Your Talent. Our Vision.
As one of the nation's leading health benefits companies, Anthem seeks to attract the best talent to help us achieve our mission to improve lives and communities with innovative solutions to simplify the healthcare experience. Diversity matters at Anthem—we foster a culture of inclusion where different backgrounds, perspectives, talents and life experiences come together to create innovative products and services for the people we serve.

The Lex Frieden Internship is an opportunity for Anthem to further develop a pipeline of talent that is inclusive of individuals with disabilities. Named for disability advocate and pioneer Lex Frieden, one of the architects of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Internship offers a 10 week paid experience that includes a connection with a designated mentor, and a developmental series on office culture, soft skills, disability rights, and accommodations. A wide array of work experience opportunities are available for applicants currently enrolled in undergraduate and graduate level programs. The experience offers opportunities for the next generation of Anthem Associates to gain valuable work experiences, and for Anthem to continue to advance our inclusion and diversity goals.

We are seeking diverse & qualified interns to join our teams.
Our 2020 summer interns will be an integral part of our team in a variety of roles. Interns should be prepared for a fast-paced, team environment in an internship providing a robust developmental experience and exposure to various areas of healthcare including: policy, advocacy, sales, administrative and management support, communications, outreach and marketing. As part of this paid internship experience, interns are responsible for supporting their respective teams and contributing towards Anthem’s broader goals. Students with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.
Possible roles may include: Data Use Governance – Support Anthem’s team that focuses on the regulation of data usage and analytical consultation across the company.

Disability Policy Engagement 
Support Anthem’s team in ensuring people with disabilities and older adults are included in healthcare and essential life discussions that affect independence and access to care and services. Includes research, policy, participation and coordination of community events and conferences, and engagement with disability stakeholders.

Possible roles may include

• Enrollment & Billing – Support teams with managing documentation of inventory, supply chain management and data governance. Responsibilities include receiving In-bound calls, providing excellent customer service, and creating records in our sales database.


• Diversified Business Group – Support Anthem’s team that focuses on building partnerships within and outside of Anthem with the management of data and client reporting essential to our mission of strategic engagement.


• Health Plan – Join one of Anthem’s leading health plans in their mission through areas such as Marketing and Communications.


• Customer Care — Engage directly with members to maintain positive customer relations and ensures customer requests and questions are handled appropriately and in a timely manner. 

This job is for participants of an approved internship program for undergraduate college students. Specific work assignments will vary by department. C29 Assignments must meet the definition of meaningful work. Must be part of an approved academic course of study, and that course of study must be applicable to the company's operations or the support of those operations. Skills and ability requirements vary based on assignment.
An Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran

The Internship Program Sponsors are tireless champions of diversity and disability inclusion, both internally and externally in the communities we serve This program is facilitated by a cross functional team led by Inclusion & Diversity Disability Policy Engagement with the support of Talent Acquisition.

We are excited to engage students who are currently enrolled in, or completing undergraduate & graduate degrees for a PAID internship opportunity with flexible hours in more than 14 different states.

To apply, please visit: https://careers.antheminc.com/student-programs/jobs/lex-frieden-internship-49395
For questions about specific positions and how to apply, reach out to Yvette.Booker@anthem.com

 
The National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) is proud to announce the 2020 Youth Scholarship Fund. For the sixth year in a row, we will be offering scholarships to our Annual Conference for youth with disabilities ages 18 – 26 who may otherwise be unable to afford the cost of attendance.
 
NCIL offers three tiers of scholarships:
Local: Up to $110 to cover the cost of registration for youth with disabilities living in the Washington DC/Baltimore metropolitan area (this includes youth who will be in the area at the time of the conference for a summer internship or job).
 
Regional: Up to $975 to cover registration, travel, and hotel costs for youth with disabilities living in the Region III area (Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia).
 
National: Up to $1,200 to cover registration, travel, and hotel costs for youth with disabilities living in other areas of the United States.
 
At this time, we are unable to accept youth from outside the United States. If you are under 18 years old and would like to apply, please contact Cara Liebowitz directly at cara@ncil.org.
 
For the second year in a row, we are also offering the Emet Tauber Youth Scholarship. Emet Tauber was a former Youth Scholarship recipient and NCIL board member who sadly passed away in 2019. Emet’s life was changed by the Youth Scholarship Fund and he was passionate about enabling others to have the same opportunities. Therefore, the Emet Tauber Youth Scholarship will be awarded each year to at least one youth with a disability who is also trans and/or Jewish in recognition of Emet’s activism within both of those communities. If you would like to be considered for the Emet Tauber Youth Scholarship, follow the prompts on the application form under the “Emet Tauber Youth Scholarship” section.
 
If you’d like to apply for a youth scholarship, please fill out the online application by April 24th, 2020. This is a highly competitive process and no applications will be considered after the deadline. Applicants will be notified if they received a scholarship within two weeks of the application deadline.
 
