Fable CEO Alwar Pillai shares news with the team at the internal Fable Summit in April 2022.

Ultimately, our goal is to empower people with disabilities to participate, contribute, and shape society. By working with companies who serve millions of users, we’re well on our way.

TORONTO (PRWEB)
May 17, 2022

Toronto-based accessibility platform Fable announced that it has closed a $10.5M USD Series A financing round. The round was led by Five Elms Capital, with participation from Difference Partners, Disruption Ventures and several notable angels including John Ruffolo, one of Canada’s most prominent investors and an advocate for accessibility and inclusion. This round follows a $1.5M USD seed round led by Disruption Ventures in 2020.

The accessibility industry has experienced rapid growth over the last several years, alongside the growth of companies prioritizing user experience.

“Accessibility isn’t just about people with disabilities,” says Fable CEO Alwar Pillai, “it’s about prioritizing users with the most complex set of needs, and as a result building a better experience for everyone.”

Fable already counts the tech world’s behemoths amongst its customers. Companies like Meta, Walmart and Microsoft are all using Fable to engage with people with disabilities. Large enterprises have complex products that are constantly being iterated and improved, and feedback from end-users is essential in that process.

After the successful launch and adoption of their flagship product, Engage, Fable is now tackling education. Fable Upskill aims to support customers’ entire inclusive product development journey.

“Accessibility is a growing industry, but the skill sets haven’t caught up to the demand. Fable Upskill helps customers level up their teams and build the skills they need to build products that delight all their users,” says Pillai.

Fable Upskill uses custom video-based courses to help teams gain the accessibility skills they need. And companies like Microsoft are jumping at the opportunity.

“Working with an organization that shares the same passion around developer accessibility that Microsoft does has been invigorating, which is why we are so excited for Fable’s latest fundraising news. We are looking forward to the awesome things to come and a continued accessibility partnership with Fable,” shared Dona Sarkar, Director of Technology – Microsoft Accessibility, Microsoft.

“Ultimately, our goal is to empower people with disabilities to participate, contribute, and shape society. By working with companies who serve millions of users, we’re well on our way,” concludes Pillai.

On Global Accessibility Awareness Day later this week, Fable will be introducing a new skill development program created by people with disabilities, for people with disabilities.

More information about Fable is available at http://makeitfable.com.

Quotes

“Fable’s unique value proposition in the accessibility space and the platform’s ability to address multiple customer pain points throughout the Inclusive Product Development journey had us immediately excited. We are thrilled to partner with the Fable team and believe that Fable has a unique opportunity to help shape the rapidly evolving digital accessibility industry. Our goal is to support the business in expanding more of what has made them successful to date – bringing the experience of the customer to the forefront of the design and development process.” — Austin Gideon, Partner, Five Elms Capital

“Fable’s mission to empower people with disabilities is one that we desperately need. As someone who now experiences disability in my daily life, I see firsthand the barriers that people face. And as someone who has dedicated my life to the builders of tomorrow, it’s exciting to be part of a company that’s helping remove those barriers in the digital world.” — John Ruffolo, Founder & Managing Partner, Maverix Private Equity

“It has been exciting to see Microsoft’s partnership with Fable grow over the last year. The partnership started with Fable working with us to do accessibility user research of Microsoft sites and services and has grown to include learning modules around how developers with disabilities can use Microsoft products to do their best work. Working with an organization that shares the same passion around developer accessibility that Microsoft does has been invigorating, which is why we are so excited for Fable’s latest fundraising news. We are looking forward to the awesome things to come and a continued accessibility partnership with Fable.” — Dona Sarkar, Director of Technology – Microsoft Accessibility, Microsoft

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ADHD is the most common neuropsychiatric disorder in children and among the most common in adults, affecting 17 million individuals of every age, gender, IQ, ethnicity, religion, and socioeconomic background across the United States.

