ACI Swims with Diana Nyad at Swim for Relief Fundraiser for Sandy Victims

To mark the  one-year anniversary of the iconic disaster, long distance swimmer and recent world record holder, Diana Nyad, took part in a continuous 48 hour swim in a 120 foot, 2 lane pool in the  middle of New York City's historic Herald Square. On October 9th,  members of the ACI team were there alongside various celebrities, athletes, first responders and organizations to swim with Nyad and  support the cause. 

This historic event meant a great deal of  importance to ACI, as team members Salma Harris and Millie Gonzalez both  lost their homes during Sandy and remain displaced nearly a year later.  Before her swim with Nyad, Salma had a chance to share her continuing  story of heartache and frustration in the aftermath of storm. While  fighting back tears, Nyad gave Salma some words of encouragement and  mentioned that she was the first Sandy victim to swim with her at the  event.

"Being a Sandy victim/survivor and having Diana Nyad bring  awareness to the public that many of us are still trying to rebuild what we've lost, it was an honor to be a part of the event." - Salma Harris

ACI was chosen to take part in this great cause due to their partnership with AmeriCares, which involved a series of education seminars on emergency preparedness for people with disabilities. For more details, please visit adacil.org.

ACI  would like to extend a huge thank you to Lindsay O'Brien, Corey Langworthy, Randy Weiss, MacLean Cadman and Leslie  Gianelli from AmeriCares for the amazing opportunity to participate in the Nyad  Swim for Relief. We are grateful to AmeriCares and Citizen Paine for the opportunity to work with them on ensuring the venue was fully accessible for all participants. It was truly an honor and we are proud to be a partner!

We would also like to thank Maria Bournias, Salma Harris, Nybil Ghanem, Luke Koppisch,   Christopher Bedson, Aimee Maiorino, Jason Askoff, Brian Mazzarella,   Natalia Lapidus and Michelle Ford for being a part of our swim team and making us  proud! Lastly, a big thanks goes out to Doreen Nalbandian, Lisa Robinson, Zoe Bournias, Carol Barboni, Jose Cueva,  Iris Hernandez, Argenys Caba, Colleen Roche, Millie Gonzalez and James Michels for showing  their support and cheering our participants on at the event!

Swim  for Relief raised over $108,000 with $1000 on behalf of ACI. Proceeds benefited the AmeriCares Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund.

The fundraiser will continue for 21 more days, so if you  wish to donate, please visit crowdrise.com/AllianceCenterforIndependence.

 

Posted on October 15, 2013 by Brian Mazzarella and filed under Press Release.

Cornell University's Employees with Disabilities Workshop and Scholarships

Cornell University’s Employment & Disability Institute (EDI) is offering the Professional Development Experience for Employees with Disabilities program November 18-20, 2013. This Cornell University faculty and staff led program is designed to provide experiences and strategies to empower professionals with disabilities to maximize their potential, increase their engagement, and expand their contribution in the workplace. Participation includes instructor facilitated sessions, materials, breakfast and lunch each day, and a social networking event.

EDI is pleased to announce the availability of two scholarships to professionals with disabilities interested in attending this program! If you are interested in applying for one of these scholarships, please send an email that explains your interest in the program and what you hope to gain from it to Katie Steigerwalt at kms342@cornell.edu. Please submit your letter of interest by October 11th. If you are selected for the scholarship, we will waive the $2200 registration fee. Scholarship recipients will be announced via email on or before October 18th and will be able to formally register for the program at that time. Further information on the program can be found at: www.ilr.cornell.edu/edi/pde.

Posted on October 7, 2013 by Brian Mazzarella.

Living Well with a Disability Graduates

ACI recently wrapped up it's 5-week course on Living Well with a Disability. Congrats goes out to Ronald Greene, Thomas Buzzone, Florence Landau, Jose Cueva, Lucille Wallington, Natalia Lapidus, Robin Thompson, Gary Weisbrot and Daniela Tropeano for completing the workshop!

Posted on October 2, 2013 by Brian Mazzarella and filed under Health.

REFLECTIONS: DISABILITY PRIDE

by Millie Gonzalez, Co-emcee of the NJ Disability Pride Parade

On October 4, I will join hundreds of people with and without disabilities to CELEBRATE disability pride. Together, we will honor and demonstrate that disability is a beautiful and natural part of human DIVERSITY.

For the third year in a row, I will have the HONOR of sharing the stage with my friend and fellow mistress of ceremonies, Maria, as dozens of musicians, dancers, poets, motivational speakers community leaders -- all with different disabilities -- showcase the UNIQUENESS of our humanity through entertainment.

Each year, the number of people who attend the parade has grown significantly, which serves as a testament to our inherent connectedness and DESIRE to come together to share who we are with the greater community. Although it is not a march, it is also a nod of RESPECT toward those who have fought for our freedoms and for those who continue to demand our equal civil rights.

