Tech-Savvy Teen Developing an Inclusive Mobile App

Nancy DeVault

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February 26, 2018

Tech-Savvy Teen Developing an Inclusive Mobile App

Most teenagers are wired for today’s world of advanced technology, and 13-year-old Alex Knoll is no exception. Well, that’s not exactly accurate because he really is an exceptional person. You see, instead of spending time on typical teen-focused technology like social media platforms and online gaming, the Post Falls, Idaho native is focused on building the framework for an inclusive mobile app. Ability App will “improve the lives of all people with disabilities by giving them the resources to make informed decisions.”

Alex says inspiration came from a complete stranger about four years ago. He saw a man struggling to enter a store. “I felt really bad that there wasn’t an automatic door for him,” recalls Alex, wondering if an app housing accessibility information existed… it didn’t. Alex recognized that, prior to that moment, he hadn’t realized the important needs of people with disabilities ─ and others likely needed an eye-opener too. He immediately took action as an inclusion advocate and began developing Ability App to “help people with disabilities and their caregivers navigate public spaces and find safe, reliable services and employment opportunities.”

“Alex hopes that his app will be an amazing tool for people with disabilities to use in their everyday lives but, at the same time, his larger mission is to raise awareness and, as a result, create a more accessible and inclusive world for people with disabilities,” says his mother, Annie Knoll.

Alex submitted his pioneering prototype to Invent Idaho, an innovative competition for students, where he won ‘Best of Show.’ There cognition steadily continued. He won top honors at numerous competitions, including I Cubed, the AT&T and Imagination Foundation Inventor’s Challenge and the Discovery 3M Young Scientist’s Challenge. Plus, community leaders and business executives, like Apple Inc. CEO Tim Cook, also took notice and, as a result, Alex began speaking regularly about his vision at community, economic, education and technology forums both domestically and internationally. “Although many other similar products have sprung up since Alex started his mission with Ability App, there are no all-inclusive global accessibility tools that include information on accessibility-friendly features for people with ALL types of disabilities,” Annie declares of the distinction.

While recognition is priceless, developing Ability App comes with a hefty price tag. During an appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres Show, the funny talk show host, who Alex describes as his “hero,” presented him with serious cash: a $25,000 donation from Shutterfly! Alex also brought in an additional $9,000 through GoFundMe. Still, fundraising remains a challenging priority. “The $300,000 that Alex is trying to raise will help with the development and continuation of Ability App. You can imagine how complex a project like Ability App is… providing a use-friendly interface that can be used by such a diverse group of users,” Annie says. It’s those detailed complexities, however, that will create inclusiveness. For example, the app will offer both voice command and eye-tracking software to better serve users with visual, vocal and limb impairments.

Alex, who is homeschooled, devotes about one to two hours daily to Ability App, and is also partnering with tech experts and volunteers. Hyper giant, for example, is an Austin-based company assisting with developing the apps three phases. “When I met Alex at the Think Big Festival last year, I was so impressed. Not just by his app, but by his drive to use technology to make peoples’ lives better. I know how important it is to have guidance in tech even when you’re an adult, so I wanted to support him in any way I could,” says Marc Boudria, Hypergiant’s VP Artificial Intelligence. Marc says he and his colleague, Matt Murray, act as virtual Chief Technology Officers by offering guidance, advice and support on design, strategy, engineering and business.

The first phase concentrates on crowdsourcing data collection using volunteer Ability Ambassadors. “I have over 600 of them around the world and they are going to help me populate the data for the app, and note what businesses in their area and the places they travel to are accessible,” Alex explains. “Everyone is welcome to become an Ability Ambassador and it is a much needed volunteer group,” encourages Alex’s father, Brian Knoll. These aides will establish and update disability-friendly features of locations, such as wheelchair ramps, braille signs, service animal relief spots, assistive technology for hearing impaired and more. The second phase will emphasize accessible employment; and the third phase will present services and features like grocery delivery, transportation, etc.

Alex says he’s especially learned a lot from one Ability Ambassador, Tara Miller, a family friend who is a paraplegic. “She’s given us a lot of pointers and ideas for the app,” Alex says, like suggesting simple modifications that businesses and public facilities can do. For example, coat hooks in restroom stalls are typically located near the top of the door and, thus, not ideal for wheelchair users. Hooks can easily be repositioned to a lower level for increased accessibility.

“He’s on a mission to do good for others,” says Brian. “It’s been rewarding for Alex to hear from people all over the world talking about how they are inspired by what he is doing and how they hope to do something to make the world a better place too.” And Marc agrees, “With Alex’s ambition, compassion and eye for technology, he has a long future ahead in technology and making a difference in the lives of others.” Once complete, the Ability App will be free to download. In the meantime, visit AbilityApp.org for more information, sign up for progress updates, volunteer as an Ability Ambassador and donate to the effort.

Home Delivery Services Serve Up Improved Accessibility to Food and More

Lifestyle

Nancy DeVault

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February 9, 2018

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Home Delivery Services Serve Up Improved Accessibility to Food and More

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires stores, including grocers, to meet a level of accessibility. Yet, that doesn’t make supermarket shopping especially appealing to consumers with disabilities or seniors. Hurdles exist; for example, aisle displays hinder accessibility, electric shopping carts aren’t always charged or functional, signage isn’t available in braille and, well, accessible transportation to even get to a grocer may be problematic. In fact, a Bureau of Transportation report found that more than half a million disabled people never leave home because of transportation difficulties. However, home delivery services and subscriptions may provide convenient solutions for improved accessibility to food and much more.