LANHAM, Md. (PRWEB)
May 17, 2022

Many people might be surprised to learn that attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common neuropsychiatric disorder in children and among the most common in adults, affecting 17 million individuals of every age, gender, IQ, ethnicity, religion, and socioeconomic background across the United States. As we mark Mental Health Awareness Month in May, CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder)―the leading nonprofit organization providing support, training, education, and advocacy for the ADHD community―aims to build awareness regarding the prevalence of ADHD, and the critical need for proper diagnosis and treatment by trained clinicians.

ADHD affects more than 10 percent of school-age children and more than four percent of adults in the U.S. This common disorder is characterized by a persistent pattern of inappropriate levels of inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity in varying combinations, and can be mild, moderate, or severe.

Without proper identification, diagnosis and treatment, ADHD can have potentially devastating consequences, including school failure, job failure, family stress and disruption, depression, relationship problems, substance use issues, delinquency, accidental injuries, legal difficulties, and reduced life expectancy. However, with an individualized multimodal treatment approach that can include behavioral interventions, parent and patient training, educational and workplace support, and medication, ADHD is highly manageable.

As home to the National Resource Center on ADHD, funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CHADD shares the following considerations for individuals who suspect they or a loved one might have ADHD and are seeking a proper evaluation and subsequent treatment plan:

1. Who Conducts the Evaluation Matters―To properly evaluate any child or adult for ADHD, identifying a trained healthcare provider is essential. There are several types of professionals who can diagnose ADHD, including clinical psychologists, clinical social workers, nurse practitioners, neurologists, psychiatrists, developmental pediatricians, and general pediatricians. Look for a provider who is an expert in evaluating and treating ADHD. You can ask the provider if they have received ADHD training, how long they have provided care for patients with ADHD, and how many patients with ADHD they treat in a given year. This will help ensure that you or your child receives care from an experienced ADHD professional.

2. A Proper Evaluation Takes Time―A comprehensive ADHD assessment is an involved process. For a child or adolescent, an evaluation typically requires one or more visits, each one approximately one or two hours in length. This allows for a thorough ADHD evaluation, including the identification of potential coexisting conditions or other reasons for behavioral concerns. Evaluation for a child should draw information from multiple sources, including parents, other caregivers, teachers/school records, or daycare providers, including the use of standardized rating scales. For adults, diagnosis typically takes between one and a half to three hours and includes a detailed history of past and current functioning, with additional information obtained from family members or significant others who know that person well. Some practitioners will also conduct tests for cognitive ability and academic achievement to rule out a possible learning disability. For adults, particularly for college students, it is helpful to include a parent or other close family member who can talk about the adult’s childhood.

3. ADHD Medication Should Be Monitored Regularly―If medication has been prescribed by a healthcare provider, the prescriber should require ongoing visits to monitor response, including therapeutic effects and any side effects. The prescriber should periodically monitor height (for a child), weight and blood pressure. Parents of children diagnosed with ADHD should ask the healthcare provider whether they offer parent education, including how to properly administer ADHD medication.

4. ADHD Typically Requires a Multimodal Approach to Treatment―A proper ADHD evaluation leads to the development of an individualized, multimodal treatment approach, which may include medication, behavioral therapy, and support at home, at school, on campus, and at work. Behavioral therapy for ADHD should be delivered by a licensed therapist, such as a psychologist, social worker, or mental health counselor. For a child, therapy will almost always involve the parent with or without the child and will focus on modifying behaviors using specific parenting strategies shown to be effective. Adults may benefit from treatment strategies similar to those utilized for children. Some adults have found that working with an ADHD coach is a helpful addition to their treatment plan. ADHD-trained clinicians skilled in cognitive behavioral therapy can also help adults diagnosed with ADHD learn new techniques to manage this common disorder.

5. ADHD Often Does Not Occur Alone―Research shows that over two-thirds of individuals with ADHD have one or more co-existing conditions. The most common include depression, anxiety disorders, learning disabilities, and substance use disorders. Many of these conditions have symptoms that can mimic ADHD and may in fact be mistaken for ADHD. A comprehensive ADHD evaluation includes screening for co-existing conditions. When one or more co-existing conditions are present alongside ADHD, it is essential that all are conditions are diagnosed and treated. Failure to treat co-existing conditions often leads to failure in treating ADHD.

