Category Archives: Society: Disabled Issues / Disabilities

The Latest news about what is effecting those with Disabilities in North America, These PR articles, bring the newest technologies, initiatives and helpful tools to those who need them.

Society: Disabled Issues / Disabilities

ElderNet Recognizes Community Leaders with Second Annual Maud Campbell Tierney Volunteer of the Year Awards

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BRYN MAWR, Pa. (PRWEB)

ElderNet of Lower Merion and Narberth (“ElderNet”) honored five volunteers who have gone above and beyond the call of duty as part of its recent Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon held at Beaumont. The volunteers were recognized for outstanding service in support of older and disabled adults in the community. The volunteers worked tirelessly to help neighbors in the community remain independent and improve their quality of life through access to healthcare, food security, companionship and other holistic support services. Each honoree received the Maud Campbell Tierney Volunteer of the Year Award, which was created in memory of Maud Tierney, a longtime volunteer and passionate supporter of the organization and its positive community impact.

“Maud had a true passion for giving back and found ElderNet to be the perfect place to dedicate her time, as it’s such a special organization filling a unique need in our community,” said Brian Tierney, Maud’s husband and CEO of Brian Communications. “It’s wonderful to honor her legacy with this award and to see how dedicated each award winner is to ElderNet’s mission.”

This year’s ElderNet Volunteer of the Year Award recipients are:

  • Extraordinary Effort Award – Ward Barnes

  • Escort Driving Award – Susan Edwards

  • Shopping Assistance Award – Robin Putzrath

  • Friendly Companion Award – Dana Scher

  • Pantry Assistance Award – Bonnie Asher

“We cannot thank our volunteers enough – they’re what make ElderNet such a community treasure,” said Anthony Johnson, Executive Director of ElderNet. “The Tierney family’s substantial support in setting up the endowment is a wonderful way to remember Maud Tierney’s tremendous volunteer spirit and provides the resources for us to help even more people in need.”

To learn more about ElderNet, visit https://eldernet.org. To contribute to the Maud Campbell Tierney Endowment Fund, visit https://eldernet.org/donate.

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About ElderNet

ElderNet of Lower Merion and Narberth is a nonprofit organization that was founded in 1976 by representatives of community, religious and governmental groups. ElderNet serves adults of all ages, especially frail older or younger disabled persons with low to moderate incomes who reside in Lower Merion or Narberth.ElderNet helps older neighbors remain independent and provides a variety of free, practical services so they have access to healthcare, food security, and an improved quality of life. ElderNet also provides information to individuals who need assistance with housing, nursing care, or other necessities.

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Society: Disabled Issues / Disabilities

Ellevate Network, the largest community of women+ at work, names Jameela Jamil as 2023 International Woman of Change

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“I am so honored and grateful to be recognized with Ellevate’s Woman Of Change Award by an organization that has done such incredible work to foster the progress of gender equality and inclusion.”


NEW YORK (PRWEB)

Ellevate Network, the largest community of women+ at work will honor actress and advocate Jameela Jamil as the 2023 International Woman of Change at the Mobilize Women Awards & Cocktail Reception in New York City on June 6th.

The Mobilize Women Awards & Cocktail Reception will be held on Tuesday, June 6th at 6 PM Eastern at the Prince George Ballroom in New York, located at 15 East 27th Street. Jameela will be accepting the award virtually.

Jameela Jamil is an actress, advocate, host and founder of I-Weigh. Jameela was first seen on American television starring as Tahani in Mike Schur’s Golden Globe-nominated NBC sitcom The Good Place, opposite Ted Danson and Kristen Bell. In 2022, Jameela joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe, where she originated the first on-screen role of the Marvel villain Titania in the series She Hulk: Attorney at Law, currently streaming on Disney+. She also joined the cast of DC Comics animated feature film DC League of Super-Pets voicing the role of Wonder Woman, as well as the Star Trek spinoff series Star Trek: Prodigy voicing the role of Ensign Asencia, streaming on Paramount+. In November 2022, she joined the cast of Peacock’s comedy series Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin in the role of up-and-coming pop star Gisela, which got picked up for a second season. Earlier this year, Jameela was a guest star in Poker Face, a murder mystery series directed by Rian Johnson currently streaming on Peacock. Most recently, she launched Bad Dates, an original SmartLess Media podcast series which she hosts and produces in partnership with Amazon Music and Wondery. The hilarious podcast debuted at #1 on the Apple Podcast Comedy Charts.

