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

Fri Jul 9 22:44:53 UTC 2021

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> From: Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities <claudia.tasco at phila.gov>
> Date: July 9, 2021 at 4:31:24 PM EDT
> To: DBrown8827 at aol.com
> Subject: Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities Summer 2021 Newsletter
> Reply-To: Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities <claudia.tasco at phila.gov>
> 
> 
>  
> Summer Issue | July 2021
> 
> Welcome to the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities' all new Newsletter and Summer 2021 Issue! 
> In this Summer Issue:
> Meet the Staff of the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities. 
> Upcoming Events including the upcoming Public Commission Meeting, "A Year After Covid-19: Where are we now and where are we headed" on July 28, 2021.
> Celebrate the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) turning 31! 
> Act 66 Information.
> Resources for Summer Programming, Vaccine Access and more! 
> Meet the staff of Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities: 
> 
> Amy Mathewson Millar, Executive Director
>  
> In May 2021, the Mayor’s Office for people with Disabilities (MOPD) welcomed our new Executive Director, Amy Mathewson Millar. Prior to joining the City of Philadelphia as the Executive Director for the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities, Amy Mathewson Millar (she/her) has dedicated her career, rooted in Pennsylvania, to disability advocacy. Amy is a statewide and nationally recognized disability and addiction-recovery advocate who has been on the forefront of supporting families as a facilitator, keynote speaker, published author and community leader. 
> 
> As Executive Director, Amy will oversee the Office of ADA Compliance, the Mayor’s Commission on People with Disabilities and Constituent Services. Supporting the ADA Transition Plan, City Departments, the Commission, and the residents of Philadelphia regarding access and inclusion will be the focal points her role. Amy invites you to attend the upcoming public Commission meeting on July 28, 2021 at 7 p.m. (More information is below).
> 
> 
> Adrienne Ewing, Director of ADA Compliance
> 
> Adrienne Ewing has been with MOPD for one year.  She received a Bachelor of Architecture and a Master of Science in City and Regional Planning from Pratt Institute.  Her career has spanned over twenty years and includes working with the MTA New York City Transit, Pratt Institute, Yellowbook USA, and NYC Department of Finance.  Her specialties include ADA compliance, facilities management, and architectural design.  Her advocacy work includes working with the communities of Crown Heights, Red Hook, Fort Greene, and Harlem in NYC.  Adrienne was formerly an adjunct professor for ITT Technical Institute in Center City and a freelance writer for MarketScale.  She has had several critiques published in the letters section of Architectural Magazine.  She has volunteered in several capacities in Philadelphia with the School District and local nursing homes.  Since joining MOPD, Adrienne has worked to ensure the completion of the ADA Transition Plan for the City of Philadelphia and she collaborated with Claudia Tasco to start the MOPD newsletter.
> 
> 
> Claudia Tasco Constituent Service Coordinator for MOPD
> She joins the office after five years with community service at South Philadelphia INC, and an Administrative Liaison for the Consortium Children’s and Adult Behavioral Health Outpatient Program. Claudia has been with the MOPD for three years. She works directly with constituents and Federal agencies, creates and implements strategic casework and outreach goals, and assists in other functions of the office as needed.
>  
>  
> Join Us For Our Public Meeting: "A Year After COVID-19, Where Are We Now, and Where Are We Headed?" 
> Wednesday, July 28, 2021, 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
> *ASL and CC will be provided
>  
> Register in advance for this online webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about how to join the webinar.
>  
> Join us for updates from the Mayor’s Commission on People with Disabilities, Parks and Rec, resource sharing and a designated time for open comments as we take a look at where we are now and where we are headed together in honor of the 31st anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  ASL and Closed Captioning will be provided, all other ADA accommodations must be requested by July 16, 2021 to Claudia Tasco at Claudia.Tasco at phila.gov
> 
> 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
>  
> Understanding the Option for Grade Retention in School Year 2021-2022
> On Saturday, July 3, 2021, the Education Committee for the Mayor’s Commission on People with Disabilities co-hosted an informational session: Understanding the Option for Grade Retention in School Year 2021-2022. 
>  
>  Governor Wolf recently signed Pennsylvania Senate Bill 664 into law, which would let parents of students K-12 (and students ages 18+ in a school entity) decide if they want to repeat a grade in the school year 2021-2022. This law will also allow students in special education to return for another year, even if they have reached the maximum age of 21 but must select to do so by Thursday, July 15, 2021  View the recording here.  More information and how to enroll can be found on the School District's Website. 
>  
> Upcoming Community Event
> 3rd Annual Nursing Summit
>  
> The Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities invites you to join us at Vision for Equality’s 3rd Annual Nursing Summit on Monday July 26, 2021 at 9 a.m.  More information and to register visit their website here. 