To learn more about ADHD, including how to recognize the symptoms and where to turn for evaluation, treatment, and guidance, please visit CHADD.org, contact CHADD at 310.306.7070, or call the CHADD Helpline at 1.866.200.8098.

About CHADD

CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) is the leading resource on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), providing support, training, education, and advocacy for the 17 million children and adults in the United States living with ADHD, their families, educators, and healthcare professionals. As home to the National Resource Center on ADHD, funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CHADD is the most trusted source of reliable, science-based information regarding current medical research and ADHD management. To learn more, visit CHADD.org or call 310.306.7070.

                                                                 # # #

NOTE TO EDITORS: Interviews with ADHD experts are available upon request.

“We are producing both a full-length video and audiobook with audio description of the pictures for children who are blind or low vision and captions and sign language for children who are deaf or have hearing challenges.”Richard Rieman, Founder and CEO, Imagination Videobooks

DENVER (PRWEB)
May 03, 2022

“The Winnie-the-Pooh Project” advocated for Kickstarter’s new ALT TEXT feature, and it will be the first Kickstarter project ever to use it. Crowdfunding project creators can now have full image descriptions for blind and low vision visitors. Kickstarter has always had the option to add captions, but not alt text.

THE DIFFERENCE

This is how having alt text helps blind readers using screen readers to read a page out loud

Caption: Making Winnie-the-Pooh Accessible to blind and deaf children

Alt Text: Images of Pooh as he floats under a blue balloon next to bees, Piglet walks with a big heart in his hands, and Pooh steadies Piglet as he reaches for a prickly pear in a pear tree. The words are “Making Winnie-the-Pooh Accessible to Blind and Deaf Children.”

The Pooh Project is raising money to make the original 1926 Winnie-the-Pooh book FULLY ACCESSIBLE to blind and deaf children. Project Creator Richard Rieman and his Kickstarter Consultant, Lisa Ferland, reached out to Kickstarter’s Director of Publishing, who replied that the alt text feature has been in development and the Winnie-the-Pooh Project will be the first campaign to include it.

Richard says, “We are producing both a full-length video and audiobook with audio description of the pictures for children who are blind or low vision and captions and sign language for children who are deaf or have hearing challenges.”

“Pooh is the perfect project for us because the characters all have their differences and are still very lovable. It is very special that half of our cast members are voice actors who are themselves blind or low vision,” says Richard, who is the Founder and CEO of Imagination Videobooks, which has made over 100 children’s picture books accessible to all children.

About the Winnie-the-Pooh Project

“The Winnie-the-Pooh Project” is one of Kickstarter’s “Projects We Love.” All Pooh lovers now have the chance to help create a full-length Winnie-the-Pooh video and audiobook that is described, captioned, and signed with American Sign Language interpretation on-screen.

About Richard Rieman, Project Creator

Richard Rieman, “The Audiobook Wizard,” is Founder and CEO of Imagination Videobooks and an acclaimed authority on audio and video self-publishing. He has narrated and produced hundreds of Indie-published audiobooks. He is the author of the Global eBook Awards Gold Medal Winner in Writing/Publishing, “The Author’s Guide to Audiobook Creation.”

About Kickstarter

Kickstarter is an American public benefit corporation based in Brooklyn, New York, that maintains a global crowdfunding platform focused on creativity. The company’s stated mission is to “help bring creative projects to life”.