NCIL’s Youth Scholarship Fund is 100% funded by NCIL supporters like you. Please consider making a donation to the Youth Scholarship Fund so that we can keep providing this amazing experience for youth with disabilities.

In partnership with the Disability Organizing (DO) Network, the Disability Visibility Project will host a Twitter chat on the 2020 Census and what it means for the disability community with co-host Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF). While all participants are welcome to join us, we will focus on the Census in California and how the Disability community can benefit from being counted in the U.S. Census. We look forward to learning about your interest and advocacy with the Census!  
 

To Read More: http://yodisabledproud.org/blog/the-5-leaders-continuing-the-legacy-ed-roberts-started/


 

 
When: July 12th-17th 2020 (date subject to change)
Where: Sacramento State University
Cost: Free!
Deadline: December 6th 2019

YLF is a five- or six-day summer self-advocacy and leadership development program for students with disabilities. The 2020 YLF will take place (tentatively) on July 12 –17 at California State University, Sacramento. There is no program or travel cost for parents to pay. All selected delegate’s expenses are sponsored through a public-private partnership.
 
Students must complete an application, write an essay and provide letters of recommendations. Students will also be interviewed by a team in their local communities. This is a competitive process and not all students will be selected. YLF applications must be completed electronically and emailed to ylf@dor.ca.gov. The deadline to apply is December 6, 2019.
 
Develop your leadership skills and learn how to reach your academic, career and independence goals!
Live on the California State University, Sacramento campus for a week and make new lifetime friends!
Talk with policymakers and educate them on ways they can improve the lives of young people with disabilities! 

To apply, click on this link: https://www.dor.ca.gov/Home/YLF
 
For other questions, please call the CCEPD office at 855-894-3436 or email us at YLF@dor.ca.gov.
Dial 711 for California Relay Service.

 
 
 
 

From New Mobility Magazine:

Calling all disabled photographers — if you’re looking for a way to influence how the public sees disability, there may not be a more powerful amplifier for your photography than a new grant opportunity from Getty Images and Verizon Media. The Disability Stories grant will award a total of $40,000 in funding to five winners to create authentic representations of disability.

The grant follows a larger collaboration between Getty, Verizon Media and the National Disability Leadership Alliance, called The Disability Collection, which seeks to change media representations of disability by integrating photos of disabled people in everyday situations into the Getty Images stock photo service. In a recent survey, Getty found that only 2% of stock photos depicted disability. Those that do often conform to harmful stereotypes. “This project is an honest effort to better represent people with disabilities,” says New Mobility editor Ian Ruder, who helped vet images for the first round of The Disability Collection. “Getty is committed to making sure the photos don’t reinforce outdated notions of pity and inspiration. Changing longstanding media practice isn’t an overnight project though.”

Disabled photographers are specifically encouraged to apply for the grant program. In addition to the monetary award, winners will also receive guidance and mentorship from one of Getty’s art directors, promotion through their social media channels and the chance to license their qualifying work on Getty Images at a 100% royalty rate. Winners will be determined by a panel of judges that includes those in the creative industries and disability activists, such as Lawrence Carter Long, the communications director for the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, and Sulaiman Kahn, the founder of ThisAbility UK.

Applications are due by November 1, and winners will be announced on December 3, the United Nations International Day of Persons With Disabilities. For more information on how to apply, click here.

The National Council on Independent Living’s new project helps people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) learn about sex.

Some of the things we talk about in this project are:

• What sex is


• What gender is


• What a healthy relationship looks like


• How someone can get pregnant


• How to protect yourself against sexually transmitted diseases and infections

This project is important because people with I/DD can use the videos and guide by themselves. You can ask someone to help you if you want. But the videos and guide were made for people with I/DD to use even if they don’t have someone to help them. If you work at a Center for Independent Living, you can use this project with your consumers with I/DD.

Attention, students and families: The Choice is yours! 
 
Are you interested in exploring your college options for inclusive higher education? Join us for our first annual inclusive college fair, at the State of the Art Conference on Inclusive Postsecondary Education and Individuals with Intellectual Disability. 
 
November 12, 2019 5pm-7pm at the University of Nevada, Reno
Joe Crowley Student Union in the Milt Glick Ballroom
 
The College Fair is free for all registered State of the Art and Student Leadership Conference Attendees, and free for all families interested in learning about inclusive higher education programs.
To RSVP, email coordinator@sotaconference.com. 
 
If you are interested in exhibiting, visit www.sotaconference.com. The cost to exhibit at the College Fair is $50 for programs without a representative registered for the State of the Art Conference, and free for programs already attending the conference. The deadline to register for a booth is October 18, 2019. 
 
Be sure to follow the hashtag #SOTA2019 to stay connected with the conference on social media! 

Please share:

• Are you a person with a developmental disability who needs support to communicate?


