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2004 NOD Annual Report

The 2004 N.O.D. Annual Report is available in text and PDF formats.

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DEDICATION:
Christopher Reeve, 1952-2004
N.O.D. Vice Chairman

We dedicate the National Organization on Disability 2004 Annual Report to our late Vice Chairman, Christopher Reeve. Well known to the world for his four-time movie portrayal of Superman, Christopher became a real-life superhero after a devastating riding accident made him a quadriplegic. He was an activist and an advocate for the 600 million people worldwide with disabilities, lending credibility and visibility to the fight for acceptance as well as the search for a cure. He founded the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation, worked to double the National Institutes of Health research budget, and in 1997, he joined the N.O.D. Board of Directors.

As Vice Chairman, Christopher was a Board member in much more than name. He redirected much of the spotlight that was always on him to the real, daily issues and challenges faced by people with disabilities. He participated annually in the United Nations presentation of the FDR International Disability Award. He raised funds, authored articles, and wrote letters to thousands of community and opinion leaders. He anchored N.O.D.'s award-winning televised public service announcement, sharing the message that "No matter who you are, there are some things you can do, and some things you can't. It's about ability - not disability."

Christopher Reeve served N.O.D. and all disability advocates by demonstrating to the world, through his work, the truth of those words. He defied the odds by returning to his career as an actor and director. His remake of Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window, in which he starred, was a vehicle to share with millions of viewers the marvelous assistive technologies that he used in his daily life. Through In the Gloaming, which he directed, he addressed a different set of disability issues and their impact on a young man with AIDS. Christopher's final film, The Brooke Ellison Story, brought the autobiography of his fellow Board member to the television screen.

When he wasn't working at his first career, Christopher was always hard at work on his second. His efforts in the search for a cure were universally known, but he was also a tireless advocate for making life better for people with disabilities in the present. He recognized how fortunate he was to have a strong support network and financial security, but he realized how tenuous these are for many others. He spoke out and testified to Congress about the importance of affordable insurance and medical care that can allow people to lead fuller and longer lives.

Christopher was an inspiration to the world, through his actions and his example. Strength, courage, patience, and persistence epitomized him and his remarkable life. We at N.O.D. will miss him deeply and will carry on, with his bold and courageous leadership as our inspiration.

PHOTO CAPTION:
Cover Photo by Diana De Rosa/A&E 2004. Photo taken on the set of The Brooke Ellison Story, which N.O.D. Vice-Chairman, Christopher Reeve produced and directed last summer of fellow board member, Brooke Ellison and appeared on A&E in the fall of 2004.

Page 1 photo of Alan Reich by Lloyd Wolf / www.lloydwolf.com

The 2004 Annual Report is more than a chronicle of N.O.D.'s works this past year-although it certainly was a full and active year. We also are responding to the challenge of connecting our mission to promote the full and equal participation of people with disabilities in American life.

As a national organization with limited staff and resources, we recognize that without significant long-term help, some of our goals are beyond our reach. Yet, we know that what we do makes a difference in the lives of 54 million Americans with disabilities-America's most disadvantaged and ever-increasing minority. Their lives are affected by what we set in motion and influence. Our efforts translate into organizational alignments and commitments, improved perceptions and attitudes, changes for the better in communities, and ultimately changes in behavior.

The Start on Success (SOS) program provides paid internships to inner-city teenagers with disabilities so that they can enter a workforce they may never have dreamed of previously. Worshippers who felt unwelcome and had been denied access to their places of worship, now report that they are thrilled to be regular churchgoers. Similarly, thanks to our efforts (and those of other disability organizations), the Help America Vote Act of 2002 made many polling places more accessible, and in 2004 more citizens with disabilities exercised their right to vote than ever before in history.

The most intransigent problem on America's disability agenda is employment. Our Harris surveys show little improvement in the past 12 years. That said, individuals tell us that thanks to job tips on preparing resumes and handling employer interviews, as found on our website, that they now have jobs. Articles on our website about assistive technology have led individuals to solutions that they otherwise would not have considered. They too are now in the workforce. But barriers still exist.

N.O.D.'s Community Partnership Program enlists the commitment of mayors and chief elected officials to expand the participation of people with disabilities in their communities across America.

In sum, the programs we set in motion and the policies we influenced in this past year continue to provide opportunities for America's 54 million children, women, and men with disabilities to be contributing members of our society and part of the American dream that for too many and for too long has been denied.

We are committed to closing the gaps in participation between people with and without disabilities. This is our agenda. This is America's agenda.

Sincerely yours,

Michael R. Deland, Chairman

Alan A. Reich, President

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Introduction

The mission of the National Organization on Disability (N.O.D.) is to expand the participation and contribution of America's 54 million men, women, and children with disabilities in all aspects of life. That may sound like a laudable goal, but what does it really mean? And, more importantly, what progress has been made toward this goal?

In this Annual Report, we'd like to introduce you to some of the people who have chosen to participate in, and been positively affected by, N.O.D. programs and activities. We demonstrate what we mean by "all aspects of life." And we bring you up to date on many important initiatives and how they've improved the lives of people with disabilities, even as we recognize that we still have a long way to go.