Key Links

For more information:

Contact Richard Rieman at Richard@ImaginationVideobooks.org or 720-507-5970

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62nd Annual Meeting

For those who have never had the opportunity to attend a BDRP Annual Meeting, join us and see for yourself how BDRP hosts an outstanding educational and scientific event to exchange knowledge and ideas that promote and expand the value of birth defects research and prevention.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (PRWEB)
May 04, 2022

From the use of a global birth defects app in low resource settings to examining maternal hyperglycemia and the risk for congenital heart disease, some of the world’s top scientific minds will be recognized for their cutting-edge birth defects-related research. Award recipients and special lecturers will be honored during the Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention’s 62nd Annual Meeting being held in-person June 25-29, 2022, at the Hyatt Regency Vancouver in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

The conference will include important and emerging topics such as infant mortalities due to birth defects in underserved communities, genomics of structural birth defects, the use of machine learning to classify congenital malformations, and much more. There will also be a virtual component to the Annual Meeting for those unable to attend in-person. For the full meeting schedule, including opportunities for continuing education, please visit https://birthdefectsresearch.org/meetings/2022/.

The Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention (BDRP) is an international and multidisciplinary group of scientists who study birth defects, reproduction, and disorders of developmental origin. “For those who have never had the opportunity to attend a BDRP Annual Meeting, join us and see for yourself how BDRP hosts an outstanding educational and scientific event that provides professionals and scientists who span the breadth of academia, industry, regulatory agencies, contract research organizations, consulting companies, and clinical specialties with a forum to exchange knowledge and ideas that promote and expand the value of birth defects research and prevention,” said Susan L. Makris, MSc, BDRP President.

The 2022 Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention award recipients and special lecturers include:

Keynote Lecture

Bekim Sadikovic, PhD, DABMG, FACMG, London Health Sciences Centre

Scheduled Presentation: Functional Correlation of Genome-Wide DNA Methylation Profiles in Genetic and Teratogenic Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Josef Warkany Lecture

Alan M. Hoberman, PhD, DABT, ATS, Charles River

Scheduled Presentation: Finding A Common Ground: Translation of the Principles of Teratology in Today’s Regulatory Climate

Robert L. Brent Lecture: Teratogen Update

Matthew W. Gillman, MD, SM, National Institutes of Health

Scheduled Presentation: Developmental Origins of Health and Disease in the ECHO Program

F. Clarke Fraser New Investigator Award

Mahsa Yazdy, PhD, Massachusetts Department of Public Health

Scheduled Presentation: From Birth Defects Surveillance to Prevention: A Career Focused on Using Data for Action

Patricia Rodier Mid-Career Award for Research and Mentoring

Jennifer Anne Willford, PhD, Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania

Scheduled Presentation: Putting the Long in Longitudinal: Research and Mentoring in Neurotoxicology

Agnish Fellowship

Christopher S. Lau, PhD, US Environmental Protection Agency

Scheduled Presentation: Confessions of an Accidental Leader

James G. Wilson Publication Award for the best paper published in the journal Birth Defects Research

Helen Dolk, PhD, Ulster University

Global birth defects app: An innovative tool for describing and coding congenital anomalies at birth in low resource settings. Birth Defects Research. 113:1057– 1073 (2021) (doi.org/10.1002/bdr2.1898)

Edward W. Carney Distinguished Service Award

William Slikker, Jr., PhD, National Center for Toxicological Research/US FDA

Birth Defects Research Distinguished Scholar Awards

•     Ester Garne, MD, Kolding Hospital

For research associated with Spectrum of congenital anomalies in pregnancies with pregestational diabetes; Birth Defects Research Part A: Clinical and Molecular Teratology, 94: 134-140 (2012)

•     Richard H. Finnell, PhD, Center for Precision Environmental Health, Baylor College of Medicine, Delphine Psychoyos, PhD, Texas A&M Health Science Center, and

Vinod K. Yaragudri, PhD, Emotional Brain Institute, Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, and New York University School of Medicine

For research associated with Cannabinoid Receptor 1 Signaling in Embryo Neurodevelopment; Birth Defects Research Part B, 95: 137-150 (2012)

Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention Innovator Award Finalists

•     Madhumita Basu, PhD, Nationwide Children’s Hospital

Title: Maternal hyperglycemia impairs cardiomyocyte differentiation to elevate the risk of congenital heart disease

