FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
REACH, Inc Calls for Removal of Barriers Faced by People with Disabilities in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex
Dallas, TX – March 20, 2024 – People with disabilities face frequent barriers to participation as full members of society. Whether those barriers are physical, structural, systemic, or attitudinal the result is the same—lack of access, inclusion, and engagement with the community at large.
The recent events of a disabled man being cited by DeSoto police for using his wheelchair in the street when no sidewalk was available to him clearly demonstrate the types of barriers that disabled people face.
As the population of the metroplex continues to grow, we call upon community leaders to commit to the removal of these barriers so that people with disabilities can access their communities as effortlessly as non-disabled people. REACH encourages leaders to leverage their community’s Mayor’s Committee on the Rights of People with Disabilities to serve as the primary stakeholder group for recommendations
Additionally, we note that The Americans with Disabilities Act which prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities was signed into law nearly 34 years ago. Nevertheless, the nearly 900,000 disabled people living in the metroplex continue to face the most basic challenges to their independence and full participation in our community.
REACH, Inc remains steadfast in its dedication to advocating for the rights and inclusion of people with disabilities, and calls upon all stakeholders to join in this crucial mission.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Jessie Kelley
Communications & Outreach
REACH, Inc
972-398-1111
jkelley@reachcils.org
About REACH, Inc:
REACH, Inc is a private, non-profit organization funded as the Center for Independent Living serving the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex (Dallas, Tarrant, Denton, and Collin Counties). Our mission is to support individuals with disabilities to live independent and self-directed lives. We fulfill this work by providing 5 core services 1) Information & Referral, 2) Advocacy, 3) Peer Supports, 4) Transition, and 5) Independent Living Skills Training.
[End of Press Release]