Jenny Anderson, Celebrate EDU Co-Founder, with her brother Brent Anderson

Self-employment is the fastest growing sector of our economy and the disability community is often excluded from the opportunity to pursue this path even though it is often a good fit.

BOULDER, Colo. (PRWEB)
October 08, 2020

Celebrate EDU is pleased to announce that applications for their Microgrant Program are now open! The Boulder, Colorado-based non-profit organization was founded to provide education and resources to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities so that they can embark on a path of entrepreneurship.

“We started Celebrate EDU seven years ago, inspired by my brother Brent who is on the autism spectrum and is a successful entrepreneur,” said Co-Founder and CEO Jenny Anderson. ”Self-employment is the fastest growing sector of our economy and the disability community is often excluded from the opportunity to pursue this path even though it is often a good fit.”

“We’re so happy to offer this Microgrant Program in conjunction with our educational offerings to provide tangible resources and support for individuals with developmental disabilities to follow their dreams.”

The grants, which range from $100 to $500 are available to any person with intellectual or developmental disabilities with a new or emerging business. The requirements for application are:

• 
  Applicant must be 16 years of age or older
• The business must be a new or emerging business that has not generated more than $3,000 in revenue
• Funds can be used for supplies, equipment, training, marketing, or anything else needed to start a business
• Businesses ideas must conform to legal requirements and not fall within disallowed categories.

Once an individual has been approved for a grant there are stipulations prior to disbursement, including:

• Approved applicants must complete a free course on business finances and budgeting from Celebrate EDU
• Approved applicants must submit a business budget and track spending of their funds.

To apply for a Microgrant, complete the initial assessment and application here.

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“This is our second year entering the awards and our first year winning an award. We are very proud of our team and the continuing mission of helping people with disabilities find self-confidence and independence.”

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. (PRWEB)
October 08, 2020

Diveheart announced its recognition as a winner in the 2020 Sharecare Awards in the category of Healthy Living for Diving Past Boundaries. Established by Sharecare in association with The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, New York Chapter (NY NATAS), the Sharecare Awards promote and reward excellence for the best productions and programming in health and well-being.

Diveheart’s entry showed how chronic pain is relieved when two young men with spinal cord injuries join Diveheart and escape gravity underwater.

“How exciting it is to have our work and our mission recognized. This year has been tough on everyone, but we will continue to move forward and bring hope and healing to as many people as we can!” said Diveheart Executive Director Tinamarie Hernandez. “This is our second year entering the awards and our first year winning an award. We are very proud of our team and the continuing mission of helping people with disabilities find self-confidence and independence. We can’t wait to go back into the water again with our participants once the pandemic ends.”

The Sharecare Awards was launched in 2018 as a first-of-its-kind awards competition that promotes and rewards excellence for the best productions and programming in health and wellness. Diveheart is one of 16 winners in the second annual Sharecare Awards across categories spanning various media formats and health topics.

Entries were judged by the Sharecare Awards Academy of Judges – a curated team of leading healthcare and media professionals with expertise in each of the competition categories. The Sharecare Award in each category was determined after a second round of judging by the deans of the Academy of Judges and a committee of additional experts.

“In today’s health environment, the impact of creative content and programming that spark awareness and action is more evident than ever, and we’re proud that this year’s Sharecare Award winners represent the industry’s most impactful productions that are making a difference,” said Donna Hill Howes, chief nursing officer and senior vice president of corporate partnerships at Sharecare. “By elevating the contributions of this year’s winners, we hope to inspire others within the industry to effect positive change and outcomes by illuminating the most important health issues facing our world today.”

In addition to the 2020 category winners, past Sharecare Award recipients include some of the most prominent names in health and health media, including acclaimed actress, producer, author, social activist, and philanthropist Marlo Thomas; renowned neurosurgeon and CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta; and various world-leading health advocacy and healthcare institutions.

The Sharecare Awards is operated through the Sharecare Foundation, a nonprofit entity that Sharecare established solely in support of this awards program, with the support of its generous sponsors and in association with NY NATAS, which fosters creativity and inspires artistic and technical excellence through the renowned Emmy®® Award.

