Mosaic Gardens at Westlake

We’re proud of our entire team for their commitment to our mission and for their perseverance in the face of multiple challenges. This recognition validates all the hard work and inspires our team to reach even higher.

LONG BEACH, Calif. (PRWEB)
October 22, 2019

Mosaic Gardens at Westlake, a beautiful 125-unit affordable apartment complex near downtown Los Angeles, has captured the hearts and minds of the architecture and affordable housing industries, amassing five coveted awards since it opened in summer 2018.

“We literally moved mountains to get this building and community to the finish line,” said Rebecca Clark, president and CEO, Linc Housing. “People’s lives are changing because of access to this affordable and supportive housing. We’re proud of our entire team for their commitment to our mission and for their perseverance in the face of multiple challenges. This recognition validates all the hard work and inspires our team to reach even higher.”

Mosaic Gardens at Westlake, designed by Lahmon Architects and built by Walton Construction Inc., was honored with the following awards:

• 2018 Multi-Family Development of Year for most outstanding overall development of the year, from Southern California Association of NonProfit Housing (SCANPH)’s Homes Within Reach Awards program.
• 2019 Gold Nugget Award for Best Affordable Housing Community (60 du/acre or more). These awards honor the industry’s best, brightest and most innovative architects, planners and builder/developers.
• 2019 Los Angeles Business Council Architectural Award of Excellence in the “Housing” category, which honors outstanding architecture and design projects that significantly enhance the Los Angeles community’s urban environment.
• 2019 American Institute of Architects|LA Residential Architecture “Honor” Award in the Affordable Housing category. The juror notes say Mosaic Gardens at Westlake is an “outstanding example of space and how you can make affordable housing beautiful and stunning and yet also warm and vibrant for the residents living there. How it sits in the city and the way it makes that public space is quite noteworthy.”
• 2019 Multifamily Executive Award – Project of the Year in the Affordable category. Multifamily Executive’s annual program honors the apartment industry’s best people, programs, and projects.

Mosaic Gardens at Westlake, located at 111 S. Lucas Avenue in Los Angeles, features 80 one-, 15 two- and 30 three-bedroom homes for low-income families and seniors. Nearly 1,900 households submitted applications for the initial lottery for the 60 affordable homes for families and seniors earning up to 60 percent of area median income. The remaining apartments are for people who have experienced homelessness.

Through Linc’s partnerships, the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services and The People Concern provide wraparound supportive services for the formerly homeless households. Services include mental health and physical health services, employment counseling and job placement, education, substance abuse counseling, money management, assistance in obtaining and maintaining benefits, and referrals to community-based services and resources. Linc Cares supports all residents with a variety of services to promote community, health and wellness.

About Linc Housing Corporation

Linc Housing, one of California’s most productive nonprofit developers of affordable housing, is committed to building communities and strengthening neighborhoods for people underserved by the marketplace. Linc has helped create more than 8,000 homes in 79 communities throughout the state. The organization’s properties are known for excellent design, outstanding management and life-enhancing services for its residents. Linc has more than 35 years of service to families, seniors, people with special needs, and local governments – helping to create sustainable communities via new construction, acquisition and rehabilitation, and historic preservation. Visit http://www.linchousing.org for more information.

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Shop for Camphill-made pottery, home goods, textiles, toys, candles, and other handmade gifts that give back to communities supporting people with disabilities, such as autism and Down syndrome.

“During the holiday season, especially, it is a delight to see how much joy and personal fulfillment are sparked when people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are empowered to share their many talents with the world,” said Karen Murphy, Executive Director of Camphill Foundation.

CHESTNUT RIDGE, N.Y. (PRWEB)
October 22, 2019

If a kinder, more accepting world for diversely-abled people is on your wish list, take heart! This holiday season, you can use your purchasing power to help make that wish a reality.

Shop for artisanal gifts handmade by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, who live in Camphill communities in the United States and Canada. Proceeds support the Camphill movement’s work to nurture the many talents and abilities of people with autism, Down syndrome, and other cognitive disabilities.

