Gallaudet Guides in Apple Maps

The global signing ecosystem is a vast and powerful engine driving economies, innovation and entrepreneurship…There are millions of Deaf and hard of hearing people worldwide who actively seek businesses that value them, embrace their language, and provide a truly inclusive experience.

WASHINGTON (PRWEB)
May 12, 2021

Gallaudet University, the world’s premier university for Deaf, hard of hearing, and Deafblind students, today announced that it is bringing new Guides to Apple Maps to help connect users to businesses and organizations that value, embrace and prioritize the Deaf community and signed languages. Apple launched Guides last fall with iOS 14 to provide users a curated list of interesting places to visit in a city, find popular attractions, discover restaurants, and explore new recommendations.

Gallaudet’s creation of Apple Maps Guides aligns with its bilingual mission and will serve a critical role in advancing American Sign Language (ASL) vibrancy and equity for the Deaf community, and in promoting the use of signed and tactile languages. These Guides will also amplify the importance, cultural significance, and economic strength of the Deaf community for the larger hearing population.

The new guides are titled The Gallaudet Neighborhood; Deaf-Owned Businesses in the D.C. Area; All About Gallaudet; and Deaf Schools and Programs for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. The Gallaudet Neighborhood guide features more than 30 businesses, including:

•     Mozzeria, a Deaf-owned and operated Neapolitan pizza restaurant;
•     Busboys and Poets, a restaurant that features ASL Poetry and ASL Slam nights;
•     The first U.S. Signing Starbucks;
•     Chase Bank with employees who can support financial needs through ASL or interpreters; and
•     Apple Store at Carnegie Library with Deaf and hard of hearing staff, in addition to onsite interpreters for consultation and training.

“We are pleased to once again partner with Apple, building on our Connected Gallaudet initiative,” said Roberta J. Cordano, president of Gallaudet University. “We are especially delighted to debut our first four guides here in Washington, D.C., where we have a thriving Deaf economy. The global signing ecosystem is a vast and powerful engine driving economies, innovation and entrepreneurship. These new guides show the world what leading companies like Apple, Chase, Target, and Starbucks already know. There are millions of Deaf and hard of hearing people worldwide who actively seek businesses that value them, embrace their language, and provide a truly inclusive experience.”

“At Apple, we believe technology at its best can enable everyone to create, learn and stay connected,” said Sarah Herrlinger, Apple’s senior director of Global Accessibility. “We’re thrilled that Gallaudet’s introduction of these new guides will bring greater awareness of the vibrant Deaf, hard of hearing, and Deafblind communities, and showcase a wide range of Deaf-owned and Deaf-friendly organizations for Apple Maps users.”

An all-Deaf team of content curators and researchers worked with Apple to develop the guides. Curation of guides, present and future, will be driven by criteria that qualify locations and businesses to be part of the Signing Ecosystem. Over time, Gallaudet plans to expand its reach to all 50 states and showcase the evolving Signing Ecosystem nationally and internationally. The guides will automatically update when new places are added to a list, so users always have the latest recommendations.

The Signing Ecosystem (social media hashtag #SigningEcosystem) encompasses the Deaf Ecosystem and its allies, united through their rich socio-cultural origins and backgrounds, and conscious empowerment of each other. Members of the Signing Ecosystem work together for the socio-economic, ethical and political betterment of Deaf, hard of hearing, Deafblind, deaf-disabled, and late-deafened people globally. However, the guides are for everyone, deaf and hearing. To learn more, visit Gallaudet’s Signing Ecosystem webpage.

Gallaudet University, federally chartered in 1864, is a bilingual, diverse, multicultural institution of higher education that ensures the intellectual and professional advancement of Deaf, hard of hearing and Deafblind individuals through American Sign Language and English. The university enrolls over 1,600 students in more than 40 undergraduate majors and many master’s and doctoral programs. It also conducts research in various fields, including brain imaging, educational neuroscience, education, linguistics, psychology, Deaf history and culture, and Black Deaf history and culture.

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Media Contacts:

Gallaudet University

Robert Weinstock

robert.weinstock@gallaudet.edu

The Durkin Agency

Alana Cowan

alanacowan5@gmail.com

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Disability Matters: A Springboard Event

HIGHLAND BEACH, Fla. (PRWEB)
May 10, 2021

Covid-19 has certainly created unprecedented times. Hence for the second time, Winners of the 2021 Disability Matters North America Awards were announced on Thursday, April 29th via Live-Stream.