More information about the Sharecare Awards is available at https://sharecareawards.org.

About Diveheart:

Millions of people around the world suffer from chronic pain. Millions more find relief in the water through aqua therapy. The nonprofit Diveheart takes that relief one step further through scuba therapy. Underwater, the weightless wonder of the water column gives wheelchair users and others with disabilities freedom from gravity where their chronic pain evaporates. Underwater, increased range of motion, pain relief, new confidence, and self-esteem are just a few of the benefits that surface for Diveheart’s adaptive divers while they defy gravity and become aquanauts when exploring and experiencing the magic of inner space. Find out more at http://www.Diveheart.org.

About The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, New York Chapter

The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, New York Chapter, founded in 1955, is the preeminent membership organization serving media professionals by offering career-enhancing events and networking opportunities. New York NATAS fosters creativity and inspires artistic and technical excellence through the renowned Emmy® Award, the coveted peer-recognition symbol of distinction in regional television.

About Sharecare

Sharecare is the digital health company that helps people manage all their health in one place. The Sharecare platform provides each person – no matter where they are in their health journey – with a comprehensive and personalized health profile where they can dynamically and easily connect to the information, evidence-based programs and health professionals they need to live their healthiest, happiest and most productive lives. In addition to providing individual consumers with direct access to award-winning and innovative frictionless technologies, scientifically validated clinical protocols, and best-in-class coaching tools, Sharecare also helps providers, employers and health plans effectively scale outcomes-based health and wellness solutions across their entire populations. To learn more, visit http://www.sharecare.com. ###

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“COVID-19 has awakened many of us to the challenges of unemployment, from economic struggle to loss of identity. NDEAM gives us a chance to highlight the burdens faced by people with disabilities,” said Melwood’s Interim President and CEO, Larysa Kautz.

UPPER MARLBORO, Md. (PRWEB)
October 07, 2020

To mark the 75th anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), Melwood is hosting the 2020 Neurodiverse Employment Conference, consisting of 16 interactive virtual sessions scheduled weekly from October through December. As one of the nation’s largest nonprofits addressing disability employment and as one of the region’s largest employers of people with disabilities, Melwood is committed to creating a more inclusive world by helping employers embrace neurodiversity – the variation in how we learn and process information.

While representing a large segment of the population – the CDC estimates that 1 in 4 Americans is living with a disability and that nearly 11% of Americans are affected by a cognitive or neurodevelopmental disability – people with disabilities are disproportionately affected by unemployment and underemployment.

“COVID-19 has awakened many of us to the challenges of unemployment from economic struggle to loss of identity. National Disability Employment Awareness Month gives us a chance to highlight the additional burdens faced by people with disabilities not only in this current climate but in general. With this event, we aim to break down barriers and build the infrastructure of inclusion,” said Melwood’s Interim President and CEO, Larysa Kautz.

The 16 free virtual sessions bring together prominent business leaders, policymakers, researchers, assistive technology companies and disability advocates to share best practices to strengthen our efforts to train, hire and retain people with disabilities, including veterans. All sessions are free and open to the public. For more information or to register, go to http://www.Melwood.org/events1

About Melwood

Melwood is one of the largest nonprofit employers of people of differing abilities in the country, employing more than 1,600 workers – nearly 1,000 of whom are people of differing abilities. Melwood offers job placement, job training, life skills for independence, and support services to more than 2,500 people each year in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. Melwood also has an inclusive summer camp program for children and provides employment and support services to veterans and active-duty military members who have experienced service-related trauma or injury. For more information, visit http://www.Melwood.org.

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AUSTIN, Texas (PRWEB)
October 07, 2020

VA Claims Insider (VACI) CEO Brian Reese and Minority Vets of America (MVA) CEO Lindsay Church today announced collaboration on a program to serve veterans facing financial hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic. VA Claims Insider contributed $25,000 to the MVA COVID-19 Relief Fund and joins the ranks of the Seattle Seahawks and Seattle Foundation in support of this program.

“On a good day, our country’s disabled and minority veterans are disproportionately affected by everything from housing and food insecurity to mental health crises,” said Reese, an Air Force service-disabled veteran who deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. “The pandemic has only heightened those challenges. It’s also heightened the needs. When we saw the action and the passion behind the Minority Vets mission, we wanted to help them continue their good work.”

