|
 Nancy
Verderber Martin, one of Betty Verderber’s seven children, travelled
all the way from Florida to help dedicate the bench. She shared
information about the significance of the bench and said, “the
Verderber family is celebrating and honoring the life of their
mother, grandmother and GG by donating a bench in her honor.”
Betty Verderber's children
Betty Verderber's grandchildren
Betty Verderber's great grandchildren
Betty Verderber’s six living children Katie, Barbara,
Nancy, Chuck, John and Bob were present for the dedication along
with several grandchildren and great grandchildren. Though Betty
Verderber’s daughter Theresa is deceased, the siblings felt like she
was there in spirit.
Scully Park was a place that is special to the
Verderber family. Betty Verderber’s daughter Nancy said, “Betty
Verderber lived in Lincoln all her life. She enjoyed going to Scully
Park and was instrumental in making sure there was a playground for
all children.”
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Among her work, “Betty was an
advocate for community inclusion of people with disabilities.
She founded the Logan County chapter of the Coalition of Citizen
with Disabilities in Illinois.”
Because of this advocacy, her daughter Nancy said that Betty,
“along with fellow advocates and local government officials,
worked diligently to ensure the city and county complied with
the Americans with Disabilities Act regulations.”
In fact, “many of the local ADA accessible
businesses, City Hall, the library, parks and sidewalk curb cuts are
due to their collaborative efforts. The Verderber family hopes that
members of the community and visitors will relax on Betty’s Bench
while enjoying Scully Park and the accessible playground.”
This weekend also happens to be the 34th anniversary of the signing
of the American with Disabilities Act. Nancy Verderber Martin was in
Washington D.C. with around 30,000 other people when the ADA was
signed on the White House Lawn. It seems fitting to dedicate the
bench on the anniversary of such an important time for people with
disabilities.
[Angela Reiners] |
