[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 142 (Saturday, October 10, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2041]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     HONORING RONALD L. MACE FOR PUBLIC SERVICE FOR AMERICANS WITH 
                              DISABILITIES

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                           HON. BOB ETHERIDGE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 9, 1998

  Mr. ETHERIDGE Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life of Ronald L. 
Mace, a North Carolinian who worked to make the world a more accessible 
place for persons with disabilities. Mr. Mace was an architect who 
envisioned environments that were accessible and comfortable for 
everyone. He was a pioneer in the fight for the rights of millions of 
disabled Americans and by removing architectural barriers.
  Mr. Mace cannot be recognized enough for his contributions. His 
innovative ideas about incorporating accessible design into the North 
Carolina building code eventually became the backbone of many State and 
Federal accessibility laws, including the Americans With Disabilities 
Act. Mr. Mace coined the term ``universal design'' for his concept.
  Mr. Mace was a mentor to thousands of persons with disabilities, 
himself disabled by polio at the age of 9. By his example and through 
his work, Mr. Mace instilled confidence and purpose and encouraged many 
to be proud members of the disability community and to contribute to 
the cause of disability rights. Life, to Mr. Mace, was to be lived with 
dignity and integrity. He believed that we should celebrate our 
differences and tear down the artificial barriers that place 
unnecessary constraints on our interactions with one another.
  When Ronald L. Mace passed away on June 29, 1998, North Carolina and 
the Nation lost a great citizen. As Americans, we owe him a debt of 
gratitude because disabled and non-disabled alike benefit from his 
life's work. It is our responsibility to continue to work toward making 
his vision of a world of accessible and comfortable environments a 
reality for everyone.
  Dr. Carol Grant Potter, a colleague, friend, and protege of Mr. Mace 
who continues to be inspired by him, offered the following eloquent 
tribute to Mr. Mace in the Raleigh News and Observer. Dr. Potter, 
herself remarkable and born with phocomelia (shortening of the 
extremities), has contributed immeasurably to efforts to remove 
architectural barriers. She holds a doctoral degree in rehabilitation 
from Southern Illinois University, has served on the Governor's Study 
Commission on Architectural Barriers, was appointed by President Carter 
to serve on the national Architectural and Transportation Barriers 
Compliance Board, and is currently a planner with the North Carolina 
Council on Developmental Disabilities.
  I encourage my colleagues to read Dr. Potter's moving tribute.

                   N.S.'s Gift to Barrier-Free Living

                        (By Carol Grant Potter)

       Raleigh.--For once, the 5-year-old was tall enough to do 
     whatever she wanted to do. She didn't have to stand on tiptoe 
     or be lifted up to the ``adult'' height, as was usually the 
     case. Some day she will know that the man who played a major 
     role in making that happen was the man she was gazing at in 
     the casket, set on a low-bred stand a foot off the floor.
       As the child touched the man's shirt lightly, her mother 
     directed her attention to the side of the casket.
       ``See his wheelchair, honey. That's how he got around. It's 
     motorized and it can go fast!''
       Ronald L. Mace, the Raleigh architect and disability rights 
     leader who died June 29, dreamed of environments that are 
     accessible and comfortable for everyone, regardless of age or 
     ability. He coined the term ``universal design'' for the 
     concept.
       All of us at Ron's funeral could reach his body and share 
     equally in the grief of his death and celebration of his 
     life. We gathered as a community, people who use wheelchairs, 
     guide dogs, interpreters and other means of accommodation, 
     along with just as many folks who have no disabilities.
       People came from everywhere to share memories filled with 
     humor, tears, gratitude, respect and love for a man who 
     touched so many lives.
       I first met Ron when he consulted with Governor's Study 
     Commission on Architectural Barriers in 1972. We on the 
     commission gained tremendously from his innovative ideas 
     about incorporating accessible design into the North Carolina 
     building code. Who could have known then that his designs 
     would shape the landscape of the entire country? Eventually 
     they became the backbone of many state and federal 
     accessibility laws, including the Americans with Disabilities 
     Act.
       Personally, Ron taught me a lot about living--really 
     living--with a disability. He encouraged me, by example, to 
     be a proud member of the disability community to contribute 
     my individual strengths, whatever they may be, to the cause 
     of disability rights.
       Ron reached out to thousands of people with disabilities, 
     instilling confidence and purpose by sharing his knowledge 
     and expertise with everyone. Being a mentor was second nature 
     to him, although he probably never realized he was 
     ``mentoring.'' He had a way of promoting others rather than 
     himself, a quality that made him a leader in the truest sense 
     of the word.
       Ron's life was not about heroism or inspiration. It was 
     about having the courage to be true to your beliefs and 
     experiences, living with integrity, dignity and respect for 
     everyone, and celebrating differences among us without the 
     constraints of unnecessary, artificial barriers. His life 
     challenges us to continue building community among people 
     with disabilities and our families, and use our collective 
     strength for the common good.
       As Ron did, we who are older must share our disability 
     experience, both the struggles and victories, with the next 
     generation who will be tomorrow's disabilities rights 
     leaders. Finally, Ron would expect us to keep the Americans 
     with Disabilities Act strong and meaningful in North Carolina 
     and our nation so that everyone benefits--disabled and 
     nondisabled alike.
       At Ron's funeral, parked on the street was a long line of 
     modified, accessible vans, some with wheelchair lifts 
     extended, bringing the community together once again. Like 
     the 5-year-old girl, I also gazed at the man in the casket 
     and felt deeply the blessing of his life. I didn't have to 
     stand on tiptoe or be lifted up to tell him goodbye. That 
     day, the little girl and I could do what we wanted to do.

     

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