There are many reasons to celebrate Presidents’ Day – also among people with disabilities.
Photo by Joe Ravi, via Wikimedia Commons
Girl Scouts, a two-minute autism screening tool, and plenty of sports! Much has been happening during the first week of February. While we observe the legacies of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, we take a look at the many items in the news.
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 Jobs
We take considerable pride in our mission in achieving full participation in society for individuals with disabilities throughout New Jersey, ensuring their independence to the greatest extent possible. Building on our success, we continue to grow, and so do the opportunities for working for a leader in providing services for people with all disabilities.
Disability in the News (Mostly in New Jersey, the Population We Serve)
The U.S. House of Representatives passes H.R. 620, which comprises changes to the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Hundreds were crowned King and Queen at Liquid Church “A Night To Shine” New Jersey prom, including many of our consumers!
Athletes and volunteers in northern New Jersey put fun first at the Special Olympics Winter Games.
A study reviews the extent to which assistive technology can contribute to social inclusion among persons with an intellectual disability.
For Parents of a Child with a Disability (Parenting)
Jacqueline and Chris Laurita, harnessing their experience with their son Nicholas, help families dealing with an autism diagnosis.
Advocacy and Self-advocacy
Three children’s books are garnering major accolades for telling the stories of people with disabilities.
News analysis from the Washington Post: Advocates say that blaming Florida shooting on mental illness will lead to more discrimination.
College for Students with a Disability
A growing number of colleges create support and other opportunities for students with autism.
Disability Rights, Accessibility
Most of us love the Olympic Games! Smithsonian magazine looks ahead at the adaptive equipment making these games accessible to Paralympians.
Here are examples, from the wide-ranging to the modest, of what some cities have done to make themselves accessible for all. Moreover, everyone benefits!
Out of cybersecurity concerns, many states have moved (or are planning to move) to paper ballots. The problem is that some voters with disabilities are losing access to exercising this all-important civil right and duty.
The Arts and People with Disabilities
A traumatic brain injury inspired a woman to express herself as an artist, through which she also finds therapy.
People with a Disability in the Community (Disability Rights and Acceptance; Inclusion)
The eye of the tiger: The beloved boys’ basketball coach at Hackettstown High School (Warren County, NJ) was invited to a surprise party to celebrate his 1,000th game. He also has cerebral palsy.
Much more than delicious cookies, the Girl Scouts are increasingly about inclusion. One leader shows how she advocates for strong girls with disabilities by including them in her organization’s promotional materials.
A New Jersey girl with Down syndrome shines on basketball court!
Medical News—Research
Researchers at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School have developed a two-minute questionnaire for parents that could help pediatricians and other primary care providers detect autism in toddlers – at a time when intervention might be crucial.
A study reviews the extent to which assistive technology can contribute to social inclusion among persons with an intellectual disability.
