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Access 2 Independence Summer Internship Program

accesstoindependence — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:23:59 +0000

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.

2012 Scholarship Announcement and Application

accesstoindependence — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:55:07 +0000

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

LIVES WORTH LIVING Premieres on the PBS Series INDEPENDENT LENS

accesstoindependence — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 21:45:20 +0000

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

accesstoindependence — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 20:53:11 +0000

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 Comedy Show Rolls into Iowa City!!!

accesstoindependence — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 18:05:37 +0000

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.

Tunes in Transit

accesstoindependence — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 20:43:02 +0000

What: Frank Strong from Des Moines will ride both a Coralville public transit bus and a Iowa City public transit bus as a part of his goal of riding each of Iowa’s 18 fixed-route transit systems throughout the state of Iowa. Frank is a transit advocate who encourages everyone to make use of the valuable transit services available in their communities. Frank will ride the Coralville and Iowa City buses to promote awareness of the ease and convenience of riding public transit.

Frank is promoting transit as many people do not use transit because they are not sure of how to ride the bus or where the bus actually goes. Blind people like Frank have been riding public transit and teaching people how to use transit for many years. Public transit is now more accessible for people with all kinds of disabilities than ever.

Frank is promoting public transit to relieve traffic congestion, reduce pollution, and reduce carbon emmisions. Frank also encourages public transit to help Iowans “Stand up for energy independence” by reducing America’s dependence on foreign oil. Frank states that by using less imported oil, each of us can take a real step to strengthen our economy and help us remain independent and self-reliant.

Frank is working with several different statewide organizations which promote transit services as well as their own statewide outreach. These organizations include the Iowa Department of Economic Development the Iowa Arts Council and local state and federal elected officials.

Everyone can and should join Frank on the Coralville and Iowa City buses!

Frank will also perform music on his guitar as the bus travels around Coralville and Iowa City. This live music feature is not often available on any kind of transit but it will be on September 15 in Coralville and Iowa City.!

Pictures from the ADA Celebration

accesstoindependence — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 15:54:12 +0000

More pictures to come at the beginning of next week.

Let the Celebration Begin!!!!!

accesstoindependence — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 03:12:58 +0000

On July 23, 2011, Access 2 Independence presents the 21^st Annual Americans with Disabilities Act celebration at the Coral Ridge Mall from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. This year’s event features a wide range of activities for both young and old. We will open our celebration with a Sled Hockey exhibition by The Quad City Sled Hockey Association at 11 a.m. followed by a clinic that will allow patrons to come onto the ice and try out sled hockey themselves. Ricochet, the mascot for the Cedar Rapids Roughriders will be making a special appearance. This year’s keynote speaker is Jenn Wolff, the 2011 winner of the Ms.Wheelchair Iowa competition. Along with Ms. Wolff, the event will highlight the advancements that the disability community has made over the past 21 years. The University of Iowa’s ICATER lab will be demonstrating the new innovative assistive technologies available to persons with disabilities. To top off the day, Access 2 Independence will be giving out the 1^st annual Corporate Excellence of Accessibility Award to Hy-Vee groceries for their initiative to make their gas station more accessible by installing Fuel Call, a system that enables customers with disabilities to call for refueling assistance. After the festivities, stay around and enjoy the Iowa Children’s Museum. The museum is offering free admission from 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.

MAYOR RON CORBETT TO SPEAK AT ACCESS 2 INDEPENDENCE OPEN HOUSE

accesstoindependence — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 03:10:27 +0000

Come join Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett as he helps Access 2 Independence introduce themselves to Linn County

Cedar Rapids Mayor, Ron Corbett will be the keynote speaker on July 8, 2011 at the Human Services Campus in Cedar Rapids. In 1986, Mayor Corbett won a seat in the Iowa House where he served for 7 terms. He led the effort to pass the school bond issue that was used to make major improvements at Jefferson, Kennedy and Washington High Schools. During his time at the Chamber, he partnered with other local chambers to advance the idea of promoting “the Corridor” to use in the recruitment of new businesses, new residents and new funding for local projects.

WHAT: Access 2 Independence of the Eastern Iowa Corridor Cedar Rapids Open House. The event will include educational conversation about Access 2 Independence and how our organization can assist persons with disabilities in Linn, Cedar, Jones, and Benton County gain their independence. Also as part of the event, Access 2 Independence will be displaying our weekly television show,a documentary made by a member of our staff on his life as a person with a disability in Johnson County, and our four core services and how they can be used to support our consumers.

WHO: Community members that will be speaking at the event include our keynote speak over the noon hour by Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett. Mayor Corbett will be speaking about the changes in disability laws in the last 20 years. . Mayor Corbett will speak about the changes in disability laws in the last 20 years. The mayor will be speaking over the noon hour .

WHERE: Human Services Campus

317 7^th Ave Se. Suite 403 Cedar Rapids

WHEN: Friday, July 8, 2011, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Come join Mayor Ron Corbett and Access 2 Independence as they introduce themselves to their new neighbors and to the city of Cedar Rapids!

ADA Celebration Update

accesstoindependence — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 15:44:26 +0000

Hello All:

As we near the middle of June, the ADA Celebration Committee is nailing down the final plans for this years celebration on July 23 which includes some exciting changes, including moving the location from the Ped Mall to Coral Ridge Mall where heat or rain will not hamper the activities. A sled hockey exhibition from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm by the Quad City Mallards with and appearance by Ricochet will kick off the day. From 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm we will have speakers, a demonstration of Goalball a game devised in 1946 in an effort to help in the rehabilitation of visually impaired World War II Veterans and Assistive Technology demonstrations. From 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm as a very special treat the Children’s Museum will open their doors to us at no charge to tour and point out adaptations to exhibits to make them disability friendly.

We hope Senator Harkin will also be able to join us again but have not heard back from him yet. I extend my personal invitation to you to join us in what could be our best ADA Celebration.

Keep fighting the good fight and doing what you do.

Take care,

Terry Cunningham, President of Access 2 Independence