Prevent Blindness declares Inherited Retinal Disease (IRD) Genetic Testing Week, May 17-23, providing new educational resources to the public.

“Inherited retinal diseases can have a significant impact on the quality of life for patients, including affecting the ability to work and live independently,” said Jeff Todd, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness.

CHICAGO (PRWEB)
May 07, 2020

In order to help patients with Inherited Retinal Diseases (IRDs) receive an accurate diagnosis through genetic testing, Prevent Blindness, the nation’s oldest volunteer eye health organization, is embarking on a new awareness initiative to educate the public on IRDs, a group of genetic disorders that can cause severe vision loss or total blindness. A recent editorial noted that IRDs are the leading cause of vision loss in persons between 15 and 45 years of age- impacting 1 in every 2,000 people.

To continue the Prevent Blindness mission of preventing blindness and saving sight, the group has declared May 17-23, 2020 as “Inherited Retinal Disease Genetic Testing Week.” As part of this initiative, Prevent Blindness has created a dedicated webpage (to go live on May 15, 2020) with no-cost educational resources on IRDs, providing detailed information on risk factors, therapy and research options, financial assistance services, the importance of genetic testing, and more. Shareable social media graphics on IRDs are also available. Development of these new resources was supported by a donation from Spark Therapeutics, a gene therapy company striving to challenge the inevitability of genetic disease.

The most common types of IRDs include:

• Retinitis Pigmentosa
• Choroideremia
• Stargardt Disease
• Cone-rod Dystrophy
• Leber Congenital Amaurosis

All those diagnosed with IRDs should work with their healthcare professional to develop a disease management plan tailored to the patient’s needs.

Patients with suspected IRDs are encouraged to participate in genetic testing, even those who were tested more than five years ago and did not receive a definitive result. According to the National Institutes of Health, genetic testing is a type of medical test that identifies changes in chromosomes, genes, or proteins. The results of a genetic test may provide a detailed diagnosis which confirms or rules out most suspected genetic conditions and the test can help determine a person’s chance of developing or passing on a genetic disorder to their children. Free genetic testing is now available from select organizations and commercial businesses, including through the “ID YOUR IRD” program.

“Inherited retinal diseases can have a significant impact on the quality of life for patients, including affecting the ability to work and live independently,” said Jeff Todd, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness. “Fortunately, today there are more therapies being researched than ever before. We encourage patients and their caregivers to educate themselves on steps that can be taken today to save sight for tomorrow.”

“As a leading gene therapy company with a strong commitment to genetic testing for the IRD community, Spark Therapeutics is pleased to support the Prevent Blindness inaugural IRD Genetic Testing Week,” said Dan Chung, DO, MA, ophthalmology therapeutic area leader, Spark Therapeutics. “We encourage patients living with IRDs and caregivers to pursue genetic testing in order to receive a true, genetic diagnosis.”

For more information on IRDs and genetic testing for vision issues, please call Prevent Blindness at (800) 331-2020 or visit https://www.preventblindness.org/inherited-retinal-diseases. For a listing of vision care financial assistance programs in English or Spanish, visit https://www.preventblindness.org/vision-care-financial-assistance-information.

About Prevent Blindness

Founded in 1908, Prevent Blindness is the nation’s leading volunteer eye health and safety organization dedicated to fighting blindness and saving sight. Focused on promoting a continuum of vision care, Prevent Blindness touches the lives of millions of people each year through public and professional education, advocacy, certified vision screening and training, community and patient service programs and research. These services are made possible through the generous support of the American public. Together with a network of affiliates, Prevent Blindness is committed to eliminating preventable blindness in America. For more information, or to make a contribution to the sight-saving fund, call 1-800-331-2020. Or, visit us on the Web at preventblindness.org or facebook.com/preventblindness.

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Disability Matters: A Springboard Consulting Event

The Honorees represent the “best of the best” when it comes to the commitment required and actions necessary for disability inclusion.

HIGHLAND BEACH, Fla. (PRWEB)
May 06, 2020

Covid-19 has certainly created unprecedented times. Hence for the first time, Winners of the 2020 Disability Matters North America Awards were announced on Thursday, April 23rd 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: RUBY: American Airlines, Colgate-Palmolive Company, Froedtert Health, Intuit, Oracle, and VF Corporation. SILVER: Bank of America, Toyota, Travelers. BRONZE: The Caring Foundation of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, Cisco, DTCC, Electronic Arts, HSBC, Intel, Landmark College, Unum. MEDIA: DiversityMBA, among others.

The 2020 North America Disability Matters Honorees are:

MARKETPLACE AWARD    

•     Amazon
•     American Airlines
•     Royal Caribbean International
•     The Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company

WORKPLACE AWARD

•     Bank of America
•     Cisco
•     Intel Corporation
•     Royal Dutch Shell

DISABILITY CHAMPION AWARD

•     Frank Kaminski, NAVSEA Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division, Keyport

DISABILITY HERO AWARD

•     F. Carl Hansen, Cultural Detritus
•     Angela Forker, The Precious Baby Project

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

Entries for the 2021 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 and engagement of people with disabilities as employees and as consumers through the Disability Matters Awards. http://www.consultspringboard.com

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Jason Stacy

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (PRWEB)
May 05, 2020

Kansas City Area Educator and Coach Jason Stacy is excited to announce the release of his first novel — RUN, which is self published and Available on Amazon.