Top Camphill-made gifts for the 2019 holiday season include:

• For the Holiday Hostess: Pottery Platters and Wooden Cutting Boards
• The Camphill School Transition Program in Glenmoore, PA, prepares 18- to 21-year-olds with developmental differences for adulthood, while empowering them to learn vocational skills like pottery making and woodworking. Students craft a variety of high-quality products—including brightly-colored pottery platters and locally-sourced wood cutting boards—sold in the Beaver Farm Crafts Etsy Shop. Students also help with shop marketing and fulfillment, enclosing a personal thank you note with each order.
• For The Light of Your Life: Toxin-Free Beeswax Candles
• Residents of Camphill Village Copake in Copake, NY, and Glenora Farm in Duncan, Canada, create gorgeous candles to make the season merry and bright. Camphill Village Copake’s candles come in holiday designs, such as fir trees, pine cones, and angels. Glenora Farm’s hand-dipped taper candles are sold in assorted sizes and colors, ideal for illuminating a festive meal or for lighting a Hanukkah menorah. Made of 100% pure beeswax, candles are free of toxins emitted by commercially-made paraffin candles and use cotton wicks, with no wires or chemical treatments.
• For the Fashionista: Woven Scarves, Market Totes, and Home Goods
• At Camphill Soltane’s Entwine Textile Design, young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities create trend-setting tote bags, cosmetic pouches, and home goods using handwoven fabrics. Goods are sold online and in Entwine’s Phoenixville, PA-based store. Diversely-abled textile artists participate in every stage of product development, including designing, weaving, and sewing. Meanwhile, Camphill Hudson’s Artisan Shop in Hudson, NY, sells knitted scarves, woven scarf wraps, and woven table runners and napkins. Community residents select colors and designs, and weave items while socializing together. The designs are vibrant, unique, and lovingly created, reflecting daily life at this bustling urban lifesharing community.
• For Someone Who Deserves to Be Pampered: Eye Pillows and Organic Herbal Teas
• Artisans at Entwine Textile Design also make soothing eye pillows filled with organic lavender and flax seed in your fabric of choice. For the ultimate relaxation-themed gift, pair an Entwine eye pillow with organic tea from Camphill Village Kimberton Hills in Kimberton, PA. Made of ingredients harvested from the village’s biodynamic garden, these loose leaf teas are free of additives or exposure to chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Top sellers include Clear Thinking Herbal Tea, Sweet Dreams Herbal Tea, and the festive Candy Cane Tea.
• For the Sweet Tooth: Pure Maple Syrup and Organic Cookies
• Residents of Camphill Communities Ontario in Barrie, Canada, and Camphill Village Copake in New York make pure maple syrup the traditional way, collecting sap from maple trees and boiling it down in community sugar houses. When the sap finally becomes a thick, rich syrup, it is bottled without additives or preservatives—perfect for pancakes on Christmas morning or as a sugar substitute in holiday baking. Bakers at Camphill Village Copake also sell organic cookies, mixed and baked in small batches to ensure quality and freshness. Choose from four different varieties: chocolate chip, hazelnut, coconut chocolate, and oatmeal raisin. Supporting your favorite cause never tasted so good!
• For the Eco-Warrior: Reusable Shopping Bags and Hand Felted Dryer Balls
• Fiber artists at Plowshare Farm in Greenfield, NH, turn recyclables into treasure with upcycled reusable shopping bags sold in their Local Share store. These eye-catching totes are woven from cotton and plastic grocery bags. Camphill Village Kimberton Hills also sells colorful hand-felted wool dryer balls in sets of three. Useful for fluffing down jackets, comforters, and sleeping bags, they reduce drying time and save energy, too.
• For Kids With Amazing Imaginations: Handmade Wooden Blocks and Stuffed Animals
• For decades, woodworkers at Camphill Village Copake have crafted interlocking wooden blocks that provide hours of imagination-fueled entertainment. Made from finely sanded oak and finished in raw linseed oil, blocks come in two sets: 46 or 92 pieces. You can also give the gift of fun-filled play with an adorable “Cascadia Critter” from Cascadia Society in North Vancouver, Canada. Created from material handwoven on a Saori loom, these high-quality stuffed animals are collaboratively designed by diversely-abled weavers. Like your little love, each is one-of-a-kind.
• For Anyone Who Needs a Guardian Angel: Heirloom-Quality Wool Angels
• The signature product at Camphill Hudson’s Artisan Shop is a decorative wool angel. People of all abilities are involved in the creation of each angel, helping to tear the correct lengths of wool, cutting threads that tie it together, and selecting the star and crown that each angel wears. Angels are crafted in various skin tones and hair colors, and styled so each creation takes on a personality of its own. These heirloom-quality decorations can be displayed for the holidays or all year round.
• For The Person Who Has Everything: A Tribute Donation That Supports Camphill Communities
• Celebrate your hardest-to-shop-for loved ones with a gift that keeps on giving! Make a tribute donation to Camphill Foundation in his or her name at http://www.camphillfoundation.org/donate/. One hundred percent of your gift goes directly to Camphill communities and initiatives through Foundation grants, programs, and services.