• Are you a family member of a person who is non-speaking, minimally speaking, or unreliably speaking?


• Are you a professional working with people with disabilities who need support to communicate?

This email is for you!

SURVEY ON BARRIERS TO RECEIVING SUPPORTS TO COMMUNICATE
Disability Voices United and Disability Rights California are leading a project called the Communication Disabilities Access Network (CDAN). The project explores the various problems that people with developmental disabilities face when trying to access communication supports. We want to know the problems you are facing so that we can develop informational materials and advocacy efforts to break down the barriers.
For this survey, "communication supports" means all aspects of a communications system that helps a person with a disability communicate. This could include Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and assistive technologies (AT).
Communication supports could be equipment, such as a letterboard, iPad, smart phone, DynaVox, JAWS, and PECs. It also consists of services, such as sign language interpreters and communication partners. It can also include communication methods, such as gestures, facilitated communication, Rapid Prompting Method, sign language, braille, and others. This survey also covers the need for assessments, training, and ongoing supervision.

There are three versions of this survey: 
1) For people with developmental disabilities who need communication supports
2) For family members of a person with a developmental disability who need communication supports , and
3) For professionals (direct care providers, agency service providers, speech therapists, educators, etc.) who serve people with disabilities who need communication supports
Click on the correct link below to find the survey.

CLICK HERE FOR SURVEY FOR PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES/ SELF-ADVOCATES

CLICK HERE FOR SURVEY FOR FAMILY MEMBERS

CLICK HERE FOR SURVEY FOR PROFESSIONALS

Feel free to forward this survey to others!

Disability Voices United is a statewide advocacy organization directed by and for individuals with developmental disabilities and family members.
We advocate for:

Choice and control over our lives,
Meaningful outcomes that matter to us, and
Systems that are equitable and accountable to us.

www.disabilityvoicesunited.org

DONATE | JOIN

Connect with California youth with Disabilities 
Join us at the Catherine Kelly Baird Youth Leadership Forum (YLF) Networking Luncheon on Thursday, July 19th, 2019 at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Sacramento. Community members will be seated with delegates of the 2019 Youth Leadership Forum in attendance.

Catherine Kelly Baird YLF Networking Luncheon 
Friday, July 19th, 2019
12:00pm - 2:30pm
Sheraton Grand
13th &, J St, Sacramento, CA 95814

*Deadline to register is July 11, 2019*
Tickets are $40 a person. For more information, please email CKBLuncheon@calylf.org.
Reserve your spot today: https://yodisabledproud.org/ylf-luncheon/

Learn more about Catherine Kelly Baird

NCIL’s Youth Scholarship Fund is one of the cornerstones of our Annual Conference on Independent Living. The Youth Scholarship Fund offers financial assistance for youth with disabilities aged 18 to 26 to attend NCIL’s Annual Conference.

We’ve already accepted close to 20 youth to receive scholarships for the 2019 Annual Conference. You can be one of the 2019 youth scholarship recipients, too!

NCIL offers three tiers of scholarship funding:
 
Local: Up to $110 to cover the cost of registration for youth with disabilities living in the Washington DC/Baltimore metropolitan area (this includes youth who will be in the area at the time of the conference for a summer internship or job).
 
Regional: Up to $975 to cover registration, travel, and hotel costs for youth with disabilities living in the Region III area (Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia).
 
National: Up to $1,200 to cover registration, travel, and hotel costs for youth with disabilities living in other areas of the United States.
 
Youth who are selected to receive scholarships will also receive a complimentary membership to NCIL through the end of 2020.

The deadline to apply for a youth scholarship is July 1st!  Don’t delay, apply now!

NCIL explicitly prioritizes youth of color, LGBTQIA+ youth, youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and others who have traditionally been marginalized in the Independent Living Movement. If you have any questions about the NCIL Youth Scholarship, please email Cara Liebowitz, Development Coordinator, at cara@ncil.org

For more information on the Annual Conference: https://www.ncil.org/2019-annual-conference-on-independent-living/

Online Application: https://ncilforms.wufoo.com/forms/2019-ncil-youth-scholarship-application/

Make a donation to the Youth Scholarship Fund: https://ncilforms.wufoo.com/forms/support-the-2019-youth-scholarship-fund/
  

If you, or someone you know is an aspiring technology or media professional, storyteller, gamer, geek, coder, filmmaker, musician, actor, dreamer, writer, director, editor, transitioning youth, college student, recent grad, disabled veteran who is Deaf or has a disability — check out Lights! Camera! Access! Silicon Valley Career Exploration Summit and the Global Accessibility Symposium (LCA) on May 17th — Own the Deaf & Disability Narrative Imperative across delivery platforms (TV, movies, documentaries, news, theatre, interactive and video games) — and make a difference. Application Deadline for the LCA Silicon Valley is Monday, May 6, at 8 pm PT.   
 

