consulate events
Consul General Opens Disabilities Awareness Conference
American College of Thessaloniki, May 27 2005
Consul General Demitra Pappas opened the American College of Thessaloniki’s (ACT) Second Annual Disabilities Awareness Conference on May 27, 2005.
Following are the Consul General's remarks:
Remarks by Consul General Demitra Pappas
at the American College of Thessaloniki’s
Second Annual Disabilities Awareness Conference
Thessaloniki, May 27, 2005
Good afternoon. I would like to thank the American College of Thessaloniki for the invitation to speak at your second annual Disability Awareness Conference. Awareness of disabilities affects us all either directly or indirectly and I applaud ACT for raising public awareness of this important issue. At today’s conference, a number of experts from Greece and the United States will provide us with a better understanding, as a community, of the way physically and mentally challenged individuals encounter the world and what we, as a community, can offer them.
Awareness of disabilities came to the forefront in the United States in 1990 with the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This legislation recognizes the fundamental civil rights of people living with a disability and bans discrimination on a par with gender or race-based discrimination. The ADA addresses everyday problems that disabled persons face such as access to the workplace and employment practices and sets accessibility guidelines for public and commercial spaces and public transportation. The goals of this legislation are inclusiveness, equality of opportunity, and independent living.
Legislation such as the ADA is important but it takes more. Communities must break down stereotypes or unfounded assumptions about an individual’s ability to make a valuable contribution to society and embrace the disabled as full participants in the life and work of the community. Through programs such as this, the ACT and Anatolia community is leading the way in opening its doors and our hearts to the disabled. In the same way, during last summer’s Olympic Games, Greece opened its doors to disabled spectators by providing accommodations and services and the spotlight was given to disabled athletes at the Paralympic Games.
Sometimes disability awareness comes from exemplary individuals such as Helen Keller or Christopher Reeves who were empowered by their disability and work to affect history. In other cases, we may have someone close to us who lives with a mental or physical disability. I grew up watching my aunt who has Multiple Sclerosis for 38 years progressively deteriorate, physically, and still manage to live her life to the fullest. I am sure others of you have someone in your life, in your family or community, who has overcome similar challenges. It is only through education and community awareness that we can strive together to see that disabled individuals are not excluded, but are valued and respected members of our community. Thank you.