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CREATING UNDERSTANDING AND KNOWLEDGE

Seminal Research, Necessary and Trusted

Sponsors: The 2004 National Organization on Disability/Harris Survey of Americans with Disabilities was sponsored by American Express; AstraZeneca; Milbank Foundation for Rehabilitation; Charles Stewart Mott Foundation; NEC Foundation of America; Law, Health Policy & Disability Center of the University of Iowa College of Law; and the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.

The National Organization on Disability commissions Harris Interactive to conduct unique research that is unparalleled by any other organization. The results from these surveys give us insight into the lives of people with disabilities in this country and provide crucial information on their needs and circumstances. They paint a picture for the entire disability movement and serve as a checkpoint for the nation and its disability agenda. The survey data is used by leaders in government, education, research, and other organizations, and is frequently quoted in Congressional testimony and in the media.

The most comprehensive of the surveys, the N.O.D./Harris Survey of Americans with Disabilities, has been conducted regularly since 1986 and queries respondents on satisfaction with and access to or participation in several categories:

Two new categories were added to the 2004 survey, bringing the total number to ten:

These ten "gaps," or quantitative measures of the differences in the lives of people with and without disabilities, provide N.O.D. with valuable information that drives our advocacy and programming. The largest of the gaps, in numerical terms, are:

Other areas show smaller, but still substantial gaps:

Although some of these gaps between people with and without disabilities have narrowed since earlier surveys were conducted, some have not. The biggest gain has been a shrinkage of the gaps in education, eating out in restaurants, religious attendance, and political participation. However, there have been no significant gains when it comes to life satisfaction, socializing, or income.

While it is important to measure the gaps between people with and without disabilities, it is equally important to recognize that people with disabilities are a heterogeneous group, given the range of disabilities and limitations in daily living. People with more severe disabilities face much greater challenges than people with more moderate disabilities.

People with severe disabilities, who account for just over half of all adults with disabilities, are much less likely to be working, to be satisfied with their lives, to attend religious services, or to go out to restaurants than are people with moderate disabilities. They are also more likely to go without needed medical care.

Assessing Emergency Preparedness

Sponsor: United States Department of Homeland Security

Another N.O.D./Harris research effort in 2004 included determining the degree to which people with disabilities are considered in emergency preparedness plans by officials and municipalities nationwide. Surveying 197 emergency managers at the state and city level, researchers found that, while 69 percent of respondents have incorporated the needs of people with disabilities into their emergency plans, urgent gaps still exist.

Notable findings of the Emergency Preparedness Survey:

Further, when managers do have emergency plans for people with disabilities, these plans are rarely available in an accessible format, rendering them virtually useless for people with certain kinds of disabilities.

PHOTO CAPTION:
There is no organization with a stronger voice and stronger experience than N.O.D. To put on such a conference, with this degree of outreach and top leadership, was so timely for all of us. I was proud to participate; it was a great conference.
Warren Jernigan
Chair, Disability Task Force
Florida Department of Homeland Security Pensacola, Florida

A Snapshot of Politics and Voting

Sponsor: Carnegie Corporation of New York

A 2003 Harris Poll commissioned by the National Organization on Disability found serious concern on the part of all Americans, and especially those with disabilities, about the condition of our country. The poll asked one thousand people nationwide whether they felt "good about the state of the union." Only 45 percent of respondents said they did, down from 69 percent two years earlier. Positive responses fell from 58 to 38 percent among those who have disabilities. This survey reflected anxiety in our nation, particularly for the more than 54 million citizens with disabilities.

N.O.D. is pleased to report that the percentage of people with disabilities who voted in 2004 increased substantially-from 41 percent in 2000 to 52 percent. However, a disturbing, 21 percent of American adults with disabilities-approximately 8 million potential voters-surveyed prior to the election said that they have been unable to vote in previous presidential or congressional elections due to barriers they encountered in registering, entering polling places, or using voting machines.

Advocacy

The information gleaned from its proprietary and groundbreaking research prepares N.O.D. to speak on behalf of Americans with disabilities in numerous ways each year. N.O. D. program Directors and Board members are frequently offered the opportunity to address lawmakers, journalists, and opinion leaders through press conferences and testimony at Congressional hearings. Opinion pieces in major nationwide newspapers also help to put forward the concerns of people with disabilities. Highlights from 2004 include:

PHOTO CAPTION:
The N.O.D. represents a much-needed voice to speak on behalf of the millions of Americans challenged with disability. My involvement on the board has given me an opportunity to do what I believe to be very important work, serving beside some truly dedicated and passionate individuals. It is through organizations like the N.O.D. that true progress is made and, despite that which still needs to be done, they have helped make a difference in the lives of many.
Brooke Ellison
N.O.D. Board Member

An Information Clearinghouse

N.O.D. is nationally and internationally known as a key source for information about and for people with disabilities; leaders and organizations worldwide turn to us for valuable research, referrals, and perspective.

Although not primarily a direct service organization, N.O.D. handles thousands of inquiries each year from people seeking information on disability in general, programs, services, legislation, and many other topics. Our staff members also serve as keynote speakers and presenters at conferences, sharing information and best practices with varied audiences nationwide.

For example, Elizabeth Davis, Director of the Emergency Preparedness Initiative, served as the keynote speaker for the Virginia Public Safety Outreach Conference in November, sponsored by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management and the Virginia Citizen Corps. Nancy Starnes, Chief of Staff, participated in a U.S. Department of Transportation advisory group on air travel for people with disabilities. Ginny Thornburgh, Director of the Religion and Disability Program, spoke numerous times about the gifts that people with disabilities bring to their congregations.

