“SAME STRUGGLE, DIFFERENT DIFFERENCE: CIVIL RIGHTS POLICY FORUM” 

FORUM SUMMARY PAPER - March 29, 2005 – Washington, DC 

The National Council on Disability (NCD)1

 initiated a collaborative agreement with the 

American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD)2

 to organize a groundbreaking public 

policy forum. As stated in their cooperative agreement, the entities portend that immediate 

benefits would include the creation of greater knowledge and understanding of the areas where 

the disability policy agenda and the broader civil rights agenda are in alignment. 

On March 29, 2005 generous support from the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR) 

and AARP made possible a one-day public policy forum that brought together advocates and 

policy experts from the disability and broader civil rights communities across the country. 

AARP was the gracious host for the day, offering meeting space, refreshments, and staff support 

for the forum logistics. More than 90 individuals from 47 civil rights and disability rights 

organizations attended the forum and participated in one of three working groups focused on 

selected topics. Preparation for this event began some seven months earlier in 2004. 

Forum Planning 

Bringing disability and broader civil rights representatives together at the national public policy 

level was an idea planted during a face-to-face visionary session of NCD’s Cultural Diversity 

Advisory Committee (CDAC) in July 2002. Preliminary input from CDAC was also folded into 

the overall purpose of the forum and focused on creating a meaningful opportunity for policy 

experts from the disability and broader civil rights communities to share information and public 

policy priorities, and to determine opportunities for working together on common agendas. 

In preparation for the forum, a series of teleconferences were conducted with CDAC members to 

obtain grassroots input regarding potential forum topics, participants and agenda. A dialogue 

opportunity was arranged during the November 30, 2004 NCD quarterly meeting where 

members were joined by key individuals on LCCR task forces who were invited as presenters to 

share information about the top public policy priorities of LCCR and individual civil rights 
organizations. Among the presenters were Karen Narasaki from the National Asian Pacific 

American Legal Consortium (NAPALC) and Chairperson, LCCR Compliance/Enforcement 

Committee; Raul Gonzalez of the National Council of La Raza and David Goldberg, LCCR staff 

member representing the LCCR Education task force; and Jocelyn Frye of the National 

Partnership for Women and Families representing the LCCR Welfare and Employment task 

forces. Dialogue was co-facilitated by CDAC members Glenn Fujiura, Ph.D. and Darrell 

Simmons, J.D. Resulting from this dialogue opportunity were potential broad topics around 

education, employment, and civil rights enforcement issues. Subsequent to the November 

meeting, the three areas to be explored during a one-day public policy forum were narrowed and 

aligned with forum workgroups as follows: Educational Excellence and Equity, Creating and 

Rewarding Diversity-Friendly Workplaces, and Restoring Civil Rights Legislation. 

One-Day Policy Forum 

A specific goal of the forum was to encourage greater collaboration and communication among 

disability advocates and the broader civil rights coalition on the priority issues that would surface 

during the forum. An underlying supposition was that by working together, disability advocates 

and civil rights leaders and advocates can achieve greater results than through strictly separate 

efforts on behalf of their constituencies. Briefly, the structure of the day followed that of a 

morning plenary session, breakout group sessions, a working lunch, return to groups, and 

afternoon reporting out of priorities to the full body of participants. 

Morning Plenary session: Welcome and opening remarks were given by Andrew Imparato, 

President and CEO of AAPD and Milton Aponte, J.D., NCD Council member and Liaison to 

CDAC who spoke on behalf of Lex Frieden, NCD’s Chairperson. A highlight of the morning 

session was the address by Wade Henderson, Executive Director of LCCR. In his remarks, Mr. 

Henderson commended the participants for recognizing that "Disability rights issues are civil 

rights issues, and civil and human rights pertain to us all. If we work together in this modern 

civil rights movement, we will continue advances in ways that we can look back with pride." 

2
Breakout sessions: Facilitators were Glenn Fujiura, Ph.D. (University of Illinois at Chicago), 

Darrell Simmons, J.D. (University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center), and Elaine 

Mbionwu, CCHP (National Re-Entry Resource & Training Center, Atlanta, Georgia). 

Working Lunch: This session featured Dr. Theda Zawaiza, Chief of Staff for Congressman 

Major Owens (New York’s Eleventh District) who expressed an appreciation for the work being 

done at the forum. In addition to acknowledging potential for historical contributions through an 

endeavor like the forum, she fielded questions about legislative activities on Capitol Hill. Dr. 

Zawaiza also spoke favorably about the possible impact of assembled advocates and their 

organizations coming together as a unified voice to protect the rights of all Americans. 

Group Reports: Representatives for each breakout group reported key issues that emerged from 

the small group sessions. A number of important areas for future collaboration were identified as 

public policy priorities. 

