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ACTION ALERT
ATRA Action Watch
April 20, 2001

TO: ATRA Membership
FROM: Alliance for Disability Recreation and Sport
DATE: April 5, 2001
RE: Request for Congressional Action

Expanding RSA's Funding for Recreational Programs for People with Disabilities

The Alliance for Disability Recreation and Sport, of which ATRA is a member, has initiated a legislative request for an additional $2.5 million for the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) of the Department of Education to expand its competitive Recreational Programs for People with Disabilities grant. Our hope is that the funding for RSA will be the first step along the road to a coordinated effort at the federal level to direct more resources toward programs and research that demonstrate the effectiveness of recreation and physical activity in increasing mobility, independence, and employability of people with disabilities.

To reach those Members of Congress whom the Alliance believes can be helpful to this effort, we are asking ATRA members to write letters to your Members of Congress in support of the Alliance initiative. Here is a sample letter you could use to communicate the support of your organization to your Member of Congress. Following the suggested letter is a list of those Members of Congress who serve on the Appropriations Subcommittee and can be especially influential in advancing the Alliance request. If you find a Member of Congress from your state, please produce a letter such as the one provided on professional letterhead if you have it (if there is no letterhead, feel free to use personal paper). Send the letter to your Member of Congress, and please send a copy of your letter to ATRA by fax, if possible, at 703-683-9431.

If your Members of Congress are not on the attached list, you may locate their name, address, and phone by calling the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121 or by visiting the following web sites http://www.house.gov/writerep/ and http://www.senate.gov/.

We thank you for taking the time to help out. Please remember to submit your letters by April 25th. Without the active involvement of advocates like you, the Alliance for Disability Recreation and Sport would not be able to help advance federal interest in disability recreation and sport issues.

Background
The Alliance for Disability Recreation and Sport represents several national, non-profit organizations whose missions include promoting recreation and sport for people with disabilities. Given the tremendous economic, social, physical, and psychological benefits of recreation, the Alliance is urging Congress to consider an increase in funding for this program.

Congress has recognized that people with disabilities face significant barriers to recreation, sport, and wellness and that access to these opportunities are more critical to people with disabilities than those without disabilities. Amendments to Title III of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act, created the recreational programs for people with disabilities (section 305) to address this need. Recreational programs for people with disabilities as administered by the RSA, is the sole source of federal assistance for community-based programming. Under current funding levels, eight or nine grantees each year are in a position to offer such recreational opportunities, yet there are 54 million people with disabilities in this country.

RSA Funding Sample Letter >