[GreaterPhilly] Fwd: Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities Winter 2021 Newsletter

Fri Dec 17 22:57:08 UTC 2021

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Begin forwarded message:

> From: Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities <claudia.tasco at phila.gov>
> Date: December 17, 2021 at 3:16:01 PM EST
> To: DBrown8827 at aol.com
> Subject: Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities Winter 2021 Newsletter
> Reply-To: Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities <claudia.tasco at phila.gov>
> 
> 
>  
> Winter Issue | December 2021
> 
> Welcome to the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities'
>  Newsletter Winter 2021 Issue! 
> In this Winter Issue:
> Message from Executive Director, Amy Nieves
> Mark your Calendars for the next Commission Meeting, January 26, 2022 at 7pm
> Commissioner Spotlight: John Orr
> Community Spotlight: Disability Pride PA
> Adrienne's ADA News You Can Use
> Claudia's Constituent Corner
> Empowering Employment
> Additional announcements, resources, and more!
>  
> Message from Executive Director, Amy Nieves: 
> As we enter the winter and holiday season, the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities is excited to share some exciting happenings, opportunities, and resources with you in our Winter Newsletter.  We continue to be dedicated to serving the disability community of Philadelphia.
> 
> As we look forward to holidays, time with loved ones and the winter months ahead, we wanted you to know that our office is grateful for you and our Community partners! Together we are helping to ensure equity, inclusion, and access for the disability community.  We want to also you have access to current updates, and resources in our robust Winter Newsletter.
> 
> As mentioned in a recent Mayor’s Engagement communication, the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities and the City of Philadelphia honored December 3, 2021 as International Day of Persons' with Disabilities Day.  We are working hard to ensure that Philadelphia is a City built on inclusion and belonging every day for all Philadelphians. 
> 
> Let’s continue to forge equitable and inclusive connections and opportunities for all residents of Philadelphia in the new year as well. I invite you to check out the rest of our Winter Newsletter below and wishing you a happy, safe, and joyous holiday season. 
> 
> Please be sure to sign up for our virtual mailing list so you can stay up to date with the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities. 
> 
> Be well and happy holidays to all, 
> 
> Amy Nieves (formerly Millar)
> Executive Director, Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities
> Mayor's Commission on People with Disabilities Announcements:
> 
> Please join us for our upcoming Public Meeting
> 
> The Mayor's Commission on People with Disabilities invites you to our upcoming Public Meeting on:
> 
> January 26, 2022, 7pm-8:30pm via Zoom.
> Topics to be covered:
> Updates from the Commission
> Covid-19 updates
> Update from Parks and Recreation
> 
> Please register in advance here.
> 
> ASL and Closed Captions will be provided. If you require additional ADA reasonable accommodations, please email or call Claudia Tasco at Claudia.Tasco at phila.gov or 215-686-2798 by January 20, 2022.
> 
> *ASL and Closed Captioning will be provided; to request additional ADA accommodations please email or call Claudia Tasco by October 21 at Claudia.Tasco at phila.gov or 215-686-2798.
> 
> Note: After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
> 
> Did you miss our Fall Town Hall? Check out the recording here.
> 
> Interested in learning more about the Mayor’s Commission on People with Disabilities and staying connected to the Commission’s work and events? Contact Claudia Tasco at Claudia.Tasco at phila.gov
> Register Now
> Mayor's Commission on People with Disabilities
> Commissioner Spotlight:
> 
> Meet Commissioner John Orr 
> 
> John Orr joined the Mayor’s Commission for People with Disabilities in 2018. John is currently the Executive Director of Art-Reach, an organization that works to reimagine spaces and programs at over 200 cultural organizations so that people with disabilities have access to the arts. His organization believes that disability is a product of design rather than diagnosis and that good design will create an accessible world. “I love Philadelphia and I want this city to be a place where people can bring their authentic selves into spaces.” shared John, adding, “The reason I joined the commission in 2018 was to work with a dedicated group of advocates to try and make Philadelphia the most accessible city in the country. We have a long way to go but there are a lot of people and places working to push this city forward.”   
> 
> As chair of the recreation and arts committee, John’s work on the commission coincides with an unique moment. “Over the pandemic, Philadelphia lost one of the most accessible recreation spaces in the country. Now, as the city looks to rebuild the Carousel House, we have an incredible moment to not only rebuild a universally designed space, but also to infuse every recreation center in the city with accessible programming and training. Both of these efforts have created a moment that city leadership has to meet.”
> 
> John’s passion goes beyond the work he does for Art-Reach and the Commission. As a self-advocate who is neurodiverse he knows what happens when a system fails to meet the moment. “My neurodiversity wasn’t diagnosed until late in my life. I navigated education, employment, and recreational systems that weren’t designed for me for way too long. I recognize that my privilege allowed me to navigate those systems easier than other people. For me, this work isn’t about equality or equity. This is about fixing systems that are unjust and historically built on systemic ableism. The time has come for change and I’m happy to join that fight.”
