We had the pleasure of meeting with Eleanor Smith recently (thanks to Mark Johnson at the Shepherd Center for the introduction).

Eleanor has long been involved in the Disaiblity Rights Movement and is a driving force behind Concrete Change, an advocacy organization working to make all new homes "visitable".  What is "visitable" you might ask-- basically it is the ability for anyone (including those in wheel chairs or with walkers) to enter and move through the interior doors in a house.  Literally the organization got started when Eleanor drove by a few new houses one day and realized none were wheelchair accessible.  That was in 1986. 

In talking about the history of Concrete Change, Eleanor shared how the Disability Rights Movement is one that has continued to include a great deal of diversity. 

ADAPT, a long time Disability Rights Organization, was one of the first ways Eleanor got involved and she described protests that were diverse along racial, ethnic, gender, class and ability lines.  We talked for a while about the impact the Internet has had on the movement and she described has the Disability Rights Movement has "no leader, but plenty of leadership".  We also talked about the ways in which the Modern African American Civil Rights Movement has influenced the Disability Rights Movement.  There is much to be explored in the Center regarding the Disability Rights Movement.  This was a great introduction....  more to come-

DS