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2005 Annual Report
Celebrating AAPD's Tenth Year

Economic Empowerment, Political Empowerment

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Mission Statement
The mission of AAPD is to empower, politically and economically, all people with disabilities in the United States.

Vision Statement
The vision of AAPD is a world where all people with disabilities are able to make choices, have careers, live independently, and contribute as full participants in all aspects of society.

Message from AAPD’s Board Chair and President & CEO

2005 was a significant year for AAPD and for the national disability community. This was AAPD’s tenth anniversary, and the fifteenth anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

In recognition of this landmark legislation, AAPD took the lead in drafting and circulating a Statement of Solidarity. This unprecedented document was signed by more than 800 national, state, local and international organizations. We invite you to Helen Roth Andrew J. Imparato review the entire document and list of organizations that signed onto it by visiting the AAPD website: www.aapd.com/News/adainthe/solidarityada.

We would also like to share a few more particularly exciting highlights from 2005, and then invite you to learn about AAPD’s core programming and extensive activities by reviewing the entire Annual Report.

In 2005, AAPD also went through long-range planning, to determine the organization’s strategic direction and organizational priorities for the next ten years and beyond. Toward that end, we have a 2015 goals document - please refer to the AAPD website to review the document in its entirety: www.aapd.com. As stated in it: The vision of AAPD is a world where all people with disabilities are able to make choices, have careers, live independently, and contribute as full participants in all aspects of society. AAPD looks forward to continuing to work and collaborate with all of our members, partners, funders, and stakeholders toward fulfillment of this critical vision.

AAPD remains deeply appreciative of its members, funders, volunteers, and partners for your support and endorsement of AAPD. Thank you for helping to make 2005 a significant year for AAPD!

Helen Roth, Chair, AAPD Board of Directors Andrew J. Imparato, President and CEO, AAPD

What a difference a decade makes!

2005 AAPD Board of Directors

Kathleen Behan
Arnold & Porter, Washington, DC

Joyce Bender
Bender Consulting Services Inc., Pittsburgh, PA

James J. Billy
Advocate, Washington, DC

Ralph Boyd, Jr.
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, McLean, VA

The Honorable Tony Coelho – Secretary
Advocate, Arlington, VA

Wendy Elliott-Vandivier
Elliott-Vandivier, Hibbs & Associates, LLC, Philadelphia, PA

Marilyn Hamilton
Sunrise Medical, Fresno, CA

The Honorable Judith E. Heumann
World Bank, Washington, DC

Alison Hillman
Mental Disability Rights International, Washington, DC

Ambassador Bradley Holmes
Global Telecommunications & IT Consultant, Washington, DC

Vail Horton
Keen Mobility, Portland, OR

Gregg Howard
Independence Technology , Warren, NJ

Andrew J. Imparato - President & CEO
American Association of People with Disabilities, Washington, DC

Edward Kennedy, Jr.
Marwood Group, New Haven, CT

The Honorable Lynn Rivers
Ann Arbor, MI

Debra Robinson
Speaking for Ourselves, Philadelphia, PA

Helen Roth – Chair
Disability Policy Consultant, Logan, UT

Cheryl Sensenbrenner – Treasurer
Advocate, Milwaukee, WI

Margaret Staton – Vice-Chair
ELA Foundation, Montecito, CA

Michael Takemura
Hewlett-Packard Company, Houston, TX

Fred Weiner
Gallaudet University, Washington, DC

James Weisman – Immediate Past Chair
United Spinal Association, Jackson Heights, NY

Frances West
IBM, Cambridge, MA

Tony Young
NISH, Vienna, VA

AAPD is...advocating for disability rights

Advocacy
AAPD is committed to civil and human rights, and supports policies that recognize and value the innate civil and human rights of all people. AAPD supports policies that lead to self- determination, individual empowerment, and the cultivation of a strong and united community of people with disabilities, their family members, and supporters. AAPD seeks opportunities to work in solidarity with other disability advocacy groups, civil rights organizations, non-profits, businesses, and faith-based groups on issues of common concern.

AAPD’s 2005 public policy and research activities were based upon this stated public policy agenda.

Advocacy Activities

Legislative Activities

...and creating strong bipartisan alliances

Legal Action

In the narrow 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that foreign cruise lines sailing in U.S. waters must provide better access for passengers in wheelchairs.

Policy Forums

Court Nominees

AAPD Testifies

And lastly in 2005, AAPD collaborated with the Cornell University Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Disability Demographics and Statistics to release the first annual Disability Status Reports, a summary of the most recent demographic and participation statistics on the working age population with disabilities. It was covered in the Wall Street Journal.