> 
> To learn more about Art Reach check out their website here: Home - Art-Reach
> Commission Committee Highlight: 
> The Mayor's Commission is also actively engaged through our Health Committee which hosts bi-monthly community forums. The most recent forum recording can be found here.  
> 
> To get connected with the Health Committee of the Mayor's Commission on People with Disabilities email Liam Dougherty at liam.dougherty at phila.gov.
>  
> Covid-19 Related Updates:
> On October 22, 2021, the CDC updated its recommendations for COVID-19 vaccine booster doses for certain populations.  You can find more information about who is eligible to receive a booster or an additional dose here.  Individuals requesting in-home vaccines can request a booster dose using the link below.
> 
> The COVID-19 vaccine is available to everyone 12 and older! Find a City-run vaccine clinic or partner vaccine clinic to protect yourself and your loved ones. If you have questions about vaccination, call (215) 685-5488.
> 
> The Philadelphia Department of Public Health is committed to making COVID-19 vaccine accessible to everyone who lives, works, or goes to school in Philadelphia. This includes people who may have difficulty getting to a mass vaccination site, pharmacy, or other vaccination clinic due to various access issues.
> 
> To ensure that all residents can get vaccinated, the Health Department has created a homebound vaccination referral program. This program helps people who are homebound and their families to schedule in-home vaccination services through different vaccine providers. Learn more online here!
> 
> The Health Department is committed to accessibility at vaccination sites, be sure to check out the Know before you go guide located here:
> Accessibility at Community Clinics: Know Before You Go | Department of Public Health | City of Philadelphia
> 
> The Bounce Back Philly (BBP) program of the Department of Public Health provides resources and support to people who need to safely separate from their friends and family when they have or have been exposed to COVID-19.
> 
> BBP offers a free, safe, and comfortable room in a private Center City hotel to anyone who cannot safely separate. Every Philadelphian is eligible to stay at the Isolation & Quarantine (I&Q) Hotel, regardless of immigration status.  Learn More: Bounce Back Philly offers a free, safe place for COVID-19 isolation and quarantine | Department of Public Health | City of Philadelphia
>  
> Community Partner Spotlight:
>  
> Community Partner Spotlight: Disability Pride PA
> Disability Pride PA imagines a world where every disabled person feels pride through self-awareness, identity, and community. We promote visibility and cultivate the pride felt within our community as we advocate for an inclusive world.
> 
> Disability Pride PA is committed to serving all disabilities. We engage our constituents to ensure our programs meet the changing needs of our community.  We give voice to the disabled community through events and programming.
> 
> We are committed to ensuring that the people who we serve are informing our practices, as opposed to relying on non-disabled practitioners, care-givers, and family members. Our intersectional board reflects the many different communities that we serve. 
> 
> Look for our 2022 programs and events, including: “Let’s Talk About Disabled Sex” on Valentine’s Day, seasonal Movement Workshops, “Let’s Connect Inclusively Socials”, and our ongoing discussions on “Disability and Faith”. This year we are honoring Disability Pride Philadelphia’s 10 year anniversary with a celebration in June.
> 
> Find out more about our work on our website www.disabilitypridepa.org which is being updated to include new resources including disability led/owned businesses to support not only at the holidays but year round.
> 
> Interested in being a future Community Spotlight? Email Amy Nieves at Amy.Nieves at phila.gov. 
> Community Announcements:
> 
> The 6th Annual Philadelphia Autism Project Conference:
> The Rethinking, Reimagining, Resilience Conference was held virtually on Wednesday, November 17 through Friday, November19, 2021.  The Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities participated in the Resource Sharing Panel on Day 3. Check out the Conference page for the recordings and resources here. 
> Local Leader elected as the first Mayor in the U.S. who is deaf.
>  
> Congratulations to Neil McDevitt, the first known Mayor that is deaf in the United States! Prior to being elected Mayor of North Wales, PA in November of 2021, Neil was the Executive Director of DHCC - Deaf-Hearing Communication Centre, Inc.  DHCC provides support to the Mayor’s Commission on People with Disabilities. Representation matters, and we celebrate this milestone not just for Neil, but for all people with disabilities!  The Daily Moth featured this in a recent blog post.
> Housing Hub: 
> 
> Philly said “yes” to Question 4: Should Philly be required to budget annual contributions to the affordable housing fund.”
> 
> With prior support from the Kenny Administration and City Council, this ballot question and now measure will ensure the city to allocate 0.5% of its annual general fund budget to support the Housing Trust Fund,  which supports the construction and management of affordable housing throughout the city. Voters approved this measure at 68.91%. 
> 
> We invite you to learn more about Philadelphia Coalition for Affordable Communities who have been working to ensure affordable and accessible housing in Philadelphia. 
> 
> We will continue to share Housing related updates in future newsletters.
