Disabled Vets Create Jobs At Business Boot Camp

As the U.S. unemployment rate hovers around 10 percent, many recent veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars are finding it increasingly difficult to compete for jobs in the civilian work force. If they're disabled, the task is all uphill, so some disabled vets are finding a way to create their own jobs through a business boot camp at several colleges throughout the country.

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LIANE HANSEN, host:

Unemployment in the U-S is still hovering around 10 percent. But there was a tiny bright spot in the most recent job numbers: the unemployment rate for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans dropped by almost two percentage points between July and August. Still, the number of jobless veterans remains high; some estimates say more than 175,000 are out of work. It's even more difficult to find a job if you are a disabled vet.

Nancy Farghalli reports on a program to help disabled vets create their own opportunities.

NANCY FARGHALLI: Roughly 180,000 vets have returned from the two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with a disability, including Josh Evans. He's a retired Marine pilot. He completed four tours of duty in Afghanistan and Iraq, and he suffers from acute hearing loss.

Mr. JOSH EVANS (Retired Marine Pilot): When I went to do my last audiogram, the guy showed me my results and he said, listen, your hearing loss right here. It's in the voice range, so it makes it a little difficult to pick up some stuff. I was like, can you write a letter and tell my wife that?

FARGHALLI: Evans likes to joke, but he's serious about one thing: never leaving his family again. He has a daughter and a son, and a third child on the way.

Mr. EVANS: One of the things I missed out a lot with when I was in the Marine Corps was spending time with my daughter. When my son was born, it was a no-brainer that if I was going to work, I could work from home.

FARGHALLI: Evans decided to apply an entrepreneurship boot camp for disabled vets at UCLA. He sent in an essay, recommendation letters, and did an interview. And he had one goal in mind: to learn the skills to run a security business from his own home.

(Soundbite of door closing)

FARGHALLI: The door to his first floor office has a tendency to get stuck, but that's a small wrinkle for this budding entrepreneur. He and his partner have sold security systems to the University of California. And he says the boot camp shaped his business plan.

Mr. EVANS: It helped me sort of become more analytical about planning the business, setting milestones and then actually sort measuring myself against it. So, you come up with a measure plan and then execute the plan

FARGHALLI: The boot camp started at Syracuse in 2007. They are now at other colleges such as Florida State, UCLA, U Conn and Texas A&M. Mike Haynie is an entrepreneurship professor at Syracuse. He created the boot camps because he saw a natural fit between being an entrepreneur and a solider. Both require the same skill sets.

Professor MIKE HAYNIE (Entrepreneurship, Syracuse University): Things like a single-minded focus on accomplishing a goal or accomplishing the mission. Being able to create and grow something without necessarily having the resources at your disposal to do that. That is entrepreneurship.

FARGHALLI: More than 300 vets have completed the intense free seminar training - about nine days of spreadsheets, strategy, and marketing courses. A lot of the program's funding comes from companies and private donations. The cost at each school can range from 100 to $200,000.

Elaine Hagan runs the boot camp at UCLA. She says the college got involved because of the needs of disabled vets.

Ms. ELAINE HAGAN (UCLA): Often because of the nature of their disability, they can't continue in the line of work that they were in. But entrepreneurship often gives them the possibility to generate an income by helping not only themselves and their families, but also creating jobs in their communities.

FARGHALLI: California sets aside a small percentage of its annual contracting dollars to businesses owned by disabled vets, and Josh Evans' company has bid on state contracts. While he's thankful for the boot camp, he does wish the program classes lasted longer.

Mr. EVANS: Its kind of like having the Cliff Notes version of business school in a way. You know, you just, you know there's more in there and you're missing a lot of it by not having the rest of it.

FARGHALLI: There aren't official stats on the number of successful enterprises run by vets in the program, but more than 10 percent of the attendees have started their own businesses. And more colleges are considering the boot camp program.

For NPR News, I'm Nancy Farghalli in Los Angeles. (by NANCY FARGHALLI)

Listen to this story: HERE

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Telework from a home office may be a reasonable accommodation

Allowing someone with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity to work at home may be a reasonable accommodation when the person’s disability prevents successfully performing the job on-site.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said that allowing an individual with a disability to work at home may be a form of reasonable accommodation.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has a great info sheet onWork At Home: Telework as a Reasonable Accommodation. I have been lucky enough to have this type of accommodation provided to me thanks to the very cooperative employer. As a writer, this type of accommodation works perfectly for both my employer and me because all incoming assignments and outgoing work can be transmitted through telecommunications.