AAPD is ...providing mentoring and job-shadowing ...

Disability Mentoring Day
AAPD presented the Disability Mentoring Day Program (DMD) for the sixth year in 2005. Thanks to sponsorship from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), as well as the U.S Social Security Administration and a host of national private sponsors, AAPD was able to increase its grassroots outreach. As a result, in 2005, more than 13,000 DMD mentees - a 35% increase over the number in 2004 - came from all 50 states, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and 20 countries, including New Zealand, Kenya and Brazil.

DMD encourages individuals with disabilities to think early about their careers and develop the skills needed to compete in the marketplace, therefore boosting their financial security and inclusion in America’s economic growth. DMD also exposes employers to a pool of talent they may not have realized existed, thereby educating them about the importance of including individuals with disabilities in their diversity initiatives.

As demonstrated by some 2005 participants, Disability Mentoring Day Program was successful at:

Hands-On Career Exploration
In Maryland, Mentee Whitney King spent DMD2005 at an elementary school. As a result of this experience, she would like to pursue a job as a teacher’s assistant.

New Internships and Job Opportunities
In Dearborn, MI, a student who job-shadowed at Children’s Hospital is now employed there in the childlife center, a job secured as a direct result of DMD2005 participation.

Mentee Development
“I had a wonderful experience, shadowing a mentee in a nonprofit organization. It was so refreshing to work with someone who was open to finding creative ways for me to do jobs others would ordinarily think I couldn’t do.” - A low-vision mentee in Burlington, VT

Creating New Opportunities
“Most of our schools are rural, and the students don’t get the opportunity to job shadow specific sites. On DMD, some of our students traveled 100 miles to shadow at a specific site for just two hours. They were very grateful for this opportunity, and parents were grateful their children got the opportunity to see a career of interest so that they have an idea of what the business is all about. Without DMD, a lot of our students would never get this opportunity.” - Local Coordinator in Grafton, ND

Building Relationships
“For the first time this year, we had long-term commitments from mentors to host mentees beyond Disability Mentoring Day. We will continue to follow the progress of students, who have internships for approximately six months. We also have plans to educate more county employees about disabilities and the people they serve.” Local Coordinator in Montgomery County, MD

... and creating employment opportunities

Influencing People and Policy
“I never thought a person with a disability could work in my shop. Now, as a result of my DMD experience, I know that it’s the person’s skills, not what he looks like or what devices he uses to help him out - as long as he can find a way to do the job, then, well, he’s qualified.” - Employer Mentor in Logan, UT

Mentors In Work and In Life
DMD in Juneau, AK, brought Jenae Eby together with Professor Jamie Autrey, director of the Art Department at the University of Alaska Southeast campus. Jenae would love to eventually go to art school and be a professional artist. After spending DMD together and sharing their mutual love of art, they decided to continue the mentoring relationship. Additionally, a campus-wide show of Jenae’s artwork happened shortly after DMD.

Broad-Reaching Influence
In Kosovo, widespread DMD activities were coordinated out of the offices of the Little People of Kosovo. DMD billboards and posters were hung in 21 municipalities throughout that country. As a result, more than 150 mentees had the opportunity to participate in DMD activities and job-shadowing, and the Office of the Prime Minister and Ministry of Health supported these DMD activities.

2005 Disability Mentoring Day could not have happened or achieved these and other successful outcomes were it not for the participation of thousands of employer mentors, or without the effective coordination of more than 200 local coordinators, who are the backbone of the program.

AAPD recognizes the 2005 DMD National Public Sponsors: U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy and U.S. Social Security Administration; Disability MentorNet Sponsor: SAP; Lead National Corporate Sponsor: Verizon; and the National Corporate Sponsors: American Airlines, BellSouth, Comcast, Darden Restaurants, Hewlett- Packard, IBM, Independence Technology, Microsoft, Pitney-Bowes, SunTrust and Wal-Mart.

AAPD is ...... recognizing champions

Justice For All ADA Anniversary Event
On July 26, 2005, AAPD hosted an event on Capitol Hill to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the passage of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the 10th anniversary of AAPD.

At the event, AAPD presented five Justice for All Awards – unwavering leadership, creativity and heart are the characteristics that bind them together. These award recipients are all extraordinary champions of justice and empowerment.

Senator Tom Harkin presented the first award on AAPD’s behalf to Yoshiko Dart, an unflinching advocate. Upon accepting the award, she said “I humbly accept this as a symbolic representative of all the patriots here today and the hundreds of thousands throughout America who have fought and continue to fight for justice and democracy.”