N.O.D.'s award-winning website is a prime source of disability news, information, and resources. It provides data from N.O.D./Harris surveys, as well as continuously updated news and original articles. The website is a model of accessibility, and is designed so that visitors with disabilities can access the important information they need. The website complies with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Shaping Culture and Awareness

As a part of our mission to support people with disabilities in all aspects of life, N.O.D. celebrates the inclusion of people with disabilities in popular culture. People with disabilities are increasingly making appearances in television, movies, and commercials. Actor and N.O.D. Board member Robert David Hall plays a coroner on the hit television series "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation." The late Christopher Reeve starred in a remake of Rear Window, and produced a televised biography of fellow N.O. D. Board member Brooke Ellison as his final project.

People with disabilities have even made it into the comics. Character B.D. in Garry Trudeau's Doonesbury returned home last summer from the war in Iraq after losing a leg. In an opinon piece written for http://www.nod.org, Robert David Hall noted, "...If Doonesbury helps our country think of wounded veterans not as strangers, but as friends like B.D., and if we welcome this generation of war wounded more openly than any previous one, that will be meaningful progress not just for our injured soldiers but for all of America's 54 million people with disabilities."

N.O.D. also participates in activities designed to raise awareness about some of the challenges faced by people with disabilities. For example, we participated in Disability Awareness Day in Washington, D.C., on October 20, sponsored by the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB)'s Access for All Advisory Committee. To highlight the typical workday commute of people with disabilities, several travel teams-each including a person with a disability, a regional transportation leader from the TPB, and a member of the media-trekked to a press conference at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments headquarters near Union Station. The event was designed to illustrate the important role accessible transportation plays in enabling people with disabilities to work.

Vital Partnerships

N.O.D. often partners with other organizations and corporate entities to raise awareness and reach its goals. One such partnership is with Sprint Project Connect, a nationwide program that collects used wireless phones. Donated phones are either recycled or resold, with proceeds benefiting N.O.D., Easter Seals, and the Wireless Foundation.

N.O.D. and Sprint initiated the partnership in 2002. Since then, wireless phone collection events and other outreach efforts have resulted in a cumulative contribution to N.O.D. of more than $250,000.

The June 2004 issue of Motor Trend magazine featured a special section on mobility and disability, the first of its kind. A partnership between Motor Trend and N.O.D. included an article by Alan Reich about his experience driving with a hand-controlled vehicle for 40 years. The section featured articles about the latest technologies available to enhance and enable mobility today. It will be highlighted again in 2005.

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CREATING WELCOMING WORKPLACES

Start on Success: An Introduction to the Workplace

As the N.O.D./Harris surveys have consistently found, gaining access to employment is the most difficult barrier facing Americans with disabilities: people with disabilities are unemployed, and actively seeking jobs at twice the rate of other Americans.

In founding its signature direct-service effort, Start on Success (SOS), N.O.D. recognized that students with disabilities who encounter workplace realities before they leave high school have a greater chance of securing rewarding employment. At the same time, SOS educates employers about the benefits of hiring people with disabilities and introduces them to these qualified student candidates.

Start on Success celebrated its 10th anniversary and the graduation of its 1,000th intern in 2004. To commemorate these milestones, a celebration was held at the Library of Congress in April. Thirteen students, representing SOS programs in Alabama, Connecticut, Maryland, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, were joined by their parents and special education teachers as well as directors and staff from N.O.D.

Inaugurated with three pilot internships, SOS has expanded to 19 sites in five states. Most programs are collaborations between inner-city high schools and nearby universities, hospitals, or corporations. Programs vary from urban models in Philadelphia and Baltimore to a mix of urban and rural initiatives in Alabama.

Each community develops its version of SOS in ways most appropriate to local circumstances. Attempts are made to identify and select job site partners that offer exposure to a broad range of career paths, and that are nontraditional settings for young people with disabilities. Interns serve 10 to 15 hours per week for periods of eight to 32 weeks. To ensure that interns are taken seriously as co-workers in training, the jobs are real and provide fair compensation (although there is no promise that interns will receive permanent placement at internship conclusion). During the 2003-2004 school year, 239 students participated in SOS.

PHOTO CAPTION:
For the Start on Success interns, our employees provide the nurturing they need to pursue dreams that some would never pursue without the influence and education they receive here. The program provides the students a chance to combine required classes with a valuable education in a business environment. It is in the hospital that the students learn about the importance of good attendance, being on time, being respectful to others around them, being empathetic towards people who are sick, and taking the initiative to complete tasks themselves without waiting for constant direction from staff members. It is this program that prepares them for employment. I consider it to be a lifesaver because, without the nurturing and encouragement to pursue a career, some of our students could fall prey to less desirable lifestyles and unemployment.
Donna Griffith
Director of Volunteer Services
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

SOS Program Sites

ALABAMA
University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa
BALTIMORE
Johns Hopkins Hospital
University of Maryland
University of Maryland Medical System
CONNECTICUT
Beechwood Rehabilitation Center
Central Connecticut State University
Connecticut College
Gateway Community College
Hospital of St. Raphael
Lawrence and Memorial Hospital
Wesleyan University
Yale New Haven Hospital
Yale University
PHILADELPHIA
Lankenau Hospital
Saint Joseph's University
University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania Hospital
Veterans Administration Medical Center
PITTSBURGH
Allegheny Hospital
Carnegie Mellon University
Cigna
University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

CEO Council: Garnering Commitment from Employers

N.O.D.'s CEO Council comprises leading companies and their Chief Executive Officers, who are committed to increasing employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Their membership sends a strong message of encouragement that working with staff, customers, and clients who have disabilities is good business, and sets an example for other members of the corporate community.