Stacy, an educator for almost two decades, was driven to journalism and a love for reading and writing after reading books by the late Matt Christopher as a child. Away from writing for 17 years, though helping inspire future writers and journalist as a journalism teacher and newspaper/yearbook sponsor, Stacy took the time during the quarantine to write and publish his first book.

He hopes RUN will be the first of almost 30 sports-focused books for pre-teens, teens and young adults, that are more than just basic sports. They teach lessons and character traits, and a portion of sales from each book will go to an organization related to the lesson or cause portrayed in the book.

RUN combines his love for running, his experience as a track and cross country coach, and his admiration and respect for all that the Special Olympics does for its athletes in this story of inclusion. Fifty cents to $1 of each ebook and paperback purchased will go to the Special Olympics.

Book Synopsis:

Leonard Smithson and his Rossdale High School relay teammates are ready for a huge senior season. After second place finishes at State two years in a row, the Rossdale sprint relay members are ready to win it all in their final season. No one is going to get in their way … Except themselves.

The relay teammates like to have fun. Sometimes too much. This time, they go too far while messing around with Alex Summers, one of the Special Olympics athletes who share the track for practice twice a week. They try to run away from Alex but he catches them; so does their coach, who punishes them with running. Lots of running.

What happens next, though, is a surprise for the relay members. Alex wants a chance to race for a spot on the team. He loves to run and he loves to run fast. Leonard knew Alex was fast, but no one really knew how fast until the race off.

Will Leonard and his teammates be accepting to their new teammate? Will they even stick around to give him a chance? To them, at least to start, Alex is just another obstacle in their way of a State title.

In fact, they learn, he is not that different from them and he may just be the key to getting a State Championship.

About the Author:

JASON STACY is an educator and coach of almost two decades with a passion for teaching, writing and sports. In his newly started career as an author, he hopes to blend all three as he tells stories much like the books he grew up reading. After moving around during his childhood, Stacy attended the University of Missouri in Columbia to study journalism and later settled in the midwest. He has taught journalism and sponsored school publications while also coaching multiple sports for the last 17 years.

Inspired by the sports-related Matt Christopher books he read as a child, Stacy hopes to share the same passion for sports, youth, and lessons in his books as well.

RUN is his first novel.

Jason Stacy Amazon Author Page: https://tinyurl.com/JasonStacyAuthorPage

Jason Stacy Web Site: https://jasonjstacy.weebly.com

Phone: 816-305-0852

Email: SportsBooks@mail.com

Twitter: @BooksStacy (Sports Books By Stacy)

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www.NAELA.org

Today’s COVID-19 shutdown highlights the need to have important legal documents in place or up-to-date.

WASHINGTON (PRWEB)
May 01, 2020

While traditional face-to-face ways of celebrating National Elder Law Month in May aren’t possible this year, elder and special needs law attorneys across the country are celebrating this 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, such as how the CARES Act could affect the way people use their retirement funds from IRAs and 401(k)s, how to notarize a signature when you need to social distance, and what your loved one’s rights are in a nursing home.

Today’s 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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CSD Works Virtual Career Expo

Not only will this event help advance employment opportunities for the region’s deaf and hard of hearing community, it also will help businesses here in Austin and Texas accelerate their efforts to create more diverse, inclusive and welcoming workplaces.

AUSTIN, Texas (PRWEB)
April 28, 2020

CSD Works announced today that it will be hosting its first Virtual Career Expo on May 2, 2020. The main goal of the free Expo is to connect deaf job seekers in Austin and throughout Texas with employers seeking more diverse and inclusive workforces. CSD Works is a subsidiary of Communication Service for the Deaf, the world’s largest deaf-led social impact organization.

The CSD Works Virtual Career Expo will be held May 2 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. CST and will feature several prominent guest speakers, such as deaf business owner Trudy Suggs, as well as several presentations on job preparedness for job seekers, including: interview skills, resume building, cover letter writing, professional attire and potential job opportunities. Jobseekers can register for the Virtual Career Expo here.

“We are very pleased to be bringing our first Virtual Career Expo to the deaf community,” said Kristy Ramos, CSD Works Director. “Not only will this event help advance employment opportunities for the region’s deaf and hard of hearing community, it also will help businesses here in Austin and Texas accelerate their efforts to create more diverse, inclusive and welcoming workplaces.”

In addition to accessing a talent pool of interested jobseekers, employers who participate in the CSD Works Virtual Career Expo will obtain tip sheets and resources on how to create workplace environment where deaf and hard of hearing employees and their colleagues thrive. Information on how to receive deaf-friendly training, consultation, American Sign Language classes, recruitment and placement practices for greater diversity, and workplace assessments will also be provided.

