Lauren Baer, Master of Ceremonies and AAPD Board Chair Tony Coelho, Crosby Cromwell, activist  Judy Heumann and Gilda Brancato

The Ninth Annual American Association of People with Disabilities Awards Gala takes over the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center in Washington, DC  on Monday, March 15, 2011.  The AAPD was founded in 1995 to help unite and mobilize people with disabilities, their friends, families and supporters.

— Photographs by James R. Brantley

Alana Nichols, Aimee Occhetti, Debra Carnahan and Rep. Russ Carnahan (D-Mo.)

April Holmes, Cheryl Sensenbrenner, Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wisc.), President and John Register.  The Sensenbrenners are the recipients of the Spirit of the ADA Award

Frank McNally, Stephanie McNally, 2010 Paul. G. Hearne Award recipient Catherine McNally, Frank McNally, Jr. and Minta McNally

Dan Finn and Rep. Wally Herger (R-Calif.)

Image Award recipient and Glee actress Lauren Potter and Master of Ceremonies and AAPD Board Chair Tony Coelho

Scott Malbaney, Rep. Gregg Harper (R-Mich.) and Eddie Ritts

Image Award recipient and Glee actress Lauren Potter and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan

CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights Wade Henderson, Tahira Henderson, Ginny Thornburg and K&L/Gates' Dick Thornburgh

Ms. Wheelchaair America Juliette Rizzo and US Department of Education's Margaret Campbell

Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.) and Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wisc.)

Comcast's Fred Maahs and Terhas Clark

2010 Paul G. Hearne Award recipient, lead community organizer for Community Resources for Independent Living Jessica Lehman

Derek Harley, Mike Kelly and Dorothy Wysaski

Fashion Designer Norma Kamali

Karen Borchert, Stephanie McNally, Frank McNally, Jr, Heidi Franklin and Martin Franklin