Alliance Center for Independence
ACI would like the to thank Ilyse Shainbrown of the Holocaust Council of Greater MetroWest in Whippany for her presentation: "The Holocaust & People with Disabilities". 30 people, including students from Edison High School, attended the lecture, which included a presentation and recollections of relatives who were survivors or victims of the Holocaust.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 23, 2016 - Disability rights activists from New Jersey's centers for independent living, Liberty Resources in Philadelphia and ADAPT of Philadelphia, and other disability organizations representing people with disabilities, will be holding a demonstration at Princeton University on May 27, 2016. Time: 1 pm to 3 pm.
Demonstrators will assemble in front of the Robertson Building, located on 20 Washington Street on the campus. The Robertson Building houses the Woodrow Wilson School of Public Policy and International Affairs.
Activists want Princeton University to end the ongoing practice of institutionalized discrimination against students with disabilities, especially those with "invisible" disabilities. Organizers also want Princeton to publicly denounce Princeton Professor Peter Singer, who advocates ending the lives of disabled infants through denial of health care. Activists want Princeton to take steps to address what the activists describe as a culture of disability and oppression at the campus.
ACI's CJ Dodge and Luke Koppisch recently visited presumptive Republican President Nominee Donald Trump's NJ Campaign Headquarters in Edison. The purpose of the visit was to present to the headquarters's staff a list of questions on disability-related topics, ranging from healthcare to employment to education, complied by RespectAbilityUSA, a national disability organization, based in Maryland. The questions were sent to all the presidential candidates, all of whom responded, except for Donald Trump. To see the questions and the candidates' answers, go to respectabilityusa.com.
ACI urges the the Trump campaign to respond to the questions posed by RespectAbility. Contact the Trump national headquarters at donaldjtrump.com and let them know how important it is for the 54 million Americans with disabilities to know his position on disabilities issues.
CJ and Luke also checked the office for accessibility. ACI urges all campaign offices to be fully accessible to visitors as well as volunteers. "Having a campaign office that is accessible and accommodating towards people with disabilities sends a message that we are valuable to you", says Dodge. "We are happy that the Trump campaign chose an accessible location for their NJ headquarters."
ACI was honored to be part of a panel discussion on preparing people with disabilities for emergency disasters held on April 29th at the New York Metro Abilities Expo in Edison. Joining Luke Koppisch on the panel were Kathryn Dyjak, MSW, Disability and other Access and Functional Needs (DAFN) Advisor, New York City Emergency Management; Jamie Arasz Prioli, and RESNA ATP, Assistive Technology Specialist, Institute on Disabilities at Temple University College of Education. The panel was facilitated by Kelly Rouba-Boyd, Access/Functional Needs Planner, NJ Office of Emergency Management.
On April 8th, Luke Koppisch and Michael Prasad, Disaster Support Functions Director with the American Red Cross, New Jersey Region, gave a presentation entitled Everyone is Welcome at the Red Cross Regional Disaster Training Institute in Tinton Falls. The goal of the presentation was to give Red Cross volunteers and staff the tools to include people with access and functional needs when providing disaster and emergency shelter services.
National Public Health Week falls on the first full week of April every year. The American Public Health Association (APHA) started this campaign over 20 years ago to promote and educate everyone about public health and wellness. ACI recognized this year's NPHW by walking and rolling around Roosevelt Park in Edison as a way to encourage everyone to get up and get healthy!
ACI offers various workshops on health and wellness. Visit our upcoming events page to find out when our next class will be!
Jackie Hilles, a crocheter with over 30 years of experience, is teaching a group of like-minded women the foundation chain, single crochet, double crochet and much more. ACI's Crochet Club will be choosing a pattern to work on as a group and will donate their completed projects to a local charity. The club meets every other Tuesday from 5:30 to 6:30 PM with our next class taking place on May 24th, 2016. Visit our website for more details.
