United Spinal Association to Host Disability Leadership and Policy Summit

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Apr 05, 2010, 06:00 ET

Will Honor Senator Arlen Specter, Gov. Dick Thornburgh, Ginny Thornburgh and Liberty Resources, Inc. with 2010 Visionary Award: Tireless Advocates for People with Disabilities

NEW YORK, April 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- United Spinal Association will host its inaugural Disability Leadership and Policy Summit on April 15th in Philadelphia, commemorating the 20th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which was signed into law on July 26, 1990 and prohibits discrimination based on disability. The law was amended in 2008 to offer more protection to disabled workers.

During the summit, United Spinal will honor Senator Arlen Specter, Dick and Ginny Thornburgh, and Liberty Resources, Inc. with this year's 2010 Visionary Award, for their leadership, extraordinary service, and outstanding commitment to advancing the lives of people with disabilities.

Mr. Thornburgh served as Governor of Pennsylvania and Attorney General of the United States. He was a staunch supporter of the ADA and the ADA Amendments Act of 2008. Mrs. Thornburgh has spent the past 40 years as an advocate for people with disabilities and works with the American Association of People with Disabilities to improve program and architectural access in religious congregations and seminaries. With five terms in office, Specter is the longest-serving U.S. Senator in Pennsylvania's history and has been a fierce advocate for Veterans benefits and an early ADA supporter and proponent. Liberty Resources, Inc. is the largest Independent Living Center in Pennsylvania that advocates on behalf of individuals with disabilities.

Paul J. Tobin, president and CEO of United Spinal Association said, "We have made tremendous progress in expanding the rights of Americans with disabilities over the past 20 years thanks in large part to the efforts of the visionaries we are honoring at this summit."

"We are also privileged to be joined by some of the best minds in the disability community to exchange ideas on how to empower future generations of people with disabilities to reach their potential as members of their communities, our nation, and the world," he added.

Featured presenters will speak about the ADA, past and future, including Day Al-Mohamed, Esq., senior policy advisor, U.S. Department of Labor; Stephen F. Gold, Esq., disability rights attorney and activist; Joyce A. Bender, CEO/founder, Bender Consulting Services, Inc.; and Robert Silverstein, Esq., Senate staff architect of ADA and principal of Powers, Pyles, Sutter and Verville, PC.

The summit is to be held at the National Constitution Center, America's most interactive history museum, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania -- just two blocks from the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall.

About United Spinal Association
United Spinal is a national 501(c)(3) non-profit membership organization formed in 1946 by paralyzed veterans and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for all Americans with spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, spina bifida, ALS and post polio. It has played a significant role in writing the Americans with Disabilities Act, made important contributions to the Fair Housing Amendments Act and the Air Carrier Access Act. Membership is free and is open to all individuals with spinal cord disorders.

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Jim Weisman

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Paul Tobin

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SOURCE United Spinal Association