Developmental Disabilities Resource Board of St. Charles County的动态

?? Reflecting Disability: Improving Representation in Children’s Books As part of #DisabilityHistoryMonth, Arts Council England has announced the next phase of its Reflecting Disability project, which focuses on improving how disabled people are represented in children’s books for ages 3 to 11. This initiative, led by disabled individuals, invites publishers to submit books for analysis and gives creators the option to share how lived experiences or research influenced their work. The goal? To build an annual report that measures both the quantity and quality of disability representation, with the first findings expected in 2025. Shannon Cullen of Walker Books called it “an urgent piece of work,” highlighting the need for open, nuanced discussions about authentic representation. Dr. Fen Coles of Letterbox Library added: “We still desperately need more—and more diverse—representations of disabled and neurodivergent people in children’s books.” This project marks an important step toward ensuring children’s literature reflects the rich diversity of all readers’ lives. Read more about this impactful initiative via The Bookseller ?? > https://bit.ly/40OBh7W --- What are your thoughts on improving disability representation in children’s stories? Let’s discuss!

Centers for Independent Living (CILs) play an important role in helping people with disabilities get the important services and support they need. Many parts of the U.S., especially rural areas, don't have access to a CIL at all. More funding is needed to expand these centers so they can reach everyone who needs help with: Information and referral services Independent living & life skills training Individual and systems advocacy Peer support Transition and diversion With better funding, CILs can provide people with disabilities the support they need to live independently in their own homes, work, go to school, and be active in their communities. These centers offer valuable resources and advocacy and save taxpayers money in the long run. You can help! Tell your representative how important your Center for Independent Living is to you. For more information check out: https://lnkd.in/eybyw3nk #5For5Campaign #IndependentLiving #CenterOnDisability [An EKG line next to the words Disability Policy Pulse. 5 for 5 logo. Text: The issue: Centers for Independent Living (CILs) haven’t been funded well for many years, leaving people with disabilities without essential services.Rural areas are especially affected. More funding is needed to help CILs reach more people. CILs help people with disabilities live independently, work, go to school, and participate in their communities, saving taxpayer money. What can I do? Tell legislators how important your Center for Independent Living is to you! Center on Disability logo.]

People with disabilities receive less federal aid once they get married. Restrictions like this mean that they have less freedom to live full, independent lives and contribute to their communities. No one should have to choose between marriage and financial stability. A recent New York Times op-ed puts it perfectly: “These rules send the message that those with disabilities have to choose between help with living independently and their freedom as adult Americans to marry, to make decisions about where they live and to earn a living wage.” https://lnkd.in/eSFczABg.

So important to get things right from the start.

Have a disability? There are lots of options for financial help Financial Assistance for People With Disabilities Approximately 26% of Americans live with a disability that can impact cognition and mobility skills, according to the National Center for Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities. These disabilities can make it challenging to manage daily tasks or full-time employment, putting a significant strain on finances and possibly making it challenging to make ends meet. On top of that, according to research from Stony Brook University, the University of Tennessee, the National Disability Institute, and the Oxford Institute of Population Ageing, a household containing an adult with a disability (with limited ability to work) requires 28% more income (or an extra $17,690 annually) to meet the same standard of living as a household without someone with a disability. Fortunately, various programs are available that provide financial assistance to disabled adults. So, whether you need help with housing costs or healthcare, understanding your options can help you get the assistance you need. #disability #disabled #halthcare #housing #disabilities

I'm looking forward to this webinar Now What: Disability Community Under Attack Tuesday February 11, 2025 at 1pm ET. You may register here: https://lnkd.in/eXyNQjNk Too often people with disabilities and the impacts of public policies upon them are made invisible to the public. About the webinar: Disabled people have been essential to safeguarding progressive values, democracy, and so many of our communities in the past; it’s imperative that we enjoy the same support. As leaders of six disability community organizations, we invite you to join us for a funder briefing on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. ET. This is not just a meeting; it is an urgent call to action about what lies ahead. In this briefing, we’ll cover changes in the landscape that we anticipate over the next four years. We will share how our organizations will help to not only resist and block dangerous attacks at both the state and national levels, but how we will also continue building the power of the disability community, shifting the narrative and culture, so that we are primed for bigger wins ahead. We are committed to creating the world we want to live in, together.