Why Shop Camphill?

There are 15 Camphill communities in the United States and Canada, and more than 100 worldwide. These groundbreaking communities are part of the global Camphill movement, founded almost eight decades ago by Dr. Karl König and other refugees from Nazi-occupied Austria, who sought to create a new model for community life that was inclusive of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Within Camphill communities, people of all abilities live, work, and enjoy daily life together. Community members are empowered to share their talents. Weaving textiles, woodworking, pottery making, painting, baking, and other artistic and creative activities are at the heart of daily life.

“For almost 80 years, the Camphill movement has nurtured the dignity, self-worth, and abilities of each and every person through its unique lifesharing approach,” said Karen Murphy, Executive Director of Camphill Foundation. “During the holiday season, especially, it is a delight to see how much joy and personal fulfillment are sparked when people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are empowered to share their many talents with the world.”

Where Can I Buy Camphill Products?

Sales are handled by each individual Camphill community. Proceeds support the community where products are purchased, improving access to inclusive and meaningful vocational opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Find contacts and a guide to purchasing charitable gifts that support Camphill communities at http://www.camphillfoundation.org/shop-camphill/.

About Camphill Foundation

Founded in 1966 to support two fledgling Camphill communities in New York and Pennsylvania, Camphill Foundation has grown dramatically over the past five decades. Today, its mission is to grow, strengthen, and safeguard the Camphill movement at 15 Camphill communities and affiliates in the United States and Canada. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Camphill Foundation primarily accomplishes this mission by providing strategic grants and low-interest loans that help grow and sustain the Camphill movement. Visit http://www.camphillfoundation.org for more information.

Please e-mail amy@camphillfoundation.org with photo or product sample requests.

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WILDER, Ky. (PRWEB)
October 22, 2019

Rick Schirmer is a retired biotech industry executive and the proud father of four boys who has been married to his wife, Helen, for thirty years. He has completed his new book “Embracing the Journey: A Special-Needs Child’s Remarkable Story”: a deeply personal memoir outlining the determination he and his wife shared to provide the best life possible for their severely disabled son.

Rick writes, “Matthew was born in September of 1997 with a rare genetic disorder called Trisomy 22. His parents were told by the genetic director that he would be severely mentally retarded and never walk, never talk, or have much of a life, that they should not waste their time caring for him and put him in an institution for care.

He has endured fifteen surgeries, thousands of therapy sessions, and requires 24-7 care. Although he is now twenty-one years old and cognitively, he has developed only to the level of an infant, Matthew has proved the genetic director wrong in many areas. He is one of the happiest boys you will ever meet, has positively impacted the lives of so many, and continues to live a very rewarding life.

