President Obama's appearance, and subsequent gaffe, on The Tonight Show certainly drew attention to disabilities, but more significantly, it presented the disability community with an opportunity to educate the public that words do matter, and more needs to be done to ensure all Americans, with and without disabilities, are treated fairly and have the chance to live full, independent lives.
To that end, UCP National Board Trustee Rich Donovan, along with fellow Board Trustee Duncan Wyeth and disability advocate Dustin Longstreth, have co-signed an open letter to President Obama, encouraging him to use his misstep to shed light on, and find solutions for, the many challenges still facing people with disabilities today. View the open letter here.
» In an exclusive interview with Disability Scoop, special assistant to the president for disability policy, Kareem Dale, defends President Obama following his misstep on The Tonight Show last week, and reveals what's next in the administration's plans for people with disabilities. The interview can be found at http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2009/03/24/kareem-dale/2639/.
UCP National Office Online Auction Opens April 13th
The United Cerebral Palsy online auction opens April 13th. Some items include a Kindle, framed art, an accessible getaway, an autographed Washington Redskins Jersey, and a Washington Wizards basketball autographed by the entire team!
Help us create a Life Without Limits for people with disabilities by viewing these items, and many more, right now at www.ucp.cmarket.com.
For more information about the auction, please contact Emily Dolenz at 202-973-7100.
High School Teams Increase Mobility, Accessibility for Two UCP Clients
For Marla and Jerina, two UCP consumers, the 2009 JETS/AbilityOne National Engineering Design Challenge (NEDC) has created new opportunities for achieving life without limits.
The NEDC is a real-world high school design competition in which teams of students from across the nation design and build an assistive technology device for use by a person with a disability in his or her workplace. Beginning in August 2008, teams first identified a problem to solve and then worked together to design, test and present their device. The top five finalists were selected by a panel of judges to compete in the NEDC Finals competition in Washington, D.C. on February 26th.
Bishop Kelly High School in Boise, Idaho and Commack School in Commack, New York whose project we previously reported on in UCPeople each designed and built an assistive technology device for a person they met through their local UCP organization.
Bishop Kelly High School created the SHAGS: Syringe Holding and Guidance System for Marla, a nurse with an essential tremor. Commack High School created NOW: The New Office Workstation for office employee Jerina Porterfield, who has Cerebral Palsy.
Both teams won second place and $1,500 for their schools.
"Through United Cerebral Palsy in Boise, our team was introduced to Marla, a nurse who has essential tremors. After meeting with her to better understand how we might be able to assist her, the students worked over the course of several weeks to brainstorm and come up with a device that would assist Marla with filling syringes with meds for her patients more safely. This led to the design and construction of our device which holds multiple syringe sizes as well as multiple vial sizes and allows Marla to fill the syringes much more safely. The whole process turned out to be very educational and eye-opening for our students and coaches in terms of disability awareness and how much need is out there for solutions," remarked Dr. Guy Hudson, Bishop Kelly High School's team coach.
"Jerina [from UCP Suffolk] was inspirational and helpful at all times. She really motivated us to design something that could help her as a person, elevating the challenge beyond an assignment," said Commack High School student and team member Erica.
It's not too late to join in Ruby's Bequest, the conversation and collaboration happening right now and for only 2 ½ more weeks at http://www.RubysBequest.org. You don't need a big idea that saves the world — start by sharing even one small thing that you'd change or improve about how we provide care to others.
Ruby's Bequest takes place in the town of Deepwell — the "town that doesn't care right" — and Deepwell in the year 2012 has had many health and care services cut and de-funded lately. The community is beginning to step up and fill in the gaps, but we need every contribution we can get.
Founded in 1948 to help people with cerebral palsy, today United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) is a pivotal advocate for the rights of all people with disabilities. As one of the largest health charities in America, UCP is dedicated to advancing the independence, productivity and full citizenship of people with disabilities.
