Rural Realities: Testifying for the National Council on Disability

Several of the Center’s partners and colleagues testified in a panel on “Living with a Disability in Rural America” when the National Council on Disability (NCD) held its quarterly meeting in Topeka, KS, on Dec. 4-5, 2013. The NCD is an independent federal agency making recommendations to the President and Congress to enhance the quality of life for all Americans with disabilities and their families.

Tom Seekins (pictured), our research partner from the University of Montana, spoke about the “rural accessibility penalty” for people with disabilities. He is Director of the Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities.

Colleagues from Centers for Independent Living also spoke about rural issues, along with consumers and leaders of advocacy agencies. They included Audrey Schremmer, Executive Director of Three Rivers Inc., in Wamego, KS; Gary Maddox, Executive Director of Southwest Center for Independent Living in Springfield, MO; Marie Clement, a consumer from the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation; and Julia Thomas, Executive Director of the Kansas Youth Empowerment Academy.

Center Director Glen White spoke about education for people with disabilities during a public comment session.