Off-screen, Jameela is a powerful mental health advocate. In 2018, Jameela launched a movement and allyship platform called I Weigh—a platform and community of change makers who come together to share ideas, experiences and ultimately mobilize activism; exploring social issues that stem from mental health to climate change to the representation of marginalized groups. In April 2020, the I Weigh with Jameela Jamil podcast launched with Earwolf in which Jameela speaks to a variety of thought-leaders, performers, activists, influencers, and friends about their own experiences and stories with their mental health.

“I am so honored and grateful to be recognized with Ellevate’s Woman Of Change Award by an organization that has done such incredible work to foster the progress of gender equality and inclusion,” said Jamil. “It is imperative that we continue to elevate women’s voices and champion the most underrepresented groups in our communities. That is what we aim to do at I Weigh and what I am so happy to see being done through the Ellevate Network of women.”

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to honor Jameela Jamil as International Woman of Change at this year’s Mobilize Women,” said Maricella Hererra, CEO of Ellevate Network. “Jameela is an incredible advocate for disability rights, LGBTQ+ rights, body positivity, and her work around social justice. She represents everything we fight for here at Ellevate, and we can’t wait to thank her for the work she does for inclusion.”

This event will help Ellevate kickoff its 7th Annual Mobilize Women Summit, which will be a completely free and accessible virtual experience the next day, on Wednesday, June 7, 2023.

The Mobilize Women Awards & Cocktail Reception supports Breaking Ground’s housing development work, a nonprofit that provides affordable housing for homeless and low-income New Yorkers. Those interested can purchase a ticket here or email corporate@ellevatenetwork.com to reserve a table.

Ellevate would like to thank all sponsors involved in this year’s Mobilize Women, RBC Wealth Management, Accenture, Alliant, SunCommon, ABA, Diageo, DTCC, NFP, New York Life, Mamava, Tend Academy, WE Magazine for Women, Women of Wisdom Magazine, and Satyn Magazine.

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Society: Disabled Issues / Disabilities

Experience Columbus Receives National Recognition for Championing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

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Columbus is one of the country’s most inclusive and accessible destinations.

“As an organization we are committed to celebrating the vibrant, diverse people and neighborhoods in our city and showcasing what an inclusive and welcoming destination Columbus is.” —Brian Ross, President and CEO of Experience Columbus


COLUMBUS, Ohio (PRWEB)

Experience Columbus, the destination marketing organization for Ohio’s capital city, is quickly garnering a reputation as a champion of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) in the hospitality and tourism industry. Since the fall of 2022, the organization has been recognized with three national awards for its DEIA efforts and its Accessibility Guide in particular.

Most recently, PRNEWS, a leading source of information, education, recognition and data for PR and marketing professionals nationwide, awarded Experience Columbus two coveted Social Impact Awards for its Accessibility Guide. The national awards program honors communicators who use their platforms to better their community and the global community at large. The Accessibility Guide received the top honor in the In-House Diversity & Inclusion Campaign category and an honorable mention in the Diversity & Inclusion Program category in February.

Experience Columbus also received recognition from the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) in November 2022 when it was awarded a bronze Adrian Award in the Public Relations/Communications category for the Accessibility Guide’s launch.

“We are honored to receive these three prestigious national awards in recognition of the vital work we are doing in the diversity, equity and inclusion space,” said Brian Ross, President and CEO of Experience Columbus. “As an organization we are committed to celebrating the vibrant, diverse people and neighborhoods in our city and showcasing what an inclusive and welcoming destination Columbus is.”

Experience Columbus’ Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility, Shannon Jones, was also recognized earlier this month for her influential work in the DEIA space. Jones was named a Columbus Business First Diversity in Business Awards honoree for her work, in part, in leading the Diversity Apprenticeship Program. Experience Columbus and the Greater Columbus Sports Commission launched the Diversity Apprenticeship Program in August 2021 to help overcome underrepresentation in the tourism industry. The program is focused on closing the significant racial equity gap in the Central Ohio hospitality community by providing hands-on experience and job opportunities to local students, recent graduates and professionals who identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) and have a passion for tourism. The program will graduate its third and largest cohort on April 26.