Thriving While Disabled: Navigating Disability Finances is now available for preorder!? If you wish to preorder the book in hardcover, softcover, or nook format: https://bit.ly/403wAFt? If you prefer kindle: https://amzn.to/4iJxBuQ I'm so excited to be able to share this with you all!? ?The primary audience for this is people living with disabilities and their families, but I suspect that this guide will also be useful for anyone who wants to understand the social and financial challenges that people with disabilities face - and the laws that help protect us! ID: A pair of hands holds Alison's book. The cover is the focus. It is a strong turquoise background with white text that reads "Thriving While Disabled" one word per line across the top. The word "while" is a subtly different shade, more of a light blue, than the other words, and is slightly smaller with matching light blue lines above and below it. Below that the words "Navigating Disability Finances" are slightly smaller with one word per line, all on the left margin. To the right is the image of a white labyrinth with two different colored lines(one a dark reddish brown, the other a dark blue) running through it, each starting on the outside and ending in the middle. Slightly below this, a white line crosses the page, with the name "Alison Hayes" printed underneath in the same very light blue color as the word "while".

A Message from the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities on how we can help! Help our friends at @txadapt / Personal Attendant Coalition of Texas (PACT) get a meeting with the Governor! This week, ADAPT of TEXAS / PACT held a 48-hour vigil outside Gov. Greg Abbott's residence. They are asking to meet with him to discuss several critical issues in the Texas disability community. You can help! Email the Gov.'s Director Budget and Policy, Tabatha Vasquez, at Tabatha [dot] Vasquez [at] gov [dot] Texas [dot] gov. Tell her: "Please meet with ADAPT of Texas and the Personal Attendant Coalition of Texas to discuss the following issues: Increasing Community Attendants wages; Ending the waiting lists; Putting a time limit on Durable Medical Equipment (DME) repair; Increasing the # of Affordable Accessible Integrated housing; and Medicaid Expansion." Need more support in your advocacy for the Gov? Let us know!

"Applying Evidence to the Aspiration for Equity in Children’s Disability Services" This document, authored by Noreen O'Leary and Geraldine Moran, examines the reconfiguration of children's disability services in Ireland. It aims to evaluate the evidence base supporting the national program "Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People" (PDS). The document discusses the fragmented development of disability services and the challenges faced, such as lengthy waiting lists and high staff turnover. It reviews policy documents and the extent to which they are informed by research and best practices. The authors highlight significant issues during the reconfiguration, including reduced access to services for some children and the need for a comprehensive review of policies to integrate the best available evidence. The paper advocates for systematic and evidence-based approaches to policy development to ensure equitable and effective service delivery for children with disabilities. #Disability #Children #ChildrensRights #ChildrensDisability

#ProFoundPrompts (Happy 4th!) Day 4: Something I learned from a child about disability is… July is Disability Pride Month! Follow ProFound and comment to enter our challenge for a chance to win one of three prizes: - Free registration to ProFound's first annual Summit - Free listing on the ProFound Marketplace - Free digital membership to ProFound Leave a comment on any of the daily prompts.?? - Each comment counts as one entry into the drawing, with a maximum count of one entry per day per person. -Tagging others in your response doubles your entry for the day. At the end of the month, we’ll randomly select three winners from followers who entered! ?? To locate any of the month's prompts, simply tap the hashtag, #ProFoundPrompts #WeAreProFound #DisabilityPride #Disabled #Leadership #Accessibility ID: Disability Pride Month graphic featuring the disability pride flag. The text reads: #ProFoundPrompts Day 4. Something I learned from a child about disability is…