St.Louis, Independence Day Kickoff

American Association of People With Disabilities Logo

This Independence Day Has Several Meanings For St. Louis' Disability Community

By Jacqueline Kravetz

Courtesy of Volkswagen of America

St. Louis, MO (July 4, 2000) - The Spirit of ADA Torch Relay visit to St. Louis on this Independence Day was especially meaningful. Only last week Missouri Governor Mel Carnahan passed a bill that gives the disability community in that state the long fought for freedom to make their own choice with regard to long term services and supports.

Max Starkloff, founder and President of Paraquad, a thirty-year-old independent living center in St. Louis, explained that the bill provides Medicaid recipients with an option that allows their Medicaid dollars to follow them from a nursing home to a setting in the community that is more appropriate to their needs.

The passage of the Missouri law is the first victory since the June 1999 Olmstead v. L.C. decision where the Supreme Court ruled for the first time in history that states must follow the ADA's integration requirement when they deliver ongoing, long term community services and supports. At issue in the Olmstead decision was Title II of the ADA which forbids discrimination against a "qualified individual with a disability" in public services, programs, or activities. The Olmstead decision said that programs must be administered in the "most integrated setting" possible, instead of segregating people with disabilities in institutions, many of which are inappropriate for their needs.

Several states including New York and Oregon, among others, have been working on developing legislation that complies with the Olmstead decision but Missouri has been the first to pass a law that does not impose a fiscal assessment requirement.

Starkloff was positive about the bill, "this is an issue of giving people greater independence and in the long run its saving a lot of money. When people get out into the community it gives them all kinds of options…to go to work and earn a living, to go to school or to volunteer in institutions in their community and become valuable citizens. It make sense economically as well as effecting people's human rights."

Starkloff suffered a spinal cord injury in 1959 following an automobile accident, resulting in quadriplegia. He founded Paraquad in 1970 after living for twelve years in a nursing home because he had no home care alternative. He and his wife Colleen, who have been working together at Paraquad since 1973, spearheaded the three-day long St. Louis Relay festivities.

The effort to raise awareness for the ADA in St. Louis began on July 1 with the inclusion of a float featuring Paraquad employees and constituents in the 123rd Veiled Prophet Parade. Over 250,000 spectators watched as the Parade made its way through downtown St. Louis. Paraquad's participation in the event marked the first time in the parade's history that a float featured people with disabilities.

On July 3rd, representatives from Paraquad and the disability community greeted Vice-President Al Gore as Air Force 2 touched down at Lambert Field in St. Louis. Gore promised to support the future of the ADA to those in attendance. Gore was visiting the St. Louis suburb of Clayton to discuss his proposal to cut costs on prescription drugs to an invited audience at a local community center.

The day-long grand finale took place on July 4 beginning in the morning with a slate of national and local advocates and leaders, including Andrew Imparato, President of the American Association of People With Disabilities, Judy Heumann, Assistant Secretary Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, U.S. Department of Education and St. Louis Mayor Clarence Harmon. Heumann presented the Starkloffs with the Justin Dart Spirit of the ADA Award. Dart, a leading figure in the fight for equality for people with disabilities is considered the father of the ADA movement in the U.S.

Other Independence Day events included the participation of over 100 persons with disabilities in the March to the Arch, the site of Fair St. Louis, and a torch relay around Kiener Plaza that included over 50 torch bearers. Missouri Congressman and House Democratic Leader Richard A. Gephardt addressed the crowd at Kiener in the afternoon and took a turn around the block long Plaza with the freedom flame. The day ended with the Torch's participation in the kick-off ceremony for the evening's fireworks display.