It's Our Story to have National Press Club conference July 24

The It's Our Story release. In the picture, some of the It's Our Story staff, L-R, front: Eric Clow, Erik Barthel, L-R, back: Riis Larsen, Susan Parker, Scott Cooper.

The conference will be July 24, 2009, 9:30 to 11 a.m. at the National Press Club, Hollman Room. A continental breakfast will be provided. RSVP to Ann@PinedaFoundation.org. (Time Sensitive - Space is Limited)

OVERVIEW
"It's Our Story" is a video oral history project that uncovers the power, pride, and personal struggles of living with a disability. It's a uniquely American story and challenges our most fundamental values of freedom, autonomy, and independence.

Today, 54 million people in the United States live with some type of disability. After years of stigma, discrimination, and social exclusion, it is no surprise they have the highest unemployment rate, the highest poverty rate and the highest social isolation barriers to overcome. "It's Our Story" shares unique knowledge, personal insight, and shares the wisdom necessary to unlock human potential. This project can open doors to our communities, and frees the voices to tell their own stories, and record their own history.

The "It's Our Story" archive will be the most comprehensive collection of empirical knowledge in the field. The archive presents the history, the lessons and the progress of the disability rights movement. It points the way for the future. Through a myriad of powerful insights we come to understand our own privileges and our own responsibilities towards a bigger community.

People with and without disabilities from all backgrounds will recognize themselves in these oral histories and stories, and will be inspired to assume leadership roles in their communities;

COME HEAR FROM VISIONARIES OF THE DISABILITY MOVEMENT AS WELL AS FUTURE LEADERS OF THE MOVEMENT

PANEL SPEAKERS INCLUDE: Judy Heumann Director - DC Department on Disability; John Kemp - President of the United States International Council on Disabilities; Day Al-Mohammed - Legislative and Federal Affairs Officer; Rebecca Cokley - Special Assistant to the Assistant Sceretary of Special Education

PARTICIPANTS: Approximately 60 of the Disability Movement's pioneers, change agents, and public policy leaders who are currently in the It's Our Story archives, as well as 25-30 next generation leaders; Congressional members and staff of the Congressional Disability Caucus; disability leaders of the Obama Administration; and Congressional interns of AAPD and WRP are attending.

Washington, D.C. voices currently in the It's Our Story Archives: Jim Downey, Judy Heumann, Sue Swenson, Mary Jane Owens, Marissa Johnson, John Lancaster, Jonathan Chappelle, Kelly Anthony, Dale Brown, Andy Imparato, Rebecca Cokley, Chai Feldblum, Jeff Rosen, Cinda Hughes, Marcie Roth, John Kemp, Fred Weiner, Bobby Silverstein, Jim Gashell, Isaac Huff, Joe Shapiro, Erica Nash, Richard Horne. Judy Heumann, Daniel Davis, Jim Ward, Becky Ogle, Beth Haller, Gay Reich, Susan Daniels, Marcie Goldstein, Ralph Neas, Curt Decker, Bobby Coward, John Wodatch, Rayna Aylward, Dick Thornburgh,Ginny Thornburgh, Phil Caulkins, Don Galloway, George Jeisen, Sue Suter, I King Jordan, Patricia Morrissey, Jose Pineda, Lisa Walker,Larry Roffe, Margaret Roffe, Tracee Garnett, Jonathan Young, Peter Squire, Kathi Wolfe, Karen Peltz-Strauss, Cheryl Sensenbrenner, Frank Wu, Ira Burnim, Kelly Buckland, Paul Marchand.