Six Wednesdays, September 2 - October 7.
10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Each workshop will include time for community building, in-session writing practice, space for sharing your writing, and time for questions.

Sept: 2 Writing for social media
Sept 9: The power of poetry for telling your story
Sept 16: Letter writing to policy makers
Sept 23: Starting petitions
Sept 30: Op-eds
Oct 7: Creating campaigns for change

The series is free and will be offered via Zoom, but space is limited!

California residents only. ASL will be provided.

Registration Deadline: 8/28/2020

To register, email brianna@ilrcsf.org. Please include:
-Your name
-Age
-Phone number
-Email Address
-Any access needs you have
-Proof of parental permission if under 18.

You will be contacted by our organization to do an intake via phone. Individuals who have completed the intake will receive an email with the Zoom link to join prior to the workshop.

The Crip Camp Impact Campaign is proud to announce Crip Camp: The Official Virtual Experience! In these unprecedented times, there is no one better to think outside of the box and deliver community building right to your home. They are inviting all grassroots activists and advocates to join them this summer for a virtual camp experience featuring trailblazing speakers from the disability community. All are welcome, you do not need any activism experience to participate.

When: Every Sunday at 2 pm PST/5 pm EST from May 17th to August 30th for one and a half hours each.

Please note all times on the Zoom link will appear in your local timezone. Online workshops will occur via Zoom and are ASL interpreted with Deaf Interpreters plus captioning. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. We encourage you to attend all, or as many sessions as possible. They will send Crip Camp 2020 swag materials to everyone who attends 14 out of 16 sessions.

Register here: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_96VjUdB0T92Es9y4q1Vdvg

The University of California is drastically relaxing its fall 2021 admissions standards for applicants who are currently high school juniors, including suspending the requirement that they take standardized tests and allowing pass/fail grades for this spring’s classes affected by the coronavirus pandemic, according to a university announcement Wednesday.

The dramatic action came in response to the cancellation of testing by the SAT and ACT this spring and to the widespread disruption at high schools in California and nationwide during the health crisis. However, UC officials emphasized that the dropping of standardized tests for this upcoming year does not imply a permanent change and said the UC, which has nine undergraduate campuses, will continue to debate that contentious matter in the future.

The one-year change about testing “is intended to reassure students and families who have to make decisions in the coming weeks about fall 2021 applications, and is consistent with actions taken by other colleges and universities. It is intended as an accommodation and not a permanent policy shift, and does not foreclose future (UC Regents) Board policy actions with respect to the use of standardized tests in University admissions for fall 2022 applicants and beyond,” a university policy statement approved by the UC regents said.

Critics of standardized testing hope the steps could be a trial run for a more permanent end to the use of SAT and ACT scores in admissions. The UC regents were expected in May to vote on whether to keep the tests as requirements, drop them or possibly reduce their weight in admissions decisions.

Students applying for fall 2021 can still take tests and send scores to UC if they are able. Doing so can support their  UC eligibility and help fulfill some university graduation requirements. But campuses must ensure that “no student is harmed in admissions selection should they not submit a test score,” according to the UC statement.

The 23-campus California State University system is reviewing whether to follow UC and drop its own testing requirement for 2021 admissions. “A final decision on how CSU will adapt its admissions process” is expected in the near future, according to a CSU statement Wednesday.

Given the chaos surrounding online education in high schools, both UC and CSU will not require a letter grade for the mandatory so-called A-G courses taken in high school this year in winter, spring or summer. That affects current high school seniors as well. Seniors already have received their acceptance or rejection letters from UC and CSU campuses but in normal years acceptances can be revoked in the summer if students’ grades significantly drop in the spring.

“We want to help alleviate the tremendous disruption and anxiety that is already overwhelming prospective students due to COVID-19,” said John A. Pérez, chair of the Board of Regents, the governing board for UC. “By removing artificial barriers and decreasing stressors – including suspending the use of the SAT – for this unprecedented moment in time, we hope there will be less worry for our future students.” The regents’ action was authorized under special procedures allowed for emergencies between regular meetings.