His life journey has provided so many tremendous lessons that can apply to everyone, and certainly to parents of a handicapped or disabled child. Matthew’s journey showed his parents and all those fortunate to interact with him that laughter is much better than crying, that any simple gesture of kindness can move mountains, and that there are many special individuals that will make a significant impact on a special-needs child’s life and their family’s life if given the opportunity.”

Published by New York City-based Page Publishing, Rick Schirmer’s engrossing book is a touching message of empathy, love, and recognition that every life matters.

Readers who wish to experience this engaging work can purchase “Embracing the Journey: A Special-Needs Child’s Remarkable Story” at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708.

About Page Publishing:

Page Publishing is a traditional New York-based, full-service publishing house that handles all the intricacies involved in publishing its authors’ books, including distribution in the world’s largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing knows that authors need to be free to create – not overwhelmed with logistics like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and the like. Its roster of accomplished authors and publishing professionals allows writers to leave behind these complex and time-consuming issues to focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com.

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Diagnosing Alzheimer’s is complex including in people with Down syndrome. The LIFE-DSR study will observe adults with Down syndrome to validate tests of cognition and function designed for them.

“In spite of recent advances in medical care, adults with Down syndrome continue to face very significant challenges including a markedly increased risk of Alzheimer disease,” said Brian Skotko, MD, MPP, the Emma Campbell Endowed Chair on Down Syndrome at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH)

BOSTON (PRWEB)
October 21, 2019

The Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Down Syndrome Program was the first approved research site in the first clinical trial in the Down Syndrome – Clinical Trials Network (DS-CTN). MGH is enrolling adults with Down Syndrome over the age of 25 in the Longitudinal Investigation for Enhancing Down Syndrome Research Study (LIFE-DSR) to better understand the health issues facing people with Down syndrome as they age, particularly their risk for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. The Down Syndrome Program is one of two MGH sites participating in the LIFE DSR Study with the Department of Neurology expected to begin their recruitment later this year.

“In spite of recent advances in medical care, adults with Down syndrome continue to face very significant challenges including a markedly increased risk of Alzheimer disease,” said Brian Skotko, MD, MPP, the Emma Campbell Endowed Chair on Down Syndrome at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and director of the MGH Down Syndrome Program. “More research is needed to determine the factors behind this disparity, leading to better treatments for adults with Down syndrome.”

Diagnosing Alzheimer’s is complex including in people with Down syndrome. With no single test currently available, diagnosis is based on an individual’s history, physical examination and cognitive testing. The LIFE-DSR study will observe adults with Down syndrome to validate tests of cognition and function designed specifically for adults with Down syndrome. The DS-CTN will also collect blood samples from all study participants to aid in the development of blood tests for Alzheimer disease.

“We believe that the DS-CTN will open up greater access to clinical research for people with Down syndrome and that is why LuMind IDSC is excited to be providing funding and leadership for the first study in the network, the LIFE-DSR study,” said Hampus Hillerstrom, LuMind IDSC chief executive officer.

The LIFE-DSR study is looking to enroll adults over 25 years of age with DS. Health care professionals, families and people with Down syndrome interested in participating in the MGH Down Syndrome Program study, contact 617-726-7954 or LIFE-DSR@partners.org.

The DS-CTN is sponsored by the Alana Foundation and biopharmaceutical companies, AC Immune and Lundbeck with $3 million in initial funding and direction is provided by LuMind IDSC.

For more information about the DS-CTN visit DS-CTN.org.

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WASHINGTON (PRWEB)
October 17, 2019

User1st, the provider of the most innovative web accessibility solutions on the market for testing, remediation, monitoring and compliance, today released the following statement from Vice President of Communications Raegan Bartlo regarding passage of H.R. 1199, regarding the Veterans Affairs study on web accessibility:

“We appreciate the U.S. House passing any legislation in support of our veterans and calling attention to the important need for website accessibility. We agree that eliminating digital barriers will help veterans get the medical and disability care as well as access to vocational and educational services they need.

