ACI hosted an informative Accessible Gardening workshop this past Wednesday, June 18th. Mr. Jeff Cupo of South Plainfield's "Victory Gardening for Hunger" showed us an accessible raised bed and other modified gardens for people with disabilities. Other topics included comparing soils and re-generating kitchen scraps such as fennel, lettuce, potatoes and peppers all in the hopes of preventing excess waste.
Carole Tonks, Executive Director of ACI, recently sat down with Nigeria-based newspaper, New Telegraph to discuss the issues on rights, privileges and steps needed to change the way people with disabilities are treated around the world.
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As a director in an organization that advocates for people with disability in America, why is it that people with disabilities, especially physically challenged persons, are most times looked at differently?
It is unfortunate that many people see the disability first and not the person. As more and more people with physical disabilities are out and living independently in, and contributing to the community, people’s attitudes will change.
The Alliance Center for Independence is said to recognize disability as a natural and beautiful part of human diversity. Can you explain to me the beauty in disability?
One of the beautiful things about the United States is its unique diversity of her people. We take pride in being a melting pot. Disability is a natural and beautiful part of that diversity. We recognize each other’s beauty in our uniqueness. We are more similar than we are different.
Many persons with disability get into the condition through accidents and it becomes difficult to adapt to the status of being a challenged person, how should family members, the public and the society at large help someone overcome the initial trauma of adjusting to such a life?
For this question I went to Nybil Ghanem. He works at ACI as an Information and Referral Specialist; he is also a young man with a disability.
I asked him to respond to this question: “It takes time to adjust to any disability, sometimes longer when it is acquired through an accident or unexpectedly. When this happens, it is most important to stay positive to the fact when faced with hardships in life that the person is going through. For their family and friends it is also a trying time. Being supportive, listening and remaining positive and giving the person time can be helpful. Remember, it takes time to heal both physically and emotionally.”
Margaret T. Gilbride, JD, CT from Advancing Opportunities, stopped by ACI to present a workshop on grief. Margaret discussed the various things that could cause someone to experience grief along with techniques on how to manage it.
ACI attended the 12th Annual Middlesex County Prevention Education Summit, which brought together professionals from various disciplines concerned about today's youth to learn about the newest drug trends.
For more information on emerging trends, visit drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/emerging-trends.
A message from disabilitytreaty.org
The Supreme Court's ruling in the Bond Case is out!
Now is the time to act! Every member of the U.S. Senate must hear from their constituents that it is time to pass the Disability Treaty.
See USICD's statement and then visit disabilitytreaty.org to contact your Senator TODAY.
Tell your Senator, "The Bond case has been decided, now is the time to ratify CRPD!"
Don't worry, you do not have to be an expert on the Bond case; what's important is that the CRPD get done now!
ACI hosted a workshop on Cyber Bullying, presented by Stephanie Rodriquez and MaryAnne Kokidis, both of Amerigroup. 13 students from Edison High School attended this informative class, which included a discussion on the different forms cyber bullying can take and ways to end it. Thank you to Stephanie and MaryAnne!
On Primary Election Day, Disability Rights New Jersey will have attorneys available by telephone to answer your questions concerning any disability-related voting problem you might experience.
Please call 800-922-7233 or 609-633-7106 (TTY) or email Mciccone@drnj.org on June 3, 2014 between 7:00 AM and 8:00 PM.