•     Bevin E. Blake, PhD, US Environmental Protection Agency

Title: A high-throughput toxicity screen of 42 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and functional assessment of migration and gene expression in human placental trophoblasts

•     Loreen Straub, MD, Brigham and Women’s Hospital

Title: Classification of congenital malformations informed by machine learning with human adjudication

Edward W. Carney Trainee Awards

•     Madeline Vera-Colón, BS, University of California, Riverside
•     Kian Afsharian, BS, University of Toronto

Wilson Presentation Award Finalists

Postdoctoral Fellows

•     Karen Boschen, PhD, University of North Carolina
•     Claudia Demarta-Gatsi, PhD, Medicines for Malaria Venture
•     Fadi Musfee, PhD, Arkansas Center for Birth Defects Research and Prevention
•     Jocylin Pierro, PhD, US Environmental Protection Agency

Graduate Students

•     Laila Aboulatta, University of Manitoba
•     Alekhya Lavu, University of Manitoba
•     Madison Waddell, Central Michigan University College of Medicine
•     Madeline Vera-Colón, University of California, Riverside

BDRP Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Fellow Travel Awards

•     Laila Aboulatta, PharmD, University of Manitoba
•     Kian Afsharian, BS, University of Toronto
•     Sarah G. Avila-Barnard, BS, University of California, Riverside
•     Bevin E. Blake, PhD, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
•     Ashley Cheng, MSc, University of Toronto
•     Claudia Demarta-Gatsi, PhD, Medicines for Malaria Venture
•     Brianne Desrochers, University of Manitoba
•     Anna Claire G. Fernández, BS, University of California, San Francisco
•     Carly V. Goodman, BSc, York University
•     Rivka Green, MA, York University
•     Meaghan Hall, HBSc, York University
•     Justin Kula, BS, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine
•     Shashi N. Kumar, PhD, Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Pathology
•     Alekhya Lavu, Pharm D, University of Manitoba
•     Hai-Wei Liang, MS, National Yang-Ming University
•     Haneesha Mohan, PhD, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network
•     Fadi I. Musfee, MD, PhD, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
•     Ana María Ortiz Newmark, Medicina-Universidad de Los Andes
•     Payam Peymani, PhD, University of Manitoba
•     Kristal A. Rychlik, PhD, Sam Houston State University
•     Sidra Shafique, PhD, Queens University
•     Syna Pervaiz Singha, MPhil, Isra University
•     Karli Swenson, BS, BS, BA, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
•     Madeline Vera-Colón, BS, University of California, Riverside
•     Jenna Wiegand, MS, University of California, Riverside

For a full list of Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention past awards and recipients, please visit:

https://www.birthdefectsresearch.org/meetings/2022/am-awards.asp

Follow #BDRP2022 on social media to get BDRP 62nd Annual Meeting-related news.

# # #

Media Contact: Nicole Chavez, 619-368-3259, nchavez@birthdefectsresearch.org

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Bridge to Inclusion

“Together we can make a difference in the lives of those with disabilities and those who are neurodivergent through creating opportunity for meaningful, career-oriented employment. There is no better time for organizations to embrace this movement” Beam says.

CALABASAS, Calif. (PRWEB)
May 03, 2022

The winners of Fast Company’s 2022 World Changing Ideas Awards were announced today, honoring clean technology, innovative corporate initiatives, brave new designs for cities and buildings, and other creative works that are supporting the growth of positive social innovation, tackling social inequality, climate change, and public health crises.

Zavikon an employment agency, whose mission is to solve the unemployment/underemployment outcomes for individuals who are neurodivergent or those with disabilities through their innovative approach to educating and supporting companies in their efforts to include neurodiversity and disability hiring into their Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs has won Honorable Mention in the Workplace category.

Now in its sixth year, the World Changing Ideas Awards showcase 39 winners, 350 finalists, and more than 600 honorable mentions—with climate, social justice, and AI and data among the most popular categories. A panel of eminent Fast Company editors and reporters selected winners and finalists from a pool of more than 2,997 entries across transportation, education, food, politics, technology, health, social justice, and more. In addition, several new categories have been added this year including climate, nature, water, and workplace. The 2022 awards feature entries from across the globe, from Switzerland to Hong Kong to Australia.

