The 7th Annual NJ Disability Pride Parade & Celebration!

On October 7th, NJ's disability community joined together for the 7th annual NJ Disability Pride Parade and Celebration, sponsored by ACI. Held at Mill Hill Park in downtown Trenton, the event brought in about hundreds people from throughout the Garden State. Attendees enjoyed live entertainment, food truck delicacies, Tai Chi lessons, face painting, exhibitor tables, giveaways, and a photo booth. J Street Band, Signs of Faith Praise Ministry, Al X Spicy, Ethel Barnes, Nenad Back, Cory Singer, and Black Cat Habitat., were some of the featured  artists. "It was a beautiful day of unity and disability pride!", says Carole Tonks, executive director and chief organizer of the event. ACI would like to thank everyone who help make this event possible, including our sponsors, donors, guest speakers, entertainers, and Mayor Jackson and the City of Trenton. A special thank you to Millie Gonzalez, Maria Bournias and Colleen Roche, for being our Mistresses of Ceremonies.

ACI and REV UP NJ Celebrate National Voter Registration Day 2017

ACI and REV UP NJ are proud to partner with National Voter Registration Day for the 5th year! To kick off the day, ACI hosted a voter registration/education workshop. Thank you to the Middlesex County Board of Elections for demonstrating how to use the voting booth including the audio component for those who are blind or vision impaired.

ACI will be hosting additional workshops throughout the month of October. If you need assistance in your learning your rights or registering to vote, please contact us.

Washington DC Road Trip to Oppose Graham-Cassidy Health Care Bill

UPDATE (9/26/17): THERE WILL NOT BE A VOTE! thehill.com/policy/healthcare/352503-senate-wont-vote-on-obamacare-repeal-bill

Thank you to the NJ Council on Developmental Disabilities for sponsoring a van trip to Washington DC on September 25th to participate in the hearing opposing the Graham-Cassidy health care bill.

During the trip, the group discussed the implications of the bill and how it could effect the disabled and elderly. We made signs in the van, and once in Washington went inside the Dirksen Senate Office Building and joined ADAPT and other disability organizations in chanting "No cuts to Medicaid! Save our liberty!"
 
We had the opportunity to speak with other advocates from around the country and catch up with some old friends. The hearing room, hallway and overflow room were packed with people and media from all over. It was an incredible effort by all.

When the hearing ended, we visited Senator Booker's office to express our gratitude for his support of Medicaid. The Senator was not available, but we were able to talk with his staff and write thank you's in his sign in book.

On our way home from Washington, we received word that Senator Collins was voting no! The advocacy in Washington and those who submitted testimony, called their Senators and participated in rallies and events is having an effect. Please keep calling and using social media. The advocacy and fight is not over yet!

Polish Holocaust Survivor Discusses Stories of Survival During WWII

Thank you to Mark Schonwetter and Isabella Fiske from the Holocaust Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ. Mark, a survivor of the Holocaust from Poland, recounted the two years he spent, along with his mother and sister, hiding from the German Army in the forests of southern Poland during World War 2. Isablella, moderated the discussion. This was the 2nd of two workshops that ACI has organized with funding from the NJ Council for the Humanities.  Thank you to Mark and Isabella for reminding us to "Remember and Tell."