Dialogue on Discrimination Series Focuses on Diabled

Nov 19, 2008 by KCPW

(KCPW News) The Salt Lake City Human Rights Commission will host its second dialogue on discrimination tonight. This meeting will focus on discrimination against the disabled community and provide input on public policy. Disability Law Center Executive Director Matt Knotts says this dialogue is the first step to a solution.

"By having a dialogue, we are not saying that we have the ultimate answer to the problem, but that we can at least start chipping away and putting our heads together to come up with creative solutions. And I think it's that ongoing dialogue that ongoing dialogue and really raising awareness and making this a priority that we are not going to tolerate discrimination in our community," Knotts said.

Knotts says the law center conducted a survey of 300 disabled people and found that 19 percent were unable to enter a public building because of access issues, and 30 percent said they had difficulty finding a lawyer. He says most people don't realize how big of a problem disability discrimination is, adding that 82 percent of people who live to age 70 have a disability.

"This is something that impacts everyone in our community, and we are really sort of looking at the nuts and bolts around public policy issues that address, ensuring that the Americans with Disabilities Act really lives up to its true spirit. We see it as one, a kind of general awareness and two really looking at solving the day to day problems that people face," Knotts said.

Knotts says 5,000 people sought the Law Center's help last year. Tonight's event starts at 6:30 at Northwest Middle School.

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