Tennesseans are encouraged to wear or display “coalition blue” and share their support on social media tday for Disability Advocacy Day. It marks the sixth year the state has gone blue to honor the disability community.

Carrie Carlson, director of community engagement for the Tennessee Disability Coalition, said the day highlights the power of advocacy and the significance of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which was passed in 1990.

"Landmarks across the state of Tennessee are going to light up blue," she said, "and that is to honor the importance of the advocacy efforts for the 1.8 million, or one in four, which is higher than the national average, Tennesseans living with a disability."

She noted that about 500 people attended Disability Day on the Hill last month, helping launch Disability Advocacy Day and sending a clear message to lawmakers that the disability community is engaged and determined to have its voice heard.

Carlson said Tennesseans with disabilities experience greater barriers to accessing the same services their neighbors do. She added that the disability community is one of the largest marginalized and overlooked communities.

"Advocating and being a collective voice is the better way to kind of fight those policies and break down those barriers that infringe on our civil rights and basic protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act," she said.

She said community members are marking Disability Advocacy Day in a variety of ways. Some groups plan outings, including a visit to the Nashville Zoo, where participants will wear blue shirts to show support. Others will take photos at landmarks lit up in blue and share them on social media to raise awareness.

Source: Public News Service