Disability Awareness Archives

May 9, 2020May 20, 2020

Disability Awareness Month-Make it Happen.

Disability Awareness Month- Make it Happen

Wonder by RJ Palacio

We cannot talk about Disability Awareness Month without talking about the book Wonder by RJ Palacio. First, did you know that RJ stands for Raquel Jaramillo? Second, I would like to point out that the book is based on a real experience RJ had while with her son. While out and about her son noticed someone with a facial deformity and began to cry. As a result, RJ decided to use this moment as a valuable lesson in her life. She decided to write a book to help spread the word about Disability Awareness. Wonder was published in 2012. The inspiration for the title of the book came from Natalie Merchant’s song by the same name- Wonder. If you would like to hear the song I have linked it here along with lyrics. Be sure to subscribe to my channel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v611MlWMtL8&list=PLxL_KHZAzNkhFxrOPmgoQKrx-v2lepATz&index=3 .

Consequently, Wonder has been a wild success and won countless awards because of its raw look at what it feels like to be different. Kids everywhere can relate and cherish the story of August “Auggie” Pullman. Whether it is for Disability Awareness Month or not the book deserves a read by everyone in my humble opinion. For this reason, you won’t even need to buy the book. I have provided a link to a FREE download down below. Because the book was such a hit Wonder the movie(rated PG) was also released as a motion picture in 2017. Another FREE watch link below. Ultimately, I am thankful for movies like this that exist to bring Disability Awareness to the forefront right where it should be. You can also follow this link to other movies and film festivals I adore. https://thedisabilityallynyc.com/category/entertainment/movies/

https://archive.org/details/Wonder_201810/mode/2up

http://tvnmovie.net/play.php?movie=2543472

May 8, 2020June 10, 2020

Has Your School Ever…….

Has your school or workplace ever had a Disability Awareness Day? Gosh, I hope so. They can be very informative and fun. In the event that you would like to initiate one, I have several Disability Awareness FREE Resources right below this article. You can instantly print all the tools you need and make it happen!

During my Special Needs Teacher tenure back in Galveston, Texas, I put on the first-ever Disability Awareness Day at my school. Surprisingly, it was 2012 and no one in the school district had ever done that before. Under those circumstances, I knew it was time for a change. The event was a huge success and paved the way for more inclusion opportunities.

It’s important to realize that through no fault of their own many people are uneducated when it comes to disabilities. For this reason, it is vital to spread awareness about what it means to live Autism, Blindness, Down Syndrome, or any other cognitive/physical impairments.

I can’t emphasize enough that having a Disability Awareness Day/Week/Month is some of the most life-changing work you’ll ever do for others. Even if you go to a Special Needs School, having an Awareness for what your friends go through each day will help make for a more compassionate learning environment. The more we know the more we can help and understand one another.

Honestly, you can make it last a whole month. Show specific movies each week. Make announcements on the loudspeaker about famous people with disabilities each day. You name it. It’s all good. Just do it.

Since the Disability Awareness resources are FREE and downloadable you can get the ball rolling in no time. As a side note- Generally, Disability Awareness Month is in April but you can celebrate it whenever you think it works best. That part doesn’t matter one bit. Change starts with YOU and a quick click. PS. We Love You, Indiana!

https://www.indianadisabilityawareness.org/downloads/

https://www.dvusd.org/cms/lib/AZ01901092/Centricity/Domain/1318/Disability%20Awareness%20Packet%202.pdf

https://www.spreadtheword.global/resources

Once you’re done there, you might want to dance with new friends. Friends that are similar to you or take a private class with an instructor who lets you go at your own pace. For this reason, Behold…ZCO. https://thedisabilityallynyc.com/adaptive-dance-category-programs-classes-dance-zco-dance-project-financial-district/

May 7, 2020

Inclusion Advocate Guide-FREE

Inclusion has long been something I have been passionate about for many years. Back then there was not anything to guide me. I only went with the instincts of my heart. Now a blogger has started her very own inclusion project. She created this fantastic free guide that gives you some helpful tips and provides a place to start when working with a school or another organization. The guide is very simple and has clear cut goals. With it being FREE to download it’s definitely worth a look. Inclusion matters! Join the crusade with the links down below.