“It has been an honor to develop the Diversity Apprenticeship Program and to see it expand, both in terms of the number of apprentices participating to the variety of host sites across Columbus,” said Jones. “As an organization, Experience Columbus is dedicated to working toward equity in the workplace and representation in the tourism industry. I am proud of the initiatives we have launched in recent years, from our Diversity Apprenticeship Program to our Accessibility Guide to CBUS Soul®.”

Relevant photos can be downloaded here.

To learn more about Experience Columbus’ diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility initiatives, visit http://www.experiencecolumbus.com/deia

About Columbus, Ohio

Columbus is a city unlike any other. Vibrant and alive, Ohio’s capital is known for its open attitude, smart style and entrepreneurial spirit. Columbus’ blend of neighborhoods, dynamic nightlife, noteworthy music scene, arts and culinary experiences, events, attractions and accommodations are all made unforgettable by the diversity of its outgoing locals who eagerly await and warmly welcome visitors. Columbus is proud to be selected as the host city for the 2023 U.S. Conference of Mayors Annual Meeting coming in June and to have hosted PCMA Convening Leaders 2023, which brought together the world’s business events professionals in January. Free travel guides, maps, online booking and detailed information are available at http://www.ExperienceColumbus.com. Visitor information is also available on Facebook: Facebook.com/ExperienceColumbus, Twitter: @ExpCols and Instagram: @ExperienceColumbus.

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Society: Disabled Issues / Disabilities

New FREE Special Report Shows Parents of Disabled Children How to Provide Lifetime Financial Security for Their Offspring for Greater Peace of Mind

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Image of Special Advisory Report for Parents of a Child with a Disability: Three Critical Steps to Protect Your Child’s Financial Security After You Are Gone

Special Advisory Report for Parents of a Child with a Disability: Three Critical Steps to Protect Your Child’s Financial Security After You Are Gone

“You do not need to be a millionaire to benefit substantially from the Special Advisory Report. For instance, if you have an IRA of, say, $500,000, using the same strategies that our family implemented as recommended in the report, could help you generate an extra $239,000 in savings for your child”


PITTSBURGH (PRWEB)

A new free report titled Special Advisory Report for Parents of a Child with a Disability: Three Critical Steps to Protect Your Child’s Financial Security After You Are Gone shows parents how to provide lifetime financial security for their special needs offspring.

The report is published by Lange Financial Group, a Pittsburgh-based financial advisory firm. The company’s CEO, Jim Lange, a tax attorney and CPA, says as a result of him and his wife, Cindy, implementing the strategies recommended in the report, their daughter, Erica, will have an extra $1.9 million measured in today’s dollars to support her during her lifetime. (Erica suffers from dysautonomia, a condition that makes it impossible for her to work.)The report has three authors, all highly experienced in their area of helping parents with a disabled child. In addition to Lange, Deborah McFadden is an expert in getting a child qualified for SSI or SSDI. She helped write the Americans with Disabilities Act. Julie Steinbacher is an estate attorney with over 20 years of experience drafting special needs planning documents for families and administering estates. These strategies can help parents achieve peace of mind by ensuring their disabled child will have lifetime financial security,” explains Lange. “As a result, parents can live a better, less stressful, more serene, and more enjoyable life—with greater confidence and peace of mind—as my wife and I do, now that we have put this plan in place for our daughter.

”The Special Advisory Report outlines the three essential steps parents must take to provide their disabled kids with financial support, both while those parents are still living, and also after they are gone:- First, get your child approved for Supplemental Social Security Income (SSI) when he or she is 18 or older. When the parent turns 62, consider switching the child to Social Security Disability (SSDI) based on the parent’s work record. When a person is on SSI or SSDI, they get what Ms. McFadden calls “the golden ticket.” Benefits could be $900 a month, qualifying for Medicare and/or Medicaid, state benefits, other medical benefits, special equipment, tuition for college and graduate school, and much more. As a huge bonus, that IRS will grant your disabled child the official Eligible Designated Beneficiary (EDB) status. Benefits of EDB status include “stretching” or deferring an inherited IRA or Roth IRA over the child’s lifetime instead of ten years like other children beneficiaries of IRAs. This huge deferral can easily be worth hundreds of thousands of additional dollars or more.


  • Second, the Special Advisory Report shows the parents how critical it is to implement a series of optimized Roth IRA conversions. Mr. Lange explains, “The Roth IRA conversions can grow your family’s wealth by hundreds of thousands of dollars, so your disabled child inherits that much more and gets to stretch or defer the tax-free inherited Roth IRA over their lifetime instead of ten years like other Roth IRA child beneficiaries.”

