Get to Know the Host City for this Year’s TASH Conference

Each year, the TASH Conference brings together a diverse community of individuals who celebrate their passion for disability rights. But it’s not every year that the TASH Conference brings together this community in Atlanta, Georgia ­– the city that spearheaded the 1960’s Civil Rights Movement. This year’s conference theme, “Still We Rise for Equity, Opportunity, and Inclusion,” highlights the resilience of individuals with disabilities and their families and celebrates their passion for disability rights, civil rights, and human rights.

With the Atlanta metropolitan area nearing a population of 6 million residents, there is plenty to do and see. One of the city’s newest additions is the Martin Luther King Jr. statue located on the state Capitol lawn. The statue was unveiled this August on the 54th anniversary of the monumental ‘I Have a Dream’ speech. The Capitol building is open to the public 8:00AM to 5:00PM, Monday through Friday and is closed on weekends and holidays. Be sure to stop by and take your photo beside the statue!

MLK statue unveiling on Georgia Capitol Lawn

Another fairly recent addition to the city is the Center for Human and Civil Rights. The Center, opened to the public in June 2014, hosts a number of exhibitions, that not only tell the history of the civil rights movement in the United States, but how that period is related to more contemporary human rights struggles around the world. Current exhibits include:

  • The American Civils Rights Movement: Rolls Down Like Water,
  • The Global Human Rights Movement: Spark of Conviction, and
  • Poppies: Women, War, Peace

The center is open from 10 am – 5 pm Mondays through Saturdays, and 12 pm – 5 pm on Sundays. Admission is just $18.25 for adults.

The film industry is booming in Georgia, with over 1,200 movies and television shows filmed since 1972. Atlanta has played a key role in the filming of Ant-ManDriving Miss Daisy, Captain America: Civil War, The Vampire Diaries, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Sully, Ride Along, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay parts 1 & 2, and The Walking Dead. Since 2012, Atlanta Movie Tours has been providing a whole new way to see the city. Their tour guides are experienced actors who have worked on set and can share fascinating behind-the-scenes stories. Schedule a tour today!

The Atlanta Streetcar and the Skyview Atlanta Ferris Wheel at blue hour.

Some other sites you’ll want to check out while in Atlanta include:

And finally…if you like markets, the city of Atlanta has some great ones: Ponce City Market, Sweet Auburn Curb Market, and the Krog Market.

Atlanta, nicknamed the city that’s “too busy to hate” for its progressive views, offers visitors an abundance of history, a cultural experience, and a sense of community. We can’t say when we’ll be back in Atlanta, so don’t miss the opportunity to attend one of the largest disability conferences in the field!