MICHAEL: My name is Michael Murray, I'm the
Chief Operating Officer for the
American Association of People with Disabilities
otherwise known as AAPD.
AAPD is a convener
a connector and a catalyst for change,
increasing the political and economic
power of people with disabilities.
As a convener, AAPD is a cross-disability organization
that can really bring together the diversity inside of the
disability community and allow us to
have open, honest conversations with
each other that really build
solidarity and allow us to move together as one.
And when we move together as one,
there's nothing that can stand in our way.
ANIL: The National Federation of the Blind has expertise
in blindness, but there's a host of other organizations
that have expertise in their specific disability.
Finding those consensus issues
that we can really rally around is how AAPD
serves as a convener.
And it's a very important role because together
we have power to really influence decisions.
BOB: AAPD is, it's
I think one of its main benefits is to
convene other groups.
The group I was with, ADAPT of Texas,
created a disability voting action project,
a model that should be
replicated in every state.
So I called up AAPD and said
look we have information, we're
more than willing to use it, we share it.
They saw the possibility of it
jumped on it and that's where RevUp Texas
got sorta morphed into RevUp America.
As a connector,
AAPD is the bridge that joins the disability
community with our friends and allies
from outside of the disability community
to create impactful and long lasting change
that really makes a difference
Together the USBLN and AAPD would join
forces to give birth to the Disability Equality Index.
It's a tool designed to
help business benchmark
their policies and practices around disability inclusion,
but it's also a tool that the disability community
can utilize to identify businesses that are
going above and beyond what they have to do.
SUSAN: AAPD is connector in that it brings
together members of industry, advocacy organizations,
politicians into what really is a safe space.
You know, a great example of AAPD really bringing that
to life is the Technology Forum.
It brings together, you know,
all of the industry reps and advocates
to really think about how technology can
make new opportunities for people with disabilities.
MICHAEL: As a catalyst, AAPD is an
action-oriented ambassador for change
building chain reactions derived from
convening and connecting the disability
community to decision makers and
diverse partners from all over the country.
We're that spark
that really ignites the fire
and positively moves the needle forward
for people with disabilities
SENATOR DOLE: If you're gonna be a catalyst,
you gotta stir up some interest and
get people to recognize that there's a problem
that hasn't been addressed
that could be handled at the state or local level.
BOB KAFKA: A group like AAPD that cares
and works with the grassroots disability
community, I think is invaluable.
KERI: When I was an AAPD intern,
it was surprising to me,
it was very new. But I had no idea that
there was a history in disability.
I had no idea that there was culture.
And I didn't know there was that many
dope people with disabilities. Like, I just had no idea.
Their program has a mentorship aspect and
I don't know how they did it but they linked
me with the most perfect person ever!
I adore her to this day like we keep up,
that's my mentor, my big sister.
I see them as a catalyst because they invest in
their cohorts of interns in the past and
they want to see: "How can we reconnect with you?"
"How can we invest in your life so
that you're continuously growing?"
And that makes a difference.
SUSAN: When you're involved in AAPD, first of all
I think it's important to state that it's like a family.
Everyone speaks very openly.
ANIL: Let's be honest
AAPD was truly tested by people with disabilities,
and I think that the current leadership has
done a tremendous job in listening to
the constituents that AAPD professes to serve
and it's been found
sincerely meeting that need
BOB KAFKA: I'm hoping AAPD plays a major role
in the future.
I'm hoping that they can be seen as a leader
SNEATOR DOLE: You're necessary. You're needed.
I believe the disability community
would agree that AAPD performs
a valuable service.
KERI: Show other people what AAPD showed me.
That being a person with disability is not only ok
but it's like super amazing.
And there's a lot of work that we have to
do for that. [LAUGHS]
MICHAEL: We hope that you enjoyed this video and
I hope that you'll go on our website check us out at
www.aapd.com