacy efforts, the Foundation works to inform the general public, as well as policy-makers, about the need for fair and equal treatment of women. The litigation efforts of the Foundation seek to protect reproductive health options for women, as well as focusing on other concerns, such as employment issues, pregnancy discrimination, sexual harassment, lesbian and gay rights, civil rights and ending violence against women.

The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), the country's largest cross-disability membership organization, promotes the economic and political empowerment of all 56 million children and adults with disabilities in the U.S. It was founded in 1995 to help unite the diverse community of people with disabilities, including their family, friends and supporters, and be a national voice for change in implementing the goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). AAPD members have access to a full range of financial services through a federal credit union, a discounted mail order prescription program, and a quarterly AAPD newsletter. For additional member benefits, or to learn more about AAPD's advocacy efforts and major program areas, visit www.aapd-dc.org.

For Immediate Release
Contact: Mai Shiozaki, 202-628-8669, ext. 116; cell 202-641-1906

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