What: Frank Strong from Des Moines will ride both a Coralville  public transit bus and a Iowa City public transit bus as a part of his goal of riding each of Iowa’s 18 fixed-route transit systems throughout the state of Iowa.  Frank is a transit advocate who encourages everyone to make use of the valuable transit services available in their communities.  Frank will ride the Coralville and Iowa City buses to promote awareness of the ease and convenience of riding public transit.

Frank is promoting transit as many people do not use transit because they are not sure of how to ride the bus or where the bus actually goes.  Blind people like Frank have been riding public transit and teaching people how to use transit for many years.  Public transit is now more accessible for people with all kinds of disabilities than ever.

Frank is promoting public transit to relieve traffic congestion, reduce pollution, and reduce carbon emmisions.  Frank also encourages public transit to help Iowans “Stand up for energy independence” by reducing America’s dependence on foreign oil.  Frank states that by using less imported oil, each of us can take a real step to strengthen our economy and help us remain independent and self-reliant.

Frank is working with several different statewide organizations which promote transit services as well as their own statewide outreach.  These organizations include the Iowa Department of Economic Development the Iowa Arts Council and local state and federal elected officials.

Everyone can and should join Frank on the Coralville and Iowa City buses!

Frank will also perform music on his guitar as the bus travels around Coralville and Iowa City.    This live music feature is not often available on any kind of transit but it will be on September 15 in Coralville and Iowa City.!

More pictures to come at the beginning of next week.

On July 23, 2011, Access 2 Independence presents the 21^st Annual Americans with Disabilities Act celebration at the Coral Ridge Mall from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. This year’s event features a wide range of activities for both young and old. We will open our celebration with a Sled Hockey exhibition by The Quad City Sled Hockey Association at 11 a.m. followed by a clinic that will allow patrons to come onto the ice and try out sled hockey themselves. Ricochet, the mascot for the Cedar Rapids Roughriders will be making a special appearance.  This year’s keynote speaker is Jenn Wolff, the 2011 winner of the Ms.Wheelchair Iowa competition. Along with Ms. Wolff, the event will highlight the advancements that the disability community has made over the past 21 years. The University of Iowa’s ICATER lab will be demonstrating the new innovative assistive technologies available to persons with disabilities. To top off the day, Access 2 Independence will be giving out the 1^st annual Corporate Excellence of Accessibility Award to Hy-Vee groceries for their initiative to make their gas station more accessible by installing Fuel Call, a system that enables customers with disabilities to call for refueling assistance. After the festivities, stay around and enjoy the Iowa Children’s Museum. The museum is offering free admission from 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Come join Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett as he helps Access 2 Independence introduce themselves to Linn County

 Cedar Rapids Mayor, Ron Corbett will be the keynote speaker on July 8, 2011 at the Human Services Campus in Cedar Rapids. In 1986, Mayor Corbett won a seat in the Iowa House where he served for 7 terms. He led the effort to pass the school bond issue that was used to make major improvements at Jefferson, Kennedy and Washington High Schools.  During his time at the Chamber, he partnered with other local chambers to advance the idea of promoting “the Corridor” to use in the recruitment of new businesses, new residents and new funding for local projects.

WHAT: Access 2 Independence of the Eastern Iowa Corridor Cedar Rapids Open House. The event will include educational conversation about Access 2 Independence and how our organization can assist persons with disabilities in Linn, Cedar, Jones, and Benton County gain their independence. Also as part of the event, Access 2 Independence will be displaying our weekly television show,a documentary made by a member of our staff on his life as a person with a disability in Johnson County, and our four core services and how they can be used to support our consumers.

WHO: Community members that will be speaking at the event include our keynote speak over the noon hour by Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett. Mayor Corbett will be speaking about the changes in disability laws in the last 20 years. . Mayor Corbett will speak about the changes in disability laws in the last 20 years. The mayor will be speaking over the noon hour .

WHERE:  Human Services Campus

317 7^th Ave Se.  Suite 403  Cedar Rapids

WHEN: Friday, July 8, 2011, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Come join Mayor Ron Corbett and Access 2 Independence as they introduce themselves to their new neighbors and to the city of Cedar Rapids!

Hello All:
 
  As we near the middle of June, the ADA Celebration Committee is nailing down the final plans for this years celebration on July 23 which includes some exciting changes, including moving the location from the Ped Mall to Coral Ridge Mall where heat or rain will not hamper the activities.  A sled hockey exhibition from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm by the Quad City Mallards with and appearance by Ricochet will kick off the day.  From 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm we will have speakers, a demonstration of Goalball a game devised in 1946 in an effort to help in the rehabilitation of visually impaired World War II Veterans and Assistive Technology demonstrations.  From 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm as a very special treat the Children’s Museum will open their doors to us at no charge to tour and point out adaptations to exhibits to make them disability friendly.
 
We hope Senator Harkin will also be able to join us again but have not heard back from him yet.  I extend my personal  invitation to you to join us in what could be our best  ADA Celebration.
 
Keep fighting the good fight and doing what you do.
 
Take care,
 
Terry Cunningham, President of Access 2 Independence