https://doc-14-3g-docs.googleusercontent.com/docs/securesc/fhqg5ggt892t9oueofjn9h362i2j5q4i/p48b8iqaqlci0i00l7j5p3auth8rrdve/1588717275000/17952549463412736642/11075556047816199267/1A_NBdFitAp2SMQ7jLpUZesbYMLjW7PQD?e=download&authuser=0&nonce=rurkm59mbd9f8&user=11075556047816199267&hash=2725lmti2m7letmeg3iku70l5n743e6s

https://www.inclusion-project.com/

May 7, 2020May 19, 2020

special needs nyc global accessibility awareness day

Global Accessibility Awareness Day-May 21

Are You Ready? Mark Your Calendars Now for Global Accessibility Awareness Day coming later this month on Thursday, May 21, 2020. GAAD helps spread the word about accessibility and inclusion all over the world. Now in its 9th-year GAAD gets the conversation going in communities and workplaces about what steps are being taken to make towards equality for individuals of varying disabilities. Primarily focused on technology the day has prompted lots of innovative ideas in the past. We must keep on powering forward and celebrate what valuable insight can come through a deeper understanding of the challenges the disability population faces today. Join others in support with a click down below. Additionally, if you are interested in learning more about Disability Awareness Month I have free tools here. https://thedisabilityallynyc.com/category/introduction/disability-awareness/

https://globalaccessibilityawarenessday.org/

May 2, 2020June 11, 2020

Crip Camp Movie Released!

Crip Camp is the ADA movie doc everyone is talking about!

During the Pandemic in the process of creating this website, I came across a headline that caught my eye. Netflix was releasing a new movie on a subject most Hollywood Studios would steer clear of. Being no stranger to the subject of disabilities and human rights, I knew I had to see the movie!

Through my good fortune, I had the pleasure of watching Crip Camp( rated R) with 120 members of the disability community at CUNY and other NY colleges. Judy Heumann, the main star and iconic disability advocate that the story is about was also in attendance. I know, right! How lucky was I?

In general, this documentary movie is a moving history of how 504 and the ADA ( American Disabilities Act) was passed in 1990. Although the story itself is a serious one there are a few funny parts where some of the characters’ endearing sides are revealed. The timeless tale of teen angst back in the 1970s still rings true today and many teens will find the movie relatable in that regard.

Immediately after the premiere, we were are able to have a Q and A with Judy Heumann herself. This was beyond amazing. It is important to note that 2020 marks the 30 year anniversary of the passing of ADA. We are forever grateful to Judy Heumann for her passion and diligence. We also appreciate Netflix for taking on this incredible story. Without you, this ADA movie doc wouldn’t have made it to the mainstream media. Thank you for supporting the stories that need to be told.

Change starts with just one person and after watching the powerful documentary you will think to yourself why can’t that one person be me?

https://cripcamp.com/

https://www.netflix.com/title/81001496

Have you ever gone scuba diving? I need to point out that we actually have a place in Manhattan that you can learn how. Check it out. https://thedisabilityallynyc.com/adaptive-scuba-diving-lessons-category-programs-classes-sports-and-exercise-stay-focused-scuba-diving-midtown/

April 17, 2020May 9, 2020

Movies

These are a few of the movies that I have seen that really have had an impact on me. Each offers an inside look as to what it is like to be a person with a disability. My wish is to spread the word on these films so others will be more educated on this population.

This first movie I showed to the entire school body at a jr.high in Galveston, Texas. The movie was part of the school district’s first-ever Disability Awareness Day. More about that in another section of the site. First, let me tell you a little about Mary Temple Grandin. She has autism and is one of the first people that shared her personal journey with the neurodevelopmental disorder. She currently is a professor of animal science at Colorado State University and an Autism spokesperson. If you would like to learn more about her and see the movie you can do so below.

http://templegrandin.com/

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1278469/

In 2017 I decided to check out the Tribeca Film Festival for the first time. I bought a day pass in a rush and really didn’t read the details on the movies included. I found out about midway through the day that I was right where I was supposed to be. The movie shown was Keep the Change. The best way to describe it is as a touching authentic love story about two people on the Autism Spectrum. To my knowledge, this has never been done before on screen. To make things even better there was a Q and A with the director, Rachel Isreal following the showing. The entire cast were all sitting in the front row and couldn’t have been glowing more. As they took to the stage for questions it was obvious that this was their moment and they were rightfully taking it. You see Isreal had chosen and modeled the characters after real people with intellectual disabilities living here in New York City. She had them involved in every step of the process and I have a huge amount of admiration for Isreal bringing this type of romantic comedy to our attention. I have not stopped talking about the film since and I don’t think you will be able to either. ) If you still need more convincing read the article below and then click the link for where to watch. (Please note that the film is NR but if I were to rate it I would say it’s PG-13)

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/mar/16/keep-the-change-actors-with-autism-get-the-chance-to-shine-in-romcom

https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/keep_the_change_2018

Now for the big hit of 2019. The Peanut Butter Falcon. The adventure begins when Zak, a 24-year-old with Down syndrome decides he is escaping the facility he has been assigned to live in by the state. Debut directors Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz were curious for feedback from the Down syndrome community so they collaborated with Gigi’s Playhouse Center to get together an invite list for the first screening here in NYC. The audience laughed, cried, and cheered with exaltation throughout this heartwarming film. The Peanut Butter Falcon went on to show in select theaters across the country. You can now watch it at home and celebrate the advocacy these types of movies bring to the national forefront. Click below to learn more about this feel-good movie for the whole family.

https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_peanut_butter_falcon