Detroit The torch goes on

American Association of People With Disabilities Logo

Spirit of ADA Torch Relay Makes Two Stops in Detroit Area

By Jacqueline Kravetz

Detroit, MI (July 31, 2000) - The Spirit of ADA Torch Relay made two stops in the Detroit metropolitan area to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act and raise public awareness for the Act in the state of Michigan.

The torch began its Michigan leg at Volkswagen of American headquarters in Auburn Hills, a suburb north of Detroit, where employees participated in a 1.8 mile relay from a local park to the company's facility. Volkswagen is the title sponsor of the 24-city cross-country relay.

The second relay activity in Detroit convened at the Great Lakes Center for Independent Living. A relay of twelve carried the torch almost 2 miles to Hart Plaza where a closing ceremony was held.

Relay Visits Volkswagen of America's Headquarters in Auburn Hills

"Welcoming the freedom flame to our headquarters is an exciting and unique opportunity for our employees to share in the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and to pledge and reaffirm our support and commitment of equality of opportunity for all people," Steve Keyes, Volkswagen of America's Director of Corporate Communications stated.

Keyes said Volkswagen's partnership with the American Association of People with Disabilities, the relay's host organization, "was a little bit of luck and serendipity."

When Keyes and his colleagues heard about the idea for the torch relay, they were already looking for something that Volkswagen could do to give back to the American community to show its appreciation.

"It happened to be our 50th anniversary of selling vehicles in the United States," Keyes said. The company had also just introduced its new Mobility Access Program in the United States.

"We just felt it [the torch relay] was a natural fit," Keyes explained.

In addition to a cash contribution exceeding $500,000, Volkswagen donated eleven vehicles, primarily EuroVans, for the relay caravan.

Though the decision to support the Spirit of ADA Torch Relay was primarily a philanthropic decision, Keyes explained, there was a business component involved in the sponsorship in that Volkswagen had hoped to improve brand awareness and also have the opportunity to explain its Mobility Access Program.

"We've always had a very unique van in that it accommodates wheel chairs much easier than any of our competitors because of its size," Frank Maguire, Volkswagen of America's Vice President of Sales added.

Volkswagen's Mobility Access Program was developed for people with disabilities, as well as for families who care for them. The Program provides: up to $1000 in purchase assistance for wheelchair lift equipment, up to $500 for hand controls, or up to $1500 for both installed in eligible Volkswagen models.

The company's original Mobility Access Program was discontinued when Volkswagen pulled the EuroVan from the American market. The EuroVan was re-introduced in the U.S. last year, as was the Mobility Access Program.

Andy Imparato, the CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities acknowledged, "This relay would not have happened without the support of Volkswagen of America."

Relay Ends its Visit to Michigan with an Afternoon Stop in Downtown Detroit

Marva Ways, an advocate with ADAPT, organized the afternoon event in downtown Detroit.

"One of the things we're hoping to happen with this torch relay is for all the disability groups along with the public and the community at large to unite to work together for the common goals of people with disabilities," Ways stated.

Ways said the main issues facing the Detroit disability community are transportation and affordable housing. Both she and Jeannie Brooks, the Executive Director at the Great Lakes Center for Independent Living, agree that the disability community lacks the cohesiveness that could help bring support from local policy makers and positive change for the disability community in Detroit.

"We're hoping this torch relay will bring cohesiveness and more of a coalition of the organizations so we can work together. Unless we pull together nothing is going to change," Brooks said. "I hope that comes out of this. That's my goal," she added.

The Great Lakes Center for Independent Living serves close to 1,000 of the 300,000 individuals with disabilities in Wayne County annually. Because of its inner city location, many of their consumers are young survivors of violent crime.

But the Center's largest consumer group, Brooks said, is the homeless population. The Center also sees a lot of cases of substance abuse and individuals with mental illness, according to Brooks.

"Our city government needs to be more supportive of the issues of people with disabilities. We're hoping that they'll see from the outpouring of people that come for this relay event, how important it is that they change their policies and try to align themselves with people with disabilities in this city and this country," Brooks said.

Speakers at the Detroit events included, among others, Congressman Dale Kildee, Gill Hart, President of the Detroit City Council, Ida Castro, Chairwoman of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and State Senator, Burton Leland.