Council members are saluted in donated public service advertisements in national and regional editions of BusinessWeek magazine several times a year. N.O.D. is grateful to BusinessWeek and McGraw-Hill for this generous donation, which has a value to the organization of more than $600,000 annually.

In 2004, Board Member Ken Roman led an effort to redesign the ads. With creative talent donated by leading advertising firm FCB, fresh, colorful ads were created that catch the eye while conveying the clear message that in the workplace, it's ability, not disability, that counts. People with disabilities bring valuable life experience and problem-solving ingenuity to the workplace and the ads communicate this to business leaders.

N.O.D. keeps CEO Council members informed on key issues for people with disabilities, especially regarding survey research and programs that relate to the business world. Pursuant to an in-depth study of and recommendations for the CEO Council program by Booz Allen Hamilton in 2004, new programs and benefits for CEO Council members will be developed. Further, new information dissemination pathways as well as new opportunities for greater involvement within N.O.D. are being explored.

PHOTO CAPTION:
We at BusinessWeek thought that was a very noble cause: to remind executives who run companies that the disabled can be just as productive-if not more so-than the next person they interview.
William Kupper
President and Publisher
BusinessWeek

CEO Council Members

MILLENNIUM CIRCLE
BusinessWeek, William P. Kupper, Jr.
The McGraw-Hill Companies, Harold McGraw III
Sprint, Gary D. Forsee
TRUSTEES' CIRCLE
Alcoa, Inc., Alain J.P. Belda
Altria Group, Inc., Louis C. Camilleri
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, David R. Brennan
The Coca-Cola Company, Douglas N. Daft
IBM Corporation, Samuel J. Palmisano
United Parcel Service, Michael L. Eskew
Verizon Communications, Ivan G. Seidenberg
CHAIRMAN'S CIRCLE
American Express Company, Kenneth I. Chenault
Bridge Street Capital Management, Jeffrey P. Reich
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Peter R. Dolan
Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, William G. Parrett
Dorsar Investment Company, Stephen L. Feinberg
Foote, Cone & Belding, Brendan Ryan
The J.C. Penney Company, Inc., Allen Questrom
Johnson & Johnson, William C. Weldon
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., E. Stanley O'Neal
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, Robert H. Benmosche
NEC America, Inc., Kunitomo Matsuoka
Potomac Electric Power Company, Dennis R. Wraase
Pfizer Inc., Henry McKinnell, Jr.
VICE CHAIRMAN'S CIRCLE
Aetna, Inc., John W. Rowe, M.D.
Charles River Ventures, Richard M. Burnes, Jr.
Citigroup, Inc., Charles O. Prince
DaimlerChrysler Corporation, Jürgen E. Schrempp
Eastman Kodak Company, Daniel A. Carp
Household International, William F. Aldinger
Motor Trend, Lou Mohn
New England Patriots, Jonathan Kraft
National Structured Settlements Trade Association,
Mal Deener
Northrop Grumman Corporation, Ronald D. Sugar
Powers Pyles Sutter & Verville, PC, Robert J. Saner II, Esq.
PRIMEDIA, Inc., Kelly P. Conlin
Sale and Quinn, PC, Stephen Sale
SMS Data Products Group, Inc., Albert F. Rosecan
Sony Corporation of America, Sir Howard Stringer
T. Rowe Price, George A. Roche
PRESIDENT'S CIRCLE
ABC, Inc., Alex Wallau
Alliance Tech, Inc., Art Borrego
Allstate Insurance Company, Edward M. Liddy
Calpine Corporation, Peter Cartwright
Clarion Management Resources, Carole M. Rogin
CNA, Stephen W. Lilienthal
GlaxoSmithKline, Jean-Pierre Garnier
Hartford Life, Inc., Thomas M. Marra
Hewlett Packard Company, Carleton S. Fiorina
Marriott International, Inc., J.W. Marriott, Jr.
Microsoft Corporation, Steve Ballmer
Owl Hollow Enterprises, Philip E. Beekman
PepsiCo, Inc., Steven S. Reinemund
Pillsbury Winthrop LLP, Donald A. Carr, Esq.
Radio One, Inc., Alfred C. Liggins III
Rockwell Automation, Keith D. Nosbusch
Sybase, John S. Chen
ULLICO, Inc., Terrence M. O' Sullivan
Vivendi Universal, Jean-René Fourtou
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., H. Lee Scott, Jr.
Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering
Xerox Corporation, Anne M. Mulcahy
LEADERSHIP CIRCLE
Alex Lee, Inc., Boyd L. George
Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc., Patrick T. Stokes
Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc., John T. Lampe
ChevronTexaco Corporation, David J. O'Reilly
CIT Group Inc., Albert R. Gamper, Jr.
Comcast Corporation, Brian L. Roberts
Ernst & Young LLP, James S. Turley
Fisher Scientific International Inc., Paul M. Montrone
Ford Motor Company, William Clay Ford, Jr.
Gannett Broadcasting, Craig A. Dubow
General Electric Company, Jeffrey R. Immelt
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Robert Keegan
Hasbro, Inc., Alan G. Hassenfeld
Hilton Hotels Corporation, Stephen F. Bollenbach
Howrey, Simon, Arnold & White, LLP, Robert F. Ruyak
Hughes Supply, Inc., Thomas I. Morgan
The Huntsman Companies, Peter R. Huntsman
The Jordan Company LLC, John W. Jordan II
Kellogg Company, Carlos M. Gutierrez
KeySpan Corporation, Robert B. Catell
Kmart Corporation, Julian C. Day
Lockheed Martin, Vance D. Coffman
Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc., Jeffrey W. Greenberg
Matsushita Electric Corporation of America, Hideaki Iwatani
The May Department Stores Company, Gene Kahn
McCormick & Schmick's, Saed Mohseni
The Michael T. Rose Family of Companies, Michael T. Rose
Northeast Utilities, Charles W. Shivery
Olin Corporation, Joseph D. Rupp
Pitney Bowes Inc., Michael J. Critelli
PPG Industries, Inc., Raymond W. LeBoeuf
Prudential Financial, Arthur F. Ryan
Raytheon Company, William H. Swanson
Rockwell Collins, Clayton M. Jones
Sears, Roebuck and Co., Alan J. Lacy
Slade Gorton & Co. Ltd., Michael Gorton
State Farm Insurance Companies, Edward B. Rust, Jr.
Steelcase Inc., James P. Hackett
The Thomson Corporation, Richard J. Harrington
Towers Perrin, Mark V. Mactas
Worthington Industries, Inc., John P. McConnell
W.R. Grace & Co., Paul J. Norris