>  
> Upcoming Community Event
> PA Developmental Disabilities Community Alliance Summit 
> Register today for this free event:
> August 16 & 17, 2021
> Again this year, the PA Community Alliance Summit will be virtual! 2020 and 2021 have been stressful and traumatic for some communities, but also transformational and motivating for others. This year at the Summit, we will discuss and explore our theme: Recover, Rebuild and Reform.
>  
> This year’s summit will discuss:
> What does it look like in your community to “recover”?
> How can we “rebuild” communities to move forward?
> What “reform” is needed to improve community systems?
>  
> The Summit is a day of networking, discovering alliances and collaboration building among diverse organizations throughout Pennsylvania led by and/or supporting underserved/unserved populations who experience marginalization and oppression.
> More information about session topics and registration is now available here.  You can also like the Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council (PADDC) on Facebook or follow them on Twitter to get the updates.
>  
>  
> The Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities joins with our community and our nation as we celebrate the 31st anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)!  Everything you need to know about the ADA can be found here: #ADA31 - Celebrate. Learn. Share. | ADA Anniversary Tool Kit. 
> 
> The Mayor’s Office for People with Disability helped kicked off this year’s celebration in partnership with Disability Pride PA and their 10-day long celebration in June of 2021. 
> 
> Additionally, our office participated in several Disability Pride events including the Town Hall, where we learned more about residents’ experience with access in Philadelphia.  We are continuing to work with City departments and residents to promote and increase access for all residents. To learn more about how you can help make Philadelphia and PA Disability Proud, check out Disability Pride PA.  Many of the events of this year’s Pride lineup are available for view as well as resources and coming events. 
> 
>  
> ADA News You Can Use 
> by Adrienne Ewing, Director of ADA Compliance
> 
> 
> Shifting attitudes on accessibility on Capitol Hill
> Rep. Jim Langevin (Democrat, Rhode Island) is the first quadriplegic to serve in the House, where he co-chairs the Bipartisan Disability Caucus.  He is encouraging training and awareness for Capitol Hill staffers to improve access and dignity for individuals with disabilities including visitors to the Capitol.  Rep. Langevin testified at a recent hearing stating that disability rights are unfamiliar to many congressional staffers which causes barriers in many areas including communication.  There are also many physical barriers including doors that are too heavy, too narrow or missing a push-button entry. More resources are available at: www.GazetteXtra.com, www.adainfo.org
> 
> 
> The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Seeks Public Input
> 
> There is a Request for Information (RFI) from the National Institute of Standards and Technology to remove barriers to voting for people with disabilities.  The NIST will use the information to improve the online Federal Voter Registration Form to ensure accessibility to individuals with disabilities.  Public comments are due by Friday, July 16, 2021.  Comments may be submitted at www.regulations.gov under NIST-2021-0003 or via email at pva-eo at list.nist.gov
> More information can be found at www.access-board.gov
>  
>  
> COVID-19 Vaccine Access Announcement
> 
> Philadelphia recently launched the new Homebound Vaccination Program For Older Adults and People with Disabilities
>  
> 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 have the opportunity to 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 or if you have questions about vaccination, call (215) 685-5488.
> 
> Summer Programming and Resources: 
> 
> 
>  
> Summer is on at Philadelphia Parks and Recreation 
> Philadelphia Parks and Recreation (PPR)  is in full swing with their summer programming and pools!  They have added a listing of all summer programming on their website.  More information about pools, including accessible options in the city, pool rules, attire, and related information is available online. PPR will be updating this link as more lifts become available at PPR pools so check back often. The Bridesburg and Vogt are two accessible options at this time.  Details of the YMCA partnership and accessible options are here as well.
> 
> 
> Summer Camps –2021 For Children and Adults with disabilities
> 
> Easter Seals is offering several summer programs across PA. 
> Learn more and register today:
> www.easterseals.com/wcpenna/our-programs/camping-recreation/
>  
> Aaron’s Acres offers a variety of summer programming, learn more and register today:
> www.aaronsacres.org/programs/ 
>  
> 
> Additional Resources 
> 
> Food Services - Summer 2021
> 
> MANNA:
> MANNA cooks and delivers nutritious meals to neighbors in the Greater Philadelphia area who are battling a serious illness.  To learn more visit MANNA's website.
>  
> Philadelphia Corporation for the Aging:
> Free produce vouchers available through 2021 Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program.  Free produce vouchers available through 2021 Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program - Philadelphia Corporation For Aging (pcacares.org)
>  
> City of Philadelphia:
> The City of Philadelphia listing of Food Distribution Sites can be found here: Food distribution sites (phila.gov)
> Job Opportunities with the City of Philadelphia 
> 
> Learn more about 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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