Disability Matters Awards annually honors companies for their innovative programs resulting in the successful outreach, recruitment, engagement and retention of candidates, employees and customers with disabilities. The Honorees represent the “best of the best” when it comes to the commitment required and actions necessary for disability inclusion; shining a spotlight on companies that have had successes in mainstreaming people with disabilities in their workforce, workplace and/or marketplace.

The annual event and awards is produced in the United States, Europe and Asia by Springboard Consulting, LLC. Springboard is recognized as the global expert in corporate disability inclusion.

Companies represented at the event included: HOST: Intuit. RUBY: Colgate-Palmolive Company, Danone North America, Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin, and VF Corporation. SILVER: Bank of America, and Travelers. BRONZE: Electronic Arts, HSBC, Intel, Sephora, Toyota, Unum, and Zappos. MEDIA: DiversityMBA Media, among others.

The 2021 North America Disability Matters Honorees are:

MARKETPLACE AWARD

• Colgate-Palmolive Company
• Sephora
• Zappos

WORKFORCE AWARD

WORKPLACE AWARD

DISABILITY EVERYDAY HERO

For more information about Disability Matters, visit >> https://consultspringboard.com/disability-matters-about/

Entries for the 2022 edition of the awards will open in August.

ABOUT SPRINGBOARD. Founded in 2005, Springboard is recognized as the expert in mainstreaming disability in the global workforce, workplace and marketplace. Serving corporations and organizations throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe and Asia, Springboard has become a trusted partner in relation to disability issues and initiatives across virtually every business category. Springboard annually honors exemplary organizational initiatives that promote the outreach, support & engagement of people with disabilities as employees and as consumers through the Disability Matters Awards. http://www.consultspringboard.com

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DETROIT (PRWEB)
May 04, 2021

For the 10th consecutive year, golfers will participate in the MI-UCP “Driving to Close the Disability Divide Charity Golf Outing” on June 18th at The Majestic at Walden Lake in Hartland, MI. MI-UCP is pleased to announce that all slots have been filled. To date, the event has raised over $150,000, with all proceeds going directly to MI-UCP.

The popular event began with a group of close friends who have played hockey together for years. When a member of that hockey family had a child diagnosed with cerebral palsy, they decided to take action, and an idea was born.

In order to raise awareness and to educate people about cerebral palsy, two of those long-time hockey friends, Jason Trzcinski and Matt Brown, approached MI-UCP about co-hosting a charity golf outing. Since then, there have been nine successful events including September, 2020 when 188 golfers (masked and socially distanced) played 27 holes at The Majestic at Walden Lake, raising nearly $24,000.

The event is dedicated to the MI-UCP vision: To enable all Michiganders with disabilities to live to the best of their abilities and ambitions.

As a group, these 1.4 million Michiganders who live with a disability have been marginalized and ignored for too long. Often being denied access to education, housing or employment, leaving many struggling with financial stability and independence. All of this has created a disability divide. It’s time for a change.

From assistive technology to portable and permanent wheelchair ramps, providing financial and employment services, parent training, advocacy and being a trusted resource, everything MI-UCP does, every day, is done to close that divide.

Examples of services include: a Representative Payee program to assist with financial matters; Benefits Counseling that help individuals navigate complicated systems like Social Security and Medicaid; Assistive Technology can be provided via grants to address needs in the areas of mobility, communication, learning, transportation, independent living and more. MI-UCP also provides Quick Ramps for Kids who are in need of an inexpensive, portable option for wheelchair accessibility.

More about MI-UCP

MI-UCP was founded in 1949 as United Cerebral Palsy Association of Metropolitan Detroit (UCP/Detroit). This included Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. That same year, United Cerebral Palsy Association of Michigan (UCP/Michigan) was formed to serve the needs of constituents throughout the remainder of the State of Michigan.

In 2020, these two organizations merged into MI-UCP (Michigan United Cerebral Palsy). The goal is to expand our scope of service reach. In reality, more than 65 percent of the people we serve have a disability other than cerebral palsy. These include autism, spinal cord injuries, intellectual disabilities, visual impairments and many other disabling conditions.

By unifying as MI-UCP, we are able to operate more efficiently and effectively as one of the state’s leading sources of information, referral and strategic partnerships with like-minded organizations. And by having offices in Detroit and Lansing, we can continue to be a leading advocate for all 1.4 million Michiganders with disabilities.

