Arizona Center for Disability Law

Quarterly Newsletter

May 2007

In this issue:

 

Message from the Executive Director.

 

Helping Arizonans Vote.

 

Fundraising season could break a record.

Phoenix event a success.

Support the Center and watch the Phoenix Mercury.

 

Gretchen Jacobs joins the Board of Directors.

 

 

Message from the Executive Director

 

This week the Board of Directors of the Arizona Center for Disability Law (Center) hired me to serve as the Center’s permanent Executive Director.  I replace Henry Watkins, who served as our Executive Director from 2005-2006.   I had been serving as the Acting Executive Director since his departure in October 2006.  The Center is an exciting organization, expanding and protecting the civil rights of children and adults with disabilities.  It is an honor to work with a very talented staff and Board who care so deeply about our mission.

 

As Executive Director, I will carry out a new three year strategic plan for the organization.  The Center’s Board of Directors is committed to increasing the availability of much needed legal and advocacy services to children and adults with disabilities across Arizona.  With shrinking federal resources, my job will be to secure new community, corporate and foundation support and use those dollars to expand our reach outside of the metropolitan areas of Phoenix and Tucson.           

 

The details of the Center’s strategic plan are still being drafted by the Board of Directors.  I will have news to report on the strategic plan next month.

           

Helping Arizonans Vote

The 2008 federal election seems so far away, yet the debates have begun and more candidates are announcing they will seek their party’s nomination for President of the United States.  In addition to President, all Arizona U.S. House of Representatives will be up for re-election as well as all members of the Arizona state legislature.

 

Arizonans are scheduled to go to the polls on Tuesday, February 26^, 2008 to participate in the presidential primary election; however, that date may change.  The Governor may, by proclamation, move the date of Arizona’s presidential primary election to an earlier date.  This occurred in 2004.  In order to move the date forward, Governor Napolitano would have to issue her proclamation in September 2007. 

 

Why is an earlier date important to Arizona?  A lot of candidate, campaign and media attention is focused on early primary states.  Often times, candidates run out of money and support after the first or second primary election.  The earlier the primary, the more choices we will have as voters.  If Arizona’s presidential primary election is moved to Tuesday, February 5, we will join about 20 other states in what is being called, “super duper Tuesday.”  The field of presidential candidates in both parties will likely narrow after February 5.

 

Even though our presidential primary election is still 9 months away, the Arizona Center for Disability Law is working hard to ensure that people with disabilities are registered to vote and have the opportunity to participate fully in the 2008 federal election.  To view the Center’s plan to advance voting rights for Arizonans with disabilities in 2008, visit our website at www.azdisabilitylaw.org.  

 

Fundraising Season Could Break A Record

 

With one more fundraising event scheduled for this fiscal year, the Center is close to raising more private funding this year than ever in our history.  Community support is more critical than ever as the demand for our services far exceeds the funding available from the federal government.

 

Phoenix event raises $5,000

The Center raised $5,000 at our annual Phoenix Spring Event.  Hosted by the law firm of Snell & Wilmer, the Center honored: Jami Snyder, former Executive Director of the Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities; Sally Case, plaintiff in Case v. Luby’s, an ADA employment discrimination case brought by the Center; and the Self-Advocacy Coalition of Arizona.   

 

Join us at the June 24^th Phoenix Mercury Game

The Phoenix Mercury professional women’s basketball team is off to a great start this year.  With a winning record of 3 wins and only 1 loss, the Mercury start the season in first place in the Western Conference division.  I would like to invite you to show your support for the Mercury and support the Center by attending the Mercury game on Sunday, June 24^th.

 

 On that day, the Mercury will be offering a special ticket package just for supporters of the Center.  Each ticket sold through this special package will include a $20 Dinesmart gift card, preferred seating and recognition on the Mercury JumboTron.  Plus, the Center will earn a percentage of each ticket sold through this offer.  Enjoy the game and support the Center.

 

Click here for a seating chart and ticket order form.

 

Seats are available at all ticket price levels.  And just because you are buying your tickets through this special offer, the Mercury will work with you to pick the aisle and seat that’s right for you.  Whether you want accessible seating, an aisle or in the center of the action, call Jamille Hand at the Mercury (602) 379-7771, let her know that you are with the Arizona Center for Disability Law and she will select the right spot for you to enjoy the game.  All Mercury seats are lower level seating.  Each seat is a great seat to watch all of the action.

 

To help you find the right seat on the U.S. Airways Arena seating chart:

 

All $43 tickets are the blue shaded seats.

All $32 tickets are the yellow shaded seats.

All $23 tickets are the orange shaded seats.

All $10 tickets are the green shaded seats.

 

Staff and Board members from the Center will be at the game to host the 50-50 raffle that afternoon and to conduct outreach on all of our programs and services.  Stop by the Center booth inside the U.S. Airways Arena and say hello before taking your seat at the game.

 

Gretchen Jacobs joins the Board of Directors.

 

I am happy to report that Phoenix lawyer Gretchen Jacobs has joined the Center’s Board of Directors.  Gretchen is Of Counsel for the international law firm of Greenberg Traurig and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in autism.  As the mother of a three year old daughter with autism, Gretchen brings a commitment to expand the rights of her daughter as well as other children and adults with disabilities.  Gretchen is also recognized as one of the top lobbyists in Arizona and specializes in Government Relations for Greenberg Traurig.

 

 

 

As always, I appreciate the support you have provided to the Center.  Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns about the Center or our program activities.  You can reach me at (520) 327-9547, ext. 23 or by email at pradecic@azdisabilitylaw.org.

 

Thank you and I look forward to bringing you more news and information on the Center in the near future.

 

Peri Jude Radecic

Executive Director

 

Back to the Home Page