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A sincere Thank You to everyone who made Fan Fair 2025 a huge success. 250+ fans were handed out during the event and resource fair. Over 450 remaining fans were distributed at external sites. Thank you to every sponsors, community donor, volunteer and attendee who made this event so special.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) signed into law
On July 26, 1990, President George H.W. Bush signs the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the most sweeping affirmation of rights for the disabled in American history at the time, into law.
As disability rights attorney Arlene Mayerson would later write, the story of the ADA began “when people with disabilities began to challenge societal barriers that excluded them from their communities, and when parents of children with disabilities began to fight against the exclusion and segregation of their children.” Activists explicitly compared their struggle to the Civil Rights movement, arguing that without federal requirements in place, the disabled faced discrimination both as patrons of public spaces and businesses and in seeking employment. In 1986, the National Council on Disability, an independent government agency, issued a report that reached the same conclusion, highlighting the many gaps in federal law that made full participation in society and equal opportunities for employment impossible for many disabled Americans.
Thanks largely to the lobbying efforts of Patrisha Wright, cofounder of the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, federal legislation similar to a version of the Civil Rights Act for the disabled gained support in the late 80s. The eventual bill, the ADA, covered a wide range of physical and mental disabilities. The bulk of the act provides legal recourse against employers who discriminate against the disabled and set standards of access to public buildings and public accommodations (hotels, restaurants, etc.). It also established federal laws regarding service animals, among other things.
In March of 1990, a group of disability rights activists staged the Capitol Crawl, in which disabled people pulled themselves up all 100 steps of the Capitol building in order to highlight the nation’s lack of accessibility. Despite pressure from some church groups, who felt the ADA unfairly burdened them, the bill passed the House by unanimous voice vote and the Senate 76-6, paving the way for its signing on July 26 by President Bush, who said, “Let the shameful wall of exclusion finally come tumbling down.”
For more on the ADA https://www.ada.gov/
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Looking for inspiration? Click HERE to listen to a song honoring the 35th Anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act
Things you can do to lower your risk of heat-related illness:
Drink plenty of liquids, such as water, fruit or vegetable juices, or drinks that contain electrolytes. Avoid alcohol and caffeinated beverages. If your doctor has told you to limit your liquids, ask what you should do when it is very hot.
If you live in a home without air conditioning or fans, try to keep your space as cool as possible. Limit use of the oven; keep shades, blinds, or curtains closed during the hottest part of the day; and open windows at night.
If your living space is hot, try to spend time during midday in a place that has air conditioning. For example, go to the shopping mall, movies, library, senior center, or a friend’s home. You may also contact your local health department or city to find out if they have air-conditioned shelters in your area.
Dress for the weather. Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing. Natural fabrics such as cotton may feel cooler than synthetic fibers.
Avoid outdoor exercising and other physical activity when it is very hot. Instead, try to find someplace you can be active while staying cool indoors.
If you must go outside, try to limit your time out and avoid crowded places. Plan trips during non-rush-hour times.
Make sure to use a broad spectrum sunscreen, SPF 15 or higher, and reapply it throughout the day, especially if your skin will have continuous exposure to the sun. Wear a hat and other protective clothing, and sunglasses. If you do get sunburned, stay out of the sun until your skin is healed and use cool cloths and moisturizers to treat the affected area.
Ask your doctor if any of your medications make you more likely to become overheated or sunburned
For information on local cooling centers, click HERE
Green Leaves is excited to host an afternoon of learning, networking, and collaboration on Tuesday, July 15th from 1:30–3:30 PM at Treyton Oak Towers!
This event is a great opportunity for healthcare professionals, families, and community partners to come together, share resources, and gain valuable insights into the services and support available for seniors. We have a great group presenting next month!
🗓️ Date: Tuesday, July 15th
🕐 Time: 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
📍 Location: Treyton Oak Towers
For more information, contact Gabby at 502.851.5267
TARC Survey Updates
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TARC is excited to share what we learned from the over 2,900 surveys we received in the TARC 2025 Draft Plan phase! Below is information on who we heard from, and what the community had to say about the draft networks.
🗣️ Here’s who we heard from:
- High percentage of working adults
- Nearly of one quarter of respondents 64 years or older
- 56% women, 44% Men
- 57% white, 36% Black
- More than 70% of respondents have ridden transit in the last month.
