July 10, 2002
Dear Friends and Colleagues:
The Dart family, Justin's many friends and I invite you to celebrate his life on
Friday, July 26th in Washington, DC. In keeping with Justin's call for unity and
action, I am proud and honored that a group of young leaders responded with the
beautiful invitation below which I share with you. I love you! Lead on!
Yoshiko
A CELEBRATION OF LIFE
A CELEBRATION OF EMPOWERMENT
A CELEBRATION OF SOLIDARITY
A CELEBRATION OF LOVE
On Friday, July 26, the 12th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act,
you are cordially invited to a commemorative celebration to honor the life of
Justin Dart. Let us unite once again to remember the father of the ADA and
recommit ourselves to the cornerstones of his legacy: life empowerment
solidarity and love.
From 3 to 5 p.m., there will be a Memorial Service at the New York Avenue
Presbyterian Church, 1313 New York Avenue at H Street, NW, Washington, DC.
(Metro rail stations nearby include Metro Center (Red, Orange and Blue lines)
and McPherson Square (Orange and Blue lines)). Doors to the Church will open at
2 p.m.
The Memorial Service will be followed by a Celebration and Party at Union
Station, 50 Massachusetts Avenue, NE, from 6:45 to 10 p.m. (Metro rail stops at
Union Station on the Red Line.)
Justin's tireless pursuit and effectual efforts knew no boundaries. In the
spirit of his far-reaching endeavors, we encourage those of you who are unable
to attend the service in Washington to join us in celebration wherever you may
be.
Please note: The Church was selected by Justin for its historic role in civil
rights and emancipation. However, space IS limited due to stationary pews. In
order to try to accommodate as many people as possible, we ask that you RSVP
promptly and no later than Tuesday, July 23rd. We may not be able to accommodate
everyone at the Church, but we will accommodate everyone at the Celebration and
Party at Union Station. If we have space problems at the Church, we will contact
you directly. We appreciate your understanding.
RSVP by email to dartmemorial@aol.com
or call 202-833-4456 or 1-800-833-1354 (voice/TTY). Please indicate if you will
need wheelchair accessible seating, materials in accessible formats (braille,
large print, disk), sign language interpreters, or assistive listening devices.
If you have any questions, ask for Natalie Shear or Jen Grudza.
Additional information about Justin as well as directions and lodging for the
commemoration, and local celebrations around the country will be available on a
newly created website,
www.unitedadvocacy.org. Log on today.
One month from today -- July 26, 2002 -- on the anniversary of
the Americans with Disabilities Act, there will be a celebration of the life of
Justin Dart, one of the ADA's fathers.
Below is a message from Justin's widow, Yoshiko.
Please forward. To receive further details, subscribe to the below e-mail list,
Justice for All. Instructions are at the bottom of the announcement.
- David
Join in Celebrating the life of Justin Dart
Yoshiko Dart
907 6th Street, SW, #516C
Washington, DC 20024
June 26, 2002
Dear Beloved Colleagues:
Thank you again for the tremendous outpouring of love and support you have
shown. Justin would be honored and humbled by your powerful voice.
I know that Justin wanted us to celebrate his life rather than mourn his death.
Today, I write to invite you to join our family in a celebration of life,
empowerment, solidarity and love to be held on the afternoon and evening of July
26th in Washington, D.C.
A group of Justin's dear friends are currently working on the details of the
service and celebration and a more detailed announcement will be sent as the
final arrangements are worked out.
For those of you who want to join us in D.C., we welcome you. I hope this
advance information, although not yet complete, will help you in making travel
arrangements. For those of you who cannot be here, Justin also wanted people to
unite and rededicate themselves to our shared vision of individualized
empowerment. That can be done anywhere-- your local CIL or ADAPT chapter, a
People First meeting, or in your living room with a group of friends.
Please honor Justin by uniting on July 26th to lead the revolution of
empowerment.... More together than ever.
Together, but only together, we shall overcome.
I love you.
Lead on.
Yoshiko
Memories, Tributes and Commitments
Many of you have responded to Justin Dart's past requests for letters that he
collected into leather-bound books (for former President Clinton, for instance).
Now let's do the same for Yoshiko. As most of you know, Yoshiko has been every
bit a part of the movement as Justin for several decades. If you would like to
share with Yoshiko your appreciation for the work that she and Justin have done,
please send letters to AAPD; we will present them to Yoshiko on July 26 as part
of the celebration that is being planned. You are welcome to send pictures, news
clippings and other materials as well.
As you know by now, Justin wanted to use the completion of his life to renew
commitments to advocacy and promote a "revolution of empowerment." The best
thing you can do to pay tribute to Justin is to renew your commitment to the
principles he lived for -- principles of ADA and IDEA -- and then take action.
During the ADA campaign, Justin and Yoshiko traveled the country and collected
"discrimination diaries." Today, document the actions you plan to take in
Justin's honor. Make that part of the letters you write to Yoshiko. On July 26,
we can share examples of the commitments to advocacy and empowerment that are
being made around the country.
Send materials to:
AAPD
ATTN: Celebration
1819 H Street, NW, Suite 330
Washington, DC 20006
iCan! has set up an online guest book if you would prefer to send a message
electronically.
http://www.icanonline.net/guestbookjd.cfm
Jonathan Young
JFA Editor, AAPD
JUSTICE FOR ALL -- A Service of the American Association of People with
Disabilities
www.aapd-dc.org www.jfanow.org
There's strength in numbers! Be a part of a national coalition of people with
disabilities and join AAPD today.
www.aapd-dc.org
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