For more information about the Virtual Career Expo, sponsorships, registration and how to share your organization’s employment opportunities with the deaf and hard of hearing community please email CSD Works at works@csd.org.

About CSD Works

CSD Works is a nationwide service focused on increasing employment opportunities for the deaf community by working with businesses, non-profits, and policymakers throughout the entire job cycle from recruitment to placement. CSD Works connects qualified job seekers with employers who are motivated to establish a diverse, inclusive and welcoming workplace and employment experience for their employees. For more information about CSD Works, including its array of free online services, please visit CSD Works.

Media Contacts:

The Durkin Agency

Karen Durkin

karen.durkin@thedurkinagency.com

Alana Cowan

alanacowan5@gmail.com

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ASL Literacy Activities from the Motion Light Lab at Gallaudet University

Few things are more important for our deaf children right now than ensuring education continuity and sign language support for their families.

WASHINGTON (PRWEB)
April 22, 2020

The Motion Light Lab at Gallaudet University has launched ASL Literacy Activities to support deaf children and their families with remote learning during Covid-19. ASL Literacy Activities offer a full suite of free resources, including daily educational activities and live storytelling, all in American Sign Language (ASL) and English.

“Few things are more important for our deaf children right now than ensuring education continuity and sign language support for their families,” said Melissa Malzkuhn, founder and creative director of the Motion Light Lab in the Science of Learning Center on Visual Language and Visual Learning at Gallaudet University. “As a mom of a deaf son, I am well aware of the challenges of at-home education during these tough times. We want families to know we are here for them, and we are providing quality ASL/English resources for their children to continue developing literacy skills.”

VL2 Storybook Apps: The Centerpiece of ASL Literacy Activities

The centerpiece of the ASL Literacy Activities is the Motion Light Lab’s award-winning VL2 ASL Storybook Apps. Every week, the Motion Light Lab offers a free Storybook App which includes daily offerings in ASL and English, live storytelling “sign aloud” on Mondays, and an ASL/English literacy lesson live-streamed every Wednesday on YouTube featuring deaf narrators and accompanying worksheets for a deeper dive into each story. The daily themed offerings are Marvelous Monday, Thinking Tuesday, Wondrous Wednesday, Terrific Thursday with arts and crafts, and Fun Friday featuring an interactive quiz. To date, five Storybook Apps have been introduced: The Baobab, The Boy Who Cried Wolf, Buck and Bull, The Little Airplane That Could, and Museum of Errors. Currently, more than 1,200 families from around the world are participating.

“Motion Light Lab’s ASL Literacy Activities have been an incredible resource for language and connection during this time of distance learning for our four-year-old and our two-year-old,” said Ronda Jo and Anne Grace Donatucci. “They love the interactive stories and supplemental activity kits that go along with each story.”

First created by Malzkuhn and her team in 2013, the VL2 Storybook Apps are designed on the fundamental premise that every child loves and deserves a great story. Backed by research on visual learning and bilingualism, the VL2 Storybook Apps support literacy development in deaf children. Currently, the Storybook App library features 18 different stories in ASL and English and several international editions, including Dutch, Russian, Italian and Japanese. VL2 Storybook Apps are available to download on iPads.

The ASL Literacy Activities also include a variety of curated resources to help deaf children and their families during this stay-at-home time, including explaining coronavirus to kids, ASL stories for kids, ASL literature by Deaf People of Color, important information on language development for deaf children, community-based and shared resources such as #OperationASLStorytime and #DeafEdAtHome, sample daily at-home schedules, and games and other free resources.

Motion Light Lab’s ASL Literacy Activities are part of Gallaudet University’s comprehensive bilingual response to Covid-19 to support and protect both the Gallaudet community and deaf children and their families. For more information about this and Gallaudet’s weekly Facebook Live Covid-19 town halls, please visit Gallaudet University.

“Deaf children face extraordinary challenges during the coronavirus pandemic,” said Dr. Laurene Simms, Gallaudet’s Chief Bilingual Officer. “This is even more true when their families do not know sign language. Gallaudet University is taking the lead by ensuring that deaf children across the nation receive daily activities in ASL and English.”

About ASL Literacy Activities and Motion Light Lab

ASL Literacy Activities is spearheaded by Gallaudet University’s Motion Light Lab, a space where creative literature intersects with digital technology to create immersive learning experiences. Motion Light Lab is part of the National Science Foundation Science of Learning Center on Visual Language and Visual Learning.

Two easy steps to get started: Sign up for free here at ASL Literacy Activities and subscribe to Motion Light Lab’s YouTube Channel to access all live sessions and to catch any previous archived sessions.

About Gallaudet University

Gallaudet University, federally chartered in 1864, is a bilingual, diverse, multicultural institution of higher education that ensures the intellectual and professional advancement of deaf, deafblind and hard of hearing individuals through American Sign Language and English.

Media Contacts:

The Durkin Agency

karen.durkin@thedurkinagency.com

alanacowan5@gmail.com

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