Grocery Delivery

Founded in 2014 and now available in more than 70 markets nationwide, Shipt is a grocery service offering same-day delivery thanks to a fleet of personal shoppers. It’s easy to use; place an order and schedule a delivery time through the Shipt app. Memberships ($99/year) grant customers unlimited deliveries from Publix, Kroger, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits and other retailers with free delivery on orders $35+ (otherwise $7 fee). In December 2017, Target acquired Shipt, so soon same-day delivery will also be available for most anything the big-box chain carries including electronics, home essentials and more.

Competitors like Instacart and WeGoShop offer similar delivery services with stores like Costco, CVS Pharmacy, Petco, Publix, Whole Foods and Total Wine & Spirits. Plus, if you’re vacationing at the most magical place on Earth, Goodings Supermarket delivers to Walt Disney World Resorts. And, have you ever wished for a grocery drive-through? Well, Walmart now has it ─ and without added costs. They invite you to shop online, set a pick-up time and, then, use the designated grocery parking area at your local store where a Walmart associate will load your items into your car.

Government Distribution

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) told AmeriDisability that, “improving food access to the elderly and disabled who are unable to shop for food is essential.” The USDA explains that its Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) “is the nation’s nutrition assistance safety net [formerly known as food stamps]. Some Americans need additional support to put food on the table for their families because they are unable to find work due to age or disability, or because they work but do not earn enough. Eligible households can supplement their family’s nutrition with SNAP benefits during the tough times and then transition off the program when circumstances change and they move to self-sufficiency.”

Because nearly 1-in-5 SNAP participants are either elderly or disabled ─ and, therefore, may face unique obstacles to obtain groceries ─ in 2016, the USDA launched a delivery pilot program to improve access to food. “Home delivery of groceries will help ensure that elderly and disabled SNAP participants who are unable to shop for food have access to the nutrition they need to maintain a healthy diet,” said Kevin Concannon, Undersecretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services, in a press statement. “Home delivery is particularly important for seniors living in rural areas because America’s rural population is older than the nation overall and rural seniors experience higher poverty than others.”

The year-long pilot took place in five states with delivers executed by partnering organizations: Denver Food Rescue (Denver, CO), Lutheran Social Services of Nevada (Las Vegas, NV), Many Infinities, Inc. (Alabaster, AL), Senior Services of Alexandria (Alexandria, VA) and Store to Door (Roseville, MN). Regarding the future of this SNAP initiative, the USDA told AmeriDisability Services, “Outcomes from the trial period including feedback from the participating organizations are being evaluated, as lessons learned during the pilot will help shape final rulemaking.”

Meal Service

Foodies can not only forgo shopping but also bypass menu planning and food preparation. That’s because culinary experts have designed convenient meal delivery kits featuring ready-to-make gourmet goodies. Interested? Check out kit reviews at Reviews.com.

BlueApron was among the first to mix up everyday meals for at-home cooks with weekly subscriptions. Vegetarian or meat/fish options serve ample portions; and, since step-by-step instructions come with ingredients, all you need is gear—pots, pans, spatula, etc. Using either two-person or four-person recipes, you can savor dishes beyond your standard go-to meals. Likewise, Hello Fresh offers customizable chef-curated recipes for fresh servings cooked in less than 30minutes. Both companies ($9.99+ per meal) also have wine pairings so you can toast to your convenient culinary concoctions.

Chef’d has an impressive assortment of breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert choices, but without subscription requirements. Place orders ($29 for 2 meals) to satisfy cravings as needed. Select kits based on ingredients, cook time, cuisine type, dietary style (i.e. paleo, gluten-free), etc. Gobble fast-tracks the same concept using 3-step recipes ($11.95 per meal) prepared in one pan in15 minutes – because less clean-up is absolutely appetizing, right?

Other food delivery kits satisfy specific hungers, like Harbour Trading which delivers wild-caught seafood ($35 per meal); Foodstirs, a modern baking company for those who love sweets ($14+ per kit); and SunBurst, specializing in organic and sustainable goods for clean eating. You can drink up beverage deliveries too. Like MistoBox for coffee ($13 per week), Winc for wine ($13 per bottle), CraftX for beer ($60/month for twelve 16-oz. cans) and Mash & Grape for spirits ($49+ per month).

For those who need meal deliveries without the burden of cooking, Meals on Wheels America supports more than 5,000 community-based senior nutrition programs nationwide. Volunteers deliver meals, offer transportation, conduct safety checks and more. For example, the Seminole County chapter in Sanford, Florida delivers up to two meals per day, Monday-Friday, to homebound residents who are 60+ years and unable to prepare healthy meals. There is no cost, although donations are recommended.

Restaurant Delivery

Some establishments, like pizza parlors, offer home delivery. But, for restaurants that don’t, consumers do have options. Uber Eats is a food delivery app from Uber (yup, the popular transportation service) that makes “getting great food from your favorite local restaurants as easy as requesting a ride.” Use the app to browse restaurant choices, place your order (booking fee applies) and track it. Also try BiteSquad, GrubHub, Delivery Wow, Door Dash and Door Step Delivery.

Medication Supply

Many pharmacies offer medication delivery, such as Walgreens, CVS, Walmart and even local grocers. Some insurance companies allow for a 90-day supply to be delivered directly to your doorstep, rather than the standard 30-day supply from pharmacy pick-up counters. Other online medication outlets, like TriCare, offer home delivery as well.

Just for Fun

Don’t let date night excitement fizzle out because of accessibility limitations; opt for a fun at-home kit through DateBox Club. Monthly subscriptions, ranging from one to twelve dates ($29+/month), promise “awesome, one-of-a-kind dates that will have you laughing, connecting and communicating in totally new ways.” Similarly, Faith Night In ($35 per date) aims to deepen a relationship with God and with each other through thought-provoking home-based date experiences. And, in today’s digital world, entertainment is often attached to a screen but it doesn’t have to be! Unplug for unforgettable amusement with Game Box Monthly. As the name suggests, deliveries bring a new tabletop game so you can connect with the ones you love through classic pastimes.