The A-G courses are the set of 15 year-long high school classes that applicants have to complete with at least a 2.0 or C grade in each to even be eligible for the UC and California State University systems. In normal years, California residents must earn at least a 3.0 grade point average across those classes to be considered. Then students’  academic records must put them in the top 9 percent of students statewide or in their own high school.

However, that does not guarantee them a spot at the most competitive UC campuses, such as UCLA or Berkeley, but will get them a place somewhere in the system. In some cases, they might be offered UC Merced, the youngest UC campus, even if they did not originally apply there.

A faculty report released in February said UC should continue to require that applicants for undergraduate admission take standardized college admissions tests like the SAT and ACT.  That report says that standardized exams remain good predictors of students’ success at UC at a time when grade inflation in high schools makes it harder to choose potential university freshmen. In fact, the report insists that test results actually help identify many talented Latino, black and low-income students who otherwise might be rejected because their high school grades alone were not high enough.

But opponents say they will continue fighting the testing mandate both in court and at the UC Board of Regents. And they appear to have won at least temporarily due to the coronavirus.  Critics say that the exams are biased against Latino and black applicants and hurt their admissions chances at UC’s nine undergraduate campuses, in part because they may not have access to expensive test preparation coaching.  Civil rights and education advocacy organizations filed a lawsuit against UC in late 2019 in Alameda County Superior Court, seeking an end to the testing mandate.

Audrey Dow, senior vice president of the Campaign for College Opportunity, an advocacy and policy group that seeks a permanent end to testing requirements, praised UC’s  moves for 2021. “The decision to go test-optional for the Fall 2020 application cycle positions the UC as a national leader in protecting college opportunity. The UC is moving with rightful urgency to meet the moment and to ensure no student is denied their rightful seat because of limited testing opportunities, instruction, or guidance resulting from the COVID-19 crisis,” she said in an email.

The CSU joined UC in accepting grades of “credit” or “pass” as fulfilling “A-G” requirements for high school courses completed during winter, spring or summer 2020 terms. But CSU officials warned that all previous coursework must be graded and a grade of C- or better must be earned for the course to satisfy that system’s requirements.

The UC deadline to accept an offer of admission and send a deposit for enrollment will remain May 1 for freshmen and June 1 for transfers. But now students who need additional time, or who need a deferment of a deposit, will be allow to seek a delay and UC campuses will be expected to offer flexibility, under the new policy. Eight of CSU’s 23 campuses have extended those deposit deadlines from May 1 to June 1 so far.

Transfer students received some other relief in the UC and CSU announcements. UC will temporarily suspend the cap on the number of transferable units with Pass/No Pass grading applied to their community college courses.  CSU will allow transfer students to submit Pass/Fail grades in the required community college courses in English, math and other general education requirements taken this winter and spring. Transfer students do not have to submit standardized test scores at either university system.

UC and CSU application numbers are enormous.

UC received 172,099 freshmen applicants for fall 2020.  Each of those applicants likely applied to several UC campuses. However, with demographic changes, the numbers have been declining somewhat- a 5.4 percent dip since 2018, according to UC statistics.

CSU says it has not finished compiling its 2020 application numbers. In 2019, the CSU system received applications from 363,478 students, a 2.3 percent decline from the year before.

 



WASHINGTON, DC – The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) is proud to announce its new initiative, the Fannie Lou Hamer Leadership Program. This program is designed for young (ages 18 – 30) Black disabled advocates who are committed to boosting voter registration and civic engagement across Black communities leading up to the 2020 elections.

Since 2016, AAPD has worked alongside local and state partners through its REV UP Campaign to foster civic engagement and advance voting rights of Americans with disabilities. Despite advancements in civil rights protections, youth, people of color, seniors, and people with disabilities experience higher levels of voter suppression and inaccessibility. The United States’ voting population in 2018 was the most racially and ethnically diverse ever for a midterm election. The 2018 midterm election saw major upticks in voter participation across all marginalized communities, with the disability and Black communities leading the way at 14.2 million ballots cast and 15.3 million ballots cast respectively. AAPD recognizes that in order to continue building the power of the disability vote, it is critical to support initiatives that develop the leadership of multiply-marginalized voters.
 
