(Editor's Note: We could devote this entire issue of "The Braille Forum" to remembering and honoring Justin Dart and it wouldn't be enough. We honor Justin for the Americans with Disabilities Act, which might have never come to be the law of the land without his tireless efforts. We honor him for the way he encouraged all of us with disabilities, and all of us who are from ethnic, racial, gender, or other groups that have been denied civil rights to be proud of who we are and to stand up for one another and for our rights as human beings, citizens of the USA, the world, and the universe. We honor Justin because he helped us to see that we could and will overcome -- overcome discrimination, overcome isolation, overcome attitudes that can make people feel small and unimportant. We honor Justin Dart for all that he did for each of us. It is sad to have to say farewell.
Justin Dart was ACB's very first life member. As Charlie Hodge tells the story, at the convention of 1986 in Knoxville, Tenn., Justin was scheduled to speak, in his capacity as Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration. Just before his scheduled talk, the convention debated and ultimately adopted a bylaw which created the category of life membership. At the conclusion of his remarks which followed that decision, Justin said, "Let me be the first to become an ACB life member." Thereupon, he took out his checkbook and wrote a check for $1,000 and presented it to LeRoy Saunders, who was ACB's treasurer at the time. With sadness, and in celebration of a life well lived, and gratitude for all that he has meant to people with disabilities here and around the world, we share with you Justin's final letter to his colleagues; Charlie Crawford's remembrances in "News Notes" for the week ending July 26, 2002, and Ray Campbell's moving "Because of the ADA."
Good-bye, Justin Dart, Jr. Know that your work will continue, as each of us renews our commitment to patriotism and equality and justice for all.) I AM WITH YOU. I LOVE YOU. LEAD ON.