Lastly, for just about anything, there’s Amazon. You can order an array of over-the-counter medications, household goods, food items, clothing, games and so on. Amazon Prime members ($99/year) get unlimited free two-day shipping, plus access to movies, music and Kindlebooks.

Theater Breaking Through Barriers Making Theater Possible for All

Entertainment

Emily McDeed

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February 3, 2018

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Theater Breaking Through Barriers Making Theater Possible for All

“All the world’s a stage,” Shakespeare would have said, but most people don’t have those with disabilities in mind when watching theater. Except for one man: Ike Schambelan. Until his passing in 2016, and because of his passion for Shakespeare, Schambelan directed his own Off-Broadway theater company, Theater Breaking Through Barriers (TBTB), to showcase the writing and artistic talents of those with all abilities. TBTB originally started in 1979 as Theater By The Blind, and became well known not only for performing unique interpretations of Shakespeare, but also for plays that featured blindness and disability. As the company grew over the decades, more artists came on the scene with other disabilities, and they changed to their current name in 2008 to more accurately reflect their mission.

TBTB produces different types of plays: those that feature disabilities (for example, “Whattaya Blind?!” an exploration of how society looks at blindness) and other plays that feature Schambelan’s interpretations of Shakespeare, where the actors showcase their talent.

According to Nicholas Viselli, the current artistic director at TBTB, “disability matters as much as they want it to” for each of the plays. After hiring talent through open auditions, TBTB starts each play by interpreting scripts and building the world of their story on stage. From there, they collaborate with each artist to figure out how to tell the story with their various abilities in mind. If the script has a character turning a cartwheel, for example, and an actress can’t do that, they would work with her by creating an accessible prop or coming up with another alternative adaptation to the scene. In the end, each person involved uses their talent to put on professional, quality theatre.

But through all the workshops, and drama, their main goal is to simply change people’s perceptions one step at a time. Viselli says that society has come along way in accommodating people with disabilities, but the age-old assumption of serving them out of pity is still prevalent largely because people with disabilities aren’t seen that often in theater or portrayed accurately in other mediums. But this isn’t to blame solely on society, either. Viselli realizes that we all have this engrained sense growing up that someone’s life must be more difficult when they don’t have the same capabilities mentally, physically, and emotionally. This assumption is a limitation, and artistic avenues like theater can spark change by showing a different perspective. Many times, people come out of TBTB’s plays saying, “Wow, that was really good! Where was the disability?” That comment is the greatest one Viselli could ever receive, and summarizes the goal of their company: to prove that everyone is a person capable of pursuing anything they want to regardless of their limitations, needs and differences.“Anybody can become disabled at any time,” Viselli says, “and that makes our work common ground…and it allows us to talk to, about, and for everyone.”

TBTB also helps prospective thespians grow in their craft by offering classes, play readings, and an Intensive Playwright Workshop which showcases the talents of current and prospective members. They’re offering more workshops in 2018. To learn more about their work and upcoming opportunities, visit their website or email Viselli at tbtbinfo@gmail.com.

Photo from the production Healing (2016)

ReelAbilities Film festival Presents Inclusive Films and Conversations

Entertainment

Nancy DeVault

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February 2, 2018

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ReelAbilities Film festival Presents Inclusive Films and Conversations

Media influences perceptions and, in a way, shapes reality – consciously and subconsciously. Isaac Zablocki, Director of Film Programs at JCC Manhattan, penned an article for Huffington Post about disability in media and explained,“If we do not see people with disabilities in our entertainment, we will also have trouble envisioning them appropriately in our community. Furthermore, if we do not see appropriate depictions of people with disabilities, the public will only see disabilities as the hero or villain stock types Hollywood often presents or at best, inauthentic portrayals.” But Zablocki is not willing to accept that and, instead, is working toward positive change.

Along with co-founder Anita Altman, Zablocki established the ReelAbilities Film Festival, an annual celebration promoting awareness and appreciation of the lives, stories and artistic expressions of people with different abilities. “It is a festival with a social mission, namely to change public perception and understanding of who are people with disabilities,” Altman described during an Abilities podcast. JCC Manhattan was already accustom to using film programming for educational purposes but, in 2007, the decision to launch a disability-specific initiative arose from the increase of disability-related submissions─ enough for a stand-alone film festival.

The ReelAbilitiesFilm Festival first kicked off in New York City with films, conversations and artistic programs. Now a decade later and held in fourteen cities nationwide, it’s the largest film festival in the country dedicated to people with disabilities. Festival coordinators receive hundreds of high-quality film submissions each year, either by or about people with disabilities. About 30-40 films make the cut for each festival and are accompanied by a purposeful discussion to further engage and educate the community. Zablocki says he enjoys pictures that are not necessary ‘about’ disability but, rather, ‘inclusive’ of disability. He explained via Huffington Post, “If we want to see more representation of people with disabilities on screen, we need to look beyond having them play disability, but rather being a normal part of society and being cast in everyday roles.”

“If we do not see people with disabilities in our entertainment, we will also have trouble envisioning them appropriately in our community. Furthermore,if we do not see appropriate depictions of people with disabilities, the public will only see disabilities as the hero or villain stock types Hollywood often presents or at best, inauthentic portrayals.” – Isaac Zablocki

For example, A View from Tall was one of Zablocki’s favorite films screened at the 2017 festival. It featured a smart, unpopular, tall teenager living her most challenging year with complicated circumstances. She finds an unlikely lifeline with her disabled therapist, a character portrayed by actor Michael Patrick Thornton who, in real life, became paralyzed following a spinal stroke caused by disruption in blood supply to his spine. “It was an authentic portrayal, [as] the actor is in a wheelchair and he does a perfect job,” Zablocki told AmeriDisability Services; and while, “the wheelchair adds an element to their relationship in that they’re both outsiders in some ways and build a connection, it’s not about the wheelchair [or how the wheelchair impacts him]. It’s about their relationship.” At the premiere of A View from Tall, actors with disabilities – including RJ Mitte, Danny Woodburn and Maysoon Zayid – participated in a panel about authentic representations.