AAPD also recognized two legislators with awards. Senators Gordon Smith (R-OR) and Jim Jeffords (I-VT) have demonstrated that they are dedicated champions of disability rights and will continue the fight for the national disability community.

AAPD recognized award-winning author and journalist Jeffery Deaver with a Justice for All Award. Deaver, who spoke about his own experience with disability, incorporated a lead character with a disability in his most recently-released book, The Twelfth Card.

“In these 15 years we have not come all the way, and that is what I think of each year on the ADA’s anniversary. These anniversaries are to remind us of what still needs to be done.” Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer at AAPD's 2005 ADA Anniversary Celebration Event

Since 2002, AAPD has also included industry in the Justice for All Awards. This year, the industry award was presented to Nicholas Donofrio, IBM Executive Vice President, Innovation and Technology. Explained AAPD President and CEO Andy Imparato when introducing this award, “In order to accomplish the goals of the ADA, we have to build partnerships with the business community, and find champions who are at senior levels in the business world, and understand the importance of hiring qualified people with disabilities and the importance of designing products and services that work for people with a wide range of disabilities. IBM has a demonstrated track record here.”

The event concluded with the presentation of certificates to the class of 2005 Microsoft- AAPD Federal Information Technology Interns and 2005 Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation–AAPD Congressional Interns.

... and inspiring increased advocacy

2005 AAPD Leadership Gala
AAPD held its fourth-annual AAPD Leadership Gala on March 9, 2005 in Washington, DC. Keynote remarks were provided by White House Chief of Staff Andy Card and Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta.

Under the orchestration of Master of Ceremonies and AAPD board member Tony Coelho, highlights of the event were the leadership awards presentations. AAPD made three Paul G. Hearne/AAPD Leadership Awards presentations, with the assistance of Members of Congress: Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) presented an award to Berhanu Joffe Deboch, Rep. Nick Rahall (D-WV) presented an award to Elise Roy, and Rep. Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) presented an award to Alan Muir.

The Henry B. Betts Award was presented to Paul Longmore, Ph.D. Unable to travel to Washington to personally accept his award, his acceptance remarks were shown via videotape.

The extraordinary skills and leadership of these four award recipients were captured on short video productions about each of them, which were shown at the Gala.

Additionally, AAPD presented its annual Linda Chavez-Thompson Award to Richard Womack, Assistant to the President of the AFL-CIO, who has been a consistent voice for disability rights and empowerment within the labor movement. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) made the award presentation.

And new for the 2005 gala, an exhibit area preceded the dinner/awards ceremony, with companies displaying information about their accessibility and hiring practices.

AAPD is indebted to the 2005 Leadership Gala co-chairs, Cheryl (Mrs. Jim) Sensenbrenner, Deni (Mrs. Norman) Mineta, and Sandie (Mrs. Joe) Knollenberg.

AAPD recognizes the 2005 gala’s Lead Sponsors: Independence Technology (a Johnson & Johnson company) and Time Warner; Reception Sponsor: the National Structured Settlements Trade Association; and all sponsors. Visit the AAPD website for a full list of 2005 gala sponsors: www.aapd.com/gala/gala05/gala05sponsors.

AAPD is ... taking a stand

Disability Vote Project
The mission of AAPD’s Disability Vote Project (DVP) is to address the fundamental inequalities faced by this nation’s voters with disabilities, and work in a nonpartisan manner to ensure they are provided full accessibility to all polling places and voting equipment, and to register and turn out voters with strong disability interests.

As a result of grassroots organizing, testimonies provided, legal action to ensure HAVA (Help America Vote Act) implementation, and presentations at large national conferences, such as The International Association of Clerks, Recorders, Election Officials and Treasurers (IACREOT), 2005 was a year of significant development for DVP.

... for equality and empowerment

Also in 2005, DVP staff was called upon to provide testimony in a variety of settings, including:

Lastly, AAPD testified before a Senate Rules Committee Oversight Hearing on HAVA implementation and VVPAT. Senators Dodd and Lott, impressed by the turnout AAPD was instrumental in securing, renewed their commitment to HAVA implementation.

Continuing AAPD’s efforts to make every polling place accessible, DVP staff continued in 2005 to provide technical assistance to election officials and state legislatures across the country. Every national conference of election officials sought out and received AAPD participation. And together with AAPD's state colleagues, testimony was provided before 19 state legislatures.

“We heard the concerns from Americans with disabilities, and we responded because the law requires it, because it is the right thing to do, and accessibility for people with disabilities make things more accessible for all Americans.” - Ray Martinez, U.S. Election Assistance Commissioner

AAPD recognizes The Carnegie Corporation of New York, The JEHT Foundation, and all 2005 sponsors of the Disability Vote Project.