“In the 2018 midterm elections the disability vote surged by 8.5 points. There will be over 30 million eligible voters across the Black and disability community in the 2020 elections, and we are pushing for an even higher increase of voter participation come November” says Keri Gray, AAPD’s Senior Director of Stakeholder Engagement and Strategic Communications. “Still, there are far too many who face barriers to the polls. It is our responsibility to continue Fannie Lou Hamer’s work in fighting for the rights of underrepresented voters,” continued Gray.
 
Fannie Lou Hamer is a well-recognized civil rights activist and organizer for voting rights. Her work centered on elevating the rights of Black voters and women, particularly across the state of Mississippi. Hamer had polio as a child and later became physically disabled due to a severe beating in a Mississippi jail. In honor of her legacy and sacrifice, AAPD is proud to launch the Fannie Lou Hamer Leadership Program.
 
Participants will receive a $1,500 stipend and have the opportunity to create a national nonpartisan campaign that promotes voter registration and participation. The program is scheduled to launch in May of 2020 and has three phases:


Political Educations- Participants will engage in 3 trainings with experts across the civil rights community to learn about key political issues and gain guidance on building a voting campaign.
Campaign Preparation- Participants will work creatively as a cohort to build nonpartisan material (ie- flyers, blogs, think pieces, social media content, videos) that can be used online to educate communities on the issues for 2020 and promote voter participation.
Campaign Execution- Leading up to the November 2020 elections, participants will launch their campaign across online and social media platforms.

Applications for the Fannie Lou Hamer Leadership Program are open through April 20, 2020.
Apply here: https://www.aapd.com/advocacy/voting/hamerprogram/
 

NBC casting a real child actor with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA)!
We are searching for children from the SMA community to play a character with Spinal Muscular Atrophy in an upcoming TV pilot. We are committed to seeing children from the community who could be right for role. The character is 9 years old, so children who can realistically appear that age are welcome to apply (likely age 7-12). The show will be filming in Chicago between March 11th and March 30th, so the child and a parent/guardian would need to be able to travel to Chicago during that time (not the entire time but exact schedule is TBD). Both boys and girls are welcome…

TO APPLY
Simply take a video, on your phone is fine. Have the young actor read the CHRISTOPHER lines (again, boys or girls are welcome) - with someone reading the other characters’ lines off camera. When you’re done and happy with the performance, please email the video to kargerosssubmissions@gmail.com.

Link to script:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/bkunxx8mmn7x6nu/AAB5aukuZQQl7NGjqjR7RaaRa?dl=0&preview=CHRISTOPHER+SIDES.pdf

Take charge of your finances! Learn more about CalABLE Accounts.
CalABLE is a savings and investment plan offered by the state of California to individuals with disabilities.
Individuals, family, friends and employers who qualify can contribute up to $15,000 a year without affecting your current benefits.

Learn more during the CalABLE 101 Webinar
Date: February 26, 2020
Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Presenters: 
Dante Allen, Executive Director
Anne Osborne, Program Manager

Topics will include:

• How to open a CalABLE Account


• Features of a CalABLE


• Account Contribution Limits


• Fees        

Here is the registration link:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/974566829623911938
If you have any questions, please contact us at calable@treasurer.ca.gov.   

February-11-2020 from 6:00 PM-8:30 PM UC Davis Mind Institute is hosting their Annual Tools for Inclusion Resource Fair.
The resource fair will include:

• Panel discussion on using AT for disaster and emergency preparation.


• Resource tables giving out information from agencies and organizations that support individuals in our disability communities


• Demonstrations and make-and-take workshops


• Networking and Meeting self-advocates


• Raffle and door prizes


• Light refreshments will be served​

​Event Location: 2825 50th St. Sacramento, CA
Parking:
Parking in Lot 25 is $6.00. Street parking is FREE
For questions please contact: 916-703-0439

 

The American Association on Health and Disability (www.aahd.us) is accepting applications for the Frederick J. Krause Scholarship for undergraduate (sophomore standing and above) and graduate students with disabilities who are majoring in a field related to disability and health. 