Celebrity involvement can boost the festival’s presence but others are equally as influential.“Their [celebrity] voices are crucial and important but, as a festival, it’s about elevating the voices that are otherwise not heard,” Zablocki asserts. Infact, a star-studded night doesn’t always include Hollywood A-listers. After the screening of How Sweet the Sound: The Blind Boys of Alabama, the featured gospel quartet took to the mic for an engaging session. And, at the showing of Dancing on Wheels, wheelchair-bound dancers Kitty Lunn and Krishna Christine Washburn treated the audience to alive dance performance.

This March, aside from a diverse movie line-up, the ReelAbilities Film Festival in New York will honor academy-award winner Marlee Matlin. The actress and activist,who is hearing impaired, has proclaimed, “I have always resisted putting limitations on myself, both professionally and personally.” Matlin, says Zablocki, “is probably the most achieved actor with a disability.” Held at multiple accessible locations within each host city, all films include audio descriptions and conversations translated in American Sign Language.

ReelAbilities Team at a JCC manhattan event

ReelAbilitiesis working to launch film streaming on its website (ReelAbilities.org), especially since many films, unfortunately, are not distributed beyond festivals. “We now have a ten-year catalog of films that we want to bring further access by getting into people’s homes,” Zablocki explains. For now, ReelAbilities offers an online film directory and viewers can seek these films out on Vimeo,YouTube, Amazon and iTunes.

Interested in the ReelAbilities Film Festival? You can submit a film (deadline November 1st), attend a festival (Boston, MA; Chicago, IL; Cincinnati, OH; Columbus, OH; Northern VA; Houston, TX; Minneapolis–St. Paul, MN; New Jersey, NJ; New York,NY; Pittsburg, PA; Portland, OR; Richmond, VA; Salt Lake City, UT; Toronto, Canada) or locally host a film and/or festival.

Changing Perceptions with Infinite Flow – An Inclusive Dance Company

Entertainment

Tiffiny Carlson

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February 2, 2018

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Changing Perceptions with Infinite Flow – An Inclusive Dance Company

“We are more than a dance company. We are a social movement for inclusion,” says Marisa Hamamoto, founder of Infinite Flow – An Inclusive Dance Company. Based in Los Angeles, California, this one-of-a-kind dance company is on a mission. They want to change the way the world perceives dance, showing dancers of all abilities how to dance together. Founded in 2015, it is the first dance company in the country to focus on wheelchair ballroom dance.

Infinite Flow would never have come to be if it wasn’t for Hamamoto experiencing a spinal cord injury herself. Looking at her today, one might not believe she was paralyzed from the neck down, but in 2006 she was seriously paralyzed, caused by a spinal cord infarction (a rare spinal cord disease). Hamamoto had to re-learn how to walk,and dance. Amazingly, after two months she was back walking.

At the time her injury, Hamamoto was studying dance in Japan at Keio University. Once she was back home from the hospital, she returned to school but faced rejection from some of her teachers. Fortunately, a few years after her injury Hamamoto found a new genre that inspired just like ballet once did – ballroom dance. “It brought a new vibration of joy and inspiration into my life of isolation and fear. Thanks to ballroom dancing, I healed from my trauma emotionally and made partner-dancing my career.” she says.

After embracing ballroom dance, she discovered wheelchair ballroom dance online, and noticed the sport wasn’t getting the attention it deserved in the US. It was then Hamamoto had a light bulb moment – she wanted to help introduce dance to people of all abilities knowing first-hand what is was like to be told no. And that is how Infinite Flow was born.

Since it’s inception, Infinite Flow has exploded. They offer multiple programs to people of all abilities. And just like any professional dance company, joining is by invitation/audition only. Dancers with and without disabilities are welcome. One of their dancers is Piotr Iwanicki, 33, a paraplegic originally from Warsaw, Poland, who now lives in LA.

“Marisa saw some of my videos on YouTube (I am a 12 year World Champion in Ballroom Wheelchair Dance Sport).” “I’ve been dancing with Infinite Flow since July 2017 as a guest dancer and coach.” “I’ve learned that I should not close myself in the tiny little wheelchair World, but should be open to any form of dance and anyone who wants to dance.”

Infinite Flow currently offers an amazing variety of dance opportunities. One of their most well-known programs is their #DanceforInclusion Flashmobs, where they invite people of all abilities to perform in a scheduled location. They also have a community adult and kids programs that’s open to people of all abilities, as well as teacher training, student internships and private instruction.

Hamamoto is grateful. Infinite Flow helped her develop a new voice as an artist, and so much more.“Running Infinite Flow has given me purpose in life,” she says. “And it’s given me an opportunity to give purpose to others.”

Learn more: www.infiniteflowdance.org

Love Match! Dating Sites for People with Disabilities

Lifestyle

Nancy DeVault

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January 24, 2018

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Love Match! Dating Sites for People with Disabilities

Dating can be challenging! However, in today’s digital world, exploring romantic partners via online dating has become the norm for many. A 2016 Pew Research report found that 15% of U.S. adults have used online dating sites or mobile dating apps to find love, and many have even found their one-and-only perfect match. Could love really be just a click away? Maybe! Are what about dating sites for people with disabilities?

Match (Match.com) launched as the original online dating site and, because of that, it still has one of the largest databases of singles, including people with disabilities. This site doesn’t specialize in matching persons with disabilities so not everyone is a fan. But, if you consider dating to be a numbers game, the odds may be in your favor with a larger dating pool. You can include a disability on your member profile and also set search filters to match with people with disabilities. However, there are many dating sites solely catering to singles with disabilities.