You will participate in workshops during the summit and have ongoing support in your career exploration journey. During the summit you will attend workshops including,

• Resume Review, Speed Interviews and Flash Mentoring


• Networking to Achieve your Career Objectives Workshop


• Self-Disclosure Workshop: How to Leverage Disability to Sharpen Your Competitive Edge

You will also have the opportunity to “Rock Your Profile” with LinkedIn, meet disability, media, technology and disability-savvy corporate leaders from Google, AT&T, LinkedIn, Aira, Level Access, Waymo and others.
 
Application Deadline for the LCA Silicon Valley is Monday, May 6, at 8 pm PT.   

For context on LCA Summits, check out:
 
TV Guide (BBDO-hosted in NYC):   https://www.tvguide.com/news/people-with-disabilities-hollywood-representation-diversity-inclusion/
 

 

YO! Disabled & Proud connects, educates and organizes youth with disabilities. Together, we create positive change in our communities. Join us at the Disability Pride & Leadership Summit and be a part of our next phase of change. Become a part of the next organizing campaign to establish Disability Pride month in California and learn about the legislative process while building your leadership skills.

Deadline has been extended till Wednesday April 17. Register NOW before spots fill up!

[Click to Register]

Can you believe it's almost summer again? Soon classes will be out of session and young people will have time to themselves. What better way to spend the summer than learning how to change the world?

We're now accepting applications for two ACLU Advocacy Institute programs: a weeklong intensive training and networking program for emerging leaders in high school (ages 15-18) and another weeklong program for students in college (ages 18-24). Apply by April 14 to take steps toward building a brighter future informed by the dedication, knowledge, and passion of the next generation of leaders.


 
New for 2019: This year we've added programming to get even more young people involved. The brand-new Advanced Advocacy Program will equip students with tools for lifelong engagement in grassroots organizing, policy development, and legal advocacy. We've also added an extension program for participants who want to spend more time in Washington, DC and New York City alongside ACLU experts, nationally recognized leaders, and activists who are leading the fight for social justice.

Generous scholarships are available and space is limited – so apply today.

As a young activist and organizer, it's awe-inspiring to see the work that our alumni go on to accomplish. To date, over 1,700 students have been trained through the ACLU Advocacy Institute, and we're excited to work with even more talented and diverse youth this year. So if you know a young person who's a perfect fit, encourage them to apply.

Thank you for investing in the next generation of leaders,

D'Angelo Cameron
ACLU team member and activist


This email was sent by:
American Civil Liberties Union
125 Broad Street, 18th Floor
New York, NY 10004, USA

 

Hi Friend:
 
As you may already know, April is Earth Month. We’re so excited that we, at the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers (CFILC), are launching our first Accessible Earth Month in celebration of the collaborative efforts to make environmental conservation efforts accessible for all, including those with disabilities. We want to invite YOU to join the conversation!


 
In the past year, CFILC has been making strides in educating the public about accessibility as a need when considering solutions to address environmental concerns. In February, CFILC’s Disability Organizing Network teamed up with the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the Central Coast Center for Independent Living to conduct the nation’s first study on the Disability community’s experiences with alternative straws, especially non-plastic straws.
 
The Disability community has only recently been more visible in the discussion of sustainability. We encourage you to use our Accessible Earth DIY Toolkit as a resource to share. There are also tips on social media planning and graphics for you to customize for your own Accessible Earth Day images and messages.

Link to the study on alternative straws: http://disabilityorganizing.net/uploads/donet-straw-report-012319-ACCESSIBLE.pdf

Link to our Accessible Earth DIY Toolkit: http://californiareuse.org/resources/accessible-earth-day.php
 
We know that developing content is no easy feat. Please feel free to follow CFILC on social media and share their posts!

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/CFILC.org/
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/_CFILC
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/cfilc_1982/

In Solidarity,
 
YO! Disabled & Proud 

March 26, 2019  |  Register Here: https://federalvirtualstudentsymposium.eventbrite.com
Are you interested in an internship experience that will take you to a higher level, or thinking about your next move after completing your studies?  Do you want an opportunity to contribute to others in an environment that makes the best use of your unique talents and skill sets?  Then you may want to consider a career with the Federal Government! There are a number of opportunities for paid internships that will offer you a perspective on how your education and skills can make you a great fit for public service, and for long-term careers in multiple fields due to the many mission areas represented by our Federal agencies.  If this sounds appealing, a great first step is to join us for the Federal Internship and Student Symposium, which will take place on March 26, 2018, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. EDT.
 
With just a small investment of your time, you will learn how to prepare your Federal résumé to have the greatest impact when applying for Federal positions; and about the Federal Pathways Programs, which include internships leading to long-term careers, and career developmental programs for recent graduates, including those who aspire to executive-level positions in the Federal Government. Don’t miss this outstanding event.

