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DO-Write [1992]
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DO-Write [1992]
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Lex Frieden Collection: Records on Disability Rights
Records Relating to Disability Rights
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Originally Processed With FOIA(s):
FOIA Number:
S
S
FOIA
MARKER
This is not a textual record. This is used as an
administrative marker by the George Bush Presidential
Library Staff.
Record Group/Collection: Donated Historical Materials
Collection/Office of Origin: Frieden, Lex, Collection
Series:
Related Materials
Subseries:
Correspondence
OA/ID Number:
52085
Folder ID Number:
52085-015
Folder Title:
DO-Write [1992]
Stack:
Row:
Section:
Shelf:
Position:
Sven Fredrickson
4750 Margaret St.
Port Alberni, B.C.
V9Y 6H3
May 18, 1992
Dear Lex:
I got my pictures developed and thought you might like a souven-
ier of your cruise down the Alberni Canal which, believe me was
a disappoinment as the "Broken Island Group" of islands farther
down are worth seeing and the weather was not the best. It was a
FEW
great pleasure meeting you as I find very individuals with
power and prestige still able to communicate on a grass root
basis. Most start out well then forget original objectives in
order to climb the social ladder. As far as the Disabled For-
estry Workers Foundation (Canada) is concerned I believe we have
potential but will have to broaden our horizons to include all
people with disabilities. Like the environment I think many things
must be done today in order to take care of tomorrow, when the
population of people with disabilities will be increased ten-
fold. My generation will be secure but increasing seniors, most
with some degree of disability, and others with disabilities
both genetic and accidental will require specialized housing,
medical care and legislation necessary for the continuity and
perpetuity of all disability needs so vital for acceptance in the
mainstream of society.
Cynthia Zedjlik gave me a copy of "Management of Spinal Cord Injury"
which I found to be well researched and certainly an improve-
ment over my original "Nursing Care Manual" on SPI dating back
to 1975. Wolfgang's contribution was a disappointment as no one
can categorically state that "Imade up my mind then and there
never to depend on a wheelchair". I worry that he has never ac-
cepted his disability and when he gets older and is forced to
use one as well as remodel his house he may not be able to cope
both mentally and physically. In any case I have to admire his
accomplishments so far.
Now that Independence 92 is over but hopefully not the last vent-
ure of this kind I am going to revert my energies to the imple-
mentation of the Disability Institute on the new North Island
College campus. I feel this project, if it goes to fruition will
be a very positive developement for the city and the disabled
community.
I spoke with your attendant a few times and found him to be
a gentle and pleasant person. The fact that you get along so well
Page 2
together is a tribute to you both. My own attendant is funct-
ionally illiterate yet has grade 12 education. He also does his
job well and has become a good friend.
Well Lex I hope this finds you and yours all happy and in good
health. Don't push yourself too hard.
Sincerely
Seven
Lyo
MEMORANDUM
DATE:
January 3, 1992
TO:
Howard Wolf
Charlie Beall
FROM:
Lex Frieden
Jey
As you know, it is my custom to routinely advise you of my
activities and seek your direction and critique thereof. Please do
not hesitate to share your thoughts with me in this regard.
In February, I was very pleased to have the opportunity to move
from my role as Executive Director of the Foundation to my role as
Senior Vice President of TIRR. This move was made after what I
consider to have been a successful tenure at the Foundation.
Coming to the Foundation as I did, at the beginning of the
Institute's largest-ever capital fund raising campaign, gave me a
challenge which I enjoyed very much. I benefitted tremendously
from Dr. Spencer's leadership and from the support of a great Board
and staff. I will be forever grateful for the confidence which you
and the Board demonstrated in our Foundation by charging us with
the responsibility of raising the additional funds necessary to
complete both aspects of the first phase of our facilities
replacement plan. The $4.5 million which we raised for this
purpose is a credit to all of our Board and staff, to the history
and outstanding reputation of TIRR, and to the insight of the
philanthropic community of Houston, particularly of the Dunn
Foundation Trustees.
While I learned a great deal from my experience with the
Foundation, and while I found the ability to contribute to TIRR
from that perspective quite rewarding, I was delighted by the
chance to become more closely involved with program development and
operational management at TIRR. In many respects, my knowledge and
experience in the rehabilitation field were underutilized while I
was at the Foundation. Also, though the physical distance between
5100 Travis and 1333 Moursund may be only one mile, it sometimes
felt much further in both conceptual and practical terms. While I
believe the potential for philosophical conflicts and communication
gaps between Systems and its subsidiaries still exists, that
likelihood has been significantly reduced by the appointment of Mr.