Living with schizoaffective disorder, a condition that combines features of both schizophrenia and mood disorders (i.e. bipolar disorder or depression), James Leftwich found it difficult to navigate the dating scene. So, in 2004, the librarian founded No Longer Lonely (nolongerlonely.com), a dating site designed for adults with mental illnesses including schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety, personality disorder, post-traumatic disorder, dissociative disorder and eating disorders. “Users find it very reassuring that they don’t need to worry about the stigma of telling a significant other they have a mental illness,” Leftwich told AmeriDisability. Now with about 20,000 members, he says, “We’ve had 40+ marriages result from the site!” No Longer Lonely is a supportive community that invites members to “check stigma at the door” and unlock the potential of friendship, love and support.

Inspired by his late brother Keith, who lived with Crohn’s disease, Ricky Durham founded Prescription 4Love (prescription4love.com). “It was hard for him to disclose his disease to anyone, but it was really hard for him to tell someone he had a colostomy bag. When do you tell someone that you have a colostomy bag… the first time you meet? The first date? The second? So, I thought if he met someone at a website where everyone had the same condition, there would be nothing to disclose,” Durham explains on the site. It launched in 2006 with 11 conditions and has since expanded to include nearly 40 conditions, such as blindness, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and many others.

“I always loved helping people,” says Louise Maxwell, founder of Soulful Encounters (soulfulencounters.com), a disabled dating and community website. She spent a twenty-year career working in medical offices and especially connected to patients with disabilities. Following a car accident and surgical complications, Maxwell became disabled as well. “When I was housebound, I just felt as if I had no purpose; but everyone needs a purpose,” Maxwell says. Her purpose and second career came, unexpectedly, from her son’s love life. “My son was using online dating and I thought that I could create that for the disabled community.” A decade later, the site has evolved from just a dating hub to include social-based support and resources, similar to Facebook. Many members gravitate to the chat room feature. “Soul Encounters is more than just a dating site for the physically or mentally challenged; it is a place where people meet and talk about the day-to-day things in life. We talk about current events, religion, the state of the world and each other’s families − the good and the bad. Members here know that no matter what they say, or how they feel, there will be someone who will have an opinion, encouragement, prayer or just a listening ear,” shared Laurreen in an online testimonial.

Additional dating sites for people with disabilities to explore:

Able to Love You (abletoloveyou.com)
Able to Love (abletolove.com)
Dating 4 Disabled (dating4disabled.com)
Disabled Dating Agency (disableddatingagency.com)
Disabled Matchmaking (disabledmatchmaking.com)
Disabled Mate (disabledmate.com)
Disabled Singles Dating (disabledsinglesdating.com)
Meet Disabled Singles (meetdisabledsingles.com)
Special Bridge (specialbridge.com)
Whispers for You (whispers4u.com)

Dating Tips for People with Disabilities

Be honest! Some people looking for love frown upon online dating over the concern that member profiles may not be completely authentic. Whether you’re dating online or otherwise, it’s important to be yourself. Remember, your disability is just one piece of you and does not define who you are. eHarmony states, “The heart works just fine, even if some body parts don’t.” So, if a person is not interested in getting to know you – your likes, dislikes, humor, intelligence, faith, etc. –because of your disability, then that individual is not the right person for you anyway. Online daters share a goal of finding someone special, so embrace the experience and enjoy!

Once you set a date with a match, if possible, choose an accessible meet-up location that you’re familiar with. You don’t want to arrive at a new place and discover obstacles that’ll distract you from your task at hand (the date itself).

Give it time. You may not find a match overnight and that’s OK. If you find a match with an able-bodied person, be patient as he/she learns about how your disability can impact your life and, potentially, your partner’s life. And, if you find a match with an individual with a disability different than your own, be patient with both your new partner and yourself as you navigate new understandings and, if applicable, adjustments.

Want more content like this? Read:

Tune into the Benefits of Music Therapy

Nancy DeVault

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January 23, 2018

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“I have a passion for music,” declares 52-year-old April Mobley of Cocoa Beach. So when her nurse, Katherine, mentioned the concept of music therapy, Mobley, who especially loves acoustic guitar, felt amped up! “Everything in my life revolves around music,” she says.

Mobley is receiving treatment for both leukemia and diabetes at Florida Hospital Orlando. Due to complications with diabetes, she recently lost a toe and is struggling with her emotions about her health. But music therapy cheers her up.

“I’m happy when she [the therapist] is here. When she plays the guitar, I forget about all my problems,” she says. Mobley’s positive response to music therapy is shared by other patients.

How Music Therapy Heals

“One of the things that I love about music therapy is that we’re able to individualize it to the person. So, the benefits – anecdotally and according to research – are quite wide-ranging. It can really encompass the whole person because there are physical benefits, and physiological, neurological, social and spiritual,” says Rich Abante Moats, a board-certified music therapist who serves as the Music Therapy Program Manager at Florida Hospital. In 2017 alone, Florida Hospital led 8,000 music therapy sessions ─ a collaborative sum of independent and group meetings.

Music therapy, as defined by the American Music Therapy Association, “is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional.” The concept has struck a chord within the field of medicine and is benefiting patients with diverse conditions, such as anxiety, autism, asthma, chronic pain, dementia, depression, end of life care, irregular sleep patterns, mobility issues, Parkinson’s disease, stroke and traumatic brain injury.

After evaluating the strengths and needs of an individual, music therapists guide therapeutic treatments that may include playing instruments, songwriting, singing and moving to and/or listening to music. Music therapists must earn a music therapy degree, complete a minimum of 1,200 hours of clinical training and pass a certification exam. Moats says those unfamiliar with the specialty question how music therapy differs from someone just turning on the radio.

