Group for Disabled to Honor Bob Dole

The Independent Living Center of Southern California will present a lifetime achievement award to former U.S. senator and Republican presidential nominee Bob Dole during the center’s annual fund-raising dinner Sunday at the Warner Center Marriott.

“We’re honoring him because of all of his work in politics and his work with the Americans with Disabilities Act,” Norma Jean Vescovo said.

The Independent Living Center is a Van Nuys-based nonprofit organization dedicated to helping disabled people exercise personal, professional and creative independence as well as educating the public about accessibility issues.

Dole is undoubtedly the best known of the 21 recipients of the annual award, Vescovo said. She added that his leadership, combined with his personal experience of having a permanent war injury, has benefited millions of Americans.

“People have tried to hide it,” Vescovo said. “I mean, look at Franklin Delano Roosevelt when he was in there. People think it’s a weakness. For Bob Dole to make it so public has been great. It’s important to enlighten people who are not disabled that disabled people can excel. . . . We couldn’t have had a better friend at a federal level.”

Other award winners Sunday will include Brenda Premo, director of the state Department of Rehabilitation; Gordon Overton, the state’s deputy attorney general; outgoing LAPD Deputy Chief Mark Kroeker; and representatives of the Hollywood Bowl.

The awards are chosen by the center’s board and staff, with input from people they serve.

Tickets are sold out for the event, which begins with a cocktail reception at 5 p.m.