Have You Heard About Ruby's Bequest? The Caregiver Chronicles USA 3/23/09 Experts are predicting that, in the near future, there will be shortages of paid care-givers and direct service providers, shortages in government resources to assist people who use care services, and an influx of people who will need said services as more Boomers with disabilities start aging, and as more Boomers start aging into disability.
Alliance for Full Participation Launches Employment Initiative for Citizens with Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities WhoWillCare.net Washington,DC,USA 3/17/09 The Alliance's initiative includes focused action and networking among multi-stakeholder state teams; nationally webcast education and town-hall events; national and state-level policy change advocacy; and directed local efforts to increase and enhance employment for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Spec. Ed. Stimulus Money Raising Cautions Education Week USA 3/16/09 For years, school officials have complained that the federal government hasn’t met what they say is its obligation to fully fund the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act, which governs the education of 6.7 million students with disabilities.
Mentally ill in Africa get little help USA Today Kisii,Kenya,Africa 3/15/09 For Nyaboke, whose children display the symptoms of serious autism, the only way to keep the girls safe while she is away is to lock them up.
'Fight club' probed at home for disabled MSNBC/Associated Press Corpus Christi,TX,USA 3/10/09 Seven employees of a state–run home for the mentally disabled in Texas have been suspended for staging fights between residents who were forced to shove, punch and strike each other, authorities said Tuesday.
"I'm Here to Make You Feel Better" Washington Post Washington,DC,USA 3/10/09 Robots can already perform surgery and track your meds. Now, new models aim to provide therapy and support.
Carnival for disabled youth a hit The Desert Sun Palm Springs,CA,USA 3/6/09 The students who participated in the program are part of United Cerebral Palsy of the Inland Empire, said Ruby Ison, Coachella Valley outreach coordinator.
Disability Day draws 2,000 to Capitol The Daily Citizen Atlanta,GA,USA 3/5/09 "Hear our voice, Respect our choice!" and "My body, my choice where I want to live" were among signs articulating the sentiment of the 2,000 Georgians gathered at the State Capitol last Wednesday to heighten public awareness and to communicate support to legislators for increased services for people with disabilities.
Chinese Man Defies Country's Odds By Giving Son With CP Future Disability Scoop USA 3/4/09 There aren't many options for adults with disabilities in China. But rather than let his son with cerebral palsy just sit at home, one Beijing father took matters into his own hands.
Teen Athlete Refuses To See Limitations CBS News Los Angeles,CA,USA 3/3/09 Jimmy is legally blind – one of just about 3,000 Americans with a condition called Aniridia. Born without irises, his eyes are just pupils. He can't see what's written on the board. To see what's written in his book, his face nearly touches the page. Yet Jimmy excels – even on the basketball court.
March proclaimed Disability Awareness Month NBC WAVE3 Indianapolis,IN,USA 3/2/09 Each March, thousands of Hoosiers come together to celebrate diversity for people with disabilities – which comprise more than 1 million people statewide – through a variety of community–based activities.
Former Congressman Tim Penny's personal disability connection Rocklin & Roseville Today Roseville,CA,USA 3/1/09 When serving in Congress from 1982-94, U.S. Rep. Tim Penny helped pass the Americans with Disabilities Act. Arguably, he had as much of a personal connection to disability as any member of Congress.
Visit the web address below to tell your friends about this. Tell-a-friend!
This message was sent to your email address. Visit your profile management or subscription management page to modify your email communication preferences or update your personal profile. To stop receiving Life Without Limits - UCP monthly newsletter, click to unsubscribe (or reply via email with "remove or unsubscribe" in the subject line).
The United Cerebral Palsy online auction opens April 13th. Some items include a Kindle, framed art, an accessible getaway, an autographed Washington Redskins Jersey, and a Washington Wizards basketball autographed by the entire team!
Bishop Kelly High School in Boise, Idaho and Commack School in Commack, New York whose project we 