“A music therapist has the ability to assess and to change how music is presented according to the person’s ability. It is always success-oriented,” she says. “A radio can’t change the tempo. We can make adjustments so the brain won’t be overstimulated.”

Patients at Florida Hospital enjoying music therapy healing

Photo: David Akins enjoys music therapy at Florida Hospital.

For example, when working with stroke patients, Moats aims to improve communication, mobility and cognitive function. “I may use singing to emulate a phrase the patient is working on. We train the patient to sing a phrase and work on rhythms,” she describes.

This approach of layering words on top of melody and rhythm was also embraced by Congresswoman Gabby Giffords. She experienced aphasia ─ the inability to speak ─ following a brain injury from a gunshot. Additionally, to foster muscle control with stroke or brain injury patients, Moats says, “If we’re doing shoulder flexion, a patient may use a mallet with drums and we have a metronome that keeps us in time.”

Music therapy, as defined by the American Music Therapy Association,“is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional.”

Erin Keenan, a music therapist who researched Parkinson’s disease at the University of Miami, says music can help with side effects associated with the disease, such as shuffling gait, tremors, muscle rigidity and speech change. During an interview with The Miami Hurricane, she shared, “Music gives the central nervous system so much information. There is so much going on in the brain, and rhythm helps organize everything.”

Marty Miller agrees. Her husband, David Akins, is losing his voice as a result of his fifteen-year battle with Parkinson’s. Miller says music therapy has helped him to speak louder. “As a caregiver, you have to try it with your loved ones so you can encourage them when they feel like stopping. It’s up to us to keep them moving,” she attests, adding, “We get in the car and we start to practice, so we go ‘la, la, la’ when no one can hear us sing.”

Akins also appreciates the support of his fellow patients. “Besides the positive impact it has had on my health, I do it because it allows me to socialize with other people. The other participants are my family ─ an extended family that’s always there for me when I need them. I’m friends with each and every one of them,” he says.

Moats and her small team of seven help patients battling cancer to work on emotional goals and coping mechanisms as well. “We may focus on verbal discourse and talk about feelings and their journey; then, write about those feelings and transform them into a song.” And Moats also witnesses progress within the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). She’s not exactly looking to mold mini Beethovens, per se, but rather implement scientific findings. Researchers at the Louis Armstrong Center for Music and Medicine at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York found that infants who had respiratory distress or sepsis tended to do better while listening to sounds mimicking a heartbeat, fluid in the womb or lullabies.

Music Therapy for Youthful Players

Music therapy is actually implemented in many settings beyond hospitals. Joyful Music Therapy in Orlando, for example, offers individual and group music therapy, adaptive lessons and other sessions. The company focuses on individuals with autism, early intervention, memory care, geriatrics and hospice. “We provide therapeutic music instruction to many children and adults with special needs. As music therapists, we are trained to focus on the strengths of the individual so our music lessons are far from traditional. However, our students perform in bi-annual recitals,” says Tamela Ponder, a board-certified music therapist and Executive Director/Founder of Joyful Music Therapy.

Jennifer Sikora credits Joyful Music Therapy with empowering her son, Sean, who has Down syndrome, to not only increase his knowledge of music but also gain confidence and improve communication and expression skills. “Integrating music with movement and a routine helped him to become more confident, the sharing of musical instruments helped him to learn to take turns and communicate with his peers, and the various listening games helped him to learn to be an active listener,” Sikora explained. Sikora and other parents have lobbied in support of the Florida Music Therapy Government Relations Task Force to create a music therapy registry (SB 562/HB 729).

Furthermore, while it’s not technically a music therapy service, fine arts community groups (like Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra) host sensory-friendly concerts to welcome audience members of all abilities to experience musical performances in a comfortable environment.

Photos courtesy of Florida Hospital and Joyful Music Therapy

‘Breaking Bad’ Star, RJ Mitte, is Breaking Disability Barriers

Nancy DeVault

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January 17, 2018

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‘Breaking Bad’ Star, RJ Mitte, is Breaking Disability Barriers

Like many, I binge-watched ‘Breaking Bad’ on Netflix. A plotline inclusive of drugs and violence, AMC’s critically-acclaimed and award-winning drama was a departure from my usual entertainment. However, the writing was intriguing and the acting was impeccable, including that of RJ Mitte who portrayed Walter White, Jr., the son of a chemistry teacher diagnosed with cancer that turns to manufacturing methamphetamine to heighten his family’s financial future. Yes, he’s proud of that project and his other acting gigs, yet RJ, who has cerebral palsy, says he’s most fulfilled by another role: advocate for people with disabilities.

In 2006, then teenager RJ (full name Roy Frank Mitte III) relocated to Hollywood. His younger sister was pursuing acting and, so, to meet kids his own age in his new city, RJ signed up for acting classes too. His break came much faster than most actors! In less than a year’s time, he landed the role of Walter Jr., a teenager with “dark hair, big eyebrows and cerebral palsy.”

Working Actor Working for Employment Equality

“About 20 percent of people have disabilities, but only about1 percent of speaking parts in television portray disability,” RJ shared in a Pittsburg Post-Gazette interview, adding that, “When a person with disability is featured, it’s usually a stereotype − the angry person, the victim or the helpless person who becomes a hero.” Yet, that’s not how he felt about himself (or others with disabilities), nor how he wanted to depict characters on screen.

At three years old, RJ was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, a motor disability that affects a person’s ability to move and maintain balance and posture. Walter Jr.’s condition was more severe than his own, so RJ “regressed.” “The crutches really sold playing the disability because that’s what people fixated on,” RJ explained to AmeriDisability Services. Years prior, RJ was a severe “toe walker” but, with extensive therapy and leg casting, he stopped using crutches. Still, his disability remained influential. “I allow my CP to help me create characters. The joy, the pain, the knowledge ─ I use that,” he told Evening Standard.

