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.

New York City was Unprepared to Shelter the Disabled

Center for Independence of the Disabled, New York’s (CIDNY) reported that shelters opened in response to hurricane Irene were not accessible. Susan Dooah, CIDNY executive director, inspected shelters for evacuation zone A and found doors locked at the end of ramps, unstable and soaked ramps of plywood, and bathrooms that were not handicap accessible. Another concern was that the only emergency vehicles operating after the city wide public transportation shutdown at noon on Sunday (August 28) were school buses, taxis, and vans without wheelchair lifts. Dooah also reported that shelter volunteers she spoke with had not been trained to assist disabled citizens.

Sports

disaboom “VA Paralympic Program Office Launches Website for Disabled Veterans” Press Release The website is located at www.va.gov/adaptivesports.

Did you know that Wheelchair Dancing is an official sport?

VIDEO: 2004 IPC world wheelchair dance competition in Japan.

Arts and Entertainment

The Wheelchair Dancer is an insightful and well written blog by a disabled member of a dance troop. Her post “The Best Wheelchair For Dancing” was recently featured at Yahoo! Accessibility. Because of Glee wheelchair dancing has become better known. The disabled character Artie Abrams, portrayed by Kevin McHale who isn’t disabled, uses a wheelchair while performing with the glee club.

Video Contest

“National Disability Institute Kicks Off the American Dream Contest”

VIDEO: To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, National Disability Institute held the Economic Empowerment – Defining the New American Dream. Kenzi Robi, a quadriplegic artist from San Francisco, won the contest.

To enter, contestants must create and submit a three-minute video by Sept. 18, 2011 that tells their story and shows the steps they plan to take or the steps they are taking toward their American dreams. Videos can be serious, funny, creative, or straightforward. The approach is completely up to the contestant; it’s the story that matters, as seen from the videos created by last year’s finalists.

After the entry deadline, five finalists will be selected by an independent panel and then, beginning Sept. 27, 2011, America will have an opportunity to view the videos, vote and select the winner on the official contest website http://dream.realeconomicimpact.org.

To reflect its mission of building a better economic future for all Americans with disabilities, National Disability Institute created a prize package that will help the grand prize winner take solid steps toward living his/her American dream. One grand prize winner will receive: $1,000, an iPad 2 and advisory sessions with a mentor. The contest winner will be announced by Oct. 20, 2011.