American Association of People with Disabilites AAPD

Synopsis by MobiLife, Power Wheel Chairs

The American Association of People with Disabilities started in 1995 when five key disability activist and an estimated 550 individuals gathered in Washington from all over the U.S. to create an organization that represents the 50 million Americans living with disabilities. The Association is based upon unity, leadership, and impact. They believe in serving the disability community by helping them fulfill their aspirations and providing special services so they may live a somewhat normal life in society instead of just being offered a handout.

Like all organizations, the AAPD was developed and working toward accomplishing many goals for people with disabilities. Their main focus is to make sure the disability community is able to enrich their quality of life by having opportunities and services to help them do so. They are dedicated to educating government and public policy makers on topics that will affect people with disabilities in the future. Also, they are working on developing programs that will help reduce unemployment and poverty, as well as, making sure that every child and adult with a disability will have access to a funding that will allow them to have the best assistive technology. Since insurance, such as life, health, automobile and disability, is often unaffordable, denied, or unavailable, AAPD is working on creating a program that will provide these basic benefits, and a true advocate of the use of power wheel chairs in the work environment. By the year 2015, the Association's vision is to see people with disabilities having careers, being able to make their own choices, and to have them live independently in society.

The American Association of People with Disabilities is a non-profit organization and doesn't believe in making this another government public program. Therefore, they are funded by their members and corporate members. For an individual, to become a member, it's only $15 annually. Our nation's economy would be affected in a big way by accommodating employment for those with disabilities due to the fact that $200 billion in taxes and earnings are going toward unemployed Americans with disabilities. The government alone is unable to make this goal a reality.