  • Third, Julie Steinbacher’s specific estate planning strategies for families with disabled children include appropriate wills and trusts for beneficiaries of IRAs and other retirement plans. In particular, Steinbacher often advises setting up a special needs trust. This special needs trust, which is typically funded at the death of one or both parents, permits your child to enjoy benefits from the trust without losing his or her government disability benefits and EDB treatment.

“Implementing these strategies has been life-changing for us and for Erica. The dread that once kept us up at night is now gone, and we can now sleep well at night. You do not need to be a millionaire to benefit substantially from the Special Advisory Report. For instance, if you have an IRA of, say, $500,000, using the same strategies that our family implemented as recommended in the report, could help you generate an extra $239,000 in savings for your child,” adds Lange. To get a free copy of the Special Advisory Report—and learn how to provide a safe and financially secure life for your disabled child, simply call Lange Financial Group toll-free at 1-800-387-1129 today. Or download the report immediately at: https://DisabledChildPlanning.com.

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Society: Disabled Issues / Disabilities

Inspired by Tragedy, Military Vet Donates Glasses for Color Blindness to Rio Rancho Schoolchildren Who Are Color Vision Deficient

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“One of my colleagues injured in the blast had a son who was deaf and received cochlear implants, which completely changed his life. This inspired me to help others, so every year I buy EnChroma glasses to help color blind students in the Rio Rancho Public School District.” – Ron Neldon


RIO RANCHO, N.M. & BERKELEY, Calif. (PRWEB)

– Generous Donation Helps Color Blind Students Overcome Learning Challenges in School –

Rio Rancho, NM & Berkeley, CA – April 24, 2023 – EnChroma, Inc. – makers of glasses for color blindness – and Rio Rancho Public Schools, today announced that a generous local military veteran has purchased EnChroma glasses for color blind students to overcome the obstacles color blindness poses to learning. The EnChroma glasses will help the color blind students better understand color-coded information on tests, projects, or assignments for which correctly interpreting color plays a role.

One in 12 boys (8%) and one in 200 girls (.5%) are red-green color blind; an estimated 13 million in the US and 350 million worldwide. With nearly 17,000 students in the district, over 700 Rio Rancho students are likely color blind.

While people with normal color vision see over one million hues and shades, the color blind only see an estimated 10% of them. As a result, colors can appear dull, indistinct, and difficult to discern. This can make understanding colored information in graphs, charts, presentations, maps, and material written in certain colors problematic. Click here to see how schoolwork containing colors appear to red-green color blind students.

The donor of the glasses, Ron Neldon, is motivated by both tragedy and a unique inspiration. On June 25, 1996, terrorists backed by Iran detonated a truck bomb outside of the Khobar Towers housing complex in Saudi Arabia, where Ron was stationed with the Air Force. The blast killed 19 US service members and injured hundreds. On behalf of the victims, the US government successfully sued Iran for its role. With some of the money he received from the settlement, Ron has sought ways to help others.

“One of my colleagues injured in the blast eventually had a son who was born deaf and received cochlear implants so he could hear, which completely changed his life,” said Neldon. “I started watching videos of people hearing for the first time and eventually became fascinated by people seeing color for the first time with EnChroma glasses. They inspired me to make a positive impact on young people’s lives, so every year I buy EnChroma glasses to help color blind students in the Rio Rancho Public School District.” To read more about Neldon’s experience and motivation to help others, or to download his photo, click here.

Engineered with special optical filters, EnChroma glasses help those with red-green color blindness see an expanded range of colors more vibrantly, clearly, and distinctly.

“Only 11 of 50 states currently test schoolchildren for color blindness, so many kids go undiagnosed through much of their education unaware of their condition or its effects,” said Erik Ritchie, CEO of EnChroma. “We applaud the generosity of Mr. Neldon, thank him for his service, and encourage other school districts to test for color vision deficiency and get EnChroma glasses to support color blind students.”

EnChroma Color Accessibility Program™

EnChroma is the lead advocate for “color accessibility” through its EnChroma Color Accessibility Program™. Via the program, EnChroma donates a pair of glasses for each pair purchased by public venues. In New Mexico, EnChroma glasses have been offered since 2019 to color-blind visitors to the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe to enable them to experience the colors in O’Keeffe’s iconic works.