In its 1999 Enforcement Guidance on Reasonable Accommodation and Undue Hardship Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (revised 10/17/02), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said that allowing an individual with a disability to work at home may be a form of reasonable accommodation. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires employers with 15 or more employees to provide reasonable accommodation for qualified applicants and employees with disabilities. Reasonable accommodation is any change in the work environment or in the way things are customarily done that enables an individual with a disability to apply for a job, perform a job, or gain equal access to the benefits and privileges of a job. The ADA does not require an employer to provide a specific accommodation if it causes undue hardship, i.e., significant difficulty or expense.

Not all persons with disabilities need – or want – to work at home. And not all jobs can be performed at home. But, allowing an employee to work at home may be a reasonable accommodation where the person’s disability prevents successfully performing the job on-site and the job, or parts of the job, can be performed at home without causing significant difficulty or expense.

Click here for the EEOC fact sheet explaining the ways that employers may use existing telework programs or allow an individual to work at home as a reasonable accommodation.

Here is some additional information about The ADA: Your Employment Rights as an Individual With a Disability and Job Applicants and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

If you have Multiple Chemical Sensitivity and need accommodations in the workplace, the ADA laws and EEOC provide great guidelines if your employer is cooperative and willing to provide accommodations. Unfortunately, the laws are weak and pretty much useless if your employer is not willing to provide anything for you. If your employer or perspective employer is unwilling to provide accommodations, it can be a really tough fight for you to secure your disability rights even with legal representation. We have members in our community who have been let go from their jobs simply because the employer did not want to bother with providing a safe, nontoxic work environment. It’s very sad when that happens and can lead to untold suffering and hardship when the person cannot secure another job. That said, we do have many people in our canary community who have asked for, often pressed for, and received accommodations at their workplace, so I always encourage people disabled by MCS to try to work with their employer to secure accommodations.

A great resource to support you in working with your employer on accommodations is the wonderful website and staff at the Job Accommodations Network. They have specific informational pages dedicated to Multiple Chemical Sensitivity and workplace accommodations. Take a look at these two posts for more information about JAN:Chemical sensitivities in the workplace and Workers rights and chemical sensitivity.

Photo credit.

10 Plus Years After the Olmstead Ruling: Progress, Problems and Opportunities.

This report was supported by a grant from The SCAN Foundation. The SCAN

Foundation’s mission is to advance the development of a sustainable continuum

of quality care for seniors.

The authors offer thanks to The SCAN Foundation’s Lisa Shugarman, Director of

Policy, and Keyla Whitenhill, Policy Analyst; their comments and suggestions were

invaluable in developing this report. Ann Marie Marciarille assisted with research and

drafting, and law students Aaron Kupchella and Whitney Chelgren provided valuable

research assistance. We also wish to thank our colleagues at the National Senior

Citizens Law Center, in particular Scott Parkin and Anna Rich, for their willingness

to help in a variety of ways.

This report is also available online at www.nsclc.org (click on “Issues” tab and go to

the Long Term Care section). Additional copies of the printed report are available

by calling 202-289-6976.

Inside and outside government, there is now a widely held view that home and community-based services (HCBS) can better maintain the independence and dignity of persons needing long-term services and supports (LTSS). Consistent with this understanding, statistics show a significant percentage increase in older persons able to receive LTSS outside of nursing homes. Nonetheless, unnecessary institutionalization is still a routine problem for too many older adults and people with disabilities, especially those with lower incomes.

Olmstead Ruling and Effects In 1999, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Olmstead v. L.C. that unnecessary institutionalization of people with disabilities is a type of discrimination prohibited by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). A state government that operates its programs in a way that unnecessarily forces persons with disabilities to move into nursing homes or other institutions violates the ADA. Under the ADA, a state government is not required to make a “fundamental alteration” to a program to accommodate the needs of a person with a disability but it can be required to make a “reasonable modification.”

Nationally, the Olmstead decision has had two principal effects. First, the case confirmed that a state could be sued if its programs lead to unnecessary institutionalization. Second, the Olmstead decision and its reasoning have become accepted in the community, particularly throughout the network of persons providing aging services. Policymakers, stakeholders, and many consumers are familiar with Olmstead and understand the core of its ruling—that people with disabilities have a right not to be relegated to nursing homes, psychiatric hospitals, and like institutions.

