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27 artists with disabilities from across Ohio answered that question in response to a call for art in June. 11 of these artists traveled to Columbus July 23 - 25 to create a mural celebrating the 20th anniversary of this milestone legislation. Designed by artist, Kong Ho, the mural incorporated an array of images and words and now stands 6 feet tall and 30 feet wide. In addition to the artists, approximately 40 community members volunteered their time to assist with its construction. Together these Ohioans created a piece of art and advocacy that celebrates ability, inclusion, and looks ahead to work that must be done in the next 20 years.

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00:00:04	My passion is art.
00:00:06	My life is art.
00:00:12	Just because you¿re disabled
00:00:14	doesn¿t mean you can¿t live your life.
00:00:25	I am participating with other artists
00:00:29	from all over the state of Ohio who
00:00:31	have convened together to work with
00:00:34	a master artist Kong Ho from the
00:00:38	University of Pittsburg.
00:00:40	He is a muralist,
00:00:41	and we as a group
00:00:43	have a diverse background.
00:00:46	Each one of us may have
00:00:47	a different discipline.
00:00:49	All are not visual artists.
00:00:51	Some are writers.
00:00:52	Some are photographers,
00:00:54	but we are collaborating
00:00:56	to create a mural to commemorate
00:01:01	the twentieth anniversary of the
00:01:03	Americans with Disabilities
00:01:05	Act which was signed on July 26th 1990.
00:01:13	VSA Ohio is the main coordinating body
00:01:17	and we have been partnering very
00:01:19	closely and have amazing support for the
00:01:21	Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission.
00:01:26	We always said under the same sky, you know.
00:01:28	We are living together¿with so many people
00:01:31	with different abilities.
00:01:33	That is my major idea.
00:01:39	Everything is not one-sided, you know.
00:01:41	There¿s a lot of different sides to things.
00:01:43	So just be more inclusive and more aware
00:01:45	that there¿s people out there with
00:01:47	disabilities that are just a little bit
00:01:48	different than you, and just take some
00:01:50	consideration for that.
00:01:52	We really wanted to travel to all of Ohio
00:01:54	so that rural, urban, suburban everyone
00:01:56	sees that people with disabilities are
00:01:58	everywhere, art is everywhere, and this
00:02:00	is here and it's making a statement everywhere.
00:02:04	And I hope what people will get out of it
00:02:07	is when they look at it they¿ll be able to
00:02:09	see their own journey.
00:02:10	So when other people
00:02:11	with disabilities look at it they¿ll sort
00:02:13	of say "Oh man, I feel like this part of
00:02:15	the mural." Or other people will look at
00:02:16	another part of the mural and sort of get some
00:02:18	sort of feeling or something like that.
00:02:20	And it might sort of portray part
00:02:22	of their own life back to them.
00:02:28	>>Music
00:03:25	We really want people to observe the mural,
00:03:29	get a feel for the fact that these are
00:03:31	individuals with disabilities from across
00:03:32	the state of Ohio who have wonderful abilities.
00:03:35	Not just artistic talent but talents that
00:03:38	can be used for other occupational activities
00:03:41	and for employment activities and that¿s
00:03:43	what RSC is really.
00:03:45	Our agency works to help
00:03:47	people with disabilities to obtain and maintain
00:03:49	employment, so being able to recognize and
00:03:52	encourage people to understand how people
00:03:55	with disabilities have lots of abilities
00:03:56	is something we really want to target.
00:04:01	Mental illness has run in my family.
00:04:02	And if my family didn¿t have access to
00:04:06	those kinds of services they would have
00:04:09	a really hard time and I think that
00:04:10	maybe some of them might not be with
00:04:12	us anymore. So, I'm glad to be a part
00:04:14	of this organization.
00:04:18	Not everything revolves around a paycheck.
00:04:20	Especially once you go through what
00:04:22	I¿ve gone through, you kind of readjust your
00:04:26	priorities and realize that living in the
00:04:30	moment and enjoying it is more important
00:04:31	than maybe being the best or even being
00:04:37	really accepted by other people.
00:04:39	It¿s one of those things.
00:04:40	Learn how to accept yourself.
00:04:42	I hope it inspires other people with
00:04:43	disabilities not to be afraid.
00:04:46	What I hope they will see is
00:04:48	"now we see how they can do it."
00:04:51	And I think both the design of the mural,
00:04:53	which has been described to me,
00:04:55	and the fact that all of us working together,
00:04:57	even though I don¿t hold a paintbrush
00:04:59	in my hand, I feel every bit as much a
00:05:01	part of this as any visual artist.
00:05:03	So that¿s what I hope they¿ll come away with.

Note : Transcripts are compiled from uncorrected captions