[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 27 (Tuesday, March 12, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E321]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       A TRIBUTE TO ALICIA CONTRERAS OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 12, 2002

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Alicia 
Contreras of San Francisco, California for receiving the Paul G. Hearne 
American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) Leadership 
Award for 2001. Alicia, herself disabled, is an inspiration to 
thousands of disabled individuals, and has been providing them valuable 
assistance through various organizations since 1994. The American 
Association of People with Disabilities, an outstanding organization 
founded by cross-disability leaders in 1995, has made an excellent 
choice in selecting Alicia Contreras as one the recipients of the Paul 
G. Hearne award.
  Mr. Speaker, Alicia Contreras' work for the disabled has touched the 
lives of many individuals by demonstrating that being disabled does not 
have to get in the way of enjoying life. Alicia, herself confined to a 
wheelchair, learned how to improve her life as she began to work for 
the disabled in 1994 at a one-month leadership training program 
sponsored by Mobility International USA. Through this experience she 
learned that even with a wheelchair she could play sports, dance, and 
live an independent life. Through this experience, she learned, in 
effect, how to overcome her disability.
  Mr. Speaker, after realizing that she had the power to take control 
of her life, Alicia Contreras founded the Independent Living Center for 
Women with Disabilities in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, so she could help 
other disabled women realize what she had learned. Alicia showed women, 
wheelchair bound like her, that being in a wheelchair does not mean one 
has to live in seclusion in one's own home, and that one could live a 
more independent life outside the home.
  After her efforts through the Independent Living Center, Alicia took 
on a newly created government position, Program Coordinator for People 
with Disabilities in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. While there, Alicia 
created the first-ever accessible taxi-van service in the state, 
awarded more than 700 scholarships to disabled people, and provided 
more than 1,000 hearing aids and 300 wheelchairs to the disability 
community.
  Through this work, Alicia became familiar with Whirlwind Women, an 
international organization that teaches women with disabilities how to 
build appropriate wheelchairs for themselves and others. In November of 
2000, Alicia was hired as the Whirlwind Women Program Director and 
continues to serve in that capacity.
  Mr. Speaker, Alicia Contreras has made a valuable contribution to the 
disabled community; the American Association of People with 
Disabilities has made an intelligent choice in selecting her as one of 
the recipients of this award.
  Like Alicia, the AAPD is committed to improving the lives of people 
with disabilities. Founded by disabled individuals, AAPD is committed 
to promoting the economic and political empowerment of all people with 
disabilities, educating businesses and the general public about 
disability issues, and seeing through the full implementation of the 
Americans with Disabilities Act so that all disabled individuals may 
have an equal opportunity to fully participate in society.
  Mr. Speaker, with these goals in mind, it is no surprise that AAPD 
selected Alicia. She exemplifies the dedication and determination 
necessary to give disabled people a fair chance in life, and most 
importantly, she gives them hope. I invite my colleagues to join me in 
paying tribute to Alicia Contreras for receiving the Paule G. Hearne/
AAPD Leadership Award.

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