For more information or to contact MI-UCP, please visit the web site at mi-ucp.org ###

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“We look forward to presenting awards to Leslie Josel and Dave Sylvestro, in addition to celebrating the 2021 Fred J. Epstein Youth Achievement Award winners, a group of young people from around the country, for their remarkable accomplishments.”Jane RossExecutive Director

NORWALK, Conn. (PRWEB)
May 04, 2021

Henry Winkler to Host Reception for VIP Ticketholders

Norwalk, CT (PRWeb) May 4, 2021 – Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities, Inc. [SKLD] will hold its Annual Benefit Gala, MAKE WAVES, as a virtual event via Zoom Live on Thursday, May 13. The pre-show starts at 6:00 p.m., and the awards program will begin at 6:30 p.m. Dr. Chris Bogart, Co-Executive Director of the Sasco River Center, and President of the Board of SKLD, will serve as the Master of Ceremonies.

The 2021 Professional Achievement Award will be presented to Leslie Josel, an ADHD academic and parenting coach, and the founder of Order Out of Chaos – https://www.orderoochaos.com/ – a virtual company that helps parents guide their students to success in learning, and in life. Josel is the creator of the award-winning Academic Planner: A Tool for Time Management, a planning and organizational tool designed to help students with learning differences, and an award-winning author of three books, including the recently published How to Do It Now Because It’s Not Going Away: An Expert Guide to Getting Stuff Done.

Dave Sylvestro, a founding staff member of Eagle Hill School, Greenwich, and a part-time school psychologist at The Southport School in Southport, CT will receive the Smart Kids with LD Community Service Award. Sylvestro became a founding staff member of Eagle Hill School in Greenwich in 1975. He continued to work there and later, at The Southport School (formerly, Eagle Hill Southport) for 47 years as a teacher, coach, dorm supervisor, advisor, and head of the Psychology Services department. Sylvestro continues to provide part-time support for both students and parents as a school psychologist at The Southport School.

“I continue to be drawn to working with our kids because of their incredible courage, talent, and spirit, and with their families for pretty much the same reasons,” said Sylvestro.

Master of Ceremonies Dr. Chris Bogart, is the Co-Executive Director of the Sasco River Center in Darien, Wilton, and Stamford, CT and the Board President of SKLD. He has worked with children, adolescents, and parents for the past 25 years as a licensed clinical psychologist, conducting comprehensive psychoeducational and ADHD evaluations, and therapy.

During the Gala celebration, the Fred J. Epstein Youth Achievement Awards will be given to a diverse group of student winners from around the country. The awards recognize an individual student’s remarkable talents and achievements, despite his or her struggles in school. The top Youth Achievement Award is for $1,000.

SKLD Honorary Chairman Henry Winkler, Golden Globe award-winning actor, director, and author, will chat with guests at 6:00 p.m. during a special VIP Reception for sponsors, and guests who purchase $500 tickets. Gala tickets are available either without charge, or for $100, $250, and $500, including prize package drawings. Tickets may be purchased at – https://smartkidswld.schoolauction.net/2021gala/register/ticket_sales.

The evening’s virtual Gala will be conducted via Zoom Live and will include a pre-show at 6:00 pm featuring Blake Poon, the mixologist at Sono 1420 Craft Distillery, who will prepare cocktails using the distillery’s Vo Vodka. The awards program will begin at 6:30, and will include a live auction and the award presentations. A silent Wine & Spirits auction will open on May 11.

The Live Auction items include:

• A tasting menu for six prepared and served by nationally celebrated chef Matt Storch, at Match Restaurant in South Norwalk, CT;
• An evening on Broadway, featuring premium tickets for Jagged Little Pill and a dining certificate for $250 at Sardi’s Restaurant;
• A week-long vacation for eight people at a 16th-century palazzo in Cortona, Italy, site of the film and book, Under the Tuscan Sun.

The Gold Sponsor of the gala is The Wooster School in Danbury, CT. Silver Sponsors are the Sasco River Center in Darien, Wilton and Stamford, CT; Marc Hoffman, Author, Educator, Speaker; and Fairfield County Bank. Bronze Sponsors include Eagle Hill School in Greenwich, CT; Winston Prep School in Norwalk, CT; Order Out of Chaos; Sari and Jay Canell; and The Southport School.

About Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities, Inc.:

Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities, Inc. is a Norwalk, CT-based nonprofit organization dedicated to helping children with learning and attention issues fulfill their potential by inspiring, educating, and empowering parents via its educational programs, award-winning website and blog, youth mentoring programs, and free e-newsletter at http://www.SmartKidswithLD.org. Honorary Board members include former CT Governor Dannel Malloy, Anne Ford, Chairman Emerita of the National Center for Learning Disabilities, and Dr. Ben Powers, Head of The Southport School. Henry Winkler, Golden Globe award-winning actor, director, and author, serves as the organization’s Honorary Chairman.

For more information, visit – http://www.SmartKidswithLD.org -.

It’s important for us to participate in the advocacy efforts for people with physical disabilities.

VALLEY COTTAGE, N.Y. (PRWEB)
May 03, 2021

National Ramp announces a corporate sponsorship of United Spinal Association at the premier level, with their sponsorship of the Roll on Capitol Hill advocacy event.

“The United Spinal Association is a great organization for us to partner with. In their 75 years, they have a long history of successfully advocating for people living with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D). We are proud to support their ongoing work and this year’s Roll on Capitol Hill,” said Garth Walker, Managing Director at National Ramp.

About United Spinal Association

United Spinal Association is a national 501(c) (3) nonprofit membership organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life of all people living with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D), including veterans, and providing support and information to loved ones, care providers and professionals.

“When a person suffers a spinal cord injury, a wheelchair ramp is just one component of their new life. United Spinal Association provides a wide range of resources for those in this community, and we are pleased to start this sponsorship,” said Walker.

About the Roll on Capitol Hill

Roll on Capitol Hill is United Spinal’s annual signature policy event that supports key advocacy priorities for its membership and the broader disability community to ensure that legislators include wheelchair users and all people with disabilities in policy debates on Capitol Hill.

“It’s important for us to participate in the advocacy efforts for people with physical disabilities. As we look towards a barrier-free future, we’re happy to sponsor this great event,” said Andrew Miller, Marketing Director. “We look forward to maximizing the opportunities available to us through the Roll on Capitol Hill event, including engaging with United Spinal Association members at the virtual expo.”

National Ramp is a leading manufacturer of modular ramps. National Ramp was the first company to introduce an aluminum mesh ramp to the industry. Headquartered in Valley Cottage, NY, National Ramp’s business is composed of three main divisions: Home Access, which works with a network of dealers across the US and Canada to provide residential and commercial ramps to consumers; Veterans Access, which works directly with the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide ramps to Veterans; and Commercial Access, which provides ramping to the modular construction industry.

For more information on the American-made ADA-compliant ramps offered by National Ramp, visit http://www.nationalramp.com

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The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

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www.NAELA.org

The COVID-19 shutdown highlights the need to have important legal documents in place or up-to-date. Documents such as wills, trusts, legal powers of attorney, and medical powers of attorney are critical to have completed.

WASHINGTON (PRWEB)
May 01, 2021

As Americans are slowly but surely emerging from the global pandemic with vaccine rollouts and loosened restrictions on nursing home visitations, elder and special needs law attorneys across the country are celebrating National Elder Law Month and Older Americans Month virtually. NAELA members are holding virtual seminars and workshops, writing blogs, and articles for their local news and media outlets. They are contacting their clients with information about recent changes in the laws that will affect them.

The COVID-19 shutdown highlights the need to have important legal documents in place or up-to-date. Documents such as wills, trusts, legal powers of attorney, and medical powers of attorney are critical to have completed. Most elder law firms are open virtually to conduct client meetings via videoconference.

Find an elder and special needs law attorney in your area using NAELA’s Online Member Directory and learn more about questions and answers when looking for an attorney on the NAELA website.

About NAELA

Members of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) are attorneys who are experienced and trained in working with the legal problems of aging Americans and individuals of all ages with disabilities. Upon joining, NAELA member attorneys agree to adhere to the NAELA Aspirational Standards. Established in 1987, NAELA is a non-profit association that assists lawyers, bar organizations, and others. The mission of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys is to educate, inspire, serve, and provide community to attorneys with practices in elder and special needs law. NAELA currently has members across the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit NAELA.org, or to locate a NAELA member attorney in your area, visit NAELA.org/findlawyer.

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