[NFBOH-Cleveland] Ability Front Newsletter

Sat Apr 7 21:45:28 UTC 2018

Subject: This week's Ability Front
Welcome to Ability Front
t!
Please go directly to the links provided for additional information.
If you have any news, opportunities or resources you want me to
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My criteria are generally “Will this help fellow Ohioans with
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I’m putting it out, now it’s your turn to run with it and pass it on!
Thanks, happy explorations here as always,
Elizabeth L. Sammons
Week of March 16
Did you know?
Ohio’s Deaf History Month started March 13, commemorating the date Dr.
I. Jordan King was elected the first deaf president of Gallaudet
University in 1988. It runs through April 15, when our nation's first
permanent school for the deaf was established in 1817. Read details of
the legislation here:
http://senate.ohio.gov/beagle/press/senate-passes-legislation-establishing-ohio-deaf-history-month
And find 3,000 years of deaf history and culture here:
http://www.ead.ee/foreign_deaf_history
The Accessible Olli is a self-driving shuttle bus that features many
assistive technologies, including wheelchair ramps, software to
process sign language, and simplified displays. The shuttle will be
released in a few months in Buffalo, New York, and Copenhagen,
Denmark. Local Motors developed Accessible Olli in collaboration with
people with disabilities.
https://www.cnet.com/news/accessible-olli-local-motors-ibm-self-driving-shuttle-bus-accessibility/
Twelve US Medical Schools including OSU are Adding Focus on
Developmental Disabilities to improve doctors’ training in relating to
special-needs patients. The four-year initiative is a partnership
between Special Olympics International and the American Academy of
Developmental Medicine and Dentistry.
https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2018/03/12/medical-schools-focus-dd/24838/
Opportunities
March 18, 7p.m. National Federation of the Blind Ohio will conduct a
discussion aimed at helping those adjusting to blindness for anyone
struggling with vision loss. This is the first of what are expected to
become monthly calls.  Call 712-775-7031, access code 240281423 pound
key.
March 29, 1-2PM, join this free webinar. With unemployment at its
lowest rate in recent years, it’s hard finding top talent. And if
you're not hiring people with disabilities, you're missing out. Join
the Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion
(EARN) to explore effective outreach and recruitment strategies that
companies of all sizes can use to build a pipeline of qualified
applicants with disabilities. Learn about developing relationships
with service providers, finding recruitment sources, and other key
strategies. Space is limited, so register soon.
http://www.askearn.org/event/building-the-pipeline-successful-strategies-for-recruiting-hiring-people-with-disabilities/
Cincinnati’s airport is offering the chance evening of April 7 for
travelers with developmental disabilities and/or on the autism
spectrum and family members to take a trial run. Experience check-in,
boarding a plane and ask questions at this mock flight run-through.
Registration and additional details here:
http://www.cvgairport.com/LIFT
This free April 3 5 to 7PM Vision Resources Expo at Columbus Main
Library 2nd floor (96 S. Grant Avenue) is a gathering of organizations
with information about products, technology and other resources
related to vision loss. It is open to anyone who would like to learn
more about resources for the blind and visually impaired – whether for
yourself, a friend, a client or family member. Additional details
here:  https://www.facebook.com/events/587728318233642/
U.S. Access Board Webinar: Accessible Shared Streets - Notable
Practices and Considerations for Accommodating Pedestrians with Vision
Disabilities (April 5, 2:30-4PM. Hear a representative from the
Federal Highway Administration, which has issued a report on
accessibility best practices for shared streets. Presenters will
review issues people with vision impairments face, as well as
strategies in navigating. They also will outline recommendations and
considerations for integrating accessibility in street planning and
design. Details here:
https://www.accessibilityonline.org/ao/session/?id=110658
An April 11 webinar 1 to 2PM is for people with disabilities who want
to become parents. Focus is on strategies for prospective parents with
disabilities to prepare themselves and their families. Presenters will
discuss the initial considerations of conception and adoption, and
explore preliminary consultation in order to identify disability
affirmative service providers. Participants will learn how to identify
peer support among disability parenting communities for advice and
support.  https://mailchi.mp/ab0723d3b662/how-prospective-parents-with-disabilities-can-prepare-for-parenthood?e=e2d71fbe70
Attend the Aging Eye Summit -Understanding Vision Research: Hope for
the Future April 13, Ohio State University Havener Eye Institute. No
charges; CEU’s available. Details/registration here:
https://ohio.preventblindness.org/aging-eye-summit-understanding-vision-research-hope-future
Do you know someone whose personal story is so exceptional that it
shows the better side of being human? How about giving that person the
chance to go to London and tell that story to BBC World Service?
(Self-nominations not accepted.) Details here:
https://bbc.lvis.io/bbcoutlookinspirations/
Nisonger Institute 2018, Save the Date! May 25th, 9am - 12pm The
Direct Support Workforce:  A crisis or serious systems flaw?  For
nearly 30 years turnover rates have been about 50% and vacancy rates
about 5% in community services and supports for people with
intellectual and developmental disabilities. This session will provide
data based observations, identify solutions and suggest key messages
and actions for resolution. www.go.osu.edu/ni2018
The 2018 Summer Institute on Theology and Disability is coming to
Raleigh, North Carolina, June 11-14, in partnership with Duke
University. The Institute brings together academics, theologians and
others to explore the inclusive intersections of faith and