💪 Survey responses indicated strong support for the Enhanced Network. Respondents agreed that this network would:
- Help them continue using TARC (62%)
- Benefit people they care about (58%)
- Support the majority of existing TARC riders (62%)
📉 In contrast, responses to the Limited Network were more negative across the same metrics:
- Help them continue using TARC (35%)
- Enable them to use TARC more frequently (22%)
- Benefit people they care about (25%)
- Support the majority of existing TARC riders (28%)
‼️ When asked about funding the Enhanced Network, survey participants expressed high levels of support:
- A majority of riders stated they would support additional taxes to fund improvements (71%)
- Stakeholders expressed even stronger support for potential funding measures (85%)
🔝 When asked what TARC’s highest priorities should be, the top responses were:
- Top priority: Increasing service frequency (58%)
- Second priority: Maintaining existing service levels (47%)
- Runners up: More weekend (29%), rush hour (29%)
- The lowest priority identified by both riders and stakeholders was the addition of new on-demand services (19% of riders and 3% of stakeholders).
To view the full survey report, click HERE
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Universal Basic Neighborhood 2: Loneliness Study
Study Overview:
A survey to understand loneliness, social isolation, anxiety, and depression in adults 50 years and older living in Jefferson County. This study is led by the Center for Healthy Air Water and Soil at the University of Louisville and the Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson Sr. Center for Racial Justice at Simmons College.
Inclusion Criteria:
- 50 years or older
- Individuals must speak English
- Must be a resident of one of the five designated neighborhoods
Where:
- Chickasaw
- Crescent Hill
- Fairdale
- Russell
- Springhurst
- The Worthington Area
When:
The survey will be open from July through November 2025 and will take about 15 minutes to complete
How:
Click HERE to take the survey
Are you a local business or Non-profit who supports the lives of older adults or citizens with disabilities?
Do you have a board or commission?
Are you looking to fill a vacancy?
Each month the OADC newsletter will highlight openings and opportunities for local boards and commissions. If you would like to post your vacancy in the newsletter, please send the information to Alli at Allison.woosley@louisvilleky.gov.
Looking to get involved? Click HERE to view opportunities with a Metro Board or Commission
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Eastern Area Community Ministries (EACM) Board meets at 6:30pm on the Third Thursday every other month. The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 20th. Meetings are held at EACM, 9104 Westport Road – located in John Knox Presbyterian Church.
EACM serves our senior neighbors through several of our programs.
- Senior Home-Delivered meals
- Emergency Assistance Program (access to our food pantry & financial assistance (rent & utilities))
- Helping Hands Partnership – Learning & enrichment opportunities
- Adult English Classes
Our mission is to partner with people in need or crisis and to equip and support them in achieving life-long stability and dignity.
Contact Erin Johnson for more information at 502.426.2824
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Southwest Community Ministries is one of the 13 Community Ministries that make up the Association of Community Ministries. Together we serve all of those living in Jefferson County. SWCM has served those living in 40258, 40272 and the Jefferson County portion of 40177 for the last 40 years. Our mission is to unite community partners to fulfill the needs of our neighbors in crisis. We do this through our Food Pantry serving an average of 720 individuals each month, our Meals on Wheels program delivering an average of 1,569 nutritious meals to homebound seniors each and every month. We also fulfill this mission with our seasonal children's programming assisting with backpacks, supplies and making sure that the magic of Christmas is kept alive. In the worlds of Alfa "Children do not deserve to carry the burdens of their parents. This life is heavy enough." these programs impact an average of 215 kiddos each year. Additionally our mission is fulfilled with our emergency financial assistance program where we work with LG&E, the Louisville Water company, Metro Louisville and various other partners to help provide utility and rental assistance to those living in our service area.
A term shall be two years. No board member shall serve more than three consecutive terms and shall not be eligible for election again until such person has been off the board for two successive years.
For more information, contact Kim Leanhart at kimleanhart@gmail.com
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Music in the Park Series
FREE for seniors age 55 & up!
Lunch and Ice Cream while supplies last
Live music, vendors, and raffles
2nd Thursdays in July, August and September
11:00am-1:00pm EST
July-Iroquois Park
August-Farnsley Moreman
September-Petersburg Park
For more information, call 502.398.4490
Age Friendly Louisville
Social Inclusion Workgroup
 Age Friendly Louisville is seeking older adult communities who wish to be involved in an intergenerational project. Interested groups would write letters, cards, or notes for K-12 students in the Louisville-Jefferson County area as the head back to school in August.
If interested contact Kyra at 502.436.7972 or Chris at 502.640.7716
The deadline to be involved is August 1st
Humana Neighborhood Center
July Calendar of Events
To view the full calendar click HERE
Recipe of the Month
Blueberry French Toast Casserole with Whipped Cream and Strawberries
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