Project Creates Images of People with Disabilities to Celebrate the Americans with Disabilities Act

GOLDEN, Colo. - Sept. 17, 2014 - PRLog -- The ADA Image Project is disability-centered photography project celebrating the Americans with Disabilities Act.  It is being funded through a Kickstarter campaign ending on September 28^th.

The Project will develop a collection of original fine art photographs to commemorate some of the many advances in American society made possible by the ADA. Images will be published in a coffee-table book, a 2015 calendar, and as individual prints.  Key images will be made available for free to disability rights groups to use in their marketing and outreach campaigns.

The ADA Image Project is important.  As a country, we rarely stop to recognize and honor the improvements in our society that have made it possible for people with disabilities to live much more integrated, richer, and more meaningful lives.  There are few photographs that capture people with disabilities engaging in everyday activities; activities that were largely denied to them just 25 years ago, before the ADA was passed.  The ADA Image Project will fill that gap.  And Project images won’t fall into the “hero” or “pity” stereotypes of people with disabilities.

This Project will appeal to lovers of American history, those who are interested in photography, and everyone whose lives have been touched by a person with a disability.

The images will be diverse, portraying people with a wide range of disabilities in a variety of settings:

·       People who used to be institutionalized, now living and working in integrated community settings.

·       People who use wheelchairs enjoying outdoor recreational activities in ways that were not possible previously.

·       Wounded warriors with service dogs working out at the gym.

·       Children with diabetes getting assistance with blood glucose readings in mainstream camp settings.

·       People with cancer who are able to continue working with some simple accommodations.

·       Kids with developmental disabilities participating in sports alongside their nondisabled friends.

·       People who are deaf communicating effectively with health care professionals because sign language interpreters are present.

·       Blind people enjoying a touch tour of an art museum’s statuary, or using a screen reader to surf the internet at their local library.

·       And more.

All backers pledging $10 or more earn the right to enter a 20-word dedication in the project’s coffee table book. Backers can use this space to promote their businesses, or to honor personal or professional heroes.

Backers at different levels may choose from a variety of incentives, including Project posters, a 2015 project calendar highlighting events throughout the country leading to the 25^th anniversary celebrations for the Americans with Disabilities Act on July 26, 2015, coffee table books, and others.

One incentive is specifically designed for disability-friendly corporations and high-level individual sponsors:  Those who pledge $1250 or more will receive a 100-word dedication in the project's coffee table book. They will also receive a first edition, autographed copy of the book.  At this pledge level, backers may sponsor a “day in the life” photoshoot for a family with at least one member who has a disability.  Each sponsored family will receive a high-end keepsake album of their "day in the life" images.

Wounded warrior families:  In addition to the "named" sponsorship opportunities, below, backers may sponsor “day in the life” photo sessions for wounded warrior families living in Colorado or Arizona.

Shyanne and her two daughters, from Lakewood, CO. Shyanne's oldest daughter, who is 15, is profoundly deaf with bilateral cochlear implants. Shyanne's youngest daughter, who is 12, has significant developmental disabilities as a result of a Traumatic Brain Injury.

Jeremy, living in Denver, CO. Jeremy is turning his life around. After his father's suicide, he ended up in the street. In 1998, that lifestyle caught up with him. He was paralyzed and later had to have both of his legs amputated. He sells CDs and DVDs to pay his bills, and donates to a youth boxing club. He's giving back and working to inspire youth to stay on the straight and narrow.

Rob and his father, living in Canon City, CO. Rob uses a wheelchair and his father, who has Parkinson's, moved in with him about six months ago. Rob built his home about 18 years ago and designed it to be completely wheelchair-accessible and easy to maintain, so it works well for both of them. Rob has a small work shop where he tinkers around with various projects, including welding, fixing wheelchairs, sewing blue jean quilts, or doing minor car/pickup/motorcycle repair. Rob works as a part-time ADA consultant, specializing in the architectural access provisions of the ADA.

Robin and her family, living in Boulder, CO. Robin has BiPolar II and her husband uses a head controlled wheelchair, as he is fully paralyzed. Their daughter has Down Syndrome, and is 30 years old. Their grandson has autism. Robin writes of her thoughts while witnessing the signing of the ADA, "I wondered what the world would be like when [my daughter] grew up as I watched the signing. What a dramatic change!" With your sponsorship, they will receive a "day in the life" or portrait-style photoshoot and either a print package or an album.

Betty and Eli, living in Denver, CO. Eli had 36 active medical diagnoses by the time he was 6 years old, and autism is one of them. His Mom, Betty, was advised on several occasions Eli was terminal. He was so terribly ill and medically compromised that he did not experience much enjoyment as a child. Eli, who is now 25, is doing very well today, all things considered, and is enjoying the childhood he never had.

Kenny, living in Lamar, CO. Kenny was paralyzed (C5/C6) at the age of 23. He is an award-winning Associate Manager at Walmart who has produced many "diversity in employment" events. He's married and has an incredibly active 10 year old son.

Denise and her family, living in Denver, CO. Denise and her husband have a nine-year old daughter who has global developmental delays and who is deaf.

Pledges can be made by going to https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1792515237/the-ada-i...

Project highlights and updates are available to those who "like" the Facebook page on www.Facebook.com/ADAImageProject.

The ADA Image Project is also interested in hearing from people with and without disabilities who may want to be featured in the project images, or who are organizing events to celebrate the 25^th anniversary of the ADA.

The ADA Image Project is a proud partner of the ADA Legacy Project.

ADAImageProject@gmail.com
www.Facebook.com/ADAImageProject