AAPD is ...recognizing today’s disability leaders ...

AAPD’S DC Internship Programs
In 2005, AAPD continued to offer highly-sought internship opportunities that open doors for college students with disabilities, and have proven they can pave the way to long-term internships and employment prospects. The three programs attracted a very diverse and talented pool of candidates from around the country. More than 60 students with disabilities came to Washington, DC to work in offices on Capitol Hill and in federal agencies.

Microsoft-AAPD Federal I.T. Internship Program
The Federal I.T. Internship Program continued in 2005 to provide information technology experience in the federal sector. Each competitively-paid intern worked side-by-side with professionals in the I.T. areas of federal agencies.

Agencies that hosted 2005 interns were the National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Homeland Security; the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; U.S. Government Printing Office; Federal Railroad Administration; U.S. Department of Agriculture; Federal Highway Administration; and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation-AAPD Congressional Internship Program
This competitively-paid summer internship program continued in 2005 to make it possible for nine college students with disabilities to work with Members of Congress at their Capitol Hill offices, where they were afforded a firsthand look at the political and legislative process. During the course of the summer program, interns are also introduced to business leaders, legislators, and disability rights leaders.

Congressional members who hosted the 2005 interns were House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, Senators Michael Enzi, Tom Harkin, Barbara Boxer, Ted Kennedy, Jon Corzine and Sam Brownback, and Representatives Dennis Moore and Major Owens.

The Washington Center (TWC) Internship Collaboration
AAPD’s partnership with TWC continued in 2005, making it possible for more than 45 students to participate in this program in Washington, DC.

AAPD recognizes Microsoft, sponsor of the Federal I.T. Internship Program, Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation, sponsor of the Congressional Internship Program, as well as the Henry H. Kessler Foundation; and the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy for funding the TWC internship collaboration.

... and creating tomorrow’s leaders

Paul G. Hearne/AAPD Leadership Awards
Established in the name of AAPD’s co-founder, this program continues Paul’s goal of cultivating emerging leaders to carry on the disability rights movement. Cash awards of $10,000 each are presented to the recipients, at the AAPD Leadership Gala. The 2005 recipients were:

Berhanu Joffe Deboch, a political refugee from Ethiopia, who works to eradicate the barriers that people with disabilities face, including a lack of access to education for low income people with disabilities.

Alan D. Muir, co-founder and Executive Director of Career Opportunities for Students with Disabilities (COSD), who works to improve career opportunities of college students with disabilities through his work with universities and employers.

Elise C. Roy, a two-sport varsity athlete, young Deaf lawyer, and international advocate working to increase awareness of the importance of ensuring recreational and athletic opportunities for people with disabilities.

Henry B. Betts Award
This award annually honors an individual whose lifetime work has created better quality of life for people with disabilities. It is named for Dr. Henry B. Betts, a pioneer in the field of rehabilitation medicine at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC).

The 2005 award was presented collaboratively with RIC at the AAPD Leadership Gala to Paul Longmore, Ph.D., an intellectual force for all disabled people’s right to dignified supports for independent living and self-determination, who has committed himself to change the lives of disabled people who want meaningful work but fear loss of public benefits that pay for healthcare, disability equipment and personal assistance. Longmore, a major founder of the field of disability studies, also helped to establish and now directs the Institute on Disability Studies at San Francisco State University.

Videos highlighting the work of these four award recipients can be found on the AAPD website.

AAPD recognizes Independence Technology (a Johnson & Johnson company) and the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation for their sponsorship of the Paul G. Hearne/AAPD Leadership Awards, and the Prince Charitable Trusts, sponsor of the Henry B. Betts Award.

AAPD is ... making a difference, fostering independence ...

Membership and Member Benefits Program
From its founding in 1995 through its tenth anniversary in 2005, AAPD membership grew exponentially to well over 100,000 members.

AAPD moves into its second decade as the nation’s universally recognized, largest cross- disability membership organization, with core membership continuing to grow as the disability community becomes increasingly aware of AAPD’s exceptional programs and advocacy for people with disabilities, as well as the AAPD Member Benefits program.

Principal among these benefits is AAPD’s partnership with the Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU), which has provided members with more than $100 million in Mobility Vehicle and Access Loans for adapted vehicles, assistive technology and building modifications since the partnership’s inception in mid-2002. More than 43,000 AAPD members have taken advantage of the credit union’s critical benefits.

“Thanks to AAPD and DCU, with my new adapted van I don’t have to depend on friends and neighbors to drive me places.” - AAPD member in FL

AAPD’s quarterly nonpartisan print newsletter, AAPDnews,a primary member benefit, plays a prominent role in keeping AAPD members informed about national disability policy and issues, as well as providing updates on disability legislation, disability rights news, announcements and alerts, and AAPD programs and news.

