Co-Sponsors for this Event Include:

Disabled Students Union at the University of Illinois at Chicago (DSU)

Disabled Students Union at the University of California, Berkeley (DSU)

Alliance for Disability and Students of the University of Montana (ADSUM)

Kids as Self-Advocates (KASA)

American Association of Persons with Disabilities (AAPD)

National Council on Independent Living (NCIL)

PACER Center

Not Dead Yet

On A Roll Radio

ADAPT Montana

The Associated Blind, Inc.

Access Living of Chicago, IL

IMPACT, Inc. of Alton, IL

Progress Center for Independent Living of Forest Park, IL

Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities in Illinois (CCDI)

Monroe County Women's Disability Network

March 15, 2001

To All Participants, Co-Sponsors, and Allies:

RE: ADVOCACY PACKET for the April 17th Leave Out for Equal Justice

Thank you for your interest in the April 17th nationwide Leave Out for Equal Justice, sponsored by the National Disabled Students Union (NDSU). With a little over 4 weeks until the protest, preparations are currently in full swing to ensure a coordinated, organized, and successful action that will deliver a powerful message to the Supreme Court of the United States that any elevation of "states’ rights" over civil rights in this country will not be tolerated.

Phase 1 of the protest preparations involves the widespread dissemination of the documents in the enclosed Advocacy Packet. This Advocacy Packet includes:

1. A targeted flyer announcing the April 17th Leave Out specifically geared to your particular constituency.
   There are four targeted flyers available: 1) for students, 2) for parents of youth with disabilities, 3) for the disability community in general, and 4) for our natural allies. If you would like any of these flyers (in addition to the one you received in this packet), please feel free to ask and we will be more than happy to send them out right away.
2. A sheet with ideas for leave-out organizers
3. A sheet describing the meaning of the NDSU symbol – THE BRAID
4. A description of NDSU and our formal Mission Statement
5. A copy of the invitation to join the NDSU listserv

In approximately a week and a half, we will distribute a Media Packet that will include step-by-step strategies for working with the media, sample materials you can modify as appropriate for your local media outlets, and other related materials. This packet will also include a national petition, as well as a model state petition, for distribution in your particular state.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Sarah Triano at 773-463-4776 (V or Relay) or at strian1@uic.edu.

In Solidarity,

Members of the NDSU Leadership Team