> ADA News You Can Use 
> by Adrienne Ewing, Director of ADA Compliance
> 
> Philadelphia ADA Transition Plan Update:
> The Philadelphia ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan was published on December 30, 2020.  It includes 537 buildings, sites and facilities throughout Philadelphia.  Two public meetings were held in November 2020.  There are recommendations for corrective actions, a guide for creating accessible Word documents and best practices for virtual events.  An update on the ADA Transition plan will be provided at the next Mayor’s Commission meeting.  Be on the look-out for more updates in 2022!
>  
> ADA Spotlight: Meet Marvel’s First Deaf Superhero    
> 
> Lauren Ridloff is the first deaf performer to appear in a Marvel movie. Ridloff has been deaf since birth and she plays Makkari in the Marvel Cinematic Universe movie ‘Eternals’.  She plays a supersonically speedy scout on a team of 10 immortal guardians of humanity. The movie opened in theaters on November 5th.  Ridloff is a Tony-nominated performer and she is also known for her role as Connie in “The Walking Dead”.
> 
> “I know that people have an idea about accessibility; subtitles are not a new concept. But I think people are starting to see that when we talk about accessibility, it actually comes with the idea of universal design, which basically means that accessibility is for everybody. It’s not just for the deaf and hard of hearing community.
> 
> It’s not just for people with a disability. It’s literally for everybody”.
> 
> -Lauren Ridloff
> 
>  
> Philadelphia celebrates the 102nd Thanksgiving Parade! 
> The Thanksgiving Parade took place on Thursday, November 25th on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.  The Dunkin’ is the oldest Thanksgiving Day parade in the country.  In 2020 the celebration was virtual due to Covid-19; this year the parade was back in person.  There was a sign language interpreter (ASL) for viewers watching on television and in order to make the parade Covid-19 friendly and this year jumbo-trons were not available to the public to prevent overcrowding along the parade route.  There were massive floats, performances from local choirs, dance groups, marching bands and more.  Santa arrived in grand fashion to officially usher in the holiday season to Philadelphia for all residents.
> 
>  
> People with Disabilities Overcharged with UBER
> 
> A lawsuit was filed by the Justice Department against Uber Technologies, Inc. (UBER) for charging “wait time” fees to passengers with disabilities.  These passengers needed more time to enter a vehicle because of disability and were unfairly charged additional fees.
> 
> Claudia's Constituent Corner
> By Claudia Tasco, Constituent Coordinator 
>  
> 
>  
> Food Services- Winter 2021
> 
> The City of Philadelphia listing of Food Distribution Sites is available
> online here.
> 
> MANNA cooks and delivers nutritious meals to neighbors in the Greater Philadelphia area who are battling a serious illness. 
> More information is available online here:
>  
> LIHEAP NOW OPEN! 
> As winter draws near, please remember that assistance is also available for home heating bills. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, helps eligible families pay their heating bills through a cash grant sent directly to the utility company or fuel provider. Households in immediate danger of being without heat may also qualify for crisis grants.
>  
> More information, including income requirements, is available here.
> 
> Help will be available soon for water bills too!
>  
> The Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program is an emergency water assistance program to help families having difficulty paying their water bills. The program was created by the federal government due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
>  
> The program is expected to open on January 4th. Applications will be taken online at www.compass.state.pa.us or the county assistance office. More information is available on the Department of Human Services website.
>  
> Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program
> The deadline for eligible individuals to apply for the Property Tax/Rent Rebate program is December 31.
>  
> This program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians age 65 and older; widows and widowers age 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. The income limit is $35,000 a year for homeowners and $15,000 annually for renters, and half of Social Security income is excluded. 
>  
> Applications can be submitted online at mypath.pa.gov.
>  
> Be Aware of Holiday Scams! 
> This holiday season, the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities and the Pennsylvania State Police are reminding residents to be on alert for fraud and scams.
> Common scams include hacked account scams, unreasonable prices on hard-to-find items, copycat websites, and more.
> For more information on common scams and how to avoid them, click here.
> Empowering Employment:
>  
> Inclusively 
> Inclusively provides employment matching for job seekers with disabilities for FREE.
>  
> How Inclusively Works: Create a free profile with experience, skills, education, industry, Success Enablers & more Search, get matched, and connect to jobs that fit your profile Interested employers will contact you to follow up & learn more Keep your profile updated to stay connected and be notified as new jobs are posted. Explore the website here.
> Check out the Inclusively video today. 
>  
>  
> Careers with the City of Philadelphia:
> 
> Learn more about current available job opportunities with the City of Philadelphia here. 
> Have an article, event, or resource you would like to see featured in our next newsletter?  Connect with the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities below. 
> 
> 
> Copyright © *|2021|* *|Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities|*, All rights reserved.
> 
> 
> Connect with us today! 
> Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities | Homepage | City of Philadelphia
> City Hall, 2nd Fl. Room 260D 
> Philadelphia, PA 19107
> Phone: 215-686-2798
> 
> Inquiries can be directed to Claudia Tasco: Claudia.Tasco at phila.gov 
> 
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> 
>  
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