Report by Rodney Zawacki, 5-11-00:

23 representatives of disability communittees and people with disabilities of Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana showed up in support of the meeting with Illinois Attorney General Jim Ryan regarding the recent attacks on the ADA.

The 9 persons selected for meeting with Ryan in his private office were: Mike Ervin, Luis Roman, Steve Verriden, Laura Miller-Eligator, Karen Tamley, Kevin Irvine, Larry Biondi, Barry Taylor and Howard Rosenblum. Each representative had an individual issue to bring up for discussion with the AG, which includes such issues as:

*the ADA being under attack by Congress, the Courts and the media

*the disability communittees feelings of betrayal and anger, including people in Indiana and Wisconsin, due to Jim Ryans 11th Amendment defense of IDOT

*the loss of ADA protections in Indiana

*the reactions of Wisconsin residents with disabilities toward the 7th Circuit Court cases

*Ryans realization of the broader implications of his "Stevens" defense and how it might bolster or support ANTI-ADA efforts around the country, from both the public and private sectors

*irony of the 7th Circuit Court cases being decided concurrently with the preparations for the 10th Anniversary Celebrations and the "Spirit of the ADA Torch Relay"

*the futures of Titles I and II of the ADA

*upcoming issue of "Garrett v. University of Alabama"

*ADA protections (or the lack of) for state employees

*AG office communications with the disability communittee

*the role of the Disability Rights Bureau

*regular meetings between members of the disability communittee and Ryans staff ensuring improved communication regarding issues vital to our community, (ie, the ADA)

After meeting for over an hour and a half, the group emerged from the private office with a smugly surprised Ryan (not expecting to see even more disability representatives outside in the lobby area) and addressed the rest of us pledging to work with the disability communittee on all issues concerned and reassuring us that he and his staff will do the best they can to make changes positively improving the communications and comradery between the disability communittees in Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Minnesota and his staff.

Rodney