National Organization on Disability Invites Entries for Accessible America Competition

July 2003

The National Organization on Disability invites America's mayors and chief elected officials to enter their communities in the third annual $25,000 "Accessible America" award competition, open to all U.S. cities and towns. United Parcel Service sponsors the program. The deadline is October 31, 2003.

Entrants will showcase how their citizens with disabilities are participating in and contributing to local community life.

The winner of the Accessible America 2003 competition will be a city or town where citizens with disabilities have opportunities for full and equal participation in the life of their community, including access to education, jobs, voting, transportation, housing, religious worship, and a full range of social, recreational, cultural, and sports activities. In the post-September 11 era, NOD is giving special focus to emergency preparedness for people with disabilities. The competition is designed to highlight thorough community-wide progress and inspire replication.

To enter the competition, communities will submit an official Accessible America application signed by their mayor describing how their city or town (or county that represents unincorporated communities within its borders) provides opportunities for citizens with disabilities to participate fully in community life.

For complete program guidelines as well as information on other National Organization on Disability programs, see the NOD Web site at http://www.nod.org/