Fast Company’s Summer 2022 issue (on newsstands May 10, 2022) will showcase some of the world’s most inventive entrepreneurs and companies tackling global challenges. The issues highlight, among others, probiotics for coral reefs, easy-to-assemble kit homes for refugees or disaster survivors, a 3D printed vaccine patch, an electric truck, a system to heat homes from the waste heat of a name-brand factory, and prosecutor-initiated resentencing for overly long prison sentences.

Zavikon’s Founder & CEO, Rebecca Beam says, “Together we can make a difference in the lives of those with disabilities and those who are neurodivergent through creating opportunity for meaningful, career-oriented employment. With the unemployment/underemployment rate for this population being so high, this is both a social and economic issue. Zavikon has been created to help organizations hire and retain this incredible talent. With companies being challenged through the great resignation, there is no better time for organizations to embrace this movement.”

“We are consistently inspired by the novelty and creativity that people are applying to solve some of our society’s most pressing problems, from shelter to the climate crisis. Fast Company relishes its role in amplifying important, innovative work to address big challenges,” says David Lidsky, interim editor-in-chief of Fast Company. “Our journalists have identified some of the most ingenious initiatives to launch since the start of 2021, which we hope will both have a meaningful impact and lead others to join in being part of the solution.”

About the World Changing Ideas Awards: World Changing Ideas is one of Fast Company’s major annual awards programs and is focused on social good, seeking to elevate finished products and brave concepts that make the world better. A panel of judges from across sectors choose winners, finalists, and honorable mentions based on feasibility and the potential for impact. With the goals of awarding ingenuity and fostering innovation, Fast Company draws attention to ideas with great potential and helps them expand their reach to inspire more people to start working on solving the problems that affect us all.

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Erick Dubuque, Ph.D., LBA, BCBA-D, ACQ’s Director of Accreditation notes, “The 19-member Committee and its work groups have met over two dozen times. We’ve gone through a rigorous process to ensure that our standards promote better services for patients and their families.”

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (PRWEB)
May 02, 2022

The Council of Autism Service Providers (CASP) announces today the launch of the Autism Commission on Quality (ACQ), a nonprofit accreditation program for organizations providing applied behavior analysis services (ABA) to individuals and families impacted by autism.

“CASP has been working on a myriad of initiatives to cultivate and share provider best practices in autism services,” notes Lorri Unumb, CEO, Council of Autism Service Providers. “As CASP works on its ABA Organizational Guidelines and Practice Guidelines, it became apparent that developing an accreditation program which incorporated these sources was a logical next step. CASP is excited to launch ACQ to develop quality and performance standards for ABA services and implement a meaningful accreditation review process to ensure applicants meet these standards.”

ACQ will be run by an independent volunteer-based committee system, which includes a Standards Committee and Accreditation Committee. ACQ’s governance structure will support representation from a wide range of stakeholders, including providers, consumers, payers, regulators, and other interested parties. Any health care organization offering ABA services to individuals with autism will be eligible to apply for ACQ accreditation in the middle of 2022.

“The ABA Standards Committee, originally founded through CASP but now part of ACQ, has been meeting regularly since June 2021 and has been drafting the new Applied Behavior Analysis Accreditation Program Standards and Guide,” notes Erick Dubuque, Ph.D., LBA, BCBA-D, Director of ACQ. “The 19-member Committee and its work groups have met over two dozen times and have examined a number of quality issues that are of great concern to ABA providers, patients, family members and legal guardians. We’ve gone through a rigorous process to ensure that our standards promote better services for patients and their families.”

