The National Organization on Disability, based in Washington, has chosen Berkeley, Calif., as the winner of its sixth annual Accessible America Contest. Chicago was selected as runner-up.
According to NOD, the two cities are “national models for innovative programs to promote community inclusion of people with disabilities.”
NOD says Berkeley's best practices included the nation's first universally designed affordable housing development, a comprehensive transportation program, an outstanding emergency preparedness plan for people with disabilities and a self-imposed tax to fund some of their disability services.
Berkeley was commended for programs that subsidized rides for people returning from medical appointments, promoted artists with disabilities and created internships and mentorships for youth with disabilities to help include them in the workforce.
Chicago was chosen for an assortment of programs that help people with disabilities get involved in community life. The city rewrote its building code to mandate adaptability and visitability requirements in privately and governmentally owned and financed units; created a mayoral task force on employment of people with disabilities; and devised a certification program for businesses owned by people with disabilities.
Berkeley will receive a prize of $25,000 and, as runner-up, Chicago will receive $10,000. The award money, provided by contest sponsors UPS and Wal-Mart, will be presented to the mayor in each of the winning cities at upcoming ceremonies and is intended to fund local disability-related efforts.
Other finalists in the 2006 contest, judged by five national disability experts, were Alexandria, Va.; Bloomington, Ind.; Indianapolis; Louisville, Ky.; Miami Beach, Fla.; New Haven, Conn.; San Francisco; and Sioux Falls, S.D.
NOD says Accessible America applicants “demonstrate an extraordinary commitment to giving their citizens with disabilities equal opportunities to participate in community life, including access to jobs, education, religious worship, voting, transportation, housing, emergency preparedness planning and services.”
The Accessible America Contest is intended to promote replication of best practices in all of these areas nationwide. The contest is sponsored by corporate grants and is administered by NOD's Community Partnership Program, which was started to help communities become disability-friendly.
Previous Accessible America winners include Cambridge, Mass.; Venice, Fla.; Irvine, Calif.; Phoenix; and Pasadena, Calif. Honorable mentions have gone to Austin, Texas, and West Hollywood, Calif.
10 Most Popular Travel Destinations
Where do adults with disabilities commonly travel for leisure or business within the continental U.S.? According to the latest statistics available from the Open Doors Organization (released in conjunction with the Travel Industry Association of America and Harris Interactive), the following cities get the top nod:
1. New York City
2. Washington, D.C.
3. Chicago
4. (tie) Las Vegas
(tie) Orlando
(tie) Los Angeles
7. San Francisco
8. Atlanta
9. Dallas
10. San Diego