Deadline: November 15, 2019 

SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM CRITERIA: The AAHD Frederick J. Krause Scholarship on Health and Disability is awarded annually to deserving students with a disability, pursuing undergraduate/ graduate studies (must be at least enrolled as a Sophomore in college) in an accredited college or university. Preference is given to students majoring in a field related to disability and health, to include, but not limited to public health, health promotion, disability studies, disability research, rehabilitation engineering, audiology, disability policy, special education, occupational therapy, physical therapy and majors that will impact quality of life of persons with disabilities.
 
Applicant must have a disability and enrolled FULL TIME as an undergraduate student (sophomore standing and above) or enrolled PART TIME or FULL TIME in a graduate school. Applicant must be a US citizen or legal resident living in the US and enrolled in an accredited US university. Funds are limited to under $1,000.
 
FUNDING INFORMATION: Funds are limited to under $1,000. The AAHD Board of Directors Scholarship Committee will evaluate each of the applicants and make a decision in December of each calendar year. The 2019-2020 Scholarship Award will be awarded January 2020. It is the discretion of the Scholarship Committee to determine how many scholarships will be awarded each year and the amount of each scholarship.
 
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant must provide a Personal Statement, including brief personal history, educational/career goals, extra-curricular activities, and reasons why they should be selected by the AAHD Scholarship Committee. This statement must be written solely by the applicant.
 
Applicant must provide two (2) Letters of Recommendation (One must be from a faculty member or academic advisor). Letters may be sent by U. S. mail or by email attachment as pdf and should include the signature of the faculty member or advisor, and the name of student should appear in the subject line of the email.
Applicant must provide an official copy of college transcript, which should be mailed
to AAHD in a sealed envelope.
 
Applicant must agree to allow AAHD to use their name, picture and/or story in future
scholarship materials.
 
APPLICATION WEBSITE:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScHl4_GQSH8qs8hLZmL5FJd_HxyzCAhKiGx1CYqj8fQvxy_Mg/viewform
 
If you prefer, you may download and complete this application form and mail it along with all of your supporting materials, in one envelope, to:
Scholarship Committee
American Association on Health and Disability
110 N. Washington Street, Suite 328-J
Rockville, MD 20850

PDF Form: https://www.aahd.us/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/AAHDScholarship2019-20._fillable.pdf
 


Only completed applications will be considered and must be postmarked and/or received by email no later than November 15, 2019.





 








 

FREE Event Alert: Hearts of Glass screening and panel discussion hosted by WarmLine Family Resource Center THIS SATURDAY, 10/19 – 4-7 PM – FREE, but please register here: http://bit.ly/HeartsofGlassSac
 
The new award-winning documentary is about an audacious social venture in Wyoming that combines high-tech local food production and meaningful employment for community members with disabilities. It’s a story of innovation, inclusion and opportunity. You can watch the film trailer at: http://bit.ly/HeartsOfGlassTrailer
 
WarmLine Family Resource Center is hosting the screening and panel discussion on 10/9 in Sacramento. The event is FREE and open to the public, but please register through the above-mentioned link. We hope you’ll join us! 
 
Location: Sierra 2 Theater, 2791 24th Street, Sacramento 95822
Date: Saturday, October 19, 2019
Time: 4:30 – 7pm 
4:00 – 4:30 Seating (doors close at 4:30)
4:30 – 4:45 Introductions
4:45 –  6:00 Film
6:00 –  7:00 Panel discussion

Chabot College: DisAbility Awareness Day
Thursday, October 17th 2019 11:00am to 1:00pm
Cesar Chavez Courtyard (in front of Building 2400)

Come learn about amazing people, incredible history, available services and future possibilities that YOU can be a part of at Chabot College and beyond!

FREE food, fun, entertainment, games, prize and a demonstration by the Golden State Road Warriors Basketball team! Come be a part of it!

For more information, or to request accommodations, contact the DSRC at (510) 723-6725.