“We are grateful for the continued support from organizations like VA Claims Insider,” said Church, a veteran of the U.S. Navy. “The number of vets applying for assistance in recent months has outpaced even our greatest expectations. Thanks to VACI’s contribution, veterans and their families experiencing financial hardship due to the pandemic will now have more access to direct financial assistance.”

To date, the MVA Covid-19 Relief Fund has seen more than 680 applicants across the nation. Through the fund, minority veterans and their families receive direct financial assistance for food and transportation.

More information on MVA’s COVID-19 Relief Fund, virtual events and resources is available here.

About Minority Vets of America

Minority Vets of America is a non-partisan, non-profit organization that was designed to create belonging and advance equity for underrepresented veterans, including women, people of color, LGBTQ, and religious minorities. The organization aims to transform the narrative of the American veteran by building an interconnected community, fostering greater understanding of our memberships’ identities, and serving minority veterans through the development of targeted programming and advocacy.

About VA Claims Insider

VA Claims Insider is headquartered in Austin, TX and is an education-based coaching/consulting company for disabled veterans who are exploring eligibility for increased VA disability benefits and who wish to learn more about that process. VA Claims Insider also connects veterans with vetted independent medical professionals in an independent referral network for medical examinations, disability evaluations and credible medical nexus letters for a wide range of disability conditions. VACI serves more than 300,000 unique veterans a month across its websites and membership programs between Military Disability Made Easy and VA Claims Insider. VA Claims Insider, LLC is not an accredited agent, VSO, attorney, or entity recognized by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and is not affiliated with the VA in any way. VA Claims Insider, LLC does not assist veterans with the preparation, presentation, and prosecution of VA disability claims for VA benefits. Veterans shall prepare and file their own claim or work with an accredited representative, many of which offer services for free.

media@vaclaimsinsider.com

737-214-2140

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“August’s modest gains in the employment-to-population ratio for people with and without disabilities have been lost due to the continued effects of COVID-19.” -John O’Neill, PhD, director of employment and disability research at Kessler Foundation.

EAST HANOVER, N.J. (PRWEB)
October 02, 2020

Kessler Foundation and University of New Hampshire nTIDE Report—featuring more on the 2020 Kessler Foundation National Employment and Disability Survey and the experiences of college graduates with disabilities who came of age under the ADA−−with project director Kimberly Phillips, PhD, of UNH-IOD

The downshift in the September job numbers sparks concerns about employment prospects for Americans with and without disabilities, according to today’s National Trends in Disability Employment – Monthly Update (nTIDE), issued by Kessler Foundation and the University of New Hampshire’s Institute on Disability (UNH-IOD). The declines in the economic indicators reflect the impact of the COVID pandemic on the ability of workers to stay engaged in the labor market.

nTIDE COVID Update (month-to-month comparison)

In the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Jobs Report released Friday, the employment-to-population ratio for working-age people with disabilities decreased from 28.8 percent in August to 28.3 percent in September (down 1.7 percent or 0.5 percentage points). For working-age people without disabilities, the employment-to-population ratio increased from 69.7 percent in August to 70 percent in September (up 0.4 percent or 0.3 percentage points). The employment-to-population ratio, a key indicator, reflects the percentage of people who are working relative to the total population (the number of people working divided by the number of people in the total population multiplied by 100).

“August’s modest gains in the employment-to-population ratio for people with and without disabilities have been lost due to the continued effects of COVID-19,” said John O’Neill, PhD, director of employment and disability research at Kessler Foundation. “And for next month’s nTIDE report,” he added, “we are likely to see these declines continue as more workers move from furlough to termination.”

The labor force participation rate for working-age people with disabilities decreased from 33.6 percent in August to 32.7 percent in September 2020 (down 2.7 percent or 0.9 percentage points). For working-age people without disabilities, the labor force participation rate also decreased from 76.1 percent in August to 75.7 percent in September 2020 (down 0.5 percent or 0.4 percentage points). The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the population that is working, not working and on temporary layoff, or not working and actively looking for work.

