Faces of Michigan

Dennis Borel: Alumnus Removes Barriers and Shatters Stereotypes

Since his appointment as executive director of the non-profit Coalition of Texans with Disabilities (CTD) in 2000, Dennis Borel (BBA '74) —recipient of the U-M Council for Disability Concerns’ James T. Neubacher Award (2007) and the Council’s Certificate of Appreciation (2004)—has implemented a variety of innovative strategies that has resulted in the removal of legal and regulatory barriers to full participation in all aspects of the community, and the shattering of harmful stereotypes held by the general public.

Borel has a strong track record of non-traditional partnerships and innovative problem-solving strategies that demonstrate that people with disabilities may be involved in all of society's endeavors. He has proven that a small disability organization can accomplish great achievements. Despite the limitations of a small non-profit and operating in a very large state, CTD is a focal point for positive change under Dennis' direction. Several areas of progress have had national impact.

Borel’s accomplishments include:

• Using finance skills learned at the U-M School of Business, he teamed with an economist to create an alternative analysis of a Texas bill granting a tax credit for hiring people with disabilities, one that showed that revenues resulting from the new employees more than offset the tax credits. The bill was passed and created this employer incentive to hiring people with disabilities.
• Borel and other advocates promoted a plan for state funding to follow the person moving from an institution to the community. In 2005, Money Follows the Person was codified into state law. Over 10,000 people have used this mechanism to move to the community. The Texas plan has since become a model replicated in other states.
• He teamed with several users of power wheelchairs to remove the chairs from the motor vehicle code. Police had been using the code to issue tickets to people driving their chairs in the streets.
• He was the project director of the historic Team Everest 2003 expedition of people with disabilities. Over 250 media reports covered the expedition*s remarkable achievements. ABC World News Tonight called Team Everest the most inspirational of all. The Dallas Morning News wrote about Team Everest that it was the best thing any Texas group in any field had done that year. For a full report on Team Everest 2003, go to http://www.teameverest03.org/. Dennis is also the producer of the recently completed documentary "Shattering Stereotypes on Mt. Everest."
• Dennis is a leader in advocacy efforts regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); developing bill language, finding bi-partisan sponsors to carry legislation to better protect Texans with disabilities. Filed amici briefs in several critical ADA cases.
• Dennis is founder and project director of the Cinema Touching Disability Film Festival. Now in its third year, the Film Festival uses the media of motion pictures to improve perceptions and dispel common misperceptions that many people hold about disability. It is the first known disability film festival in Texas. More information is at http://www.ctdfilmfest.org/.
• Promoting Help America Vote Act (HAVA); new federal law that makes it easier, faster, more secure for voters with disabilities to participate in this basic right privately. Monitoring and opposing voting legislation harmful to people with disabilities.
• Created a breakthrough partnership with AARP on Livable Communities, a collaboration between advocates for people with disabilities and older Americans. Livable Communities combines local community organizing and technical assistance with state-level systems change advocacy. The goal is to influence community planning to allow people with disabilities of all ages to be mobile and actively engaged in all aspects of community life.

Information related to Dennis Borel and the CTD can be found at the organization’s web site, http://www.cotwd.org/about_us.html.