For Immediate Release

July 22, 2019

Contact: Eleanor Canter, NCIL Communications Coordinator – 231-755-5063 or eleanor@ncil.org

Washington, DC — On Tuesday, July 23, approximately 1000 people with disabilities, advocates, and allies from across the nation will march to the US Capitol in support of disability rights. Participants will meet at 11th and G Streets NW at 9:30 a.m. and the 1.2 mile March to the Capitol will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m. All members of the public and press are encouraged to attend.

This event will precede the 29th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which was signed by President George H.W. Bush on July 26, 1990.

The March route will end at the West Front Lawn of the US Capitol, where participants will gather for an empowering Rally for Disability Rights, which will feature Senators, Representatives, and Independent Living and disability rights advocates. Advocates will then make their way to the US Capitol Building to meet with their elected Members of Congress in order to promote NCIL’s Legislative and Advocacy Priorities, which are developed bi-annually by the organization’s membership.

Some of the priorities advocates will be addressing include funding for America’s Independent Living Program; protecting the ADA from Congressional attack; and protecting Medicaid and Home and Community Based Services.

The March and Rally for Disability Rights is being organized by the National Council on Independent Living as part of its 2019 Annual Conference on Independent Living, which will take place July 22-25 at the Grand Hyatt Washington.

The National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) is the longest-running national cross-disability, grassroots organization run by and for people with disabilities. Founded in 1982, NCIL represents thousands, including: individuals with disabilities, Centers for Independent Living (CILs), Statewide Independent Living Councils (SILCs), and other organizations that advocate for the human and civil rights of people with disabilities throughout the United States.

Dear NCIL Members:

The Annual Council Meeting is coming up and we know that many of you are interested in the process for elections and the vacancy in the President’s position. The following email lays out the rules and eligibility for making nominations and running for the open positions, which are outlined below.

Rules of Order

To ensure fair and orderly meetings that allow all NCIL members to participate, NCIL uses Robert’s Rules of Order for the conduct of annual meetings to the greatest extent possible. However, NCIL feels that under no circumstances should “undue strictness” be allowed to intimidate members or limit full participation. The conduct of ALL business is controlled by the general will of the whole membership, with the right of the majority to decide. See NCIL’s quick-reference guide to the rules of order. A parliamentarian will be present and will have the final call on Robert’s Rules procedures.

Elections

At the 2019 Annual Council Meeting, NCIL members will have the opportunity to vote for Governing Board members and resolutions that will guide NCIL in the coming years. This year, elections will be held for: President, Treasurer, and three Members-At-Large.

While the deadline to nominate for these positions online has passed, we always take nominations from the floor for all positions.

The National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) has unanimously accepted Bruce Darling’s resignation. We unequivocally denounce the statements articulated by Mr. Darling yesterday. We want to clarify that his statements are not NCIL talking points, and that his assertion that he was speaking in the capacity of NCIL President was in violation of NCIL’s policies.

Sarah Launderville, NCIL Vice President, effective immediately, will assume the powers and functions of President for the remainder of the term until the Wednesday, July 24 Annual Council Meeting, where the position will be up for election.

NCIL acknowledges that the treatment of border detainees is reprehensible. We also recognize that people with disabilities are amongst the individuals being detained in the border camps for asylum-seeking and undocumented immigrants to the U.S.

Additionally, reports concerning the treatment of detainees within these camps clearly indicates that the conditions are resulting in detainees acquiring trauma-related disabilities. Finally, NCIL recognizes that the personal and civil rights of the disability community in the U.S. are currently being threatened within the border camps and, therefore, condemns any rhetoric that attempts to pit the disability community against those who are seeking asylum in the U.S.

The message from the dais at NCIL is this: we stand in solidarity with detainees, the Latinx community, those who immigrate to this country for whatever reason, and all marginalized people.