Over 200 organizations participate in the program including schools, universities, parks, libraries, museums, and others to loan the glasses to color-blind students and guests. In addition to its free color blindness test, EnChroma offers materials for schools to share with teachers, parents, and students to educate them about color blindness and how to support color-blind students. The program is also open to employers.

EnChroma encourages parents and educators to have students take EnChroma’s free online color blindness test at enchroma.com, which takes less than two minutes. A study by the University of California, Davis, and France’s INSERM Stem Cell and Brain Research Institute, demonstrated the effectiveness of EnChroma glasses.

Media: Product shots, b-roll, videos, and images can be downloaded here. EnChroma’s CEO, and Rio Ranch Public Schools officials, are available for interviews.

About Rio Rancho Public Schools

Rio Rancho Public Schools is a school district based in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, serving the municipality of Rio Rancho. The school district has a total of 20 schools and nearly 17,000 students. The district has two high schools, two alternative high schools, four middle schools, 11 elementary schools, and one preschool.

Visit http://www.rrps.net or call 505.896.0667 for more information.

About EnChroma

Based in Berkeley, Calif., EnChroma produces leading-edge eyewear for color blindness and low vision, and other solutions for color vision, sold online and through Authorized Retailers worldwide. Invented in 2010, EnChroma’s patented eyewear combines the latest in color perception, neuroscience, and lens innovation to improve the lives of people with color vision deficiency around the world. EnChroma received an SBIR grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It earned the 2016 Tibbetts Award from the U.S. Small Business Administration in recognition of the firm’s innovative impact on the human experience through technology, and the 2020 Innovation Award in Life Sciences from the Bay Area’s East Bay Economic Development Alliance.

For more information call 510-497-0048 or visit http://www.enchroma.com/enchroma.com.

Media Contacts:

Rio Rancho Public Schools

Wyndham Kemsley

Communications Director

Phone: 505.614.6872

wyndham.kemsley@rrps.net

EnChroma

Kent Streeb

Vice President of Communications and Partnerships

P: 530.908.9225

kent@enchroma.com

Society: Disabled Issues / Disabilities

Colorblind Mississippi State University Students Gain Access to Specially Engineered EnChroma Glasses

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“We are both deeply entrenched in teaching and value student success, so we couldn’t go forward with our teaching if any student has a solvable issue that hinders their ability to achieve their full potential,” said Amelia Fox, assistant clinical professor of plant and soil sciences.


STARKVILLE, Miss. and BERKELEY, Calif. (PRWEB)

Distinguishing red and green traffic lights. Determining the correct orientation of a drone from color cues and markings. Discerning color-coded topography lines on maps. These are just some ways colorblindness affects more than 350 million individuals globally, including an estimated 1,200 of the nearly 28,000 Mississippi State University students, faculty and staff who are Color Vision Deficient (CVD) across every discipline.

Mississippi State faculty members in the plant and soil sciences and geosciences departments have partnered with EnChroma, makers of specially engineered glasses that can alleviate CVD obstacles, to improve learning and support for colorblind students.

EnChroma, based in Berkeley, California, will provide the glasses—for indoor and outdoor use—for all colorblind MSU students and staff to borrow from the Department of Geosciences. Amelia Fox, assistant clinical professor of plant and soil sciences, arranged for the purchase of the glasses via EnChroma’s Color Accessibility Program.

Fox searched for assistance from various departmental faculty members. Ultimately, she found Renee Clary, a professor in geosciences, who had a mutual desire to address colorblindness in the classroom and a shared passion for optimizing learning for colorblind students.

“We are both deeply entrenched in teaching and value student success, so we couldn’t go forward with our teaching if any student has a solvable issue that hinders their ability to achieve their full potential,” Fox said. Together they gathered support to make EnChroma glasses for colorblindness available for loan to CVD students and staff on campus.

While the glasses do not restore one’s color vision to normal, they do enable red-green colorblind students in any discipline to see an expanded range of color more clearly and better discern color differences. Within the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, the glasses will help colorblind students orient drones properly and sense the correct flight sequences and wire aircraft to fly. Within the Department of Geosciences, the glasses will help students differentiate topography lines on maps, landscape coloration and volcanic rock colors.Both Fox and Clary have had prior experience with colorblind students and individuals throughout their lives. Clary said by closely working with a graduate student who was colorblind, she was able to see the benefits of the accommodating devices firsthand.

