Welcome to the Institute of Political Leadership and Access (IPLA) Website!

May you enjoy the information in the web site. We welcome feedback as to how we can improve the website, or what additional resources we can furnish to meet your informational needs.

IPLA was established for two different purposes: 1.) to inspire people with disabilities to participate in the political process and 2.) to run for political office either at the local, state or national level.

IPLA is currently a full-volunteer organization; however two things are coming up on the horizon. One is the seminar we are offering this spring semester at Gallaudet, and another is the weekend Conference that takes place at the Kellogg Conference Center on the Gallaudet University campus. The March seminar is offered primarily for the Gallaudet students (March 7, 2008), whereas the September Conference is available to people with disabilities which yearn to take part in the political arena (September 11-13, 2008).

Getting involved in politics is essential to promoting one's or a group's disability access agenda at the local, state and/or national levels. Also, one can get involved as if one didn't have a disability to begin with. Running for office or getting involved in a campaign is not necessarily to make disability access happen. It is asking to be empowered to serve others in a political office, and to address current issues as if one didn't have a disability to begin with. IPLA is in the business to opening "doors" so that any one person with a disability can aspire to run for political office, and not to experience any barrier that comes into his or her way to win the election or to be considered as a credible candidate for that office.

IPLA seeks to generate GREATER opportunities for people with disabilities, not only that, it is so committed to build greater awareness and sensitivity of others without disabilities to give a chance to those with disabilities to prove their worth in the political arena. If people with disabilities do not get opportunities from those in the general mainstream, how will they experience a breakthrough in due time?

IPLA welcomes feedback from the readers to its website anytime. Only you can help us improve, or steer us in the right direction in the future. Remember, anyone with a disability can qualify to run for political office, provided he or she has other credentials that makes him or her as competitive as others to win the election. We live in America, the land of opportunity, and the home of the free!

Contact Noelle Perese, Administrative Assistant anytime at: nperese@iplaccess.org.

Again, thanks for visiting our website, and God bless America!