“However, our veterans with disabilities – as well as senior citizens and persons with varied and changing abilities – need web accessibility now. The means to understand the scope of the problem already exists. We can start making meaningful progress today toward fixing the most critical digital services for veterans, and all citizens, immediately without a lengthy and costly study. All government services and information should be accessible to all citizens.”

About User1st

User1st provides the most advanced web accessibility solutions on the market for testing, remediation, monitoring and compliance. User1st is the only company that offers both customized short-term fixes and tailored long-term solutions for meeting the international specifications of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. Trusted by organizations of all sizes, including Fortune 500 companies and large government organizations, User1st’s solutions are deployed in a variety of industries worldwide, including financial services, retail, government and healthcare. For more information, visit http://www.user1st.com/ and follow on Twitter @User1st.

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“The more we infuse Social Emotional Learning (SEL) into the curriculum and student life, the better our students are equipped to handle stress and surprise,” said Dr. Spargo, director of counseling at Cumberland Academy.

ATLANTA (PRWEB)
October 11, 2019

Cumberland Academy of Georgia believes that social growth is equally as important as academic growth. In addition to a teaching staff that specializes in educating students with learning differences, Cumberland houses a therapeutic counseling staff that plays an equal role in student success at school, at home and in the world. One of the tools Cumberland counselors utilize is an experiential emotional intelligence curriculum entitled “IMAGINE If..”. “IMAGINE If…” emphasizes core principles like “gratitude” and “courage” in an effort to build a student’s level of self-awareness, motivation, and self-esteem.

On a weekly basis, students explore various topics through open discussions in the classroom and journaling digitally through Google Classroom. The counseling staff introduces the material to students during homeroom, and teachers incorporate the information into their lessons, providing students with additional opportunities to explore concepts in their daily interactions. The digital journal also provides students with opportunities to express their feelings and reflect. Journal prompts are provided, and students respond based on their thoughts and experiences. This online forum is monitored by counselors and provides them with valuable insight and feedback on each student.

“The more we infuse Social Emotional Learning (SEL) into the curriculum and student life, the better our students are equipped to handle stress and surprise,” said Dr. Spargo, director of counseling at Cumberland Academy. “The program helps us know how to listen and reach our students, so they can develop life-long skills to navigate successfully in all areas of life.”

Aligning with Cumberland’s mission, the “IMAGINE If…” program helps provide support and guides students in learning the importance of goal setting, daily positive practice, and self-awareness to become self-sufficient young adults. Jennifer Kramer, speaker and author of “IMAGINE If…”, regularly visits the campus and is accessible to faculty, staff, and families as a consultant.

About Cumberland Academy of Georgia

Cumberland Academy of Georgia specializes in the needs of students in grades 4 through 12 who have high-functioning autism, Asperger’s syndrome, attention deficit disorder (ADD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and learning disabilities. Cumberland was founded in 2007 by Debbi and Matthew Scarborough, and is a fully-accredited, independent, non-profit school that seeks to provide a safe and supportive academic atmosphere for its students. Cumberland accepts applications year-round. To schedule a family tour, please contact Jane Paoletta, Director of Admissions, at 404-835-9000, or email admissions@cumberlandacademy.org.

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Many of us take the ease of how we experience the world around us for granted, so we consider this initiative to be extremely important. As technology evolves, we remain committed to leveraging it in ways that improve accessibility and user experience for all people.

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. (PRWEB)
October 11, 2019

Haley Marketing, the largest website development, social and content marketing firm serving the temporary staffing and executive recruiting industries, has launched a major initiative to make its Starter Websites, Custom Websites and Job Board (career portal) software products more accessible for people with disabilities. Changes have been made to improve user experience, while helping to keep Haley Marketing’s clients compliant with The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

In December 2008, the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) announced its Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) to improve the accessibility of the World Wide Web. Since then, the W3C has expanded and evolved its Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), to make it easier for individuals with disabilities to surf the Web by making websites more perceivable, operable, understandable and robust. Recently, the U.S. Access Board approved a final rule to update Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. This new rule adopts 17 WCAG 2.0 success criteria, but 22 of the 38 existing Level A and Level AA criteria were already covered by existing Section 508 guidelines.