He quickly learned a lot about the acting business, including its equality hurdles. As a spokesman for I AM PWD (Inclusion in the Arts and Media of Performers With Disabilities), a campaign associated with the Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and Actors’ Equity Association, RJ strives to improve industry access, inclusion and portrayal accuracy for all. In fact, he wants actors with disabilities to book auditions for non-disabled roles. And why not? On the flip side, people without disabilities perform disabled roles.

“People are hungry for realism. People are hungry to see characters like them,” RJ declared in a Vice video. He admitted to AmeriDisability Services that an industry change has begun but the reasoning may not be what he’s worked for. “I do see a shift for inclusiveness, but I also see a shift because it’s lucrative,” he offered. That’s why RJ is compelled to remain vocal for necessary change. “Advocacy is really what I’ve been doing for the last couple of years since Breaking Bad,” RJ shared. “I’ve actually been doing advocacy since before I was an actor.” That’s something he credits to his parents.

Aside from advocating within his own business field, RJ supports work equality overall. He’s lobbied Congress and served as a spokesperson for disability rights, women’s rights and fair wage. In the Nov/Dec 2017 issue of AmeriDisability Services, RJ was featured in the What Can You Do? advertisement, a message from The Campaign for Disability Employment to promote positive employment outcomes for people with disabilities. “People look at disabilities as liabilities. The issue is showing people that this is not true. It is so important to show that everyone has talent, and being able to use those talents properly,” RJ explains.

Major Focus on Minors

RJ enjoys working with children, such as youth actors with disabilities and various youth initiatives. For example, “I co-founded #CutTheBull with Shriners Hospital and helped to create the content,” RJ said. One-in-four students in the United States report being bullied and those numbers can be two to three times higher for kids with disabilities, according to the National Center for Education. The #CutTheBull campaign empowers people to (1) Respect: Let us look beyond our differences and overcome our fears to #SeeTheAbility in everyone; (2) Reach Out: Talk to, include and get to know someone who is being treated differently; (3) Respond: If you see someone being put-down or teased, do not participate. Instead, show support for the person and tell an adult.

“It’s about being aware, knowing your surroundings, knowing the people around you and, when needed, cutting the bull out,” describes RJ, who drew from personal experience. He believes that the matter is not isolated to youth. “We have bullying in so many facets of our life, but we can cut it out…stop it,” he affirms.

RJ supports numerous causes and nonprofits, and involvement with United Cerebral Palsy (UCP), an organization that educates, advocates and provides support services for people with a spectrum of disabilities, was a natural match. Since 2011, RJ has worked with both the national association and local affiliates as a mission-based ambassador. “He is a role model for other people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities and a reminder that they can lead a life without limits,” says Dr. Ilene Wilkins, President/CEO for UCP of Central Florida, the Orlando-based nonprofit school and therapy center empowering children with and without disabilities to achieve their potential. RJ returns to UCP of Central Florida on April 7, 2018 to co-host the annual Evening at the Palace Gala alongside actresses Cheryl Hines and Rachael Harris.

“I really enjoy the UCP family! It’s amazing to see big advocates in the community that come together to make change. And really that’s what we need, beyond the event itself, is the daily effort of making change,” says RJ, which is achieved through UCP of Central Florida’s innovative and inclusive environment.

Star’s Bright Future

RJ has enjoyed many other career-high points. He executive produced a documentary, appeared in music videos, modeled for Gap, walked the runway for designer Vivienne Westwood and served as a correspondent for the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games.

He has three films slated for release this year! “I am passionate about acting because I get to portray different characters and bring different roles to life that I feel are important to share with the public,” RJ attests. Plus, he’s auditioning, developing projects and focused on philanthropy. He encourages people to follow their passions because, like him, you never know when your big break will come. He simply proposes, “It’s [about] finding what makes you happy… and sticking with it!”

Meet Ollie: A Real-Life Superhero Who Inspired a Pioneering Comic

Nancy DeVault

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January 13, 2018

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Meet Ollie: A Real-Life Superhero Who Inspired a Pioneering Comic

Chip Reece is a social worker in Wichita, Kansas. At the office, he focuses on aiding senior citizens in reentering the workforce. In his spare time at home, he reads comic books. Several years ago, Chip’s pastime unexpectedly morphed into a second job. Why? Well, he recognized a gap in the comic industry. There weren’t any comics featuring superheroes with disabilities. Since he didn’t exactly have creative writing experience, he relied on his firsthand knowledge of a remarkable character.

Chip and his wife welcomed their son, Ollie, in June 2010. Parenthood is tricky for most but, in addition to typical newbie parent/baby adjustments, the Reece’s were also navigating the world of medicine for the first time. You see, Ollie bravely underwent three major heart surgeries and an array of other serious procedures, including a tracheostomy, gastrostomy tube and more. Ollie also has Down syndrome; and, while his ‘extra chromosome was discovered in utero, no one could have known the extra special and groundbreaking impact he would make.

As Ollie’s health improved over time, Chip was able to rediscover comics… a joy he hoped to share with his son. Unfortunately, he couldn’t find any graphic novels inclusive of individuals with disabilities. “I just couldn’t believe that, out of all the comics in the world, there wasn’t anything that specifically represented my son. At the time, I thought ‘If Ollie came of age and had interest in comics, I wanted him to feel included,’” Chip explained. “With everything he had been through, I most identified him as being a superhero! He had been through more in his first year of life than many of us would in our lifetime.”

The problem: A major character gap in comics. The solution? Well, a social worker became a comic book writer!

