Access 2 Independence

Access 2 Independence is starting a new summer internship program.  The internship is open to all college students in Southeastern Iowa and its surrounding areas. Access 2 Independence will have the following programs available to all those that are interested:  Computer Basics  Intern,  Community Art Outreach Intern, Television Production Intern, and Business Development Intern. For more information on the internship program, please contact Kate Jacobsen at 319. 366. 0642.

Through the Looking Glass and its National Center for Parents with Disabilities and their Families are pleased to announce new scholarships specifically for high school seniors or college students who have parents with disabilities. A total of fifteen $1000 scholarships will be given out Fall 2012.  Scholarship information and applications are available on Through the Looking Glass’ website www.lookingglass.org

These scholarships are part of Through the Looking Glass’ National Center for Parents with Disabilities and their Families. There are separate eligibility requirements for high school seniors and for college students:1. High School Seniors. To be eligible, a student must be a high school graduate (or graduating senior) by Summer 2012, planning to attend a two-year or four-year college in Fall 2012 in pursuit of an AA, BA or BS degree, and have at least oneparent with a disability.2. College Students. To be eligible, a student must be currently enrolled in a two-year or four-year college in Fall 2012 in pursuit of an AA, BA or BS degree, be 21 years of age or younger as of March 5, 2012, and have at least one parent with a disability.All application materials must be postmarked by March 5, 2012. Individuals may submit only one application per award period. Also see Scholarships: Frequently Asked Questions

Thursday, October 27 at 10 PM During

                   National Disability Employment Awareness Month

While there are over 54 million Americans living with disabilities, Lives Worth Living is the first television history of their decades-long struggle for equal rights. Produced and directed by Eric Neudel, Lives Worth Living is a window into a world inhabited by people with an unwavering determination to live their lives like everyone else, and a look back into a past when millions of Americans lived without access to schools, employment, apartment buildings, and public transportation – a way of life unimaginable today. Lives Worth Living premieres on the Emmy® Award-winning PBS series Independent Lens, on Thursday, October 27, 2011 at 10 PM (check local listings) to coincide with National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

Lives Worth Living traces the development of the disability rights movement from its beginning following World War II, when thousands of disabled veterans returned home, through its burgeoning in the 1960s and 1970s, when it began to adopt the tactics of other social movements. Told through interviews with the movement’s pioneers, legislators, and others, Lives Worth Living explores how Americans with a wide variety of disabilities — including blind, deaf, physical, intellectual and psychiatric — banded together to change public perception and policy. Through demonstrations and legislative battles, the disability rights community finally secured equal civil rights with the 1990 passage and signing into law of the Americans with Disabilities Act, one of the most transformative pieces of civil rights legislation in American history.

The University of Iowa Council on Disability Awareness (CDA) has extended the deadline for its “Voices of Disability” writing contest to Sept. 30.

“Voices of Disability” encourages creative writing that explores and illuminates topics around the word “disability.” All University of Iowa faculty, staff, and students—as well as residents of the Johnson County area and surrounding counties—are encouraged to submit writings of 1,500 words or fewer. One entry per person; participants do not have to have a disability to enter.

One winner, along with second- and third-place acknowledgements, will be selected in four categories: adult prose, adult poetry, youth prose, and youth poetry. Submissions must be submitted electronically to the CDA.

For an entry form and guidelines, visit www.uiowa.edu/~cda/announcements.html or contact Carly Armour at 319-335-1462 orcda@uiowa.edu.

Josh Blue’s no-holds barred comedy routine emanates from his own life experience with cerebral palsy. Stand-up comedian, Josh Blue, will rock the stage of the First Ave Club in Iowa City  on September 22 for an 8:00 p.m. show. Blue is the winner of NBC’s Last Comic Standing, season 4. Josh appears regularly on Comedy Central, and has performed at prestigious comedy festivals. His story has been featured on major television networks, and is a contributor to NPR radio programs.

Iowa City will be the third stop on his current national tour, featuring fresh material  paticularly resonant with college crowds. Ticket information for the performance is available from the First Ave Club. 319.337.5527 or from Josh’s website joshblue.com.