“The labor force participation rate is a bell-weather of the long-term employment prospects of people with disabilities,” cautioned economist Andrew Houtenville, PhD, research director of the University of New Hampshire’s Institute on Disability. “September’s decline in this indicator suggests that people with disabilities are leaving the labor market—they are no longer on furlough or actively looking for work. As the pandemic continues and more workers are permanently let go, we are likely to see further declines in the labor force participation rate.”

nTIDE COVID Update – Friday, October 23 at 12:00 pm Eastern

Stay tuned for more about the employment of people with disabilities as we follow the impact of COVID-19 and look at the numbers in more detail.

Traditional nTIDE Numbers (comparison to the same time last year)

The employment-to-population ratio for working-age people with disabilities decreased from 31.4 percent in September 2019 to 28.3 percent in September 2020 (down 9.9 percent or 3.1 percentage points). For working-age people without disabilities, the employment-to-population ratio also decreased from 74.9 percent in September 2019 to 70 percent in September 2020 (down 6.5 percent or 4.9 percentage points).

The labor force participation rate for working-age people with disabilities decreased from 33.7 percent in September 2019 to 32.7 percent in September 2020 (down 3 percent or 1 percentage points). For working-age people without disabilities, the labor force participation rate also decreased from 77.4 percent in September 2019 to 75.7 percent in September 2020 (down 2.2 percent or 1.7 percentage points).

For reference, in September 2020, among workers ages 16-64, the 4,208,000 workers with disabilities represented 3.1 percent of the total 137,815,000 workers in the U.S.            

Beyond the Numbers

In 2020, we mark 30 years of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and 75 years of celebrating October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month. To commemorate these important milestones, Kessler Foundation released the results of the first national survey of college graduates with disabilities who came of age since the passage of the ADA – the 2020 Kessler Foundation National Employment and Disability Survey: Recent College Graduates.

The Survey, which was commissioned by Kessler Foundation and implemented by the University of New Hampshire Institute on Disability (UNH-IOD), showed that recent college graduates with disabilities were as likely to be employed as their peers without disabilities, with 90 percent of each group holding jobs after college. “This Survey clearly suggests that higher education pays off for people with disabilities,” said Dr. Phillips, research assistant professor at UNH-IOD and project director for the Survey. For all recent graduates, preparing for careers by engaging in internships, paid employment, and career counseling services correlated positively with working after graduation. “Students with disabilities were just as likely to engage in these activities, and benefit from them, as their peers without disabilities,” reported Dr. Phillips.

The Survey findings counter traditional viewpoints about the potential for young people with disabilities. “Our surveys give voice to people with disabilities, dispelling many of the myths about their participation in higher education and the workplace,” asserted Katz, senior VP of the Center for Grants and Communications at Kessler Foundation. “With our 2020 survey, we lay to rest more myths about people with disabilities – that college isn’t a good choice for them, that they cannot perform as well as their peers, that they won’t find jobs after graduation.” The Survey can also guide decision making made more complicated by the COVID economy. “Now we can be confident in advising high school students with disabilities to pursue higher education,” said Katz, “even in an environment of widespread unemployment.”

Bryce Stanley, BA, MS, PhD candidate, and research assistant at the University of New Hampshire shared how his experiences compared with the survey’s main findings. Stanley was encouraged when the survey showed that peers with disabilities were striving to work and transitioning to jobs, but cautioned that disparities remain in job quality (e.g., earnings, hours working) between college graduates with and without disabilities.

Dr. Phillips continues to dig deeper into the survey results, seeking better ways to support and advise youth with disabilities, their families, and educators. “Clearly, there is room to build on the gains achieved since the ADA,” she concluded, “and improve the educational experiences and employment outcomes of people with disabilities.”

Ask Questions about Disability and Employment

Join our nTIDE Lunch & Learn series today, October 2, at 12:00 pm Eastern. This live broadcast, hosted via Zoom Webinar, offers attendees Q&A on the latest nTIDE findings, provides news and updates from the field, as well as invited panelists to discuss current disability-related findings and events. Today, Kimberly Phillips, PhD, and Bryce Stanley, MS, join Dr. Houtenville, Dr. O’Neill, and Denise Rozell, Policy Strategist at AUCD. Join live or watch the recordings at: ResearchonDisability.org/nTIDE.