Like the vast diversity that exists in our COMMUNITY, disability pride manifests itself in various forms, from community organizing and demonstrations, to mentorship and advocacy, to integration and public policy, to simply living LIFE with a disability through work, play, performance and family.

Although disability is a large part of my IDENTITY, to me, disability pride is a feeling best expressed through real-life experiences -- three of which I will share here:  

Shortly after earning my master's degree (focused, in part, on disability studies) in 2007, I attended my first national Spina Bifida Association conference. A lesson in INDEPENDENCE, it was the first time I ever took a flight by myself. When I got to the designated gate, I was thrilled to find a half dozen other wheelchair users, including two young adults, Jen and Maureen (with whom I would spend much time over the course of the next week and with whom I have remained friends). However, it was when I arrived at the host hotel and rolled into the lobby filled with wheelchair users, crutch users and others with unique gaits, that I was overwhelmed with emotion. As my other new friend Jesus described, "I was finally HOME," in a place where no explanations were needed and friendships emerged from a place of common experience as well as unrelated compatibility. I should mention here that I experienced the same feeling and newfound friendships years later when I attended, first as a speaker, then as an associate member, The CP Group regional conferences for professional adults with cerebral palsy.

Nearly a year ago this October, when my house was destroyed by Superstorm Sandy, I again found COMFORT through my disabled existence. Within less than 24 hours of finding out on Facebook that my home had been severely damaged, a small group of my amazing "cripfam" created an online crowd-funding page to help with the eventual rebuild, while others offered to send me medical supplies, that from common experiences, they knew I needed. Disability-related organizations, including the Alliance Center for Independence and many others who are sponsoring our event this year, also offered help. My news feed and inbox were inundated with messages of support from friends and strangers which continue to complement my livelihood today - each one a reminder of the HOPE, LOVE and SOLIDARITY that exists within the disability community of which I am a part.

Perhaps most fittingly, one of the most PROFOUND experiences of disability pride occurred in 2011 at the inaugural NJ Disability Pride Parade & Celebration. As that momentous day came to a close, Maria and I exchanged a moment that, we later discussed, will live with us for eternity. We made eye contact, wholeheartedly smiled, felt a wave of intense energy and began to cry -- tears of true DISABILITY PRIDE. In that moment, as we looked out to hundreds of people dancing and smiling in the crowd, we realized that all the time and effort put forth by our small steering committee to bring this event to fruition was worth it... and we were blessed to be a part of this incredible initiative.

This, our third consecutive year, is no different except that even more people will come TOGETHER, some in person, others in spirit, to not only represent the beauty that exists in the diversity of disabilities, but to experience what it feels like to be disabled and proud.

The 3rd Annual NJ Disability Pride Parade will be held on Friday, October 4th at 9:00 AM in Trenton, NJ. For more information, please visit NJDisabilityPride.com

Posted on September 30, 2013 by Brian Mazzarella and filed under NJDPP.

ACI selected to join Nyad Swim for Relief

The Alliance Center for Independence (ACI) has been selected to join long distance swimmer Diana Nyad for an event to raise funding for Sandy Hurricane relief.

To mark the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Sandy, long-distance swimmer Diana Nyad - fresh off her landmark swim from Cuba to Florida - helps power disaster recovery efforts through a 48-hour test of mental, physical and emotional endurance: the Nyad Swim for Relief. With the strength and support of P&G brands at her side, Diana Nyad swims for 48 continuous hours in the heart of New York City to raise funds for the AmeriCares Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund. The event, Nyad Swim for Relief, will benefit AmeriCares, Inc. and will take place at Herald Square in New York City.  Good Morning America will broadcast the event live and and in taped segments.

ACI was chosen to participate in the Nyad Swim for Relief because of its partnership with AmeriCares in providing assistance to NJ residents with disabilities affected by Hurricane Sandy and through recovery. With generous support from AmeriCares, ACI has been conducting a series of workshops for people with disabilities on preparing for disasters and emergencies.

ACI staff, board members and our volunteers will swim alongside Diana in a 42,000 gallon Olympic size pool built especially for the event. Proctor and Gamble, Inc., Tide, Secret and Duracell and others are sponsoring the event.

Please come out to cheer on ACI’s ten swimmers along with Diana Nyad on October 9th between 12:55 and 3:35. It will be a fun day for a good cause!

To donate to the Nyad Swim for Relief please visit NyadSwimforRelief.com and click on the ACI team page.

Posted on September 27, 2013 by Brian Mazzarella.

Get Going with Transit Workshop

About 20 people attended a training on how to use the public transportation system on September 19th in New Brunswick.  The travel training was conducted by the NJ Travel Independence Program and sponsored by the Alliance Center for Independence. The training included a tour of the New Brunswick Train Station.

Thank you to NJTIP Presenters Louis Hoffman and Doug Gilbert. 

Posted on September 20, 2013 by Brian Mazzarella.