If interested in learning more about the Autism Commission on Quality, call (502) 230-9020 or visit https://casproviders.org/acq

###

About Autism Commission on Quality (ACQ) (https://casproviders.org/acq)

The Autism Commission on Quality (ACQ) is a nonprofit accreditation agency that recognizes applied behavior analysis organizations serving individuals and families impacted by autism. ACQ’s mission is to continuously improve the impact of applied behavior analysis services for the autism community through education and accreditation of provider organizations. Our vision is for all recipients of applied behavior analysis services to reach their full potential through access to organizations offering the highest level of care. ACQ was founded by the Council of Autism Service Providers (CASP) and will be accepting applications for accreditation in the middle of 2022.

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Celebrating the 5P Mighty

“Communicating their needs seems to be the biggest hurdle that most our kiddos have, technological advances help them have a voice.”

LAKEWOOD, Calif. (PRWEB)
April 30, 2022

The 5p- Society of North America, along with families and support organizations from over 95 countries, are bringing awareness of 5p Deletion Syndrome also known as 5p Minus (5p-) Syndrome or Cri du Chat Syndrome. This genetic condition is caused by a permanent deletion on the “p” arm of the 5th chromosome. The 2022 awareness campaign celebrates these unique individuals by raising awareness around the world through education and community events, such as the “Faces of 5p-“ campaign as well as a Virtual 5K for 5p- event, among others.

The 5p- Society’s mission is to maximize quality of life of individuals with 5p- and their families. One way to improve the lives of individuals with the syndrome is by creating more programs that bring families together. The 5p- Society encourages families to focus on what the individual with the syndrome CAN DO; SEE the PERSON, not the disability; and to PAY FORWARD and educate others on what they have learned about the syndrome and their loved one.

“What we have learned during these past few years about our children is that they are adaptable and resilient. They are also very strong willed and persistent. If they want something, they will figure out how to get it or how to do it.” Says Laura Castillo, Executive Director of the 5p- Society. “Learning how to use technology, be it a computer, tablet or assistive communication device, may take them longer to use effectively, but they will learn to use it and then there is no stopping what they can do with this new knowledge.” Laura continues, “Communicating their needs seems to be the biggest hurdle that most our kiddos have, technological advances help them have a voice.”

“I encourage you to take part in the many Virtual 5K for 5p- events happening around the world, or create your own, post educational posts on social media, and wear your striped socks and your 5p- gear.” Says Nick Wallace, President of the 5p- Society. “The only way to stop people from being given antiquated information and for families to not be left unconnected is for us to make our voices heard.” Nick encourages families to be bold, reach out and connect families to one another, especially through social media.

In an ongoing effort to raise awareness, members and supporters are encouraged to participate in events throughout the week.

• 
  Stripy Sock Campaign: Wear striped socks, one long, one short, representing the whole and deleted fifth chromosomes, especially on May 5th. #stripysocks
• Face of 5p- Campaign – We will soon be flooding our Social Media pages with pictures and bios of our children and adults with 5p- during awareness week and beyond. Learn a little more about each of our kiddos and how truly awesome they are.
• Virtual 5k for 5p-, to raise awareness and money for programs that benefit the 5p Deletion Syndrome community. A Virtual Walk can be anything you want it to be, a walk, a run, a picnic, or any type of event. Over 50 “Teams” have been created all over the world. #5pminus5k. Some families have postponed their events until they can safely have them in their communities.
• Where in the World is C5? In an effort to encourage worldwide participation, we are asking families to pose for a picture with C5, the mascot of International 5p Deletion Syndrome Awareness Week (named C5 for Chromosome 5) and share their picture on social media using the #SeeC5 and #criduchatawareness. Looking forward to seeing pictures from around the world and maybe even with a celebrity or two!
• State Proclamations have been applied for and received from several state Governors around the USA.

For more event ideas, please visit https://fivepminus.org/event/awareness-week-events/

About 5p Deletion Syndrome: Identified in 1963 by Jerome Lejuene, a French physician, 2020 marks the 57th year since its discovery. Each year, approximately 50-60 children are born with 5p- Syndrome worldwide. It is often characterized at birth by a high-pitched, “cat-like cry” caused by an underdeveloped larynx and weak breath support. For this reason, it was previously called “Cri du Chat” or “Cry of Cat” Syndrome. We have since learned that the syndrome may be misdiagnosed early on due to the absence of this characteristic; hence our emphasis on the more medically accurate name of 5p Deletion or 5p- Syndrome.

