Emily Harris of ADA 25 Chicago to Join Search in Honoring the JJ’s List Disability Awareness Players
Search, Inc. is proud to partner with ADA 25 Chicago to recognize the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Search is thrilled to announce that we will kick-off our participation in this important regional initiative at our signature annual fundraiser, Search for Adventure.
Search for Adventure will celebrate the organization’s recent achievements and honor the JJ’s List Disability Awareness Players with the 2015 Trailblazer Award. Emily Harris, Executive Director of ADA 25 Chicago will join the awards presentation to recognize their important contributions on behalf of people with disabilities throughout the Chicagoland area.
ADA 25 Chicago was formed to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act and to leverage this milestone to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities. The ADA 25 Chicago initiative will include a public awareness and engagement campaign held from July 2015 – December 2015. The awareness campaign will include events and activities designed to increase civic engagement and to ensure greater inclusion, empowerment and opportunities for people with disabilities in metropolitan Chicago.
Emily Harris has been a leader in the non-profit sector for 30 years. Throughout her career she has focused on economic growth, open space conservation, early childhood education, as well as workforce and leadership development. As Executive Director of ADA 25 Chicago, Emily is helping to improve education, employment, and community living for people with disabilities.
Search is thrilled to join ADA 25 Chicago in building awareness for the contributions of people with disabilities and to help advance education, employment, technology and community inclusion opportunities for people with disabilities. As a partner of ADA 25, Search is launching a new Career Services initiative for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities at the Planet Access Company warehouse. This initiative is focused on expanding competitive employment opportunities for people with disabilities in the Chicagoland area.
The JJ’s List Disability Awareness Players will be celebrating the promise of ADA 25 with a special series of interactive and exciting Disability Awareness Trainings to be held at major Chicago cultural institutions and Chicago Public Schools. This initiative will promote disability inclusion and integration in the classroom, workplace and community at large.
Search is thrilled to honor the JJ’s List Disability Awareness Players with the first-ever Trailblazer award at Search for Adventure on Saturday, May 9 at the magnificent Montgomery Club in Chicago. The Disability Awareness Players are truly trailblazers for their hard work in fostering disability awareness throughout the Chicagoland area. Their trainings embody the spirit and legacy of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Please join us at Search for Adventure: Celebrate the Journey! Guests will enjoy an elegant reception featuring cocktails, fun food stations, awards and an auction. Visit the Search for Adventure web page to register or find out more.
More about the Americans with Disabilities Act
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law on July 26, 1990 by President George H. W. Bush. The ADA was the world's first comprehensive declaration of equality for people with disabilities. Its passage represented an historical benchmark and a milestone in America's commitment to full and equal opportunity for all of its citizens.
The simple message behind the ADA is that millions of Americans with disabilities are full-fledged citizens and as such are entitled to legal protections that ensure them equal opportunity and access to the mainstream of American life.