Deaf and Hard of Hearing Senior Citizen Luncheon 2016

On December 9th 2016, a deaf and hard of hearing senior citizen group gathered for their annual Christmas luncheon at the Charlie Brown's restaurant in Scotch Plains, NJ.

The group is organized by Charlotte Karras, founder of the Central NJ Deaf & Hard Hearing Senior Citizens of Highland Park and Susan Bartose, ACI's Deaf and Hard of Hearing Coordinator.

The group gets together every second Friday of the month to discuss social issues, health issues, personal/home safety and civil rights. It is an excellent opportunity to socialize with others within the community. They gather to celebrate the holidays so no one feels alone or left out and also enjoy field trips to a number of popular places in the area.

If you’re a senior citizen or are deaf or hard of hearing, we encourage you to come and join us! For more information, please contact Susan at sbartose@adacil.org.

Posted on December 29, 2016 .

Holiday Luncheon & Shopping Trip 2016

On December 10th, ACI kicked off the holiday season with the annual Holiday Luncheon & Shopping Trip to the Woodbridge Center Mall. Everyone enjoyed a great meal at Applebee’s. ACI would like to thank the staff at Applebee’s including the general manager, Dawn Marquez, for all their help to make the luncheon successful. After the meal everyone took time to shop in the mall for that perfect holiday gift for their friends and family. Happy Holidays!

Posted on December 13, 2016 and filed under Social Rec.

Alex and Ani Fundraiser 2016

Thank you to everyone who contributed to our Alex and Ani fundraiser and purchased some of their awesome jewelry! ACI ended up raising over $250! We'd also like to thank the staff at the Red Bank store for their continuing hospitality!

Posted on December 9, 2016 and filed under Donate.

Thank You to Everyone Who Donated to Our Holiday Food Drive!

ACI wishes to thank everyone for their recent donations to our Holiday Food Drive. The generous support from the local business and individuals has been overwhelming. Among the organizations and individuals who have donated were: NJ Division of Disability Services, Ernst and Young, The Woodbridge Township Food Bank Committee, JFK Medical Center - Patient Transportation and Hospitality Department, Guaranteed Rate Mortgage Company, Global Tax Management, Anthony Lanzanvo and Dan Davidson.

Thank you all! Your donations will help us meet the needs of people with disabilities and their families in our area.

Posted on December 6, 2016 and filed under Donate.

Intern from Rutgers University Showcases the Importance of Exercise and Nutrition at ACI

Thank you to Saige Gomez, our intern from Rutgers University, for his 2-part workshop held on November 18th and 22nd that covered the importance of exercise, nutrition, and making healthy food choices. We appreciate Saige's passion, enthusiasm and creativity, while sharing his knowledge to our volunteers, staff, and consumers during the fall!

Posted on November 23, 2016 and filed under Health.

NJ Disability Pride Parade 2016 was the BIGGEST one yet!

More than 800 people crowded downtown Trenton for the 6th Annual NJ Disability Pride Parade on Friday October 7th. The event, hosted by Alliance Center for Independence (ACI), featured a wide range of entertainers, musicians, comedians, and dancers. Among the performers were: comedian Mike Cotayo, Red Neck Women Dance Troupe, Attach Avi Bollywood Dancers, singer/songwriter Johnny Crescendo and pop singer LACHI. Millie Gonzales and Maria Bournias were the mistresses of ceremonies.

"ACI is proud to organize this awesome event for the past 6 years," says Carole Tonks, ACI Executive Director. "Every year it gets bigger and bigger!"

Posted on November 16, 2016 and filed under NJDPP.