Linda Carter

Linda Carter of Lehigh who came up with a plan for evacuation of the handicapped (No person left behind) a few years back, has been invited to attend the National Summit on Disability Policy 2010.

This is a comprehensive dialogue to shape the national disability agenda in this county,” Carter said in an announcement at the Lehigh Acres Community Planning Corp. last week. Carter is a longtime member of the planning group.

Carter is recognized locally as an expert when he comes to accommodations for the disabled and is quick to speak out when developers come before the LACPC and she is not happy with plans that she says don’t satisfy the Americans With Disabilities Act. She has been known to even ask for more than the ADA requires.

The summit she has been invited to will take place July 25-27 in Washington, D.C. and she says she is excited to be able to participate.

But there is a problem.

It’s expensive in Washington and the National Summit on Disability policy apparently is not paying for transportation or hotel costs.

“And I just don’t have it,” she said. Carter is on full disability and uses a power chair to get around. She also has less than perfect vision.

Carter was responsible with another person in coming up with an all-solar powered wheelchair and wants to share the idea at the summit if she can attend.

“Each day I am at the conference, it will cost me $300; the flight there and back will cost about $550. I am looking for sponsors to help send me to this conference,” Carter said.

You can help Carter by calling her at 239-826-8696 or fax her at 239-368-7733.

“I would really appreciate any help I can get. The expenses are just more than I can come up with,” she said. You an also email her at mslindacarter@comcast.net.

Her “leave no person behind” during an emergency caught the attention of state authorities a few years back and it is now part of a policy for evacuation across the state.

“I would really like to go because I think I can share something and help to make policy and make it easier on handicapped and disabled Americans,” Carter said.