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CREATING A SAFER WORLD

Emergency Preparedness Initiative

The centerpiece of N.O.D.'s Emergency Preparedness Initiative in 2004 was the first Conference on Emergency Preparedness for People with Disabilities, held September 22-24 in Arlington, Virginia. Keynoted by U.S. Secretary for Homeland Security Tom Ridge, and with major speeches by Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta and Federal Emergency Management Administration head Michael Brown, the conference welcomed 400 attendees to training sessions, discussion panels, demonstrations, and workshops. Funding was provided by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security office of National Capital Region Coordination.

The Emergency Preparedness Initiative was inspired by the need for greater planning for and by people with disabilities that was highlighted by the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. In the past three years, N.O.D.'s EPI specialists have gathered information, conducted research, produced informative publications, and pressed for appropriations and legislation. All of these efforts set the stage for this inaugural conference, which provided emergency management professionals from varied disciplines with real tools, models, contacts, and resources to include people with disabilities fully in all types of preparedness planning.

In April, N.O.D. secured a $1 million grant from the Department of Education for emergency preparedness for people with disabilities. This funding will permit N.O.D .'s program officials to create new EPI program offerings, including training, standards development, and the development of evaluation measures.

The issue has garnered attention at the highest levels of government. On July 22, President Bush signed an Executive Order on Individuals with Disabilities in Emergency Preparedness. This Order establishes an Interagency Coordinating Council for Emergency Preparedness and Individuals with Disabilities within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. It also states that the policy of the federal government is to consider the needs of employees and individuals served by all agencies, and will facilitate cooperation among federal, state, local, and tribal governments in this area.

The third edition of N.O.D.'s Guide on the Special Needs of People with Disabilities for Emergency Managers, Planners, and Responders is now available. New material includes references to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, an updated and expanded resources section, and additional statistics from the 2004 Emergency Preparedness Survey. To date, more than 46,000 copies of the Guide have been distributed to interested professionals across the country and around the world.

PHOTO CAPTION:
I immediately agreed to do a presentation at September's Conference on Emergency Preparedness for People with Disabilities as soon as I was asked. I applaud N.O.D. for putting on the conference. We need its leadership to keep us going and focused on the issue; it's so easy to let things drop when we get back home. Plus, N.O.D.'s national focus gives it more power to push for change locally.
Michele Ohmes
ADA Specialist
City of Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri

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CREATING WELCOMING COMMUNITIES

Religion: A Welcome to Worship

Sponsors: W.K. Kellogg Foundation and Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation

Freedom of religion is one of the basic principles on which the United States was founded. However, for many people with disabilities, congregations are inaccessible and inhospitable. Barriers of architecture and attitude prevent people with disabilities from attending religious services as frequently as people without disabilities. Yet, as the Harris Survey results demonstrate, 84 percent of people with disabilities say their religious faith is important to them. Our goal is to ensure that people with and without disabilities, who choose to worship, find a welcoming environment.

The N.O.D. Religion and Disability Program, now in its sixteenth year, is the only national interfaith disability effort. Its outreach and education initiatives urge congregations, national faith groups and seminaries to become more welcoming to children and adults with all types of disabilities.

The Accessible Congregations Campaign promotes physical and programmatic access by recognizing congregations that are committed to including people with disabilities. Religious leaders with disabilities volunteer their contact information and serve as resources and mentors through the N.O.D. Interfaith Directory of Religious Leaders with Disabilities, which now lists more than 100 names.

