Rolling Rains Report:

"New" Mississippi Gulf Coast is going to be a "Disability Free" Zone?

The disability community in Mississippi is not pleased.
The fundamental law, "Nothing about us, without us," has been violated.

If southern Mississippi is to be rebuilt after Katrina as a liveable community it will be in spite of rather than because of the recent design fest that ignored the one design philosophy with historical roots in the disability community; the authentic voice in the built environment of people with disabilities -- Universal Design.

http://www.mississippirenewal.com/

Dear Fellow Advocates,

How many of you knew about this meeting and or attended this meeting? If you did, please let us know here at the CCD

Even after many letters, faxes and phone calls the disability community is totally left out of this planning committee. It seems the "New" Mississippi Gulf Coast is going to be a "Disability Free" zone.

What is it going to take for our leaders to recognize people with disabilities as citizens of this state who can and want to be participates. What is it going to take for our leaders to recognize a 15 year old law - Americans with Disabilities Act?

When the state addresses farming and agriculture planning, who do they bring to the table? FARMERS

When the state addresses law enforcement planning, who do they bring to the table? LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS.

When the state addresses medical care, who do they bring to the table? PHYSICIANS

I could go on and on.

WHY ARE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES NOT AT THE TABLE? I would suggest, because "We need to be taken care of. We don't know our needs."

If this makes you angry and you want disability organizations and people with disabilities to have a place at the planning table - get to work.

The Mississippi Gulf Coast belongs to ALL Mississippians - It MUST be accessible to ALL Mississippians. Be a part of the solution - TAKE ACTION!

Best,

Mary Troupe
mary@mscoalition.com>

Below is contact information for the individuals who you need to express your concerns.

Governor Haley Barbour
P.O. Box 139 Jackson, MS 39205
Phone: 601.359.3150 Fax: 601.359.3741

governor@governor.state.ms.us

Amy Tuck
Office of the Lt. Governor
P.O. Box 1018
Jackson, MS 39215
Phone: (601)359-3200
Fax: (601)359-4054
ltgov@mail.senate.state.ms.us

Ben Thompson
Chief of Staff
bthompson@mail.senate.state.ms.us

SENATORS___

Debbie Dawkins

Home
(228) 452-3868 (H)

Sidney Albritton

salbritton@mail.senate.state.ms.us
Scottie Cuevas
(228) 255-2639(H)
(228) 255-0175(W)
Pass Christian MS
39571
scuevas@mail.senate.state.ms.us

Tommy Gollott
Biloxi MS 39530

tgollott@mail.senate.state.ms.us
(228) 374-1431(
Billy Hewes
Gulfport MS 39505
228) 896-0052
bhewes@mail.senate.state.ms.us

Ezell Lee
Picayune MS 39466
601) 798-5270
elee@mail.senate.state.ms.us

Tommy Moffatt
Gautier MS 39553
228) 497-2237
tmoffatt@mail.senate.state.ms.us

Tommy Robertson
Moss Point MS 39562
(228) 475-5550

REPRESENATIVES

Leonard Bentz

Biloxi, MS 3953

(228) 396-3935

lbentz@mail.house.state.ms.us

Billy Broomfield

(228) 475-1293

bbroomfield@mail.house.state.ms.us

J. P. Compretta

Bay St. Louis, MS

(228) 467-7618

jcompretta@mail.house.state.ms.us

Dirk Dedeaux

Perkinston, MS 39573

(228) 255-6171

ddedeaux@mail.house.state.ms.us

Mark Formby

Picayune, MS 39466

(601) 798-8917

mformby@mail.house.state.ms.us

Frances Fredericks

Gulfport, MS 39505

(228) 864-9319

ffredericks@mail.house.state.ms.us

Herb Frierson

Poplarville, MS 39470

(601) 795-1675

hfrierson@mail.house.state.ms.us

Danny Guice, Jr.

Ocean Springs, MS

(228) 872-2455

dguice@mail.house.state.ms.us

Roger G. Ishee

Gulfport, MS 39507-4038

(228) 864-4975

rishee@mail.house.state.ms.us

Michael W. Janus

Biloxi, MS 39535

(228) 388-5686

mjanus@mail.house.state.ms.us

Deryk Parker

Lucedale, MS 39452

(601) 947-7594

dparker@mail.house.state.ms.us

Randall H. Patterson

Biloxi, MS 39530

(228) 348-2170

rhpatterson@mail.house.state.ms.us

Diane C. Peranich

Pass Christian, MS 39571

(228) 255-7020

dperanich@mail.house.state.ms.us

John O. Read

228) 497-9852

jread@mail.house.state.ms.us

Jessica Sibley Upshaw

Diamondhead, MS 39525

(228) 255-6619

jupshaw@mail.house.state.ms.us

J. Shaun Walley

Leakesville, MS 39451

(601) 394-2985

jwalley@mail.house.state.ms.us

Carmel Wells Smith

Pascagoula, MS 39569

(228) 769-0538

cwellssmith@mail.house.state.ms.us

H.B. "Hank" Zuber, III

Ocean Springs, MS 39564

(662) 236-2473

hzuber@mail.house.state.ms.us

Posted by rollingrains at October 19, 2005 10:35 PM