MAYOR BILL WHITE ACCEPTS AWARD RECOGNIZING HOUSTON AS THE MOST ACCESSIBLE CITY FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
May 2, 2008 -- Mayor Bill White today joined in celebrating Houston's selection as the National Organization on Disability's most accessible U.S. city for the 2007 contest. The Accessible America Award includes a $25,000 check, which the mayor accepted on behalf of the Mayor's Office for People With Disabilities.
The celebration included games and activities for children and families, entertainment, and an award ceremony. The event took place in Memorial Park at the Vale-Asche Foundation Playground Without Limits, which was designed to be fully accessible to all children.
"Houston is a great city of opportunity and that means opportunity for everyone, including our disability community," said Mayor Bill White. "We work hard every day to make sure it stays that way and we are honored that the National Organization on Disability has recognized it."
Governor Tom Ridge, Chairman of the National Organization on Disability and former Secretary of Homeland Security has said, "The work of the communities participating in the Accessible America Award competition serves as an important reminder that people with disabilities are not passive consumers of help, but can contribute meaningfully to America's communities. The City of Houston exemplifies a community that has enriched its civic life by the full participation of citizens with disabilities."
Houston is being recognized for its exemplary efforts, which include: the Parks Advisory Review Committee, which works to ensure that people with disabilities have access to parks and recreational opportunities; the ADA Taxicab Committee, working to ensure the accessibility of taxis and for-hire transportation; an inclusive process to install audible pedestrian traffic signals; the Persons with Disabilities Business Enterprise Program, which promotes entrepreneurship among people with disabilities; the Business Partnership Breakfast, which promotes to employers the business case for employing people with disabilities; the Housing and Employment Resources Expo for People with Disabilities, an event that is a collaboration between community partners and the City to address housing and employment barriers for people with disabilities; and a strong, coordinated effort to ensure access to parking for people with disabilities.
This community event also coincides with the 15 th anniversary of the creation of the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities and the Houston Commission on Disabilities.
Other 2007 contest finalists were: Alexandria, VA; Bloomington, IN; Columbus, GA; Hattiesburg, MS; Indianapolis, IN; Miami-Dade County, FL; New Haven, CT; and Sioux Falls, SD.
The five leading national disability advocates and experts who served as Accessible America Contest judges chose the winners based on comprehensive accessibility and opportunity for people with disabilities. Accessible America applicants demonstrate an exceptional commitment to offering their citizens with disabilities full and equal opportunities to participate in the life of their community, including access to jobs, education, religious worship, transportation, housing, emergency preparedness planning, and services. The Accessible America Contest promotes nationwide replication of these best practices. The Accessible America Contest, administered by NOD's Community Partnership Program, is sponsored by generous grants from UPS, AARP and the Chrysler Foundation.