Educating religious leaders about issues of disability is the goal of the N.O.D. Seminary Project, which also encourages seminaries to welcome faculty, staff, students, and visitors with disabilities.

More than 20 "That All May Worship" conferences each year provide religious leaders and disability advocates an opportunity to raise awareness about the gifts and talents which people with disabilities can share with their congregations, once they are fully included.

The sale of N.O.D.'s four popular guides on religion and disability contributes to sustaining the program. The updated seventh edition of "That All May Worship," the award -winning publication known for its commonsense approach, is now available.

The Religion and Disability Program was honored to receive a two-year $200,000 grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in 2004.

PHOTO CAPTION:
In my local congregation, where I pastor from a wheelchair, I feel like a pioneer, blazing a trail to make my church accessible to all. But the N.O.D. Interfaith Directory of Religious Leaders with Disabilities reveals that there are dozens of pastors, priests, rabbis, and other religious leaders who have already covered this ground. Accessing this list, I have a ready-made support group: a fellowship of colleagues who can provide resources and ideas, not to mention spiritual and emotional care for the journey. Congregations that are examining their own accessibility don't have to reinvent the wheel. The Directory provides role models both for congregations seeking pastoral leadership and for clergy with disabilities who are seeking a call to ministry.
Rev. Bob Molsberry
United Church of Christ-Congregational
Grinnell, Iowa
2004 "That All May Worship" Conference Locations
San Rafael, California
Columbia, Maryland
Phoenix, Arizona
Redlands, California
McLean, Virginia
Silver Spring, Maryland
Indianapolis, Indiana
Atlanta, Georgia
Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Lyons, Michigan
Boston, Massachusetts
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Tomball, Texas
Omaha, Nebraska
Closter, New Jersey
Dayton, Ohio
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Metuchen, New Jersey
Princeton, New Jersey
Rockville, Maryland

Community Partnership Program

Sponsors: UPS Foundation and Alcoa Foundation, with additional support from Citigroup, Inc., Daimler Chrysler Corporation, and Eastman Kodak Company

The Community Partnership Program (CPP) is a growing network of towns, cities, and counties committed to expanding the participation and contribution of people with disabilities at the local level. America's communities are where people with disabilities go about their daily lives, and where they most directly benefit from improved access, services, and opportunities. The Community Partnership Program spurs local leaders to discover opportunities for individuals with disabilities to participate alongside everyone else in the economic, social, and cultural vitality of their community.

Accessible America Competition

Each year, the Community Partnership Program conducts the Accessible America Competition, sponsored by UPS. This nationwide contest identifies a community that best represents a model of accessibility, welcome, and opportunity for people with disabilities across America.

The 2004 winner, Pasadena, California, was recognized as a national model for its focus on disability issues and its successful design of programs, services, and facilities that are accessible for citizens and visitors who have disabilities. According to the U.S. Census, more than 18 percent of the city's 133,936 residents have one or more disabilities.

Pasadena's welcoming attitude impressed the judging panel, which was made up of five leading national disability advocates and experts. One judge noted that Pasadena demonstrated extensive knowledge of accessibility issues and utilized inclusive language. The city has established a Mayor's Committee for Employment of Persons with Disabilities and an Accessibility and Disability Commission, predominately comprised of people with disabilities. The Commission oversees city services to ensure equal access to programs like Pasadena's famous annual Tournament of Roses Parade and local historic sites and cultural centers. The city has focused attention on accessible transportation by creating a local tram system designed specifically for people with disabilities and a new accessible light rail system providing service to Los Angeles.

The Accessible America Award, which includes a $25,000 cash prize to fund local disability initiatives, is presented to the mayor in a ceremony in the winning community. The ceremony for 2003 winner Phoenix, Arizona, was held in early 2004.

Accessible America Competition Winners

2004: Pasadena, California
2003: Phoenix, Arizona
2002: Irvine, California
2001: Venice, Florida
PHOTO CAPTION:
UPS is committed to investing in the communities that we serve. We are a proud sponsor of N.O.D.'s community enrichment programs, which encourage disability friendliness and provide for the full participation of all community members. The Community Partnership Program's work goes hand in hand with The UPS Foundation's goal to create vibrant communities through new opportunities.
Evern Cooper Epps
President, The UPS Foundation and Vice President, Corporate Relations

National Partnership Program

Sponsors: The McGraw-Hill Companies and Xerox Corporation

The National Organization on Disability's National Partners represent forty of the country's most prestigious and influential organizations. None of the National Partners have disability as their main mission but, by partnering with N.O.D., they make a commitment to advance the full and equal participation of people with disabilities in community life.

N.O.D. works with National Partners to support their recognition of outstanding disability programs conducted by their local chapters or affiliates and helps them increase outreach to people with disabilities in their programs, employment, and volunteer opportunities.

