Kari Haueter
Although Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 was amended in May to prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability in all programs funded by the Department of Health and Human Services, more action and education on disability inclusion is still needed.
For Kenosha and other cities to truly deliver “liberty and justice for all,” this issue needs to be part of the conversation with other local service providers and lawmakers.
Society’s Assets is the organization hosting the Kenosha stop of the 2024 national tour of the Caravan for Disability Freedom and Justice to promote local and national disability history, resources and events.
Society’s Assets’ mission is to ensure the rights of people with disabilities and help them integrate into community life. Both of our organizations will be stationed outside vans wrapped in red, white and blue flags at Harbor Park’s Pop-up Biergarten, 5501 Ring Road, on Saturday, July 20th, starting at 4pm.
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Guests at the beer garden event (free admission) are invited to join us in honoring and celebrating important people and places in more than 100 years of struggle for freedom and justice, and there will be an opportunity to share and record personal stories using interactive kiosks.
The Disability Freedom and Justice Caravan 2024 is a collective of disabled people and their allies who will drive across the United States. Marilee Adamski Smith, a Wisconsin disability advocate and the caravan’s logistics and special projects director, explains, “We are trying to build a stronger disability network across the country while promoting voting rights and registration so that we can elect lawmakers who support bills that are important to the freedom and justice of the disability community. Our goal is to highlight all those who came before us and the current issues facing Americans with disabilities. We want to connect people to this rich history of activism and advocacy with current national, regional and local issues. We will share success stories and tools needed to create positive change. We will highlight the power of the disability vote and encourage registration events.”
For more information about the caravan, visit https://thedisabilitycaravan.com
As an independent living center serving southeastern Wisconsin since 1974, Society’s Assets supports individuals of all ages and disabilities living in Racine, Kenosha, Walworth, Rock and Jefferson counties. Our five core services include information and referrals, independent living skills training, individual and systems advocacy, peer support and transition. Other services at Society’s Assets include supportive in-home and personal care, home and vehicle accessibility assessments, a loaner closet with equipment and assistive technology for a “try before you buy” experience (supported by WisTech), and Social Security benefits counseling.
If you have a disability and need assistance, please call us at 800-3789128, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Kalli Hauter is a community health educator at Society’s Assets.
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