Check out Chabot's event page here: https://www.chabotcollege.edu/events/#/?i=2
 

Join us October 10th 2019 in celebrating 10 years of Youth Organizing (YO!) Disabled and Proud by participating in a Southern California conference for youth (between the ages of 16 – 28) and allies with disabilities to celebrate 10 Years of Advocacy and Leadership from YO! Disabled and Proud. Connect with peers, grow your network, share your disability experience and learn about YO! Disabled and Proud's mentorship program. 
We are still seeking mentors and youth participants! The event is FREE, but space is limited. Registration closes September 27,2019 Please be sure to apply online:http://yodisabledproud.org/events/disability-mentoring.php 

For any questions contact: Raelyn Keys at Raelyn@cfilc.org
 

From: Mental Health America (MHA)

As children and teens head back to school, many are often experiencing stress and loneliness. While it is normal to deal with some degree of stress or loneliness, if a young person continues to feel overwhelmed, unable to cope and feels as though their stress or loneliness is affecting how they function every day, they may be experiencing the first signs of a mental health condition, like depression or anxiety.
It’s important for parents, caregivers, and school personnel to know the signs that a young person is struggling with his or her mental health and be prepared to help.
Our 2019 Back to School Toolkit helps increase understanding of stress and loneliness in children and teens and provides materials on the topic for parents, school personnel, and young people.

This year’s toolkit includes:

• Fact sheets for parents/teachers


• Fact sheets for children/teens


• Poster for use in schools


• Key messages and statistics


• Sample newsletter article; and


• Sample social media post language and images.

[Download Toolkit]
No one has to suffer in silence. Teens can take the youth screen at www.mhascreening.org to see if they may be at risk. Parents who are concerned can take the parent survey. Once you get the results, MHA will provide you with more information and help you to figure out next steps.

NCIL’s Youth Scholarship is one of the most exciting parts of the annual conference. The Youth Scholarship allows youth with disabilities aged 26 and under to attend the conference at little or no cost to them. NCIL offers three tiers of scholarships:

Local – $110 to cover registration for youth based in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area (including youth who are in the area for summer internships or other programs)
Regional – up to $975 to cover registration, travel, and hotel for youth in Region III (DC, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania)
National – up to $1,200 to cover registration, travel, and hotel for youth based outside of Region III.

Please note that NCIL does not have the capacity to accept international applicants at this time. Youth under the age of 18 will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

So far in 2019, there have been scholarships awarded to nearly 30 youth from across the country. Previous Youth Scholarship recipients have gone on to serve in leadership positions on the NCIL board, get involved in their local CILs, and launch exciting careers in the field of Independent Living! You could be next! 

To apply, please fill out our online application. For help, or if you have any questions or concerns, please email Cara Liebowitz at cara@ncil.org.

Applications are only being accepted through July 1, 2019, so apply today!

NCIL’s Youth Scholarship Fund is 100% funded by generous supporters like you. Please make a donation so that more youth can experience the life changing magic of the Independent Living movement.

Online Application: https://ncilforms.wufoo.com/forms/2019-ncil-youth-scholarship-application/
To make a donation: https://ncilforms.wufoo.com/forms/support-the-2019-youth-scholarship-fund/
 

Disabled Student-led Film Project: ‘Ability’
 
Step inside the mind of youth come join us for this amazing experience!
Local aspiring artist, co-writer, and YO! Disabled & Proud volunteer Mike Infante is leading a film project centered on youth with disabilities. The film, entitled 'Ability,' focuses on 3 teens with disabilities experience their struggles with friends, bullying, being told that they are a problem in society, and along the way find love.

•  Production timeline: June 23, 2019 - middle of July


• Compensation: unpaid, food will be provided and copy of film 


• Seeking talent: (Youth with disabilities highly encouraged to apply!)
  
  
  
  • Director
  
  
  • Boom mic operator
  
  
  • Camera operator 
  
  
  
  

For more information or to apply, please contact Mike Infante directly:

• Email: Migueleyeofthetiger@gmail.com


• Private message on social media:
  
  
  
  • Instagram: @mike_angelo19
  
  
  • Facebook: Mike Infante 
  
  
  
  

Best of luck to all!!