National Partnership Program Member Organizations

PHOTO CAPTION:
The National Organization on Disability provides a great resource for the disabled. The National Foundation for Women Legislators has been honored to work with N.O.D. over the past several years and the Foundation has been proud to honor women legislators who have supported legislation to protect the disabled, particularly veterans. At NFWL's Congressional Awards Reception, legislators and Members of Congress from around the country came together to show support for our troops who have been injured in the line of duty. The soldiers who were with us were all missing at least one limb and they showed their bravery and commitment to service for our country by joining us on that day.
Robin Read
NFWL President & CEO

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WORLD COMMITTEE ON DISABILITY

Franklin Delano Roosevelt International Disability Award

Each year, N.O.D.'s international arm, the World Committee on Disability, partners with the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute to present the Franklin Delano Roosevelt International Disability Award. The winning nation is selected for making noteworthy progress toward the United Nations World Programme of Action Concerning Disabled Persons, which calls for the full and equal participation of people with disabilities in all aspects of life, regardless of their nation's level of development.

"The FDR International Disability Award has highlighted disability inclusion on the agendas of nations, international organizations, and local communities. By celebrating the achievements of nations that have met the goals of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities, the FDR International Disability Award encourages other nations to follow suit," says the Baroness Caroline Cox of Queensbury, one of the award's many distinguished judges.

In 2004, the Kingdom of Jordan was selected as the eighth recipient of the Award. It was so honored because of that country's progress in raising the national consciousness about the needs and aspirations of people with disabilities and enhancing their full acceptance in society. Jordan has legislated for the rights, needs, and welfare of people with disabilities, and has established the National Council for Persons with Disabilities. In 1996, a Special Employment Office in the Ministry of Special Development was established in order to increase the employment of persons with disabilities.

Jordan also demonstrated itself to be an international leader on disability when it hosted the first Pan Arab Sports Games for Persons with Disabilities in 1999. The FDR Award is presented in a ceremony at the United Nations, followed by a luncheon in honor of the head of state receiving the Award. The Award consists of a $50,000 cash prize from the Roosevelt Institute for a nongovernmental disability organization in the winning nation. Honored countries also receive a replica of the statue of President Roosevelt in his wheelchair that resides at the FDR Memorial in Washington, DC.

FDR Award Winners 1996-2004

PHOTO CAPTION:
In 1931, F.D.R. called support for the disabled "a great cause, one of the greatest causes of humanity." Today, it is our cause. Jordan is proud to be part of that effort. We invite all people to join us in working for a future of opportunity and hope.
His Majesty King Abdullah II,
Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

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SUPPORTERS ENABLE N.O.D.'S sUCCESS

Without the strong support of contributors who believe in our work, none of N.O.D.'s efforts could succeed. We thank the following supporters who make it possible for us to improve the lives of people with disabilities.

New Millennium Leaders
BusinessWeek
Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
W.K. Kellogg Foundation
The McGraw-Hill Companies
Sprint
Patrons
Alcoa, Inc.
Altria Group, Inc.
AstraZeneca
Carnegie Corporation
Charles Engelhard Foundation
Coca-Cola Company
Bruce and Lueza Gelb
The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation
Kenneth and Ellen Roman
The UPS Foundation
Frederick Whittemore
Benefactors
American Express Company
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
John and Linda Derrick
Richard and Helen DeVos
Stephen Feinberg and Susan Foote
Gordon and Llura Gund
Stephen and Ellie Hammerman
John and Gail Hughes
The J.C. Penney Company, Inc.
Millbank Foundation
Potomac Electric Power Company
Primedia/MotorTrend
Jeffery P. Reich
Roger S. Firestone Foundation
University of Iowa
Sponsors
Aetna, Inc.
Richard M. Burnes, Jr.
Citigroup, Inc.
DaimlerChrysler Corporation
Eastman Kodak Company
FISA Foundation
Household International
Johnson & Johnson
National Structured Settlements Trade Association
New England Patriots
Northrop Grumman Corporation
Pepsico, Inc.
Robert C. Pew II
John and Pat Rosenwald
SMS Data Products Group, Inc.
Whitehead Foundation
Partners
Alliance Tech
Blum-Kovler Foundation
Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation
Clarion Management Resources
CNA
Michael and Jane Deland
Marriott International
McCormick & Schmick's
Evelyn S. Nef
Radio One, Inc.
Richard Simmons
Sony Corporation of America
T. Rowe Price
William and Jean Vitalis
Wheelchair Foundation
Xerox Corporation
Associates
Alex Lee, Inc.
Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc.
Phillip E. Beekman
Mary Ann and Phillip Benton
John and Dodie Boyle
Robert Callender
CIT Group
Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu
Charles and Phoebe Dey
Chevron Texaco Corporation
Fisher Scientific International, Inc.
David W. Florence
Theodore Frankenbach
Gannett Broadcasting
General Electric Company
Carol and Robert Henderson
Hughes Supply, Inc.
Illinois Tool Works
Martin & Elizabeth Keane
Kellogg Foundation
Keyspan Corporation
Ingrid Kirkland
David Krivitsky
William P. Kupper Jr.
Lockheed Martin
Terry McGraw
Peter McSpadden
The May Department Stores Company
Merchants Distributors
Michael T. Rose Family of Companies
Panasonic
George and Ulrike von Peterffy
Pitney Bowes Inc.
PPG Industries, Inc.
Prudential Financial
Charles and JoAnn Queenan
Raytheon Company
Rockwell Automation
Rockwell Collins
Sears, Roebuck and Co.
Russell and Mary Louise Smale
F. Alan Smith
Steelcase Inc.
W. Reid Thompson
Sissy and Byron Thomas
James and Sally Toffey
Towers Perrin
United Way of St. Lucie City
Lucy R. Waletzky
Jonathan and Salome Walton
Richard and Nancy Watt
Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering
W.R. Grace & Co.
Friends
Arlene and Philip Anns
Robert D. Brace
William J. Breed
Richard and Lynn Brown
Yoshiko Dart
Marcel and Charlotte Durot
Bert and Susan Edwards
Brooke Ellison
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
Heartfelt Charity Cards
Robert F. Holmes
New Tampa Junior Woman's Club
William Randall
J.H. Rosenfield
Alan and Elizabeth Rubin
J. Thomas and Barbara Schanck
Slade Gorton & Co., Inc.
Nancy Starnes
Bennett M. and Bonita Stein
Sunrise Medical Inc.
William Thomas
Andrew and Lois Timmerman
Mary Toman
Victor and Virginia Trautwein
John and Carolyn Twiname

