‘All bodies deserve dignity’: Access CLT to host its first disability resource showcase
A Charlotte organization working toward inclusion for people with disabilities will host its first disability resource showcase on July 26th in honor of the 34th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The event includes vendors who will help people learn about North Carolina’s independent living services, available technology to help people with disabilities, and advocacy organizations.
Access CLT is a group of advocates and professionals with decades of experience advising organizations, organizing advocacy groups, and operating non-profit organizations all connected to helping people with disabilities.
The free event is from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the North Carolina Assistive Technology Program Charlotte Center, 5501 Executive Center Drive, Suite 105, Charlotte.
Vendors include:
Charlotte Adaptive Sports and Adventures Program
Control Bionic
Disability Rights and Resources
Drivers Rehabilitation
Lions Services
According to ADA National Network, the Americans with Disabilities Act is a civil rights law prohibiting discrimination against individuals with disabilities in many areas of public life, including jobs, schools, and transportation. President George H.W. Bush signed it into law in 1990.
The purpose of the law is to make sure that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else, and Access CLT’s goal is helping demystify how people see disabilities.
Xuân Trương is a co-founder of Access CLT and a licensed clinical social work associate who was born with Osteogenesis imperfecta, also known as OI or brittle bone disease. She says that there “aren’t many organizations that are led by individuals who are disabled.”
“North Carolina is very behind when it comes to leading organizations by disabled individuals and creating safe spaces dedicated to advocacy and independent living,” Trương said.
Michele Williams, owner of M.A.W. Consulting and a disability advocate who holds a doctorate of philosophy, says Access CLT wanted to host the showcase to “dispel myths about people with disabilities and create an opportunity for non-disabled people to increase their understanding.”
Williams is on the Access CLT leadership team.
“This is a groundbreaking event because it’s taking an innovative approach to normalizing disability in our community,” Williams said.
Monique Stamps, the public policy and outreach coordinator for Access CLT, said the organization’s “mantra is ‘nothing about us without us,’ meaning that decisions about disability policies and programs should involve input from the disabled community itself to ensure their needs and perspectives are accurately represented.”
Metrolina Association of the Blind
Metrolina Association of the Blind, a 90-year-old nonprofit in Charlotte, will be among organizations featured at the showcase.
The association offers resources for individuals experiencing severe visual impairment or blindness. The association has a goal of ensuring that all individuals, regardless of their visual capabilities, have the opportunity to live independently and with dignity.
The organization offers case management support, orientation and mobility training, and vision rehabilitation therapy to help clients navigate daily life without sight.
Susan King, the director of vision rehabilitation services at Metrolina Association of the Blind, said that the company embodies the belief that “accessibility should be upright, not an afterthought.”
Disability Rights and Resources
Disability Rights and Resources, a key participant at the showcase, offers services designed to support individuals with disabilities across four counties: Mecklenburg, Gaston, Cabarrus, and Union.
The organization’s services include mentoring, living skills training, helping people transition in and out of nursing homes and teaching people how to use public transportation.
Samantha Nevins, the executive director, emphasized the importance of recognizing hidden disabilities.
She said she believes there is a universal need for disability resources as people age, and that increased awareness and access to resources can improve lives.
“Chances are, everyone around will have a disability as they age,” Nevins said. “And many disabilities are hidden, so our services impact all different kinds.”
Trương added that creating inclusive spaces and recognizing the inherent dignity in all individuals is crucial.
“All bodies are good bodies. All bodies deserve dignity,” Trương said.
“By fostering understanding and ensuring representation, we can build a more inclusive society that respects and values every individual, regardless of their abilities.”
Access CLT: Disability Resource Showcase details
When: July 26 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: North Carolina Assistive Technology Program, Charlotte Center
5501 Executive Center Dr, Charlotte, NC 28212