“I just couldn’tbelieve that, out of all the comics in the world, there wasn’t anything that specifically represented my son. At the time, I thought ‘If Ollie came of age and had interest in comics, I wanted him to feel included,’” – Chip Reece

Chip originally drafted a short 10-page tale, titled Metaphase, about a superhero with disabilities. He expected to share it with Ollie, family and friends. Then, following a casual social media chat with Peter Simeti, founder/publisher of Alterna Comics, Metaphase expanded into a full-length book with illustrations by Kelly Williams, a skilled comic artist. Thanks to a successful Kickstarter campaign, in 2015, Metaphase was published!

The plot: A boy with Down syndrome (named Ollie, of course) wants superpowers just like his dad. But, because of his congenital heart defects, his concerned father worries about him getting in harm’s way. And there’s a twist… The Meta-Makers company promises to give powers to anyone who wants them and Ollie just can’t resist. But will he become the hero he longs to be, or will his ambitions put his beloved father in danger?

Unlike other comics which are typically pure fiction for entertainment, this first-of-its-kind graphic novel is based on reality – the good, the bad and the ugly. Perhaps, in a way, it’s Chip’s method of processing his family’s struggles and triumphs. The message has certainly resonated with a wide audience – comic, disability literature and more. And Ollie, now a 7-year-old second-grader, is also a fan!

Metaphase comic book featuring a boy with Down Syndrome

“Ollie is non-verbal and primarily uses sign to communicate. This last year was the first time he signaled that he understood the book was about him,” Chip shared. The book has helped Ollie connect with people. “I understand it can be hard for kids Ollie’s age to know how to interact with someone who is non-verbal, and this gives them an excuse to say hello,” says Chip. In fact, classmates are absolutely relating to Ollie with a newfound understanding of who he is – far beyond his disabilities – and sometimes refer to him as the “superhero kid.”

Metaphase can be ordered online via Amazon or Midtown Comics. And it looks like Chip isn’t ready to say farewell to his writing career. A sequel is underway! As for what’s ahead for Ollie’s comic plotline, Chip told AmeriDisability Services magazine, “I hope to focus more on school and his peers and will be exploring his powers more. You can bet he’ll be running into the villain from the first book again as well!” Another Kickstarter campaign is likely to launch to fund the project with a goal to publish in 2019. In the meantime, follow Chip at chipreece.tumblr.com.

Article photo credits: Chip Reece

New ‘Deaf Chat Group’ Speaks to Benefits of Social-Based Learning

Lifestyle

Nancy DeVault

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January 12, 2018

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New ‘Deaf Chat Group’ Speaks to Benefits of Social-Based Learning

Sign language is based on the philosophy that vision is the most useful tool a deaf and/or hearing impaired person has to communicate and receive information, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. American Sign Language (ASL), believed to have originated over 200 years ago, is a complete, complex language that employs hand signs, as well as facial expressions and body postures. And, as with language in general, sign language often varies per foreign country. British Sign Language (BSL), for example, is not the same as ASL.

The World Federation of the Deaf says there are about 70 million deaf people worldwide who use a form of sign language as their first language. Ryan Vander Weide, a Winter Garden, Florida resident, would like to increase the number of people who use ASL. His whole household is fluent in sign language, including his wife, Jenna, and their three daughters. “I think it’s one of the most unique languages in the world,” he says. Why? Because many assume ASL is a hands-only dialect, but Ryan explains that the other language components – facial expression and body postures – are truly imperative. Emotion allows a sign to take on multiple meanings.

Although he was born hearing impaired in both ears, Ryan wasn’t diagnosed until age four. He then learned ASL in a kindergarten class geared toward deaf and/or hard-of-hearing students. He did, however, transition into a mainstream classroom and used hearing aids. It wasn’t until his collegiate years at the University of North Florida that he began using sign language interpreters because, he says, “some of the professors were concerned that I wasn’t getting all of the information in the classes.” The result? His grades improved, his feelings of missing out on information ceased and, perhaps most importantly, his appreciation of ASL being a powerful tool skyrocketed.

Ryan’s passion became his profession. Today, he works as a Deaf/Hard of Hearing Itinerant Teacher for the Orange County Public School System. He travels to elementary, middle and high schools to work with students who are hearing impaired. “It requires working on auditory skills and/or skills to help them understand their hearing loss so they can appropriately advocate for their accommodations for themselves.”

That drive to empower individuals with ASL recently inspired Ryan to form the Deaf Chat in Winter Garden group. The purpose is to connect people who want to increase their ASL skills and interact with the deaf community through a social setting. The casual, two-hour meet-ups are free and held monthly at Axum Coffee in downtown Winter Garden; and, while all levels are welcomed, Ryan encourages attendees to be ‘voice-off.’ The upbeat chatter is about anything and everything and, if attendees don’t understand something, they can ask the signer to repeat the sign slower or finger spell.

The first Deaf Chat meeting was held in October (2017) and the group’s Facebook page already has reached 100 members! Ryan admits that he is surprised by the high interest level but can see how the group is filling a gap. “I see lots of people taking [ASL] classes and notice that, when classes are finished, [they think] ‘what now?’” he describes. Ryan believes that social environments are especially effective for learning. “In classes, you get the foundations but, to make it worthwhile, it has to be used continuously with other people who are fluent in sign language.”

Attendees’ skill level has varied but the collective goal is to increase awareness and improve users’ vocabulary and proficiency. “I want people to know that this event is friendly [in] purpose. I don’t want people to be intimidated because of the voice-off rule because, once you use the language, you will see how impactful it can be. You will notice a big difference in your skill when you use it often.”

The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders maintains an online directory of organizations that provide information about hearing and language. If you’re interested in learning ASL, the National Association of the Deaf also suggests exploring resources through local/state colleges and universities, community centers and speech/hearing centers.

Photo credit: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders