Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization[1] (ADAO) is an independent organization headquartered in Redondo Beach, California. Founded by Linda Reinstein[2] and Doug Larkin on April 1, 2004, ADAO is the largest victims’ organization dedicated to preventing asbestos-related diseases through education and legislation. It is the only asbestos victims' organization currently operating in the United States. It also works to have products that contain asbestos properly regulated, including children's toys that have included asbestos without warnings in recent year such as a "CSI" fingerprint toy kit containing asbestos powder.[3]
ADAO and Ms. Reinstein are regularly invited to give presentations at international scientific and medical symposia. Invited appearances on behalf of ADAO include testimonay before the U.S. Senate in January, 2012[4], the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works in 2007[5], a presentation at the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation ("MARF") [6] in Washington, D.C., U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administration hearings in 2010 [7] and an appearance at TEDx in Manhattan Beach, California.[8] Recently, Ms. Reinstein has appeared for ADAO in India, Italy and Great Britain to speak on behalf of asbestos victims.
|
Contents
|
ADAO seeks to give global asbestos victims and concerned citizens a united voice to raise public awareness about the dangers of asbestos exposure. ADAO’s mission includes supporting global advocacy and advancing asbestos awareness, prevention, early detection, treatment, and resources for asbestos-related diseases including mesothelioma.
ADAO’s goals include the following:
ADAO has stated repeatedly and publicly that it will not be influenced by outside sources such as drug companies, law firms or companies that manufacture or use asbestos.
Along with the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute located in Detroit, Michigan, ADAO annually hosts the Asbestos Awareness Conference (AAC). The AAC is an international medical conference where medical researchers, international NGO participants and persons with asbestos diseases can meet, interact and learn the latest in medical, scientific and regulatory developments. The first conference was held in 2005. At the Sixth Annual AAC, U.S. Senator and then Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin and Jordan Barab, US Occupational Health and Safety Administration Deputy Director spoke at the 6th Annual Asbestos Awareness Conference in Chicago, Illinois.
On March 29-April 1, 2012, the ADAO will host the 8th Annual Asbestos Awareness Conference in Redondo Beach, California. This year's conference is entitled "Asbestos: An International Public Health Crisis." Featured speakers included Dr. Frank, Dr. Black, Barry Castleman, Matthew Peacock (Journalist with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and author), Jordan Zevon and Barbara Minty McQueen among others.
In April 2011, speakers at the ADAO AAC in Atlanta, Georgia included politicians such as U.S. Senator Max Baucus and the following scientists, community activists and persons suffering from asbestos diseases:
ADAO also hosts "Asbestos Awareness Week" concurrently with the Asbestos Awareness Conference. In 2011 and 2012, this week was honored by the U.S. [Senate] with an official proclamation of this week through a Senate Resolution.[10]
In 2011, ADAO created a Public Service Announcement that is now posted on YouTube to promote knowledge of the fact that asbestos is not banned in many countries world-wide, despite common perceptions otherwise.
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)