Among many, many others, this happy couple enjoyed our second annual Hoedown. Most important, the event raised funds to enable us to continue our mission of serving people with disabilities throughout New Jersey.
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, LinkedIn, YouTube, Google+, and Pinterest. In our Disability and Ability Highlights of the Week 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 announcement of the week:
We’re hiring!
Advancing Opportunities has immediate openings for part-time Direct-Support Professionals in residential care programs throughout New Jersey. In May, we will be holding job from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., as follows:
- Thursday, May 11. Phillipsburg Event. Phillipsburg Free Public Library, 200 Broubalow Way, Phillipsburg, NJ 08865
- Wednesday, May 17. Parsippany Event. Family Resource Network, 322 U.S. Hwy. 46, Ste. 290, Phillipsburg, NJ 08865
- Tuesday, May 23. Marlboro Event. Marlboro Free Public Library, 1 Library Ct., Marlboro, NJ 07746
Advancing Opportunities provides supports to individuals with disabilities and their families, so they can live fully in the community.
Our team includes a diverse collection of men and women committed to treating the people and families we serve with dignity and respect and providing the highest quality services and supports.
Employees of the agency enjoy paid training and an excellent array of benefits, including health care and dental benefits for all eligible full-time staff and a 401(k) retirement plan for all eligible employees.
If you are unable to make it to one of the job fair open houses, you can also visit us online, at: https://advopps.org/careers/
Disability in the news (mostly in New Jersey, the population we serve):
A Sussex County high school student advocates for her autistic peers.
Howell High School’s Colors for Autism Run raised more than $3,000 to help autistic students.
Lost Boyz, a Jersey City motorcycle club, raised money for local autism education.
For parents of a child with a disability (parenting):
“This Is Autism”: A beautiful photo essay depicts moments of joy and victory amid the many challenges of autism.
Here are eight fun activities to practice social skills with your child.
We know about PTSD in soldiers and rape victims. Parents of a child with severe special needs can be superhuman at times. However, eventually, a child’s countless medical, social, and education issues take their toll. These parents need support as well.
A New Jersey celebrity uses her fame to spread autism awareness to help other parents with an autistic child.
Special Education:
Art therapy helps children with autism to express themselves more and more effectively.
Assistive technology:
This antique braille writer is an excellent example of early assistive technology ingenuity.
PC Magazine: “The Future of Assistive Tech Is Smart.”
After 15 years, a blind man sees his wedding, thanks to eSight and KBS assistive technology.
Advocacy and self-advocacy:
“Social and Emotional Problems Related to Dyslexia – Term Life”: A fine article written by a physician, and a dyslexic himself
Employment for people with disabilities:
Jewish Vocational Service, East Orange, NJ, helps prepare young adults with autism for careers.
Civil rights and accessibility:
We, as a society, are failing parents raising children with special needs.
As airlines try to monetize seat assignments, are passengers with disabilities being left behind?
Informative, positive, noteworthy (or all three!):
Autism acceptance and self-acceptance: “What I love about being autistic.”
An autistic blogger received a beautiful guest piece. He was so touched, his immediate reaction was to share it. At Advancing Opportunities, a major portion of our team is made up of people who represent diverse cultures representing many countries on at least four continents. Our consumers no doubt feel very much at home among others who, like the people described in this piece, feel very much outsiders.
People with a disability in the community (disability rights and acceptance; inclusion):
BBC News: Steph is an international cheerleader. She’s also blind. “We’re doing something nobody has ever done before.”
Inclusive design is a key driver to society.
Disability awareness and appreciation:
“Always performing” – How an autism diagnosis helped this writer accept the person beneath the act.
The new Sesame Street character Julia continues to draw positive comments from children and adults alike.
This beauty queen’s message is autism acceptance.
Survey: Autism awareness is profoundly lacking in the U.S. http://for.tn/2ocQ0Za
Parent reports of autism features vary by country.
Medical news – research:
A recent study found that too much of a protein called Rab32 disrupts mitochondria function, resulting in the toxicity seen in brain cells of people with multiple sclerosis.
