User:CAF7898/Barbara Toomer

Barbara Toomer
Barbara Greenlee Toomer (August 26, 1929 - April 24, 2018) was an advocate for equal rights for people with disabilities.

Early Life and Marriage
Barbara Greenlee was born on August 26, 1929 in Pasadena, California to parents Samuel and Gertrude Greenlee. In 1952, Barbara graduated from St. Joseph’s College of Nursing, where she earned a bachelor’s degree. She served in the United States Army Nurse Corps from 1953-1955. In 1953, Barbara married Gerald Ross Toomer in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Polio
Shortly after the birth of her first child in 1956, Barbara contracted polio. She lost the use of her lower extremities and remained in a wheelchair for the remainder of her life.

Leadership and Awards
Barbara was a leading advocate in the State of Utah for people with disabilities. She co-founded the Utah Independent Living Center, Served as spokesperson for ADAPT , and helped organize and served on the Disabled Rights Action Committee.

Took part in Advocates for Utah Handicapped

Barbara was the recipient of many awards for her advocacy. In 2000 she was awarded the Woman of Courageous Action Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Organization for Women. In 2005, Barbara was given the Utah Issues’ Joe Duke Rosati Hellraiser Award. She was recognized with the Martin Luther King Jr. Drum Major Award in 2008, the AARP Outstanding Volunteer in 2014, the Crossroads Urban Center Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015, and the Rosa Parks Award from the Salt Lake Branch of the NAACP in 2017.

Advocacy
Barbara participated in many protests including demonstrations against the inaccessibility of mass transit in many states. She participated in protests demanding passage of the American's with Disabilities Act including taking part in the week of protests in Washington D.C. .  After the passage of the ADA, she then fought tirelessly for businesses and organizations to adhere to it. Barbara took part in lawsuits against taxi companies and picketed Greyhound for wheelchair access.

UTA “crawl on” 1985

Arrested at least 35 times due to activism

Lobbied for Medicare Expansion

Pushed for in-home care options as an alternative to nursing homes

1994 references Barbara’s position in DRAC, disabled parking spaces being used illegally

1994 Fights rent hikes at Terrace Apartments

1997 - Crashed Utah Housing Coalition luncheon in Deer Valley with other protesters

Protested Jerry Lewis MD fundraisers for making the disabled appear helpless and weak

1998 - involvement with DRAC/disabled housing

1986 - protests cuts to income supplement for elderly, blind and disabled

1991 Protests cuts to state supplements to federal aid for elderly and disabled

1992 - protests cuts to state supplements while lawmakers consider horse breeder’s funding

1995 Advocated for health care for people with disabilities

1996 advocated for home health care as an alternative to nursing home care

2006 Fought for affordable and accessible housing

2001 Disabled Deserve Equal Treatment

1989 - refused from flying even after giving advance notice

Legacy
Barbara Toomer Fellowship

adapt tribute

In 2018, Barbara was posthumously honored with the Advocate of the Year Community Justice Award from the Disability Law Center.