First NYPD Officer With Sign Language as First Language | BC 4 New York
For the first time in its history, the NYPD has an officer whose first language is American Sign Language — something that members of the deaf community are thrilled about, giving them somone who understands their lives and their struggles. NBC New York’s Marc Santia reports.
Disability Community shines with “Crip Camp” at Sundance
On his last Day One as director of the Sundance Film Festival, John Cooper turned the attention of eager audience members from all over the world to the story of a small camp for kids in 1970s New York. From directors Nicole Newnham and Jim LeBrecht (the latter a former camper himself), the documentary Crip Camp traces the story of the teens and counselors who attended the “run-by-hippies” Camp Jened, a utopia where disabled kids could finally be themselves.
Co-directors Jim LeBrecht and Nicole Newnham hope that their feature, which is opening the Park City fest, can do for the disability rights movement what 1984’s ‘The Times of Harvey Milk’ did for the public understanding of gay rights.
The documentary, part of the Obamas’ Netflix slate, shows that seeing how the world could be can bring about real change. Crip Camp was announced in April 2019 as part of Barack and Michelle Obama’s forthcoming slate of Netflix programming (via their production company Higher Ground). And once you see the documentary, the Obamas’ involvement makes perfect sense, given their interest in communities that organize to effect change. Crip Camp starts out as a movie about a place. But then it becomes a chronicle of a movement, a movement sparked by the young people whose lives were changed by their experience in that place.
During the thunderous reception for the celebratory disability-rights documentary “Crip Camp” at the Sundance Film Festival, the loudest response came when disability advocate Judith Heumann, one of the film’s chief personalities, wheeled on stage.
Paralyzed Minnesota hockey player hired by Los Angeles Kings | MPR News
A former Minnesota high school hockey player paralyzed during a game in 2011 says he has achieved a dream of working in the NHL. Jack Jablonski tweeted Thursday that he has a job as a content coordinator with the Los Angeles Kings working in podcasting, radio and TV.
Nearly 30% of baby boomers use smartphones to manage, receive medical care: AARP report | Beckers Hospital Review
Contrary to popular belief, Americans aged 50 and older are now adopting consumer technology at rates close to those of the 18-49 set, a new AARP report found. Here are four takeaways from the report, based on surveys of more than 2,600 Americans aged 50 and above:
For a healthy aging workforce policy, look to Colorado | The Hill
In today’s political climate, it is hard to believe that Republicans and Democrats can work together. Still, last week the House passed the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act (POWADA) with bipartisan support to restore protections to older adult workers that were lost in a 2009 Supreme Court decision. A Senate version has bipartisan support as well.
Virginians with disabilities get help finding jobs | The Hill
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) has just issued “the most comprehensive executive actions in Virginia history to ensure inclusion and opportunity for Virginians with disabilities,” according to the January 2020 press announcement. (The full text of Executive Order Forty-Seven is available here, and Executive Directive Six is available here.)
Older Americans Ignite Innovation in Tech | AARP
We might not be commuting in flying cars yet, but we’ve come to depend on high-tech tools to regulate our environment, monitor our health and interact with those who live across the street or around the world. With a swipe of the screen or simple voice command, technology has transformed the way we interact with the world.
We became an aging-friendly Island | MV Times
My name is Esther. It’s 2030; I’m 80 years old — like lots of Vineyard residents these days — and I treasure living in this aging-friendly Island community because: We’ve come a long way to get enough affordable housing — both rental and owning units — so my children and grandchildren can afford to live here, without working three jobs! There are many different models for the new housing —
IDS and AUCD Celebrate 30th Anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act | University of Southern Mississippi
As the year 2020 dawns, the United States, including the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) and the Institute for Disability Studies (IDS) at The University of Southern Mississippi will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The information and links provided here are a courtesy. The National Advisory Board does not necessarily endorse or share the views contained in any article, report or web site. No link provided here should be considered an endorsement of any opinion, product or service that may be offered in the article or at the linked-to site.