National Video Contest for Americans with Disabilites to Celebrate ADA Anniversary

The following is from Michael Morris and Joan Hartnett at the National Disability Institute which is launching a National Video Contest for Americans with Disabilities to Celebrate ADA Anniversary:

Dear Community Partners, 

To commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the National Disability Institute is launching Economic Empowerment – Defining the New American Dream, a nationwide video contest open to all persons with disabilities.

The National Disability Institute wants to hear from persons with disabilities, veterans with disabilities and family members of persons with disabilities on what their American Dream is and how they are working to achieve their American Dream. Individuals can create a 3-minute video that tells the story of how they are working to achieve their American Dream, whether it is to buy a home, have a job, go to school or start your own business.

This video contest is an ideal way for individuals with disabilities to share their stories with others, promoting the Real Economic Impact that the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) has had in the lives of the more than 54 million Americans with disabilities. The purpose statement of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) clearly states that the "Nation's proper goals regarding individuals with disabilities are to assure equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for such individuals." Economic Empowerment – Defining the New American Dream video contest will allow persons with disabilities to highlight what they are doing to build their own economic self-sufficiency by sharing their American Dream. 

The video contest begins July 1, 2010 and all entries must be received by August 13, 2010. To learn more about the Economic Empowerment – Defining the New American Dream video contest and for a complete list of submission guidelines and contest rules, go to http://dream.realeconomicimpact.org.

ONE GRAND PRIZE winner will receive $1,000 and a trip to Washington, D.C. where their winning video will be viewed at NDI's Real Economic Impact Tour's (REI Tour) Annual Kick-off at the National Press Club on October 19, 2010.

Special Thanks to Bank of America and Traveltrust Corporation for their support of this project.

Please feel free to forward the information to others.

 For more information, please contact Michael Roush, National Program Director, at mroush@ndi-inc.org. Questions regarding submissions of videos, can be directed to mydream@ndi-inc.org.

Thank you,
Michael Morris and Johnette Hartnett