Community Linkage

Every week there are new press releases, articles, information, and videos popping up concerning Paganism, spirituality, health, or disabilities. Community Linkage is a collection of useful information and sometimes entertainment for you.

Pagan Pride Day Stepping Up to Inform Coordinators about Accessibility

IMAGE: Pagan Pride Day logo. The earth is surrounded by various Pagan religious symbols.

Earlier this month I emailed Brian Ewing, Pagan Pride Day Executive Director and National President about including accessibility information in the guide for local event coordinators. Pagan Pride events are held around the world. The goal is to foster pride in Pagan identity through education, activism, charity and community. Brian wrote back with wonderful news. “We actually have an internal guide that is much longer than what is on the public website, and accessibility advice will be put in the internal guide.” Brian pointed out that many factors influence how local coordinators choose an event location such as rental and insurance cost and discrimination. I didn’t have time to clarify what he meant by discrimination before sharing this important news. As someone who’s coordinated Pagan events before, I’m sure he means it can be difficult to find locations that will rent to Pagans. I’ve had the best luck with reserving public park campgrounds and shelters as well as locations at Universities. Visit the PPD Project here.

disaboom
Interview with Kareem Dale, Special Assistant to the United States President for Disability Policy www.disaboom.com/contests/kareem-dale-interview

Yahoo! Accessibility The GimpGirl Community offers an informative two part post about issues that effect the privacy of disabled women on-line. I didn’t know that there was a problem with “devotees” whoa are people who fetishize disability or associated adaptive equipment such as wheelchairs or canes. The posts tackle a large variety of issues from CAPTCHA to the sense of normalcy that being out of view on-line can provide.

“Privacy, Women with Disabilities and Online Space” yaccessibilityblog.com/wp/privacy-women-with-disabilities-online-space.html

“Privacy Issues Continued” yaccessibilityblog.com/wp/privacy-issues-continued.html

disabilityscoop

“Chipotle Ordered To Improve Accessibility” I’m a foodie so when I saw this link late at night, I first thought it would be chipotle sauce improving mobility. After all, capsaicin, the active component in chili peppers, is used at times for pain relief and I thought easing pain would improve mobility. Low an behold the article was about a gentleman suing the Chipotle restaurant chain. Silly sleepy foodie blogger. www.disabilityscoop.com/2011/04/19/chipotle-accessibility/12936/

Patheos “Balancing Liberty and Law: Religious Nonprofits in America and Britain” Alison Leigh Lilly takes an extensive look at current US and UK non-profit religious organizations laws explaining how some benefit the community and how some regulations need to change. She also writes for the Pagan Newswire Collective at Pagan + Politics. www.patheos.com/Resources/Additional-Resources/Balancing-Liberty-and-Law-Alison-Leigh-Lilly-04-14-2011?offset=4&max=1