(view full report here)

Workplace personal assistance services for people with disabilities: making productive employment possible

In the United States people with disabilities represent the nation's largest minority and a considerable, largely untapped pool of labor. According to the 2006 American Community Survey data, a disability prevalence rate among adults of ages 21 to 64 years was 12.9% (Cornell University StatsRRTC, 2007; Wells, 2008). In 2006, the employment rate of all people with disabilities continued to be below 38% (Cornell University StatsRRTC; Hernandez & McDonald, 2007). In 2005, there were approximately 21.5 million working-age people with disabilities in the U.S. Of those, about 13.3 million were not employed and 8.2 million were employed. Of those 8.2 million working-age people with disabilities who were employed, only approximately 1.8 million were working full-time (Lengnick-Hall, Gaunt, & Kulkarni, 2008). If the U.S. aims at increasing its future labor supply, the nation should devote effort to mobilize people with disabilities to join the competitive job market (Ozawa & Yeo, 2006; Pelkowski, 2007).

In American culture, work is a socially esteemed activity for any person with or without a disability. To be an important part of an integrated employment setting, many people with disabilities need support services (Wehman, 2003). One resource for such support is the Job Accommodation Network (JAN). JAN provides a nationwide service for all entities interested in employment of people with disabilities. JAN consultants offer expert guidance to employers, service providers, persons with disabilities, and others who make possible the employment and retention of workers with disabilities (http://www.jan.wvu.edu).

Proper job accommodations (e.g., ergonomic equipment modifications, adaptive and assistive technology, special lighting, flexible schedule, sign-language interpreters, personal assistants, and job coaches) are indispensable for maximizing the employment among individuals with disabilities (Williams, Sabata, & Zolna, 2006). One of the forms of accommodation for people with disabilities who need help with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as eating, dressing, grooming, and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) such as shopping, house cleaning, paying bills, or using telephone is Personal Assistance Services (PAS) (Benjamin, 2001). Personal assistance is effective in helping people with disabilities in their ADLs and IADLs (Meng et al., 2006).

(View this article here)

USA Network Launches Characters Unite Month to Promote Tolerance, Respect and Unity

NEW YORK, Nov. 22, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- USA Network today announced the launch of "Characters Unite Month," shining a special spotlight on efforts to promote tolerance and respect as we look forward to a new year. The initiative, part of the network's ongoing Characters Unite public service campaign to combat prejudice and discrimination in partnership with leading nonprofit organizations, kicks off Thanksgiving week with multiplatform elements and special events. The project includes an original Characters Unite-themed documentary; on-air promotion and Public Service Announcements (PSAs); extensive digital content, such as a new Facebook game application; star-studded community storytelling events and education workshops in partnership with The Moth; the Characters Unite Awards; and a new national poll.

In making the announcement, Bonnie Hammer, president, NBC Universal Cable Entertainment and Cable Studios, said, "Over the past year, an 'us vs. them' attitude has prevailed everywhere from school corridors to town halls to Capitol Hill. It's time to set the stage for a more productive year ahead – to focus on what can bring us together rather than what drives us apart."

PROGRAMMING

The programming centerpiece of Characters Unite Month is a new, one-hour special, TOM BROKAW PRESENTS BRIDGING THE DIVIDE, which premieres Friday, December 10 at 7/6c. Produced by Peacock Productions and hosted by Brokaw, the documentary will showcase America's progress in the approximately 50 years since the launch of the civil rights movement and will look beyond the salacious headlines to provide a truer and more complete picture of where the country stands on a range of issues, from discrimination on the basis of race, gender, religion, disabilities and sexual orientation to bullying in schools. The film will also highlight people who are working tirelessly for progress and solutions to create a more tolerant United States. Coinciding with the documentary premiere, USA will release the results of its second annual "United or Divided" nationally representative opinion poll on Americans' views on a range of civil and human rights issues, conducted by Hart Research Associates (D) and Public Opinion Strategies (R).

