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SALT LAKE CITY - Utah legislator Ronda Menlove, who for years has championed rights for people with disabilities, found herself in a life-changing situation three years ago.
Her granddaughter was born with a hearing impairment, thrusting Menlove and her husband to "the other side of the table." They went from being advocates to being family members of those with disabilities.
"I hope the message that you will take is that people with disabilities have incredible abilities," Menlove, R-Garland, said during the Disability Law Center's annual Community Justice awards Saturday evening at the Little America Hotel.
The Disability Law Center is a non-profit organization that advocates for Utahns with disabilities. Menlove was among those gathered at the organization's gala to raise funds to support legal and other services for Utahns who have disabilities.
This includes protecting them from employment discrimination, abuse and neglect, and providing legal and mediation services, advocating for these individuals in the Utah Legislature and providing free education for children with disabilities.
It has been 24 years since the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush. The law makes discrimination illegal and was created to ensure equal opportunities for people with disabilities in employment, public accommodations, state and local government services, commercial facilities and transportation.
About 8.9 percent of Utahns had either a physical or mental disability in 2009, according to Census Bureau data. Although conditions are getting better for the disabled in the state, much still needs to be done, according to Adina Zahradnikova, disability law center executive director.
"We've seen a lot of improvement, but we're far from where we need to be," she said.
Smith's Food and Drug Stores, Superior Transport Services and The Kostopulos Dream Foundation were honored during the gala for hiring and empowering Utahns with disabilities. The gala was sponsored by Robert Baird & Co., Leavitt Group, Mountain America Credit Union and Snell & Wilmer.
The Disability Law Center receives about 4,000 requests for services per year and is able to work one-on-one with about 600 people. For other areas of concern it uses a systems approach, tackling problems such as education for children with disabilities and those who are incarcerated and have mental illnesses.
Services are available statewide, free of charge. For more information visit disabilitylawcenter.org.
