national Center on Accessibility to congress
On May 11, 2006, Gary Robb, Director of the IU National Center on Accessibility, testified before Congress about the need for improved accessibility training for National Park Service (NPS) employees and better physical and programmatic accessibility solutions at NPS sites across the country. The NCA was created in 1992 under a Cooperative Agreement with the NPS. Under the agreement, the NCA provides technical assistance, training and other expert support to the NPS to ensure that people with disabilities have the opportunity to fully enjoy the National Park System. Mr. Robb was asked to testify because of the NCA's national reputation in disability issues.
The National Park Service has consistently relied on the NCA to help meet its accessibility training mission and since 1992 the NCA has offered 121 training courses in all parts of the country. More than 1,500 National Park Service employees and concession operators have attended these training sessions. Without a doubt the NCA's influence has led to a positive park experience for thousands of disabled visitors over the last 14 years.
While it is now fully embraced by the National Park Service, the NCA actually received its initial federal support as an earmark in the fiscal year 1992 Department of the Interior Appropriations bill. IU had identified accessibility as an area in which it could provide support to the National Park Service as mandated by the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act. The NPS was reluctant to work with IU, however, until congressional direction and earmarked dollars were provided in the appropriations bill. Since that time IU has proven to be a valuable partner to the National Park Service and has been included in the agency's annual budget submission. But without that first earmark, it is unlikely the NCA would be the National Park Service collaborator it is today.
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