Beall as CEO of both Systems and TIRR.
Memorandum
January 3, 1992
Page 2
Moving to TIRR has given me the opportunity to relate better to
and learn more about the operational challenges facing the
Institute. Furthermore, the move to TIRR has enabled me to work
more closely with Mr. Beall, Louisa Adelung, Bill Donovan, and
others for whom I have a great deal of respect. In particular, I
have gained a great deal by observing and interacting with Charlie
and Louisa.
As you have heard at recent Board meetings, we are making progress
with our planning efforts at TIRR. Louisa, Charlie, and I are
working on a concept paper which we will circulate among senior
management at TIRR. This concept paper will be molded into a draft
plan which can be revised and edited by our staff and presented to
the Board for discussion, further revision, and approval later this
year.
In addition to the strategic planning activities which I have been
facilitating, I have been involved in a number of other activities
on behalf of TIRR about which I would like you to be aware.
You may recall that we received a grant from the Robert Wood
Johnson Foundation two years ago. This year, RWJ nearly doubled
the size of our original grant to $585,000. The purpose of this
grant program is to develop entrepreneurial profit-oriented
approaches to funding independent living centers in lieu of public
funding sources. The independent living centers are typically non-
residential, community-based, self-help service programs operated
by people with disabilities. We are guiding model efforts at 12
demonstration sites around the country, some of which have already
received national recognition. As you may infer from the increased
level of funding for our work on this project, RWJ believes we are
making good progress with our efforts in this regard. At some
point, I would like to brief you on this project in more detail.
You are probably aware that we recently received a $1.5 million
grant from the Department of Education to set up a technical
assistance center on the Americans with Disabilities Act for a five
state region. Our principal collaborators on this project are the
Better Business Bureau Consumer Education Foundation at Austin, the
Law School at the University of Houston, and the Business College
at the University of Texas. We are just now getting underway with
this project which I believe will be of great service to the
business community. I also see it as a mechanism for making the
business community more familiar with TIRR.
Also with respect to be Americans with Disabilities Act, we are
finalists in a competition to receive a million dollar contract
from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to train disabled
Memorandum
January 3, 1992
Page 3
people to assist in alternative dispute resolution with the ADA.
We should know the outcome of this competition sometime in January.
In addition to my on-site activities at TIRR, I serve on a number
of national and international policy boards. Presently, I chair
the Board of the new National Center on Medical Rehabilitation
Research at the National Institutes of Health. I am on the
Executive Committee of the President's Committee on Employment of
People with Disabilities. I am on the Executive Committee for long
range planning at the National Institute for Disability and
Rehabilitation Research, U.S. Department of Education. Finally, I
am Vice President for North America for Rehabilitation
International, the UN affiliated rehabilitation organization. I
believe all of these activities bring recognition to TIRR. They
certainly enable me to make contacts which benefit TIRR.
During the past year, I concluded duties on a number of outside
committees. After completing a long range plan for the Office on
Disabilities of the Texas Department of Human Services, I retired
as Chairman of the Department's Task Force on Disability. I also
completed work as a member of the panel of experts on long term
care at the Institute of Medicine in Washington.
Locally, I stepped down as Chairman of the Scouting for the
Handicapped Division of the Sam Houston Area Council of the Boy
Scouts of America. I will remain on the Council Board of
Directors.
Another local activity which I have just begun and which I believe
will bring good recognition to TIRR involves a new cable TV program
on the Municipal Channel which I host entitled Focus on Abilities.
This new program is planned for monthly airing. It is being
produced in conjunction with the Mayor's Committee on Employment of
People with Disabilities. You may also be interested to know that
I am serving on Mayor Lanier's transition committee.
I believe this is a good summary of my present activities. Without
question, strategic planning at TIRR is my number one objective.
Additionally, the program development activities which I am
involved with at TIRR, particularly those related to independent
living and disability rights are of extreme importance to me and,
I believe, to TIRR. Finally, I enjoy the public policy and
volunteer activities in which I am involved, and I believe these
activities also benefit TIRR.
Please feel free to share your thoughts on any of the above matters
and activities with me. I continue to find TIRR to be a
stimulating and rewarding environment in which to work.
NOV-25-92 WED 19:09
ILRU
Lex's
P. 02
copy
REVISED
November 1992
3
Ms. Jane Applegate
Los Angeles Times Syndicate
ms.
