The following website shows many famous people who have (or had) disabilities.

http://www.disabled-world.com/artman/publish/article_0060.shtml

Tyler is a typical high school student who happens to have cerebral palsy and some other challenges.  He has taken on a mission to educate the world about Ability Awareness.  He believes that what a person, any person, CAN do is much more important than what he/she can’t.  The people in Tyler’s life who have seen this and practiced Ability Awareness have made all the difference in the world to him.

His mission started as an Eagle Scout Project and has grown to a dream.

Visit the I’m Tyler web site.

This piece of writing is well-known to the disability advocacy community, and encourages equity and respect.

More »

A guide to the use of respectful language for people with disabilities

http://ftp.disabilityisnatural.com/documents/PFL8.pdf

In Summer 2008 the movie Tropic Thunder was released, and its repeated use of the word “retarded” and disparaging stereotypes of people with disabilities sparked such fervor that the Special Olympics, the National Arc and other advocacy organizations boycotted the film. Here is the CNN clip and some you tube responses…

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VyWpQ7G9fk&feature=related (CNN coverage)
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51OcUFlznf8&feature=related (Special Olympics Response)
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9ut2feg2GU&feature=related (youth in Illinois speaks out)

Hate can only be conquered by resident-activists willing to promote tolerance. You may already be one of them. The ideas in this guide will help foster tolerance in yourself, your family, your schools, your workplace and your community. Some of the ideas are things to do. Some are things to think about. Some are things to remember.

But a word of caution is in order: This guide is not a sure-fire recipe for making the world a better place. These ideas are only some of the possibilities. The best ideas are those that work for you and your community.

Learn more at 101 Tools for Tolerance »

From the site – “Most of us know some of the more famous people with disabilities: President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Senators Daniel Inouye and Bob Dole, Helen Keller, Ray Charles, Marlee Matlin, Steven Hawking. But did you know that, according to the U.S. Census, one in five Americans has some form of disability? And virtually all of us know or interact with someone who does.”

Learn more at The ABCs of Disability Rights » (tolerance.org)

A great web site from the State of California that includes

• The 10 Commandments For Communicating with People with Disabilities
• International Declaration of Rights of Disabled Persons
• Opportunity to take a quiz to find out how much you know about disabilities rights
• Famous People with Disabilities
• Resources for People with Disabilities

Visit San Mateo County’s Elections Site Disability Resources »

Kids As Self Advocates (KASA) is a national, grassroots project created by youth with disabilities for youth. We are teens and young adults with disabilities speaking out. KASA knows youth can make choices and advocate for themselves if they have the information and support they need.

Visit Kids As Self Advocates »

NYLN’s mission is to promote youth leadership and education.  We teach young people how to advocate.  Our goal is to make sure that young people with disabilities have the chance to set and reach their own goals.

Visit the National Youth Leadership Network