“When Dr. Fox reached out to me, I knew it was an important area we needed to address,” Clary said. “We need to accommodate our colorblind students so we can optimize their learning.” The EnChroma glasses support the two types of color blindness: protan and deutan. Protan colorblind individuals do not perceive enough red color, while deutan colorblindness is the result of not perceiving enough green. To see images depicting how color blind students and faculty at MSU see colorful scenes on campus and in schoolwork click here.

Fox said she is confident that the glasses will provide a better academic experience for colorblind students. “As teachers, we can fill in the gaps of our students through empathy and simple tools, such as these glasses,” Fox said. “A saying goes ‘if you only have a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.’ But you need many tools in your toolbox if you’re going to teach different students.”

For more information on the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, visit http://www.pss.msstate.edu.

For more on the Department of Geosciences, within the College of Arts and Sciences, visit http://www.geosciences.msstate.edu.

For more on EnChroma, the effects of color blindness, its glasses or the Color Accessibility Program, visit http://www.enchroma.com or email accessibility@enchroma.com.

MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at http://www.msstate.edu.

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Society: Disabled Issues / Disabilities

McShane Construction Company Completes Kirwan Apartments in Waukegan, Illinois, for Adults with Disabilities

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“We are very pleased to have completed construction at Kirwan Apartments,” shared Susan Uhlarik, Director of Multi-Family at McShane. “Twenty-four adults with physical disabilities are now able to live in a home that they can call their own while receiving support that helps them thrive.”


ROSEMONT, Ill. (PRWEB)

Construction is completed at Kirwan Apartments in Waukegan, Illinois. McShane Construction Company provided design-assist construction services for the development on behalf of their client, Over the Rainbow (OTR). The 24-unit affordable housing residence allows adults with physical disabilities to live independently. The development is named after Leo Kirwan, an OTR resident, board member, and advocate for accessible housing.

“We are very pleased to have completed construction at Kirwan Apartments,” shared Susan Uhlarik, Director of Multi-Family at McShane. “Twenty-four adults with physical disabilities are now able to live in a home that they can call their own while receiving support that helps them thrive.”

Positioned on a one-acre site adjacent to OTR’s Gustafson Apartments, the three-story wood frame building features a Hardie panel exterior. The building was designed to be compact to maximize landscape and minimize cost. Its clean and simple lines lend to a modernist design, while the exterior colors compliment the surrounding environment.

All units feature one bedroom and one bathroom and are barrier free. Tenant amenities in the building include a community room and laundry facilities.

The building was designed with sustainability in mind to achieve National Green Building Standard Bronze Certification and to meet requirements for ComEd’s Energy Efficiency Grant for affordable housing.

Weese Langley Weese Architects provided architectural services for Kirwan Apartments.

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Society: Disabled Issues / Disabilities

Our Dream Pursuits to Host “Enchanted Gardens” Prom Night for Special Needs Adults in Frederick MD Area

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“For many young adults, prom night is a rite of passage. Yet many in the special needs community and their families never experience that joy and excitement.” – Beverly Shaffer, President and Founder, Our Dream Pursuits, Inc.


FREDERICK, Md. (PRWEB)

When: Saturday, May 13th 6 pm to 9 pm

Where: Veteran’s Service Center, 1750 Monocacy Blvd, suite A, Frederick MD

Tickets: Advance purchase of $15 per person. RSVP at shaffer4952@yahoo.com or 240-405-8048

Support: Help us make this a special event with a tax-deductible donation via http://spot.fund/pk77nss

Participants join us on April 29th for a “Cinderella’s & Prince Charming’s Closet” to select from over 200 donated formal wear items. Please use the RSVP contact for details on the location and time.

Our Dream Pursuits, Inc., a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote employment and social opportunities for adults with intellectual disabilities, will host a themed prom, “Enchanted Gardens” on Saturday, May 13th from 6 pm to 9 pm at the Veteran’s Service Center located at 1750 Monocacy Blvd. Suite A, Frederick MD. Tickets must be purchased in advancefor $15 by contacting Bev Shaffer at shaffer4952@yahoo.com or (240) 405-8048. Support this event with a tax-deductible contribution at http://spot.fund/pk77nss. Please contact Bev Shaffer if interested in providing business donations (goods and services) and volunteer opportunities.