Civil Rights Restoration: 

The workgroup sought to address the erosion of disability and civil rights legislation in federal 

courts, as well as the erosion of the passion, understanding and support of civil rights in our 

society. Toward that end, participants identified ways/methods to address the erosion of 

disability and civil rights legislation in federal courts; acknowledge, expose and address the 

concerted, well-funded efforts to roll back civil rights; build an understanding and support of 

civil rights beyond the civil rights and disability rights advocacy circles; and build and mobilize 

passion for civil rights within ourselves, our communities, and the general public. 

Diversity-Friendly Workplace: 

This workgroup identified four main priority areas, addressing each through strategic action 

plans that focused on policy recommendations, advocacy efforts, and litigation. 

1) Healthcare reform, including support of the Healthy Families Act, and advocating for a 

minimum of seven sick days to care for oneself or one’s family members; 

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2) Education/training reform, including enforcement of existing laws. 

3) Workplace reform, such as demonstrating support of the existing laws; encouraging 

government to award points to contract bidders with evidence of progressive workplace 

strategies; and developing Section 508 guidance for the private-sector; 

4) Attitudinal reform through media campaigns and rewarding companies for best practices 

with respect to progressive and inclusive workplace strategies. 

Educational Excellence & Equity: 

The workgroup identified the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) as a top priority for 

collaboration between civil rights and disability rights communities. Together, the participants 

agreed upon the importance of advocating for the proper enforcement of NCLB and to do so 

immediately through sign-on letters. They also identified a need to publish a compilation of case 

studies that demonstrate the positive impact of NCLB as advocates fight to enhance the benefits 

of the legislation for diverse groups like students of color, students with disabilities and others. 

What Happens Next and How to Get Involved 

Hopefully, the forum highlighted the intersection of topics and issues that affect and that are 

important to both the disability rights and civil rights communities, and the priorities can be the 

impetus for future collaborative efforts hosted by a number of the forum participants. Forum 

planners and participants also hope that various entities will cultivate stronger partnerships 

through civil rights and disability rights coalitions so that all constituencies can be better served. 

In fact, organizations and advocates are encouraged to get involved in the work of coalitions 

representing the interests of the disability community as well as the broader civil rights 

communities. Information is available on opportunities for use by people who may wish to join 

the coalitions, sign up for their listservs, or learn of other ways to work with these groups on 

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common agendas. The notes from each of the discussion groups, a list of participating 

organizations, and a list of resources will be made available on the AAPD and NCD websites: 

www.aapd-dc.org and http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/advisory/cultural/cultural.htm 

ORGANIZATIONS PARTICIPATING IN THE FORUM: 

American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) 

AARP 

ADA Watch/National Coalition for Disability Rights 

American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) 

AFL-CIO 

American Council of the Blind 

Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law 

Capital Area ADAPT 

Citizens' Commission on Civil Rights 

Cochran Firm 

Conference of Educational Administrators of Schools and Programs for the Deaf (CEASD) 

Cornell University, Employment & Disability Institute 

The Arc/UCP Disability Policy Collaboration 

DREDF 

Easter Seals 

Endependence Center, Inc. (South Hampton Roads-VA) 

ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia, Inc. 

Epilepsy Foundation 

Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law 

Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR) 

Legal Aid Society - Employment Center 

Legal Momentum 

Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MADEF) 

National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium 

National Association of Protection and Advocacy Systems (NAPAS) 

National Association of the Deaf (NAD) 

National Campaign to Restore Civil Rights 

National Council of La Raza 

National Council on Disability (NCD) 

National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) 

National Organization for Women (NOW) 

National Organization on Disability (NOD) 

National Partnership for Women and Families 

National Spinal Cord Injury Association 

National Women's Law Center 

NCD Cultural Diversity Advisory Committee 

NCD Youth Advisory Committee 

New York Lawyers for the Public Interest 

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Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) 

Powers Pyles Sutter & Verville, PC 

Rocky Mountain Technical Assistance & Consulting Center 

Service Employees International Union (SEIU) 

Statewide Parent Advocacy Network, New Jersey 

Ticket To Work Advisory Panel 

United Spinal Association 

VSA Arts 

Washington Partners 

1 NCD, an independent federal agency whose mission is to advise the President and Congress on 

public policy issues affecting people with disabilities has a strong track record in civil rights and 

a longstanding interest in the unique needs of children and adults with disabilities from diverse 

cultural backgrounds. 

2

 AAPD, the largest cross-disability membership organization in the U.S., works in collaboration 

with other disability and civil rights organizations on policies that impact people with 

disabilities. AAPD is also a member of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights Executive 

Committee. 

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