Please join California Department of Rehabilitation Director Joe Xavier on a public forum conference call, Tuesday, May 21, 2019 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. to discuss proposed changes to our state regulations in which the most financially-able DOR consumers share the cost of postsecondary education services.

An overview of the proposed changes can be found at the following link: https://www.dor.ca.gov/Home/DORCalendar#event=30135297

Tuesday, May 21, 2019
Time: 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Call-In Number:  1-800-369-1730
Participant passcode: 7132582      
 
*Please plan to call in 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time to register with the operator and be placed into conference.
 

 

Position open to support the Los Rios Community College District WorkAbility III (WAIII) program! 

WAIII assists community college students with disabilities with career exploration, vocational counseling, and employment preparation.  This position is $16/hour and limited to working 135 days or 960 hours (whichever comes first) per fiscal year.  Individuals should apply by April 21, 2019 as we are planning on pulling the applications within the next couple of weeks.  Please pay close attention to the education and experience required for this position as we are not able to be flexible on this.  If there are any questions, interested applicants can contact me at the email or phone number below.
Now Hiring: Student Personnel Assistant: Career & Job Opportunity Services (temporary part-time)
 
Under general supervision of assigned manager/supervisor, provides students with career and job opportunity services, and serves as liaison with public and private sector employers.
 
Typical Duties:
Assists students in developing their educational and vocational objectives; refers qualified students to employers or employment services for placement; and conducts follow-up interviews with students.
Orients students, individually or in groups, to available resources; provides one-on-one student assistance with mock interviews, resume critiques, job searches, and using the Internet; and maintains confidentiality of information and materials.
Assists in creating an aesthetic, warm atmosphere of acceptance; operates, maintains, and instructs large and small groups in the use and orientation of resources/equipment; presents workshops on career preparation topics; and administers computerized vocational interest inventories and career planning assessments.
Creates, modifies, and maintains reports, records and forms used; develops and maintains a database to track appointments; and develops and updates an employer database.
Addresses community groups and faculty members to explain career services; coordinates career fairs and other career-related events; attends appropriate conferences, workshops and staff meetings as assigned: and performs related duties as required. 

Workability III Program:
For assignments within the Workability III Program, Student Personnel Assistant may also: assist Workability III Counselor/Coordinator in educating students and clients on the skills needed to obtain and retain gainful employment; and informs students, clients, and college personnel of present and future employment opportunities. Interprets program regulations or benefit requirements to assist students in obtaining needed supportive services. Maintains student and client files, employer job files, and statistics of placement activities; and refers qualified students to employers or employment services for placement, including work study and student help positions. Works in cooperation with counselors, instructors, disability, and Learning Disability campus resources and/or other appropriate college staff.
 
Required education and experience:

• Two years in job placement, career planning or student personnel services, preferably in an educational or community college setting OR two years experience in employment development at a community-based organization. (One year of experience is equal to 12 months of experience at 40 hours per week. Applicable part-time experience will be converted to the full-time equivalent for purposes of meeting the experience requirement.), AND


• Completion of an Associate’s Degree or 60 semester units (90 quarter units).  NOTE: An additional year of qualifying experience may be substituted for up to one year of college education. 

For more information and to apply, see https://jobs.losrios.edu/postings/4598

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.

Please use the registration form to apply. Be sure to list your accommodation needs and sign-up no later than April 10, 2019.

 
NCIL is proud to announce the 2019 Youth Scholarship Fund. For the fifth year in a row, we will be offering scholarships to our Annual Conference to 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, 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.
 
At this time, we are unable to accept youth under the age of 18 or from outside the United States.
 
This year, we are also introducing the Emet Tauber Youth Scholarship. Emet Tauber is a NCIL board member who is facing the end of his life. Emet’s life was changed by the Youth Scholarship Fund and, as one of his final acts, he’d like to enable others to have the same opportunities. Therefore, the Emet Tauber Youth Scholarship will be awarded each year to one national 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. This is a highly competitive process and scholarships will be awarded on a rolling basis.
 
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.