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Special Giving Opportunities

N.O.D. welcomes planned giving. These are special donations where the gifts of assets may provide the donor with particular advantages. Planned gifts should always be made with the advice of an attorney or financial advisor. If you are interested in giving to the National Organization on Disability through a bequest, charitable lead trust, charitable remainder trust, or in donating life insurance, please contact the President of N.O.D. at 202/293-5960 or TDD 202/293-5968.

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS

HONORARY CHAIRMAN
President George H.W. Bush
DIRECTORS
Michael R. Deland
Chairman
Christopher Reeve (1952-2004)
Former Vice Chairman
Alan A. Reich
President
Arlene E. Anns
Former Publisher
The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Phillip E. Beekman
Retired CEO
Hook SupeRx, Inc.
Henry B. Betts, M.D.
Past President/Medical Director
Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago
Peter Blanck, Ph.D., J.D.
Kierscht Professor, University of Iowa Law School
Bertram S. Brown, M.D.
Forensic Medical Advisory Services
John M. Derrick, Jr.
Chairman and CEO
Potomac Electric Power Company
Richard M. DeVos, Sr.
N.O.D. Founding Chairman
Retired President, Amway Corp.
Brooke Ellison
Author and Disability Advocate
Stephen L. Feinberg
Chairman and CEO
Dorsar Investment Company, Inc.
John D. Firestone
Partner
Secor Group
Hon. Bruce Gelb
Former Ambassador to Belgium
Robert David Hall
Actor and Disability Advocate
Stephen L. Hammerman
Deputy Commissioner of Legal Matters
New York City Police Department
I. King Jordan, Ph.D.
President
Gallaudet University
William P. Kupper, Jr.
President and Publisher
BusinessWeek
Len J. Lauer
President
Sprint PCS
Harold W. McGraw III
Chairman, President and CEO
The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Sue Oliver
Senior Vice President of People
Wal-Mart Stores, USA
Itzhak Perlman
Musician and Conductor
Hon. Donald L. Plusquellic
Mayor of Akron, Ohio
President, U.S. Conference of Mayors
Jeffrey P. Reich
President and CEO
Bridge Street Capital Management
Kenneth Roman
Former Chairman and CEO
Ogilvy & Mather
David A. Roosevelt
President
Troystar
E. John Rosenwald, Jr.
Vice Chairman
Bear Stearns & Co. Inc.
Alan Rubin
Former President
National Park Foundation
Richard J. Salem, Esq.
Chairman
Enable America, PA
Humphrey Taylor
Chairman, The Harris Poll
Harris Interactive, Inc.
Jack Valenti
Former Chairman and CEO
Motion Picture Association of America, Inc.
Robert J. Saner II Esq., Counsel
Powers, Pyles, Sutter & Verville, P.C.

CONGRESSIONAL SPONSORS

910 Sixteenth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20006
Tel: (202) 293-5960
TDD: (202) 293-5968
Fax: (202) 293-7999

The National Organization on Disability is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt, non-profit organization. N.O.D. audit and financial information is available upon request. The 2004 N. O.D. Annual Report is available in text and pdf formats on the N.O.D. web site, at http://www.nod.org/about

Editor: Jennifer J. Salopek
Consultant: Arlene E. Anns
Graphic Design: Ana Eastep/Studio 25

The mission of the National Organization on Disability is to expand the participation and contribution of America's 54 million men, women and children with disabilities in all aspects of life.

N.O.D. PERSONNEL

Michael Deland
Chairman
Alan Reich
President
Eric Abalahin
Web Manager
Charles Dey
Vice President & Director
Start on Success Program
Mary Dolan
Vice President & Director
World Committee on Disability
Laura Figueroa
Development Assistant
Abbey Glenn
Program Assistant
Community & National Partnership Programs
John Hershey
Receptionist/Coordinator of Office Services
Greg Johns
Director of Finance
Connie McCracken
Executive Assistant to the Chairman
Tracy Davis-McDade
Start on Success Program Assistant
Brehan Miller
Executive Assistant to the President
Nancy Starnes
Vice President & Chief of Staff
Hilary Styron
Program Officer, Emergency Preparedness Initiative
Lorraine Thal
Program Officer, Religion and Disability Program
Ginny Thornburgh
Vice President & Director, Religion and Disability Program
Renee Wise
Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff

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