Other characteristics include low birth weight, poor muscle tone, microcephaly and potential medical complications. The severity of the disorder varies among individuals and can be considered a spectrum disorder. Symptoms go from mild and unnoticed, which causes a delay in diagnosis, to severe where the individual requires to be cared for 24/7 and will require ongoing support from a team of parents, therapists, medical professionals, educational professionals and extended family members to help the individual achieve his or her maximum potential.

About the 5p- Society: The 5p- Society was founded in 1986. It is a non-profit organization that works to empower families with knowledge about the syndrome, facilitate connections, support research, advocate for improved prognosis and to enrich the lives of individuals affected by 5p- Syndrome and their families.

Visit us on the web at http://www.fivepminus.org, @5pminus, #stripysocks #5pawareness #5pminus5k #5pminus #SeeC5 #5pmighty #Facesof5p-

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One of Pond Lehocky Giordano’s Decentraland offices.

We established our metaverse offices because we’re excited about the countless opportunities the metaverse provides us and law firms generally to educate people with legal needs in new and immersive ways so that they may be able to change their lives for the better.

PHILADELPHIA (PRWEB)
April 29, 2022

Philadelphia (Apr. 29, 2022) – Pond Lehocky Giordano LLP, the largest workers’ compensation and disability law firm in Pennsylvania, today announced it has opened two offices in the metaverse. The firm is believed to be among the first workers’ compensation, Social Security disability, and short and long-term disability law firms in the world to do so.

Through its metaverse offices, located at Parcels -51, -97 and 25, -28 in Decentraland, Pond Lehocky Giordano will continue its mission of helping as many people as possible with their legal needs. In its metaverse offices, the firm plans to provide educational resources for the injured and disabled to help them both determine whether they have a legal claim and find lawyers to pursue those claims on their behalf.

“Even today with the many communications channels we have at our disposal, there are still millions of injured and disabled people who don’t know they may have a legal claim against the party that injured them or that they can take legal action to secure benefits they are not receiving but are legally entitled to,” said Shawn Lehocky, CEO of Pond Lehocky Giordano. “We established our metaverse offices because we’re excited about the countless opportunities the metaverse provides us and law firms generally to educate people with legal needs in new and immersive ways so that they may be able to change their lives for the better.”

In addition to educating current and prospective clients about their legal rights, Pond Lehocky Giordano expects its metaverse offices to provide opportunities for clients to connect and interact with the firm’s attorneys and staff members. The firm also plans on advising other law firms on their Web 3.0 plans, such as developing offices in the metaverse, accepting cryptocurrencies as payment for services, and exploring NFT offerings.

“Pond Lehocky Giordano has a long, proud history of helping other law firms embrace technology so that they can more effectively—and efficiently—serve their clients and secure great legal results for them,” said Dylan Pond, Chief Investment Officer of Pond Lehocky Giordano. “Our firm has always been an early adopter of technology, ranging from developing and implementing legal operations software to having cryptocurrency on our balance sheet. As engagement in the metaverse increases, and more law firms decide to establish a presence in it to engage with their current and prospective clients, Pond Lehocky Giordano will be there to help them do so.”

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About Pond Lehocky Giordano LLP

Pond Lehocky Giordano LLP is the largest workers’ compensation, Social Security disability, and short- and long-term disability law firm in Pennsylvania. The firm’s nationwide referral network, which includes more than 2,000 attorneys and through which more than 160,000 cases have been referred, helps injured and disabled Americans across the country obtain the legal assistance they need to get their lives back in order. The firm has been recognized by The Philadelphia Inquirer as a “Top Workplace,” the Philadelphia Business Journal as a “Best Place to Work,” and The Legal Intelligencer as one of the top law firms in Philadelphia for gender diversity.

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