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/
 
 

Positions will be filled on a rolling basis by May 15

The Arc's National Center on Criminal Justice and Disability (NCCJD ® ) is seeking two interns to work full-time at our Washington, DC office this summer. We are seeking applicants who are current undergraduate or graduate students at an accredited university, have a demonstrated interest in public interest and/or social justice work, and have an interest in criminal justice and/or disability rights. Learn more .

Interns will work under the supervision of NCCJD's Senior Program Manager/Attorney for Criminal Justice Initiatives and will perform varied tasks, including the following:

• Respond to information and referral questions by providing resources, information, consultation with attorneys, or otherwise answering questions from the general public


• Conduct research on a variety of issues involving criminal justice and disability and assist in the development of resource sheets, info graphics, and databases


• Help refine and conduct Pathways to Justice® trainings and other training curricula


• Draft social media posts, press releases, blogs, etc.

 To Learn More: https://thearc.recruiterbox.com/jobs/fk0j7ld

The California Advisory Commission on Special Education (ACSE) is now accepting applications for the 2018–19 Grazer Outstanding Achievement in Learning (GOAL) award. Deadline for submission is 5 p.m., April 15, 2018.

To highlight best practices and “what is working” in California for students with disabilities, the California Advisory Commission on Special Education (ACSE) is seeking to recognize exemplary local educational agencies (LEAs), schools, school-systems, initiatives, programs, and practices (hereby referred to as “Programs”) that result in positive outcomes for students with disabilities in the State of California. Established by the ACSE with financial support from Hollywood producer Brian Grazer and his family, the GOAL award recognizes these innovative and replicable Programs with a monetary award, and encourages implementation of these Programs throughout California. Additional information may be found on the GOAL web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/se/as/acsegoalaward.asp.

If you have any questions please contact: Matt Traverso, Associate Governmental Program Analyst, Special Education Division, by phone at 916-323-3308, or by email at mtraverso@cde.ca.gov.

In honor of Black History Month, we at the California Foundation of Independent Living Centers felt that it was only fitting to highlight a few of the Black leaders with disabilities who pioneered the Independent Living Movement.

Donald Galloway
You may remember seeing the photo of Donald Galloway from the 1970s. He’s rocking an afro hairstyle; he’s with Ed Roberts and his guide dog.
Mr. Galloway was a folk singer as a young man, received a master’s degree in social work and, in 1978, became Jamaica’s Peace Corps director.[i]
In the mid-1970s Mr. Galloway was the head of blind services and the Black caucus at the Center for Independent Living, Berkeley and a member of the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) minority caucus.[ii]
Learn more about Donald Galloway

Joyce Jackson
Bay Area native Joyce Jackson was a disability rights activist who participated among 150 severely disabled demonstrators and their supporters who occupied the San Francisco regional offices of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW), demanding enforcement of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.[iii]
Ms. Jackson was one of 20 activists sent to Washington, D.C., to meet with Carter administration officials and eventually convinced HEW officials to implement Section 504 – the landmark civil rights legislation prohibiting federally funded agencies, programs, and activities from discriminating against the people with disabilities. 
Learn more about Joyce Jackson

Johnnie Lacy
Johnnie Lacy was a cherished Hayward area community and civil rights advocate and was named Woman of the Year by the California State Senate in 1988.
After helping found Center for Independent Living - Berkeley, Johnnie was encouraged to take over the helm at the newly created Community Resources for Independent Living (CRIL) in Hayward where was the Director for over a decade.[iv]
Learn more about Johnnie Lacy

Bradley Lomax
In the 1970’s Bradley Lomax was an Oakland resident and member of the Black Panther Party (BPP). He also had Multiple Sclerosis and used a wheelchair.
Recognizing the need for more disability services and supports in his own community, in 1975, Mr. Lomax approached Ed Roberts (who had helped found the Center for Independent Living in Berkeley in 1972), with a proposal to open a Center for Independent Living (CIL) in East Oakland under Black Panther sponsorship. Less than a year later, with Lomax as one of a two-person staff, the East Oakland CIL opened in a storefront, offering basic peer counseling and attendant referral.[v]
Learn more about Bradley Lomax

For more perspectives on these pioneers in Disability History, visit Ramp Your Voice.

