Even among former presidential aircraft, this machine is special. Named Sacred Cow, Franklin Delano Roosevelt had the airplane modified with a special elevator to lift the president in his wheelchair up into the cabin. It’s an ingenious example of accessibility, one to bear in mind during the National Month of Disability Employment.
At Advancing Opportunities, we excel in providing residential and respite services to people of with all disabilities, along with advocacy and education services for parents and guardians and assistive technology support. As a leader in the field, we are pleased to share our experience, knowledge, and expertise with the disability community through our social media outlets: Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Pinterest. In our bimonthly column, we will select the best of what we found and shared and present them. Please click on the titles with embedded links to find the full article.
In addition, we are specialists in the area of assistive technology and offer a huge array of services; the Assistive Technology Center is New Jersey’s premier source of information and equipment.
Advancing Opportunities Job of the Fortnight
We have openings for full- and part-time Direct Support Professionals in residential care programs all around the state. Candidates will be providing excellent direct care to men and women with disabilities in residential support programs in group homes. We will be holding an open house:
Thursday, October 19, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.: Family Resource Network, 322 US Hwy. 46 W., Ste. 290, Parsippany, NJ 07054
Advancing Opportunities News
Advancing Opportunities is pleased to announce the opening of the Jackson group home and the opportunity to serve more people with disabilities in New Jersey and advance their independence.
Disability in the News (Mostly in New Jersey, the Population We Serve)
With nowhere else to go, increasing numbers of autistic children, teens, and young adults end up staying in hospitals. This story has appeared in several newspapers.
On Friday, October 6, New Jersey Gov. Christie mandated twice-yearly group home checks after the death of a resident.
Special Education
Video games… helping (not hindering) children with ADHD? Here is a very notable exception.
Assistive Technology
Dragon NaturallySpeaking, which we profiled earlier, earns NDIS approval.
Virtual-reality apps help people with anxiety, PTSD, and other emotional and mental health conditions overcome their fear and ill feelings.
Advocacy and Self-advocacy
A young woman has created a pageant to help girls with disabilities shine.
College for Students with a Disability
The Autistic Self Advcoacy Network announces 2018 scholarships for students with autism.
Disability Rights, Accessibility
Opinion: “Protecting the rights of people with disabilities is not optional.”
Article from the New York Times: For the Disabled, New York’s Sidewalks Are an Obstacle Course
Assistive technology and accessibility: Google sets out to commit its resources and the people who contribute data to mapping the accessibility of public areas.
Employment for People with Disabilities
Haben Girma, a deaf-blind attorney and advocate for people with disabilities often “drive innovation.”
Informative, Positive, Noteworthy (or All Three!)
The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation has updated its informative guide on living with paralysis.
When his flight was delayed, a passenger with autism had a panic attack. Fortunately, a kind stranger was able to offer him the comfort and understanding he sought and desperately needed.
The Arts and People with Disabilities
An exhibition about blindness engages all the senses.
People with a Disability in the Community (Disability Rights and Acceptance; Inclusion)
“We need to have more honest conversations about dating and disability. Here’s my truth.”
Disability Awareness and Appreciation
A high-quality British news outlet, The Guardian, reaches out, offering a hands-on means of fostering autism awareness and appreciation in a virtual-reality production, “The Party: A Virtual Experience of Autism.”
If you missed the recent POV broadcast of Swim Team, there’s still very good news! This highly acclaimed documentary about autistic New Jersey teens who find excellence in competitive swimming is available on the PBS website, for free.
“Autism in Reel Life”: Exploring the progress in portraying autistic people on television and the challenges remaining.
Medical News—Research
Anxiety can assume unusual forms in people with autism—turning uncertainty, or even a striped couch, into a constant worry. New tools may help identify these hidden fears.
Beauty, Glamour, and Fashion: the Inclusion of People with Disabilities
Award-winning stars call on this fashion designer with Down syndrome.
A unique nonprofit organization incubated in a famous school is dedicated to developing clothing for people of all abilities.
“Defying the odds,” an autistic teen in Ghana becomes a celebrated model.