In light of these updated criteria, Haley Marketing has made a significant investment to ensure that all users of its website and Job Board products, regardless of their limitations or disabilities, have a great experience. In addition to educating their entire staff on compliance requirements:

• They hired a senior-level web consultant who spent several months researching compliance guidelines, reviewing Haley Marketing’s sites and products, developing standards for their sites, and creating a path forward to ensure adherence to required standards.
• They are updating all Starter Sites and Custom Sites to comply with WCAG 2.0’s Level A and Level AA success criteria. They have established a development checklist to ensure that all such websites designed are compliant and have updated their quality control process to check for compliance at two points in their website build process.
• They are releasing a new version of their Job Board (Career Portal) product which has been updated and enhanced to be fully compliant when used on a compliant website.

Haley Marketing will be reviewing the changes they have made to help keep their clients ADA compliant in a free upcoming Product Demo webinar on Wednesday, Oct. 30 at 2:00 p.m.

Creating a Great User Experience for All

“Everyone, regardless of accessibility level, deserves a great user experience when interacting with the websites and Job Board products we develop for our staffing and recruiting clients,” said Haley Marketing Digital Media Graphic Designer and WCAG Compliance Expert Sara Dziadaszek. “Many of us take the ease of how we experience the world around us for granted, so we consider this initiative to be extremely important. As technology evolves, we remain committed to leveraging it in ways that improve accessibility and user experience for all people.”

About Haley Marketing Group

Haley Marketing provides website development, recruitment marketing, content and social media marketing and strategy consulting to the staffing industry. The company provides services to more than 1,400 staffing and recruiting firms throughout the world.

Haley Marketing’s mission is to make great marketing more affordable, and the firm’s clients range from solo recruiters to larger staffing and recruiting organizations with regional, national and international offices.

Haley Marketing’s services include:

Website Design

Recruitment Marketing

Email and Content Marketing

Blog Writing and Social Media

Reputation Management

Search Engine Marketing

Corporate Identity & Creative

Marketing Strategy

For more information, contact Haley Marketing at 1.888.696.2900.

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Bob Eyler

The President’s Challenge has been the lifeblood of the Steelwheelers for the past 18 years. Without the support of the Western Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association, the Steelwheelers would probably be a distant memory.

ALLISON PARK, Pa. (PRWEB)
October 10, 2019

The Western Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association (WPTLA) will host its 19th annual President’s Challenge 5K Run/Walk/Wheel benefiting the Pittsburgh Steelwheelers. The race will be held Oct. 12, 2019 at the boathouse in North Park.

The President’s Challenge is a charity 5K event benefitting the Pittsburgh Steelwheelers, an organization which provides programs for physically challenged athletes from Western Pennsylvania, Eastern Ohio and Northern West Virginia who desire to participate in competitive sports such as Quad Rugby, Wheelchair Basketball and Hand Cycling.

“The President’s Challenge has been the lifeblood of the Steelwheelers for the past 18 years. Without the support of the Western Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association, the Steelwheelers would probably be a distant memory. The WPTLA, through the President’s Challenge, has continued to allow the Steelwheelers to positively affect the lives of people with disabilities in so many ways,” said Bob Eyler, a spokesperson for the Steelwheelers. WPTLA has raised over $469,000 for the Pittsburgh Steelwheelers since 2000.

The President’s Challenge is a family friendly event professionally timed by Miles of Smiles. Over $1,000 in raffle prizes are available, including a signed Adam Frazier Pittsburgh Pirates jersey, Pittsburgh Penguins tickets, and golf foursome at Seven Oaks Country Club, including carts and green fees.

WPTLA is a professional association of trial lawyers that exists to preserve the right to trial by jury for all citizens.

More information regarding WPTLA and the President’s Challenge can be found at https://wptla.org.

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