[i] https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/donald-galloway-advocate-of-rights-of-disabled-dies-at-73/2011/10/31/gIQAl93MdM_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.4ed46cb0001f
[ii] http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/collections/drilm/collection/items/galloway.html
[iii] https://www.berkeleyside.com/2014/02/17/remembering-joyce-ardell-jackson
[iv] crilhayward.org/Tribute-to-Johnnie-Lacy/
[v] http://leadonnetwork.org/wordpress/2016/02/09/black-disability-history-brad-lomax-black-panther-revolutionary-black-nationalism-and-disability-power/

The Pine Cone Foundation (PCF) supports students with learning disabilities who wish to attend a California Community College. PCF provides year-round support for 3 years that can total up to $3,500. Application deadline is April 1st. Visit their website to learn more about The Pine Cone Foundation (PCF) organization: pineconefoundation.org. 

Eligibility video: https://youtu.be/c5f-VRB7ynA

Up to 6 high school seniors will be selected in 2019....
Students seeking associate, bachelor, technical and vocational degrees can apply if they meet these criteria:
- Have up to date documentation of a Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD)
- Graduating high school senior
- Enroll at a CA community college in the fall
- GPA of 2.5 or higher
- US. citizen and CA resident
 
For questions email: admin@pineconefoundation.org
 

Download the application here!  Please submit a completed application by the end of the day (midnight) on Sunday, February 24th, 2019 to Haley Outlaw at houtlaw@autisticadvocacy.org.

 ACI participants will travel to Washington D.C. from June 15th to June 22nd, 2019.  ASAN pays for travel and rooms for all ACI students.

If you need assistance or accommodations at any stage, or have any questions about ACI, please contact Haley Outlaw at houtlaw@autisticadvocacy.org.
 

The disAbility Scholarship  was created in 2013 to enable high school students with disabilities to go to college and target a career in the technology industry. Each year this scholarship is awarded to promising high school seniors who plan to attend a vocational or academic college in the US (or a school with a US affiliate) and have a financial need. In addition, Microsoft hopes to contribute to increasing the pool of persons with disabilities to enrolling in higher education and, in the long term, decrease the unemployment bias for this demographic.

The amount of this renewable scholarship to be awarded is $5,000 per year, up to $20,000 total, which is paid through the Seattle Foundation on behalf of the disAbility Employee Resource Group (ERG) at Microsoft to the recipient’s school’s Financial Aid Office.

All completed applications must be submitted by March 1, 2019.  

Questions regarding the scholarship can be direct to scholarships@seattlefoundation.org.
 

It's not too late to register! (Spread the word.)

What: FREE Webinar on Assistive Technology (AT) Basics

• Learn about how can tools and devices enhance your life and where to find those services.

When: Wednesday, December 19. 2018
Who should attend: Those new to disability, those who serve the disability community
Where: Online via Zoom Platform

• To attend, register at: http://abilitytools.org/training-events/training-registration.php

​Accommodations
If you need additional accommodation(s) to participate in an Ability Tools training or event, requests must be made ten business days prior to the training or event by emailing us at accommodations@abilitytools.org or contacting 1-800-390-2699 or 1-800-900-0706 TTY.

It’s been nearly a week since news outlets began reporting on the devastating tragedy of a disabled student who lost his life while at school in El Dorado Hills, California. Restraining a human being, a student, to the point of death or for any reason is unacceptable.  We, the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers (CFILC), are deeply saddened and dismayed to learn about the death of Max Benson, a student with autism from Guiding Hands School on November 28. The information circulating about the incident reminds us that our advocacy to end restraints and seclusion needs to be prioritized.  
 
CFILC, a membership organization of 22 Independent Living Centers, we believe that all students should be provided with care, dignity and respect. Restraint and seclusion is not the answer. AB 2657 (Weber), sponsored by Disability Rights California (DRC) and passed by Governor Brown this year is another step towards ending such horrible practices. CFILC applauds DRC for it’s efforts and will continue to work towards eliminating restraints and seclusion to keep all students safe in school. 
 
CFILC stands in solidarity with the Benson’s family, survivors of seclusion and restraint, and our larger disability rights community.