For a more detailed description, please click here: https://federalvirtualstudentsymposium.eventbrite.com
 
 

Apply for National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) 2019 Summer Policy Internship Program by Monday, April 1!
To apply, please email a cover letter, resume, and one letter of recommendation to Lindsay Baran at lindsay@ncil.org. To be considered for the summer internship program, your application must be received by Monday, April 1, 2019.

Each semester, the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) hosts up to 2 internship positions at our office in Washington, DC. The Policy Internship Program provides real Washington policy experience to participants at a highly respected national organization. Interns gain valuable experience in the nation’s capital and build skills necessary to be ideal candidates for positions at NCIL, CILs, and other advocacy organizations around the country.
The NCIL Policy Internship Program is open to students and individuals pursuing a career in a field relevant to NCIL interests, particularly Independent Living and disability advocacy. Candidates must have a strong interest in disability rights and basic knowledge of the legislative process. Although not a requirement, preference shall be given to individuals with disabilities. The program lasts approximately 12 weeks, and interns are required to work at least 10-15 hours each week.

For more information about the NCIL Policy Internship program, visit ncil.org/jobs/ncilinternships. 

Join us February 16th, 2019 from 12:00pm-1:00pm as we host a youth (16-28) orientation call to discuss this year’s Disability Capitol Action Day
We’d like to ensure that the youth voice is heard during this event!    This is the perfect time to get answers to some, if not all, of your questions.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/369322773
Meeting ID: 369 322 773
Call Number:+1(669)900-6833
Password:369322773#

For accommodations and questions please contact http://Raelyn Keys at Raelyn@cfilc.org
 

The deadline for students to apply for 2019 Youth Leadership Forum for Students with Disabilities (YLF) has been extended! The new deadline is March 3rd, 2019.
 
The YLF program will be held July 15-19, 2019, at California State University, Sacramento.
 
The YLF is a five-day residential self-advocacy and leadership development summer youth program held on a college campus. It is a great opportunity for students who have been identified as potential leaders to participate in leadership development. Please share this information with your network.
 
Students must complete an application, write an essay, and provide letters of recommendation. Students will also be interviewed by a team in their local communities. This is a competitive process and not all students will be selected. We are targeting students who are sophomores and juniors during the 2018-19 school year. However, some seniors will be accepted as well. YLF applications must be completed electronically and emailed to ylf@dor.ca.gov. Again, the deadline to apply has been extended to March 3rd, 2019.
 
The 2019 application and related documents, including an outreach flyer, can be found at http://www.dor.ca.gov/YLF/YLF-Delegate-Info.html. All information can be shared through your distribution channels. Please print the flyer and post in your offices and share with your networks.
 
Thank you for your continued support!
 
If you have any questions, please contact Daniel Gounder at (855) 894-3436 or Daniel.Gounder@dor.ca.gov.

YO! Disabled and Proud will be presenting at this year's CARSplus Convention in Sacramento! 
CARSplus has lined up a set of great presenters who will discuss the most current issues affecting schools and teachers today.The purpose of this convention is to make one aware of the plethora of options that are available to all in addressing the needs of the Individual Education Plan (IEP).

A few of the key topics include:

• Campus environment, Safe and Supportive


• Transition and Independent Living Skills


• Relationship between Special Education and General Education 

...and so many more! 

To register, please visit their website.

Event Information:
February 8-9, 2019
Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Sacramento
2001 Point W Way
Sacramento, CA 95815

  Join YO! Disabled & Proud for a discussion on Twitter celebrating Ed Roberts Day!
We're taking a look at how collaboration with other communities has historically helped the Disability community and the impact that unity has today.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE
1. Follow @yodisabledproud for the latest information about the chat.
2. At the time of the chat, click on the ‘Latest’ tab for the hashtag #ERDunity. This will show you the questions and everyone’s responses in real time.
3. Use the hashtag #ERDunity when you tweet. 
For example: your tweet in response to question (Q1), should follow this format: “A1 [your message] #ERDunity”

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TWITTER CHAT QUESTIONS
Q1: Roll call—what’s your name (and which organization are you from?)
Q2: What have you gained from Ed Robert’s legacy within the disability community?
Q3: Why do you think Ed Roberts is relatively unknown compared to other social activists?
Q4: Why is it important to create partnerships with other social justice organizations (or groups)?
Q5: Have you ever mentored or been mentored from someone outside of your community? If so, did you/they benefit?
Q6: How do YOU plan to celebrate #EdRobertsDay19 today and going forward?
#ERDunity

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 In partnership with YO! Disabled & Proud, Independent Living Resource Center's Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) is having FOUR youth events this January 11th-13th! We will be celebrating Ed Roberts Day by unveiling the annual statewide poster. Activities will be centered around mentorship, leadership, advocacy, and tools for being more independent. For more information and to register for this event please click the link. https://ilrc-trico.org/

What is CalABLE?
CalABLE is a savings and investment plan offered by the state of California to individuals with disabilities. CalABLE Goes Live December 18, 2018! The CalABLE Program will officially launch on December 18, 2018. As of that date, CalABLE’s enrollment website at www.CalABLE.ca.gov will be accepting new enrollees. Instructions on how to enroll will also be easily located on the website.
Eligible individuals, family, friends and employers can contribute up to $15,000 a year without affecting the account beneficiary's public disability benefits. CalABLE account owners who work can contribute even more to their accounts. Best of all, earnings on qualified withdrawals from a CalABLE account are federal and California state tax-free.