disabilities. See schedule, scholarship opportunities and additional
details here: http://faithanddisability.org/2018-institute/
An off-year reunion for OSSB alumni is coming the week-end of June 29
to July 1 at DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Columbus-Worthington, 175
Hutchinson Avenue, Columbus. This get-together is open to anyone who
has ever attended OSSB, not just graduates.  For attendee questions
and/or program suggestions, email mfoster100 at gmail.com
Resources
The Boston Globe discusses cultural attitudes towards the Paralympics,
provides a brief history of the games and considers philosophy of body
image in this noteworthy editorial.
https://www.bostonglobe.com/ideas/2018/03/01/why-americans-ignore-paralympics/KWWA6u8owaA0V12zDZyDyH/story.html
This article commemorates events at Gallaudet University 30 years ago
this week and postulates on reasons for the successful nomination of
the university’s first Deaf president.
http://www.gallaudet.edu/about/history-and-traditions/deaf-president-now/the-issues/the-week-of-dpn#main-content
For many, it is difficult to find books with accurate portrayals of
disabilities. Bookshare has created four new collections for middle
grade and young adult readers that feature characters with visual
impairments and/or learning disabilities. Because
#RepresentationMatters. Details here:
http://bookshareblog.wpengine.com/2018/03/because-representationmatters/?mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiWlRnM056QXhNemcwT1dRNSIsInQiOiJWem1Id0RLWlc2MjA0TG9xT25VN3RIOW04Ymx2Um5zUkl1Z081R0FBSzdmbGFKMnVmTjlXV3Z6c1pWb3oyR2FzTE1iTkN2VXVpd1hcL254enVzM1Z5eUFtMkttZWhpdlB2Q3NDYmZES2VtS2lQWWlrMmdiQm1HZHlueU9qUTIyaUkifQ%3D%3D
The ABLE National Resource Center has launched a new monthly
e-newsletter, AchievABLE. The newsletter brings up-to-date information
about the latest ABLE implementation developments and relevant news to
people with disabilities, their families and ABLE-related
stakeholders. February 2018 issue of the AchievABLE e-newsletter  or |
Subscribe
The Campaign for Disability Employment (CDE) introduces us to its new
website and explains how you can use it to find resources on the path
to work. Learn more about the CDE and new public service
announcements. At work, it’s what you CAN do that matters.
https://choosework.ssa.gov/blog/2018-03-12-what-can-you-do-the-campaign-for-disability-employment
The DAISY Consortium has launched Ace by DAISY, a free and open source
accessibility checking tool for EBooks created in the widely adopted
EPUB format. Ace by DAISY equips the publishing industry with a tool
to test their eBooks against internationally recognized standards for
accessibility. Designed to assist content providers at any stage in
their workflow, Ace by DAISY will make it easier to produce higher
quality, more accessible EPUB content files. See full press release
here:  http://www.prweb.com/releases/2018/01/prweb15141305.htm.
Information on Ace and getting started here:
https://inclusivepublishing.org/toolbox/accessibility-checker/.
Providing fresh perspectives and time-relevant articles, the new RDS
Journal covers: school violence & mental health, reviews of To Siri
with Love and Diffability Hollywood, upcoming disability studies
courses, and just in time for #DDawareness18, articles on autism,
FASD, and intellectual and developmental disabilities.
http://rdsjournal.org/index.php/journal/issue/view/58
THINK+change is focused on TALKS, TRAININGS AND TOOLS that showcase
and address issues relevant to people with disabilities and their
families. The 2018 virtual film festival finds us premiering our
Conversation TALKS' series on Higher Education and Students with
Autism Spectrum Disorder and promoting some of our other favorite work
https://vimeopro.com/thinkchange/thinkchange-virtual-film-festival
Reminders
The Youth Leadership Forum (YLF) is now accepting applications for the
summer 2018 session, which will be held July 22-26. YLF is an annual
event hosted by OOD through which high school juniors and seniors with
disabilities learn about choosing a career, self-advocacy and
leadership development. To learn more about YLF and to apply, visit
Youth Leadership Forum here:
http://ood.ohio.gov/Transition-br-Students/Youth-Leadership-Forum
Filing an appeal of your Social Security disability decision is easier
and faster than ever, with new options to upload documents to support
your appeal for faster decisions on a case. Here is an overview of the
new enhancements.  https://secure.ssa.gov/iApplsRe/start
This Employer Tool Kit on colleagues with autism includes a video plus
companion resources to briefly introduce the employee with ASD
http://www.ocali.org/project/employee_with_asd
The Lurie Institute for Disability Policy has launched a new website:
www.centerforparentswithdisabilities.org
The National Research Center for Parents with Disabilities will share
the results of research and provide training and technical assistance
to support parents with disabilities and their families, and make
available research results and helpful information about working with
parents with disabilities to social workers, researchers, and legal
professionals. Parents with disabilities and their families have
shaped this website and will remain pivotal.
Coping with vision loss can feel overwhelming and stressful, but with
the right information, you can face the future with confidence. The
VisionAware™ "Getting Started" kit is here to provide hope and help to
handle the challenges, and to connect you and your family members with
specialized services and products available to assist with everyday
life. This information is available in audio format and in Spanish in
all formats as well. Details here:
http://www.visionaware.org/info/emotional-support/handling-the-news/getting-started-kit-for-people-new-to-vision-loss/123
Elizabeth L. Sammons
Program Administrator
Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities
Tel. 614.438.1260
www.oodworks.com

-- 
Wishing You All the Best,

Cheryl E. Fields

A man has made at least a start on discovering the meaning of human
life when he plants shade trees under which he knows full well he will
never sit.
--D. Elton Trueblood