“For many young adults, prom night is a rite of passage. Yet many in the special needs community and their families never experience that joy and excitement,” said Beverly Shaffer, President and Founder of Our Dream Pursuits, Inc. “We are thrilled to host our first Prom, but we need the help of our local community to support us in making our Enchanted Gardens Prom night our biggest social event since our inception over eight years ago.”

“Just being able to say I’ve been to a prom will be great,” said Richard Shutter, a 7-year Our Dream Pursuits participant. “I’m making a difference by helping with the events and it makes me feel important.”

About Our Dream Pursuits, Inc.

Our Dream Pursuits, Inc., a 501c3 nonprofit organization, was established in August 2014 to promote employment and social opportunities for adults with intellectual disabilities. It has served hundreds of individuals within this very special population. We host social events, community outings, theater productions, and employment skill initiatives within the Frederick, MD, area. Follow us on Facebook.

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Society: Disabled Issues / Disabilities

Synergies Work Announces Finalists for Inaugural EDDIE Awards

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Synergies Work Announces Finalists for Inaugural EDDIE Awards

Synergies Work Announces Finalists for Inaugural EDDIE Awards

“We are thrilled to bring attention to the entrepreneurial contributions of individuals with disabilities.” –Aarti Sahgal, Founder and CEO of Synergies Work


ATLANTA (PRWEB)

Synergies Work, an Atlanta nonprofit supporting entrepreneurs with disabilities, today announced the 15 finalists across five categories for its inaugural EDDIE Awards taking place April 27 from 5:30-9:00 p.m. at City Springs in Sandy Springs in Metro Atlanta. Learn about the finalists and their respective categories here. One winner will be named in each category. Additionally, an Entrepreneur of the Year selected from the finalists will receive a $10,000 grand prize to further their business aspirations.

“We’ve been overwhelmed by the quality of applicants for our first-ever EDDIE Awards,” said Aarti Sahgal, Founder and CEO of Synergies Work. “We are thrilled to bring attention to the entrepreneurial contributions of individuals with disabilities. Our goal is to foster connections and bridge gaps within the ecosystem, highlighting the innovative and impactful work being done.”

Karen Graham, a former WAGA-TV sports anchor and morning-show host, will serve as the evening’s master of ceremonies. A three-time regional Emmy Award winner for her sports feature stories, Graham is now co-CEO and executive producer of Sign1News, an award-winning media production company delivering news for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community, powered by CNN. Entertainment for the evening will be provided by award-winning recording artist Lachi, the Georgia State University Aphasia Choir, Dj Sulaiman, and spoken-word artist Jasmin Duffey. Additional artists and entertainers, as well as speakers, will be announced soon.

“I’m honored to be a judge for the inaugural EDDIE Awards,” said Minna Hong, former Peer Support Supervisor at Atlanta’s Shepherd Center who is also an artist and entrepreneur. Hong served on Synergies Work’s first board of directors. “I was amazed by the ingenuity and creativity demonstrated by the EDDIE applicants. I love the collaborations with all people for the service of all people. I am excited to see the future leaders in business, think tanks, innovators, and artists through EDDIE!”

Other judges for the EDDIE Awards include Serena Lowe, Senior Director, LTSS and Community Life, at CareSource; Jeff Hilimire, Cofounder and CEO at Purpose Group; Meghan Pietrantonio, Senior Vice President and Head of Strategy and Community Affairs at Truist Foundation; Merrill Friedman, RVP, Inclusive Policy & Advocacy at Elevance Health (formerly Anthem); Johnny Mason, Judge at State Board of Workers’ Compensation; Josef Scarantino, Head of Programs at All Raise; Peter Baron, CEO of Carabiner Communications; and Dana Cogan, President of Carabiner Communications.

The headline sponsor for the inaugural EDDIE Awards is CareSource, with other sponsors including The Coca-Cola Foundation, Georgia Advocacy Office, ZenBusiness, National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities, Delta Air Lines, WestRock, America’s SBDC, and the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. Information on remaining sponsorships can be found here.

Tickets for the inaugural EDDIE Awards on April 27 are still available but are selling quickly. Attendees of the black-tie event will enjoy food and entertainment prior to the awards ceremony. Ticket information can be found here.