Dear Jane Applegate;
You
the ADA and the ("Businesses Los Angeles have Times no need Syndicate to fear are disabilities to be commended act"). for your recent article on
As
know from the Disabilities Act is nothing fear. disabilities,
know a national that the center American for information, with training, and research for persons with we
being victimized Better by phony Business ADA Bureau that small business to owners At across the same the time, we
about non-compliance with the Act, consultants. then attempt Many of these "scam mongers" country market fear are
And engineered this information by charging businesses large sums of money to take for advantage of the and fear assistance. they have
and assistance is often available elsewhere information for free.
like We urge ours, you do our to continue best to inform to write stories on this issue, While we and other
through well-balanced media America's business community about organizations
the truth -- that successful ADA stories like yours that business people everywhere ADA, it is primarily
businesses need is from questionable compliance ADA consultants, is achievable and that the only real protection will learn
you Enclosed with information with this letter on is information about our program. If we can be
please do to call. ADA, rehabilitation, disability rights, or independent of assistance living issues, to
not hesitate
Sincerely yours,
Lex Frieden
Executive Director
November
, 1992
Jane Applegate
Los Angeles Times Syndicate
Dear Jane Applegate:
You and the Los Angeles Times Syndicate are to be commended for your recent article on
the ADA ("Businesses have no need to fear disabilities act").
As a national center for information, training and research for persons with disabilities, we
know that the American with Disabilities Act is nothing to be afraid of. But we also
know, as the Better Business Bureau reports, that small business owners across the
country are being victimized by phony ADA consultants. Many of these "scam mongers"
market fear about non-compliance with the Act, then attempt to take advantage of the
fear they themselves have engineered by charging businesses large sums of money for
information and assistance that is often available for free.
We urge you continue write stories this issue. Because while we, trimarily
to to on and other
organizations like ours do our best to educate America's business community, it is primary
through well-balanced media stories like yours, that business people everywhere will learn
the real truth -- that successful ADA compliance is achievable and that the only real
protection businesses need is from questionable ADA consultants.
Enclosed with this letter is information about our program. If we can be of assistance to
you with information on ADA, rehabilitation, disability rights or independent living issues,
please do not hesitate to call.
Sincerely yours,
Lex Frieden
Executive Director
Enclosures as stated
yellow
September 18, 1992
Mr. Lex Frieden
Senior Vice President
The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research
1333 Moursund
Houston, Texas 77030
Dear Lex and Mac:
I hope this letter finds you both in good health!
Since April of this year, when I produced "Visions and Voices of the World" for the World
At Work - International Models of Partnership at Independence '92, I have been
searching for a way to be more involved with disability issues.
To make a long story short, Yellow House Productions Inc. is in the beginning stages of
producing a feature film for theatrical release.
My associates and myself believe it is time to produce a major motion picture that will
confront the viewing public with the realities that people with disability have to contend
with acceptance, freedom, control, strength, independence, attractiveness, sexuality,
responsibility of family, financial concerns, employment, a new body image, and pity.
I have been thinking about both of you a lot since we were last together in April. I was
particularly intrigued and inspired by the relationship you both have. I believe it to be
quite unique.
The story we wish to develop would examine the relationship between a quadriplegic and
his attendant, who suffers from short-term memory loss. The movie would explore each
person's disability and their ability to deal with it, and also explore their ability to accept
the other person's disability.
YELLOW HOUSE PRODUCTIONS INC.
231 East 10th Street, North Vancouver, British Columbia V7L 2C9 Call: (604) 643-8500 or 987-9873
Mr. Lex Frieden
September 18, 1992
Page 2
This is not, I repeat, not the life story of Lex Frieden and Mac Brody. It is fiction with the
central focus on two people with disabilities. The story would examine the development
and acceptance of this relationship. It is about the self-esteem of human beings whose
lives have been disrupted, whose self-image has been set back. It is about human
liberation and creative interventions, and a positive advocacy and growth for everyone.
The reason I am writing you both is to let you know what we are up to and to ask you for
any feedback you may have. I would be pleased to keep both of you up to date on our
progress. There may be some need, from time to time, to consult with you and I'm hoping
that you would be open to this, as your input to the development of this project would be
invaluable.
That is about it for now. We are putting together a brief summary on the story idea over
the next two weeks. I will send a copy to you and would like to hear any suggestions or
concerns either of you may have. Thanks for your time Lex and Mac, and I hope to hear
from you soon.
Sincerely,
YELLOW HOUSE PRODUCTIONS INC.
Robert Leier
President
RL:cl