KEY FACTS:

• Earnings in a CalABLE account receive federal and California state tax-free treatment.


• Withdrawals for qualified expenses are also tax-free.


• Up to $15,000 a year can be deposited into a CalABLE account without affecting the beneficiary's public disability benefits.


• Account owners/beneficiaries who are employed can contribute additional amounts above the $15,000 annual limit. For example, in 2018, eligible working individuals living in the 48 contiguous United States can contribute an amount equal to their current year gross income up to an additional $12,060.


• If you receive SSI benefits, you can save as much as $100,000 in your account with no effect on federal and California state benefits.


• California residents with a CalABLE account are protected from both creditors and repayment of medical assistance. Medi-Cal is prohibited from filing a claim to recover any payments after a beneficiary has died, giving individuals the full opportunity to leave a legacy for loved ones. Families can transfer money from a 529 College Savings Plan to an ABLE account (provided the transfer does not exceed the $15,000 maximum annual contribution).


• An annual fee of $37 per year is deducted in monthly installments from each CalABLE account. There are also low fees on the underlying investment options plus a state administrative fee. Additional fees apply if you choose not to use certain online features, such as receiving paper statements. CalABLE is California's ABLE Plan, but any eligible individual in the U.S. may open a CalABLE account. Withdraw money when needed.

HOW TO ACCESS?
Just log into your account and request a withdrawal amount. The withdrawal can be sent to your bank electronically or you can request a paper check for a small fee.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
Individuals with a disability that occurred before age 26 are eligible to open a CalABLE account.
If you meet this age of onset requirement, and receive benefits under SSI (Supplemental Security Income) and/or SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance), you are automatically eligible to open a CalABLE account.
If you are not a recipient of SSI and/or SSDI, but still meet the age of onset requirement, you could still be eligible if you meet Social Security’s definition and criteria regarding significant functional limitations and receive a letter of certification from a licensed physician.
While CalABLE is California’s ABLE Plan, any eligible individual in the country can open an account.
 

Disability Rights, Education, Activism, and Mentoring (DREAM) is accepting applications for the Dinah F. B. Cohen DREAM Disability Mentoring Fellowship through December 15, 2018!

In partnership with the National Disability Mentoring Coalition (NDMC), the DREAM Board is excited to offer a new internship opportunity for college students and recent graduates interested in disability mentoring and leadership! This is a 3-month part-time paid position with expenses paid to participate in the National Mentoring Summit and Capitol Hill Day in D.C. at the end of January 2019. The position will be customized for degree and career interests with the inclusive mentoring advocacy work of the NDMC and DREAM.

The namesake of this fellowship program is Dinah F.B. Cohen, a long-time disability rights leader and the Jewish-American daughter of holocaust survivors, who dedicated her life to networking, mentoring, and guiding the careers of others. In honor her life and legacy, the NDMC and DREAM encourages applications from young adults with disabilities who represent multiply-marginalized groups.

This is a 3-month part-time paid position with expenses paid to participate in the National Mentoring Summit and Capitol Hill Day in D.C. The position will be customized for degree and career interests with the inclusive mentoring advocacy work of the National Disability Mentoring Coalition (NDMC) and the student leadership work of Disability Rights, Education, Activism, and Mentoring (DREAM).

For more information and to apply, visit https://ndmc.pyd.org/fellowship/. Applications are due by December 15th!

Questions? Contact Derek Shields, NDMC Director, at dshields@forwardworks.net or Kim Elmore, DREAM Coordinator, at kimwpelmore@gmail.com.

The California Foundation for Independent Living Centers (CFILC) is happy to announce that two new Youth Organizers have joined the CFILC team. The Youth Organizing (YO!) Disabled and Proud program now includes Vanessa Cuellar and Raelyn Keys.



The two Youth Organizers will ensure that the YO! program continues to connect, organize and  educate Californians with disabilities (ages 16-28).
Learn more about them in the CFILC Staff Page.

