The National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) is deeply saddened by the loss of our dear friend and colleague Fred Fay. Fred was a tireless organizer and mentor for the disability community, and will be greatly missed by the people whose lives were touched and inspired along the way.
Fred spent a considerable amount of his life on his back due to a severe spinal cord injury after a fall from a trapeze at age 16. He wanted to prove that someone with quadriplegia could live a meaningful and fulfilling life, and used the accident as a springboard that launched a career and created a leader.
Fred co-founded Opening Doors, a counseling and information center, in 1963 with his mother. They together launched the Architectural Barriers Project, which paved the way for an accessible subway system in Washington, DC. In 1972 he earned a doctorate degree in educational psychology from the University of Illinois, and in 1974 served as the principal founder of the Boston Center for Independent Living. His work was vital in demonstrating the need for national Independent Living initiatives.
In 1977 he served as the Director of Research and Training in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at Tufts University New England Medical Center. In 1995 he created the Justice For All forum, which is utilized as an important tool for enhancing grassroots advocacy nationwide, providing national disability news and action alerts.
Fred Fay holding his 2006 American Association of
People with Disabilities (AAPD) Justice for All Award.
Fred was honored in 1977 with the Henry B. Betts Award for outstanding achievement in civil rights for Americans with disabilities, and in 2006 received the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) Justice for All Award.
Fred’s role and achievements in the Disability Rights Movement stand as an extraordinary testament to his strength of character and determination of spirit. His contributions were instrumental to the passage of the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968, Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1975, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
A film has been created documenting Fred’s life and role in the Disability Rights Movement, A Life Worth Living, which is scheduled to air on October 27 on PBS. See the Film Synop and Trailer. This hour-long historical documentary is targeted at a national audience of 54 million people with disabilities and students, with an eventual global outreach pushing 650 million people worldwide.
We will miss our friend tremendously, but now turn to celebrating a legacy that is larger than the life of a single individual. Our great Movement has been built upon the achievement of giants like Fred, a man who earned his place in history. To our friend Fred Fay: We love you, we will miss you, and we will never forget what you have done to make America a better place for people with disabilities.
Gifts in Fred’s name may be made to:
Boston Center for Independent Living
60 Temple Place - 5th Floor
Boston, MA 02111
www.bostoncil.org
Read more remeberances of Fred Fay at the JFA Blog post for Augusr 25, 2011, "AAPD and Friends Remember Fred Fay" at: http://www.jfactivist.org/.