ON-AIR SUPPORT

USA will turn over its airwaves throughout the month to commemorate Characters Unite with a custom on-air bug, multiple snipes directing viewers to charactersunite.com and a series of original PSAs with the stars of USA's hit original series. Each PSA focuses on a relevant campaign issue, including COVERT AFFAIRS' Sendhil Ramamurthy speaking out against hate crimes, WHITE COLLAR's Tim DeKay urging community solutions to bullying, IN PLAIN SIGHT's Mary McCormack calling for a stop to gender violence, and several other cast members, such as WHITE COLLAR's Matt Bomer and Sharif Atkins, andCOVERT AFFAIRS' Anne Dudek, promoting diversity and religious tolerance. A wide range of USA stars will also be featured in a vignette called "Labels," which calls on viewers to accept everyone's differences and push aside the stereotypes, prejudice and hatred that divide us.

In addition, USA and its participating Multichannel Video Programming Distributors (MVPD) will salute the eight winners of the 2nd Annual Characters Unite Awards in an on-air spot with ROYAL PAINS' star Reshma Shetty. The awards recognize people who are making a difference to promote civil rights in their communities. The winners, who will each receive a $5,000 grant, were selected from hundreds of applicants.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Off-air, USA continues its powerful partnership with renowned storytelling organization The Moth, hosting the second in a national series of five Characters Unite Mainstage showcases entitled "A More Perfect Union: Stories of Prejudice and Power." Following its debut in New Orleans, the tour stops in New York City on Monday, December 6, at the historic New York Public Library, with a star-studded event presented by Time Warner Cable's East Region/NYC. Stage and screen star Kristin Chenoweth (star of Broadway's hit musical "Promises, Promises") will serve as the night's host. Participating storytellers, who will each share a true, ten-minute story of his or her experience with bigotry or discrimination, include Mos Def (acclaimed actor and hip-hop artist), Simon Doonan (creative director of Barney's New York), Wes Moore (youth advocate, army combat veteran and author), Aimee Mullins (Paralympic athlete, actress/model and motivational speaker), and Sirdeaner Walker (anti-bullying advocate whose son committed suicide after facing relentless taunting in school). USA, its MVPD partners, and The Moth and its creative team will continue the tour in 2011 with stops in Chicago, Denver and Seattle.

The Characters Unite high school storytelling program also continues at Humanities Preparatory Academy in New York City. Beginning on December 13, USA, in partnership with The Moth's ongoing workshops and Time Warner Cable's East Region/NYC, will conduct an after-school program in which ten students will receive in-depth training on the art of storytelling and will develop their own five-minute story about prejudice and power. At the culmination of the workshops, the students will share their stories at an in-school assembly on December 17, giving the entire student body the opportunity to start a larger dialogue about respect and understanding. A Characters Unite school study guide, meeting national education standards, will also be available to teachers in high schools across the country. The curriculum, designed in partnership with The Moth, will include information about Characters Unite issues as well as thought-provoking and fun activities to help shed stereotypes and increase respect.

DIGITAL OUTREACH

The newly re-designed and video enhanced website, charactersunite.com, will be greatly expanded to include several new interactive features to further engage viewers in the campaign and enable them to share, comment and add their own personal stories. Highlights include:

• Characters Unite Pledge – Visitors online can register and take the pledge for unity and understanding. They will be encouraged to share their commitment through Facebook Connect and other social media. USA will donate $1 per pledge to its nonprofit partners during Characters Unite Month (November 22 - December 24)*.
• Facebook Game Application "Social Circle" – Allows players to engage and examine how diverse their circle of friends is as a means of assessing their own diversity quotient.
• Characters Unite Facebook Page – A dedicated page (facebook.com/charactersunite) provides a way for people to interact with the campaign and connect with others who support the initiative.
• Characters Unite Twitter Feed – USA will provide the latest news on relevant campaign issues with its Twitter feed (twitter.com/charactersunite).
• Video Hub – Houses all the PSAs, vignettes, the documentary and stories from The Moth tour.
• Education Kit – Includes downloadable activity cards and a curriculum that addresses Characters Unite issues and provides the tools for high school students to craft and tell their own stories of prejudice and discrimination in their classrooms.

Characters Unite messaging will be syndicated through USA's social media outlets including its Facebook page (facebook.com/usanetwork) and Twitter Feed (twitter.com/usa_network).

The Characters Unite non-governmental partners include the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, American Association of People with Disabilities, American Federation of Teachers, Anti-Defamation League, Asian American Justice Center, Children's Defense Fund, Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, General Board of Church & Society of The United Methodist Church, GLAAD, Human Rights Campaign, Human Rights First, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, National Association of Counties, National Council of La Raza, National Education Association, National Council of Women's Organizations, National Congress of American Indians, National Parent Teacher Association and Southern Poverty Law Center.