FREED Center for Independent Living in Nevada City, California, is creating a video project focused on the stories and experiences of youth with disabilities.
Specifically seeking youth:

• Ages 14-24 who identify as having any disability


• Who live in the following counties:
  
  
  
  • Colusa
  
  
  • Nevada
  
  
  • Sierra
  
  
  • Sutter
  
  
  • Yuba
  
  
  
  

If you or someone that you know may be interested in being interviewed for this project, please contact FREED's Media Coordinator, Liam Lambert: liam@freed.org

Ability Tools is celebrating Grandparents' Appreciation by sharing photos and stories between now and September 9th.
Share a fond memory and/or photos showing off grandparents and grandkids using assistive technology (AT) via:

1. Email: socialmedia@cfilc.org


2. Directly onto the Ability Tools Facebook post.)


3. Share on your favorite social media platform (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn). Be sure to use #appreciATegrands 

 
Enjoy a night “out” at the movies at our first-ever outdoor Superfest Showcase!
Bring candy, food, drinks, blankets, & friends! There will be limited chairs and tables, so feel free to bring your own seating arrangements.

When: Wednesday, August 29, 2018, 8:00pm-9:30pm
Where: Redwood City Courthouse Square, 2200 Broadway, Redwood City

All entertainment will have open captions and audio description. 
If you have any additional access requests, please email superfestshowcase@gmail.com by August 19, 2018. For all other questions, email superfestshowcase@gmail.com.

Through the AAPD Paul G. Hearne Emerging Leader Awards, the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) recognizes outstanding emerging leaders with disabilities who exemplify leadership, advocacy, and dedication to the broader cross-disability community.

Two (2) individuals will each receive $2,500 in recognition of their outstanding contributions and $7,500 to further a new or existing project or initiative that increases the political and economic power of people with disabilities.

The recipients of the 2019 AAPD Paul G. Hearne Emerging Leader Awards will be honored among national disability leaders at the AAPD Leadership Awards Gala, held in Washington, DC on March 12, 2019. 
 

 


Rooted in Rights is proud to announce the start of the inaugural Rooted in Writing Fellowship. With over 90 submissions, selecting our finalists was a truly competitive process.

Please join us in congratulating our two Fellows, Christian McMahon and Angela Lemus-Mogrovejo! Christian and Angela will be working with Rooted in Rights to share their powerful, unique writing on disability rights issues.

Meet the Rooted in Writing Fellows:
Christian McMahon is a disabled trans writer living in Sacramento, California as well as the communications specialist for The Arc of California. His work has appeared in publications including the Toast, Catapult, and BuzzFeed, among others.




Angela Lemus-Mogrovejo is a twenty-five year old disabled, transgender femme/woman of color working and writing to make a stable life for herself in the Inland Empire area. As an artist, she writes poetry and essays in the hopes of uplifting the ongoing efforts of disabled QTPOC artists and communities in imagining/creating a better world for us all. A better world is possible and she hopes to play her part in making it be realized.

 

Rolling Start is excited to announce that it has now opened up its registration list for the Youth Leadership Summit at Teresita Pines in the mountains near Wrightwood. It's open to all youth with a disability between the ages of 14 and 22.
It's a weekend of learning new skills and having some summer fun like, swimming, archery, a climbing wall and more. The camp is fully accessible and there's no cost to you. 

Contact Rolling Start now to reserve a spot to join us in all of the camping fun. Spaces are filling up fast!

Contact: Antonio Alcantar
Phone: (909) 890-9516
Email: Aalcandar@Rollingstart.com

This Thursday, June 22, 2018, is the 19th Anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Olmstead decision cementing the ADA’s integration mandate. To commemorate the day, NCIL is joining other national disability organizations in hosting a National Call-In Day for the EMPOWER Care Act (S. 2227 and H.R. 5306). 
Since Money Follows the Person (MFP) began in 2005, over 75,000 disabled people have been liberated from institutions, and CILs have played a critical role in that. But MFP expired on September 30, 2016, and states are starting to scale back and end their programs. In fact, last year was the first time the number of people transitioned into the community declined. We need your advocacy to get the House and Senate to pass the EMPOWER Care Act to re-authorize and fund MFP!  

Take Action! 
Congress must save and fund MFP, and they need to hear from us! Please urge your Senators and Representative to continue the Money Follows the Person program by co-sponsoring the EMPOWER Care Act! 

• Participate in Thursday’s National Call-In Day! Call your Senators and Representative and urge them to co-sponsor the EMPOWER Care Act! All members of Congress can be reached by calling the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 or (202) 224-3091 (TTY). Find more information, including talking points, at the Facebook event. RSVP and share widely!


• Use Social Media! Post on Facebook and Tweet at your members of Congress. Find your Members’ Twitter handles and other contact information on Contacting Congress. Make sure to use the hashtag #FundMFP in your posts. You can find more information, including sample Tweets, at the Facebook event. For more tips, please visit: https://medicaid.publicrep.org/events/social-media-day-for-community-living/


• Email your members of Congress! Customize a message to your Members of Congress online.