NOTE: The statistics in the nTIDE are based on Bureau of Labor Statistics numbers but are not identical. They are customized by UNH to combine the statistics for men and women of working age (16 to 64). nTIDE is funded, in part, by grants from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) (90RT5037) and Kessler Foundation.

About Kessler Foundation

Kessler Foundation, a major nonprofit organization in the field of disability, is a global leader in rehabilitation research that seeks to improve cognition, mobility, and long-term outcomes — including employment — for people with neurological disabilities caused by diseases and injuries of the brain and spinal cord. Kessler Foundation leads the nation in funding innovative programs that expand opportunities for employment for people with disabilities. For more information, visit KesslerFoundation.org.

About the Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire

The Institute on Disability (IOD) at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) was established in 1987 to provide a coherent university-based focus for the improvement of knowledge, policies, and practices related to the lives of persons with disabilities and their families. For information on the NIDILRR-funded Employment Policy and Measurement Rehabilitation Research and Training Center, visit ResearchonDisability.org.

For more information, or to interview an expert, contact:

Carolann Murphy, 973.324.8382, CMurphy@KesslerFoundation.org

As many as 1 in 4 Americans have a disability.

NEW YORK (PRWEB)
September 23, 2020

Mediaplanet announces the launch of its cross-platform campaign “Disability Empowerment.” This campaign discusses the social stigmas people with disabilities face, celebrates and empowers groups with special needs, and highlights the importance of having diverse communities and work cultures today, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The campaign also celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

As many as 1 in 4 Americans have a disability. These people not only face ongoing challenges in their day-to-day lives, but are met with many social stigmas that make it difficult to succeed in education, employment, and everyday life. With the growing changes COVID-19 presents our society, the need for communities to be more adaptable, accepting, and inviting has never been greater.

The print component of “Disability Empowerment” is distributed within today’s edition of USA Today in the New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Los Angeles, Houston, Seattle, North/Central Florida, South Florida, Cincinnati, Atlanta, North/South Carolina, Boston, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Washington D.C. markets, with a circulation of approximately 200,000 copies and an estimated readership of 600,000. The digital component is distributed nationally through a vast social media strategy, and across a network of top news sites and partner outlets. To explore the digital version of the campaign, visit FutureofPersonalHealth.com/campaign/Disability-Empowerment.

Disability advocate and actor Jamie Brewer graces the cover of the print publication. In an exclusive interview, Brewer, who plays Adelaide “Addie” Langdon in FX’s “American Horror Story,” encourages people with disabilities to never give up, pursue their dreams and, “Don’t let your disability be your disadvantage.” In addition to acting, Brewer has worked to eliminate demeaning terms in state laws, and continues to be a source of inspiration to people with and without disabilities for her advocacy and acting roles.

This campaign was made possible with the support of Disability:IN, American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, Abator Information Services, Accessibility Professionals, Rangam Consultants, Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation, Hollister Incorporated, ABLEnow, Booster Fuels, Jamie Brewer, Tatyana McFadden, The Arc, HireHeroes USA, American Association on Health and Disability (AAHD), Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD), Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA), National Association for Down Syndrome (NADS), American Foundation for the Blind (AFB), The Autism Society, Guide Dogs of America, The Spina Bifida Association (SBA), National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS), Aaron Fotheringham, Wesley Hamilton, Tiffany Yu, Rebekah Taussing, and Ali Stroker.

About Mediaplanet

Mediaplanet specializes in the creation of content marketing campaigns covering a variety of industries. We tell meaningful stories that educate our audience and position our clients as solution providers. Our unique ability to pair the right leaders with the right readers, through the right platforms, has made Mediaplanet a global content marketing powerhouse. Our award-winning stories have won the hearts of countless readers while serving as a valuable platform for brands and their missions. Just call us storytellers with a purpose. Please visit http://www.mediaplanet.com for more on who we are and what we do.

Press Contact:

Brianna Roberts

Brianna.roberts@mediaplanet.com

646-922-1410

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