Last month, ACI presented a class on adaptive yoga to 25 members of the NJ Self-Advocacy Project at the municipal building in North Brunswick. Adaptive yoga has all the benefits of traditional yoga, but is adapted and modified to accommodate various disabilities and experience levels. Interested in adaptive yoga for your group or organization? Let us know!
Laughter Yoga Certification Training
Congratulation to ACI staff member Nybil Ghanem, who recently completed a certification course on Laughter Yoga taught by laughter therapy teacher, Beverly Burns. Laughter Yoga is a recognized form of Hasya Yoga under The American Yoga Association. Laughing can actually boost positive levels of "feel good" hormones within one's body, through "playful laughter" not only through joke. The class also focused on deep breathing of inhaling and exhaling while engaging in this fun activity!
Thank YOU for Making the NJ Disability Pride Parade & Celebration 2015 a Success!
More than 700 people attended the 5th Annual NJ Disability Pride Parade, hosted by the Alliance Center for Independence (ACI) this past Friday, October 9th. The event featured some new artists to the venue including Lachi, Andrew Bambridge, Corevalay, AttachAvi Bollywood Dancers and Mana Hashimoto.
Also featured at the event was bubble artist Eddy Miller, a photo booth, food trucks, giveaways and raffles. The NJ Division of Disability Services raffled off emergency preparedness bags and a flash mob organized by Roll Call Wheelchair Dance got the crowd up dancing.
This Friday, October 9th is the 5th Annual NJ Disability Pride Parade & Celebration!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Carole Tonks, Executive Director, Alliance
Center for Independence Phone: (732) 738-4388 / E-mail: ctonks@adacil.org
Website: www.adacil.org
THE 5th ANNUAL NEW JERSEY DISABILITY PRIDE PARADE & CELEBRATION SET FOR OCTOBER 9th IN TRENTON, NJ Trenton, NJ (please note: this event was previously scheduled for October 2nd)
October also marks the first ever Disability Pride Month in New Jersey.
More than 600 people with disabilities, supporters, friends and organizations representing a wide variety of services throughout NJ will be converge in downtown Trenton for the NJ Disability Pride Parade and Celebration. The event will feature a variety of entertainers, all of whom have disabilities. These include folk musician Johnny Crescendo, singer, Mano Hashimoto, a blind dancer and choreographer who has performed internationally and recording artist Lachi. Drummer and dancer Sidiki Conte, from Guinea, West Africa will bring his brand of music to the event as will crowd favorite, Exceptional Dance Team, a troupe made up entirely of children with autism, will be returning for a third year.
POSTPONED: The NJ Disability Pride Parade and Celebration 2015 will be on Friday, October 9th
Due to pending Hurricane Joaquin, we made the decision to POSTPONE the parade. NEW DATE: Friday, October 9th. Same time, same place.
We appreciate your understanding and support and look forward to you joining us next on the 9th! We anticipate a great event...with lots of sunshine!!
Check our website and Facebook page for updates.
Plan on joining us? Let us know by registering!
ACI's Advocacy Group Discusses Local Inaccessibility with Edison Mayor
Representatives from ACI's Advocacy Group recently met with Edison Township's Mayor Tom Lankey and Administrator Melissa Perilstein. Topics discussed were inaccessibility of some the of town's streets and sidewalks, enforcement of the snow removal law and housing. Thank you Mayor Lankey and Ms. Perilstein.
ACI Recognizes National Voter Registration Day 2015
In recognition of National Voter Registration Day, ACI sponsored a workshop, entitled "Voters Rights for People with Disabilities," presented by Mary Ciccone, Esq, of Disability Rights New Jersey. In addition, Seth Stevenson from the Middlesex County Board of Elections demonstrated one of the county's accessible voting machines. "This was very informative, I will feel very confident the next time I vote," said Cheryl Schweitzer, one of the attendees.