• Continue sharing your stories with NCIL! See the previous alert for more details about the stories we’re looking for. The original deadline passed, but NCIL is still looking for your stories about the importance of community living! Email: ncil@ncil.org

The National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (NCWD/Youth) is hosting this event to share and discuss resources produced by the National Youth Action Council on Transition (YouthACT). Each day we’ll feature one resource relevant to transition to adulthood (employment, postsecondary education, health) and post questions and activities for participants. Youth are especially encouraged to participate in both the campaign and the Twitter chat.
For more information, please visit: http://www.ncwd-youth.info/news_post/join-raisingyouthvoice-twitter-chat/ 

The Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) strongly believes in the talent and potential of students with disabilities. With DOR’s redefined focus to serve more youth, we would like to connect with more students, parents, teachers, service providers and other interested community members. Back in February, we collaborated with all of DOR’s team managers to come up with some statements that could help inform our position and messaging regarding Student Services. After narrowing these statements down, we’d like to ask all of you to take our short survey and provide feedback. Your feedback is valuable in this process since these statements will help inform future messaging and outreach materials.

Please respond to this survey by Friday, May 11.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/9VGRSX6

The planning committee for the Raising Abuse Awareness Event on June 7, 2018 is looking for speakers to provide “TED”-style presentations, approximately 5 minutes in length.  This event will be held at the Tsakapoulos Library Galleria in downtown Sacramento, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM.        
 
We are searching for individuals with disabilities or staff working in disability programs willing to share information about an abuse topic that includes solutions.  Examples might include: anti-bullying, a prevention-type program or service.  We do have 1 speaker already confirmed from the Institute on Aging in San Francisco, who will talk about Veterans Aid and Attendant Scam prevention.   
 
For more information, please contact Cheryl Kasai, State Independent Living Council at (916) 445-3005 or email to Cheryl@calsilc.ca.gov. 

Are you a young person who has recently received a workplace accommodation? Or are you currently thinking about disclosing your disability and making a request for accommodation?

If so, the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is interested in hearing about your experience. JAN CoDirectors, Lou Orslene and Anne Hirsh, invite you to one of two small discussion groups being held April 13th from 12-1PM PT/3-4 PM ET and April 19th from 3:30 - 4:30 PM PT/6:30 - 7:30 PM ET.

We are continually reviewing our service offerings and assessing their effectiveness. In an effort to evaluate and improve JAN, these discussions are designed to expose current service gaps for the next generation.

If you would like to have a private discussion of your experience, feel free to call JAN and ask for Lou or Anne.
We would be happy to schedule a call to hear of your experiences. All information shared will be confidential.

If you want to share your experience and like to hear what others are experiencing, please consider participating in one of these conference calls.

To participate, please email Orslene@jan.wvu.edu and let us know whether you plan to attend the April 13th or April 19th discussion group.

Sincerely,
Lou Orslene and Anne Hirsh, Job Accommodation Network (JAN) CoDirectors 

• Build your leadership skills


• Network with other youth


• Meet with role models from the disability community

Youth Institute 
This event is limited to 50 participants. Youth, ages 14-24, will spend the day attending an institute during the conference geared especially for them. The Braille Institute and Wayfinder Family Service (formerly Junior Blind) are co-sponsoring this event with California Transcribers and Educators for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Inc. (CTEBVI).
Sessions will include advocacy, living skills, transition planning, assistive technology, and networking during interactive workshops. Each table will include a facilitator or two of young adults and/or youth staff successfully transitioning to college and/or careers. Part of the day will be in the Exhibit Hall learning about new technologies and other blindness supports.
Following the institute the youth will continue to receive information pertinent to them and hopefully stay connected to the youth and leaders they networked with during their event. The cost is $50 each (which includes lunch and snacks).  There are some scholarships available:  SF Lighthouse, CTEBVI, Workability, the California Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments (CAPVI).  They do not include travel, parking, lodging.  Just the Institute.
For registration, please visit:  http://www.ctebvi.org/youth.html

Parent Institute
This event is limited to 40 participants. We all know how important the parent is in the success of the child in becoming an independent youth and then a working adult. California Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments (CAPVI) is co-sponsoring this first-ever event. This Parent Institute is a full day of sessions geared to provide support, information, and networking for parents of youth in transition.
Learning from each other’s successes and challenges, parents will be led through interactive sessions to build skills their children will need, as well as how to let go when the children are ready to be independent. The hope is that at the end of the institute the parents will continue to network throughout the year. 
The cost is  $50, which includes lunch, snacks. You will notice that when you get to the payment part, there are 4 possible sources of scholarships:  Braille Institute, Wayfinder (formerly known as Junior Blind), CTEBVI, and CAPVI.  Scholarships do not include travel, parking, or lodging. Just the Institute.  CAPVI will offer 5 parent institute scholarships. To apply, email us at capvinews@gmail.com.
Parent Institute registration: http://www.ctebvi.org/parent.html