Basic Computer Skills Workshops for People with Disabilities

ACI recently sponsored a two part workshop on basic computer skills. The course was taught by computer programmer, AnneMarie Torres, and included instruction on Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. Thank you AnneMarie!

Help us spread the word about #NJDPP!

The 4th Annual NJ Disability Pride Parade and Celebration is only three weeks away! Help us get the word out to your constituents. We are asking for all organizations and agencies to put the following in your newsletters and social network pages:
 

The 4th New Jersey Disability Pride Parade and Celebration, sponsored by the Alliance Center for Independence, will take place on Friday, October 3rd from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM in downtown Trenton, NJ. The purpose of the event is to bring people, organizations and businesses together to celebrate pride with the disability community and to promote the belief that disability is a natural and beautiful part of human diversity while generating national awareness for the disability community.

The NJ Disability Pride Parade and Celebration will feature entertainers, singers, dancers, musicians and comics, all with disabilities. The day will also include a parade through downtown Trenton, face painting, t-shirts, exhibitors and giveaways!

For more information, including exhibitor and sponsorship opportunities, please visit njdisabilitypride.com.

If you have any questions, send an email to njdisabilitypride@adacil.org or contact Carole or Luke at ACI.

PNC Bank Conducts Seminar on Financial Literacy

As part of our Independent Living Skills program, ACI offered a very informative workshop on banking, including opening an account, how to save, avoiding debt, and wise use of credit cards. The workshop, conducted by Yolanda Sweeny, Vice President-Community Consultant at PNC Bank, took place on August 20th.

Emergency Preparedness Overnight Exercise for People with Disabilities

On August 22nd and 23rd, over 100 volunteers and individuals with disabilities took part in the ACI sponsored Emergency Preparedness Overnight Exercise. This event, the first ever in NJ and 2nd in the country, took place in Piscataway at the Livingston Recreation Center of Rutgers University.

ACI partnered with FEMA, Middlesex County Office of Emergency Management (OEM), the American Red Cross and Rutgers University to simulate an emergency shelter experience.   This event assisted in an ongoing effort to improve the ability to provide service and support to individuals with disabilities during disasters. ACI would like to thank all of the stakeholders, volunteers and participants who took part in this important event.  
 

"The importance of emergency and disaster preparedness, particularly for people with disabilities cannot be overstated.  People with disabilities have often been an afterthought during a disaster.  We are trying to change that and hope to have this exercise replicated throughout the state." - Carole Tonks, ACI Executive Director

Be sure to read the Edison Sentinel article on the event!

If you are interested in disaster training in your area, please contact Carole Tonks at 732-738-4388 ext. 118 or ctonks@adacil.org.

KK Dental Partners with ACI for Dental Care Workshops

This past August, Dymelza Calderon, and Abhishek Seth from KK Dental of Edison held a workshop at ACI on dental care. The class emphasized the importance of dental care as part of overall general health. KK Dental will soon be offering their services at a substantial discount to ACI members. Stay tuned for more information in the coming weeks!

ACI Meets with Assemblywoman, Nancy Pinkin, to Revise Accessible Parking in NJ

Luke and Carole with NJ Assemblywoman, Nancy Pinkin (middle)

On August 19th, Carole and Luke met with state assemblywoman, Nancy Pinkin of the 18th Legislative District, which includes Edison. Among other topics, the assemblywoman was asked to sponsor a bill to revised NJ's accessible parking to eliminate the word "handicapped" and to replace the old wheelchair symbol of accessibility with a modern symbol of active wheelchair user. All new accessible parking signs will be subjected to this change. A bill, which is based on NY's new accessible parking law, is currently being drafted by the Office of Legislative Services.

In His Own Words: Nybil attends ADAPT Community Organizing Training

ACI's IL Specialist and Social Rec Coordinator, Nybil Ghanem, recently attended the ADAPT Community Organizer Training in Austin, Texas. Here's what he had to say about his visit...

"I learned a lot through the ADAPT training of Texas this past August, as about 25 others from all across the country, joined us for a weekend of non-stop training on how to advocate as an activist with a disability. Topics discussed were: Negotiation Tactics, Protests, Issues VS. Concerns, Organizer Thinking & People Power. The climax was when we completely shutdown a taco store in protest for not being accessible for people with disabilities as part of our training. What a wonderful training on community organizing."

For more information on ADAPT, please visit adapt.org.