Take Action Guide and Resource List on Disability Rights

If you have 10 minutes…

• Learn the Facts. Read our fact sheet on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and then test your knowledge with our short quiz at www.discoverhumanrights.org/toolkit.html.
• Get the News. Receive news and action information from these disability rights organizations.
  • ADA Watch / National Coalition on Disability Rights News and Action Alerts: http://www.mailermailer.com/x?oid12501t
  • National Council on Disability: www.ncd.gov
• Send an E-mail. Advocate for disability rights with the click of your mouse.  Choose one of the pre-written emails to send at http://capwiz.com/rochestercdc/issues/?style=D&  
• Donate. Give to an organization advocating for the rights of persons with disabilities - check out our national resource list.

If you have a few hours…

• Write a Letter. Research and write a personal letter to your federal representative on the rights of disabled persons. Find your federal representative at https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml. For tips on writing effectively and persuasively to policy makers, go to http://action.aclu.org/site/PageServer?pagename=AP_effective_activism   
• Educate Others. Talk with your family and friends about disavility rights issues or give your own presentation. Download our PowerPoint presentation or lesson plans and use them to educate your school, community organization or faith community about disability rights.
• Learn Respectful Language.  Download ACT's People First Language: a simple guide to basic respect at http://www.selfadvocacy.com/docs/ACT_QuickGuide2008.pdf

If you have a month…

• Start a Book Club.  Gather a goup of friends and/or colleagues to learn about and discuss disability rights issues. Use Amazon's Listmania and type in "disability" at: http://www.amazon.com/gp/richpub/listmania/toplists for several ideas.
• Host a Film Screening.  Invite members of your community to watch a film about disability rights.  Consider movies such as Coming Home, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Murderball, The Music Within, My left Foot, or The Waterdance.  Download a planning guide at: http://www.amnestyusa.org/youth/doc/ocff_student_guide.doc
• Invite a Speaker.   Invite a local disability rights advocate to give a presentation to your school, community center or faith community. Potential speakers to invite include: an advocate for persons with disabilities, a politician, or a person in a leadership position in business or the community.

If you have a year or more…

• Volunteer. Volunteering can be as short or as long as you want, from a couple of hours to an ongoing commitment.  Find a local organization working to further the rights of persons with disabilities and start volunteering!
• Investigate. Go around to restaurants, hotels, office buildings, and other public places in your community to evaluate their accessiblity and file complaints through the ADA at: http://www.ada.gov/enforce.htm#anchor218282.
• Start an Annual Event. International Day of Persons with Disabilities is every year on December 3rd.  Organize people in your community to host an event or activity on this day to bring awareness to the rights of persons with disabilities.