All finalists will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to the EDDIE Awards to take part in the evening’s celebration. Remaining proceeds from the EDDIE Awards will be used to support Synergies Work’s programs. To date, Synergies Work has supported over 200 entrepreneurs and helped launch over 70 new startups. The nonprofit is committed to the goal of supporting one million new entrepreneurs with disabilities by 2027.

A video that tells the Synergies Work story can be viewed here.

About Synergies Work

Founded in 2016, Synergies Work is the largest business incubator and accelerator for entrepreneurs with disabilities in the United States. The organization serves entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey—from ideation to success. With the goal of building one world where people with disabilities belong, Synergies Work helps entrepreneurs with disabilities build, launch, and grow sustainable and scalable ventures. Its approach is based on a fundamental belief that all individuals have boundless talent, an inherent curiosity to explore, and a passion to succeed. Synergies Work received second place and Audience Favorite grants from Truist Foundation’s Inspire Awards and is also part of the Moonshot Initiative, in partnership with SmartJob and Enable Ventures, which was announced at the Clinton Global Initiative. The nonprofit has also received the Dave Hammis Innovation Award from the APSE (Association of People Supporting Employment First). For more information on Synergies Work, visit http://www.synergieswork.org or contact the organization at synergies@synergieswork.org.

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Society: Disabled Issues / Disabilities

New Champions Fund Annual Opportunity Announced to Elevate Leaders of Color and Allies who Support Students with Disabilities

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BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PRWEB)

The Educating All Learners Alliance (EALA), a coalition of over 128 partner organizations led by InnovateEDU, is launching the second year of its New Champions Fund. The New Champions Fund allows EALA to provide an annual unrestricted $35,000 grant and access to a year-long mentorship program to a leader of color, or ally of the equity in education movement, who is actively working to support students with disabilities, including students who are also marginalized, come from underserved communities, or experience poverty. EALA will provide two additional $5,000 sub-grants to runners-up, as determined by the panel of nationally recognized New Champions judges.

This award aims to elevate the work and profile of emerging leaders doing exceptional work who may struggle to be recognized in traditional, national fundraising or communication efforts. The explicit intent of this grant is to diversify the organizations, voices, and approaches that are leading the conversation on serving all students. Winners will be selected by a diverse judging panel of national education leaders.

Dena Simmons, founder of LiberatED and 2022 New Champion, highlights the value of the New Champions grant, noting how the funding supported the vital work of LiberatED: “The New Champions grant was a wonderful opportunity to build with the larger InnovateEDU community and to continue centering youth voice in our work with the goal of creating the conditions for belonging, healing, and collective liberation for all children.”

Those who meet the primary requirements to apply to the New Champions Fund include:

  • leaders of community-based organizations (CBOs), schools and districts, non-profits, or for-profit organizations that are under $2 million in annual revenue*;

  • leaders of color or allies of the equity in education movement;

  • entities or individuals who are actively working to support students with disabilities, including students who are also marginalized, come from underserved communities, or experience poverty.


*for-profit organizations must be able to accept contributions from a non-profit organization.

“The New Champions Fund is an incredible opportunity for EALA to spotlight an emerging leader or organization in education who may not yet have had the opportunity to receive funding for their breakthrough idea,” said Treah Hutchings, EALA’s Project Manager. “With the support of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, EALA is committed to spotlighting and drawing attention to equity-driven leadership working to support students who learn differently.”

The winner of the New Champions Fund will be supported by EALA through the following key areas: a $35,000 unrestricted grant, a one-year mentorship provided to leadership to accomplish strategic goals, and focused work with EALA to spotlight the champion’s work through various media channels, podcasts, webinars, and national conferences.

Applicants can gain further inspiration from the 2022 New Champions Fund winner, LiberatED, and runners-up, STEM4Real and Dr. Charles Cole III, who exemplify the qualities and work to be supported through the New Champions Fund. To learn more about the critical work last year’s grantees do and how the New Champions fund has amplified their efforts, visit the New Champions Fund website.

The New Champions Fund application opens Monday, April 3rd, and will close on Friday, May 5th. For more information, visit EALA’s website.

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The Educating All Learners Alliance (EALA) is an uncommon coalition of organizations committed to resource sharing and community-building that supports the efforts of the education community to meet the needs of students with disabilities.

Press Contact: Rachel Lorch, InnovateEDU, rlorch@innovateedunyc.org

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