2005 Member Survey
Thanks to a grant from IBM, AAPD was able to conduct its first-ever scientific survey of the AAPD membership in 2005, to learn about the demographics of the membership, how the members feel about the offerings of the organization, and how members use available computer technology.

The information attained was invaluable. As examples, AAPD learned:

AAPD recognizes sponsors of the 2005 newsletter: Bayer MaterialScience, IBM, and Sprint.

... and connecting people with resources and advocacy

The AAPD Website www.aapd.com
More than 110,000 average unique page visits every month to AAPD’s website illustrating that it is the online place to go for current and updated articles and news about legislative and disability policies and issues, AAPD programs, member benefits, latest announcements, and a broad based list of links to disability resources.

"I want to tell you how accessible your website is. I have been using the AAPD site for sometime – use a screen reader, JAWS, and have no problems navigating any of your information. I commend you on your efforts to make the AAPD site user-friendly. Keep up the efforts!" - G.V., blind AAPD website visitor

More than one quarter of the site’s visits focus on disability and legislative news, which AAPD updates daily. Other visitors tell AAPD that they visit the site to seek information about AAPD’s programs.

In 2005, AAPD’s online homepage kept important topics for the disability community front and center, like the U.S. Supreme Court nominations and how their outcomes could affect the disability community. It also featured numerous timely articles about the Federal Budget Proposal, Medicare’s Part D Prescription plan, and critical legislation affecting people with disabilities like Money Follows the Person.

AAPD utilized its website, www.aapd.com, to keep members and other web browsers current on critical activities, such as the Medicaid Commission, an advisory committee created in mid-2005 by Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt. Gwen Gillenwater, AAPD’s Sr. Director of Policy and Outreach, who is one of just 15 voting members of the Commission, created a section of the AAPD website devoted to this topic and continues to update it on a regular basis.

And when Hurricane Katrina devastated the gulf coast, AAPD devoted a section of its website to information that would prove helpful to people with disabilities in that area, including links to resources in the area and now to help people affected by the disaster.

AAPD’s website, www.aapd.com, also continues to be the place to sign on to the free Justice for All email listserv, which sends out legislative action alerts and timely disability- related articles.

Justice For All Listserv
In 2005, AAPD’s email listserv, Justice for All (JFA), to disseminate information prepared by AAPD, alerts regarding legislation and other disability actions, and articles of interest to the national cross-disability community, as well as assisting other disability organizations with distributing pertinent information that is consistent with AAPD policies.

In 2005, issues that received attention over JFA included: Budget reconciliation relating to programs which impacted people with disabilities; Judicial nominations – again relating to disability-specific priorities; Social Security privatization; Medicaid reform and Money Follows the Person; Reauthorization of IDEA; Court decisions; Emergency Preparedness and the ramifications of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

AAPD extends its appreciation to IBM for its sponsorship of the AAPD website in 2005.

AAPD is ... thankful to its 2005 Sponsors

The following list reflects donations and grants of $1,000 and higher made to AAPD between January 1 and December 31, 2005. We deeply appreciate all donors’ support and endorsement of AAPD activities and programming.


Financial Information
January 1 - December 31, 2005

Statement of Activities and Changes in Net Assets
Revenues and Public Support
Member Fees$204,713
Contributions$42,764
Contributions In-Kind$17,505
Program Revenue$113,385
Foundation Grants$1,944,403
Government Grants$241,448
Other Income$67,397
Total Public Support and Revenue$2,631,615
Expenses
Program Services$1,590,057
Supporting Expenses$265,601
Total Expenses$1,855,658
Change in Net Assets$775,957
Net Assets, Beginning of Year$415,445
Net Assets, End of Year$1,191,402

Statement of Financial Position
Current Assets and Equipment
Cash and Cash Equivalents$943,660
Accounts Receivable$76,975
Unconditional Promises to Give$274,350
Prepaid Expenses$4,370
Fixed Assets$36,520
Deposits$6,068
Total Assets$1,341,943
Liabilities and Net Assets
Current Liabilities$150,541
Net Assets/Unrestricted$879,674
Net Assets/Temporarily Restricted$311,728
Total Liabilities and Net Assets$1,341,943

American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD)
1629 K Street NW
Suite 503
Washington, DC 20006
Phone: (202) 457-0046 (V/TTY)
Toll-free phone: (800) 840-8844 (V/TTY)
Fax: (202) 457-0473

(This fax number does not accept unsolicited advertisements.)
www.aapd.com

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