Powers Pyles Sutter & Verville PC is proud to recognize the 25th Anniversary of the dedication of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial Wheelchair Statue, a celebration organized by the FDR Memorial Legacy Committee.
Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States and the only president elected to four terms, led the nation through the Great Depression and World War II. Following his death in 1945, efforts began to establish a national memorial in his honor. The memorial, an immersive landscape of four sequential outdoor “rooms,” each representing one of Roosevelt’s presidential terms, was formally dedicated on May 2, 1997, by President Bill Clinton.
In the original design, Roosevelt’s disability was not prominently depicted, reflecting how he often limited public attention to his condition during his lifetime. After being diagnosed with polio, he relied on leg braces, canes, and wheelchairs for mobility. A campaign led by Alan Reich and Michael Deland of the National Organization on Disability successfully called for the addition of a memorial statue depicting Roosevelt’s disability, gathering support from over 50 disability organizations and 16 of FDR’s grandchildren.
Powers Senior Counsel, Robert “Bob” Saner, served as pro bono General Counsel to the National Organization on Disability for more than 40 years and participated actively in the early stages of the campaign to recognize Roosevelt’s disability in the memorial.
“The addition of the wheelchair imagery to the memorial stands as a powerful testament to the tenacity of Alan Reich, Mike Deland, and Mary Dolan of the National Organization on Disability,” Bob shared. “It’s inclusion not only highlights a critical aspect of FDR’s legacy but also inspires countless visitors through its message of resilience and representation.”
Powers has been a leading force in disability law and policy for more than 50 years, representing clients across the full spectrum of disability-related issues. Established by one of Powers’ founders, Richard Verville, the firm has expanded to national organizations and stakeholders in shaping federal disability policy and legislation, and has been deeply involved in advancing civil rights protections, accessibility standards, and programs that support community integration and independence for individuals with disabilities.
“Disability advocacy is at the heart of what we do here at Powers,” Peter Thomas, Managing Partner of the firm said. “For over half a century, our attorneys have been fortunate to work alongside individuals and organizations advancing accessibility, and the creation of the FDR Memorial exemplifies champions who ensure that the voices and experiences of people with disabilities are seen, recognized, and celebrated.”
To learn more about the 25th anniversary of the statue and to participate in commemoration of this anniversary, visit the FDR Memorial Legacy Committee site here and their events page here. To learn more about Powers’ Disability and Rehabilitation practice, visit https://www.powerslaw.com/practicearea/disability-and-rehabilitation/.