(* Up to a maximum of $20,000)

USA Network is the #1 network in all of basic cable and is seen in over 102 million U.S. homes. A division of NBC Universal,USA is the cable television leader in original series and home to the best in blockbuster theatrical films, acquired television series and entertainment events. The award-winning USA website is located at www.usanetwork.com. Characters Welcome.

USA Network is a program service of NBC Universal Cable a division of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience.

SOURCE USA Network

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Celebrates 35 years

The National Council on Disability (NCD) celebrates 35 years of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), a law designed to ensure a free and appropriate public education for every child with a disability.

* * *

Prior to the law’s enactment, millions of students with disabilities were excluded from the public school system and were denied access to a public education. In 1975, Congress enacted and President Gerald Ford signed the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, one of the most important civil rights laws ever written. The central premise of this federal law, now known as IDEA, is that all children with disabilities have a federally protected civil right to a free appropriate public education that meets their education and related services needs in the least restrictive environment.

According to NCD Chairman Jonathan Young, “We’re delighted to join with all Americans to celebrate 35 successful years of IDEA and to call attention to the 6.6 million students with disabilities who have been served by this landmark law. The future of America depends upon the ability to ensure educational opportunities and high expectations for all citizens. NCD has long shared a commitment to the principles of IDEA, and to the youth with disabilities served by the protections of this law.”

“As IDEA is implemented, we must work to assure the successful transition of students with disabilities to post-secondary or work options and that youth with disabilities have access to the general education curriculum,” said Aaron Bishop, NCD's new Executive Director, who joined the agency on November 15.

In keeping with the theme Living, Learning, & Earning used at NCD’s National Summit on Disability Policy 2010 last July, NCD is hosting a series of regional forums across the country. The first “Learning” forum is planned for Spring 2011 at a location to be determined. The intent of the forums, consistent with the intent of the National Summit, is to promote extensive collaborations amongst all stakeholders and at all levels of government. “NCD is excited to embark on a path of consistent engagement with our stakeholders,” said Anne Sommers, NCD's newly detailed Director of Legislative Affairs and Outreach. “We look forward to using these forums as a venue for productive conversations that will position us more solidly toward an action orientation.”

NCD’s goals for each of the focused forums are to:

* Identify emerging opportunities to enhance the way people with disabilities live, learn, or earn (each forum will focus on a separate aspect of the theme Living, Learning, & Earning);

* Establish new mechanisms, and build upon existing ones, to improve the coordination of disability policies, programs, and advocacy efforts; and

* Energize collaborative networks to guide future disability policy directions

NCD is an independent federal agency charged with advising the President, Congress, and other federal officials and entities on all policies, programs, practices and procedures affecting people with disabilities. NCD’s mission is to further the goals enshrined in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990: equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living and economic self-sufficiency for all people with disabilities.

For more information, please contact NCD’s Director of Communications, Mark Quigley, at mquigley@ncd.gov or by telephone at 202-272-200

Read more: http://www.disabled-world.com/disability/employment/usa/ncd-idea.php#ixzz15ZN3bGta

Companies Value Disability Employment But Hiring Practices Fall Short, Survey Finds

Companies generally understand the importance of hiring individuals with disabilities, but few are making efforts to do so, according to a new survey of employers.

The poll of 411 human resource officials and company executives conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of the Kessler Foundation and the National Organization on Disability found that while most companies report hiring someone with a disability in the last three years, those workers continue to make up just a small percentage of employees. In fact, 43 percent of managers did not know how many of their staff members had disabilities, but of those who offered an estimate, the average was 3 percent.

What’s more, the survey found that fewer than 1 in 5 companies have programs to help employees learn to work with people who have disabilities.

“These numbers are disappointing,” said Humphrey Taylor, chairman of The Harris Poll and member of the National Organization on Disability board. “Much work remains to be done in order to improve these numbers. We need employers and the disability community to work together to take action on both sides.”

Despite the findings, limited hiring of people with disabilities does not appear to be rooted in concerns about higher cost, work ethic or ability. Most employers reported that the cost to hire an employee with a disability was no different than any other hire and that employees with disabilities exhibit similar skills, dedication and turnover rates as workers in general.

The survey results come amid a new push to emphasize employment of Americans with disabilities during October, which President Barack Obama designated as National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

According to the latest employment figures from the Department of Labor, the unemployment rate for people with disabilities was 15.6 percent in August compared to 9.3 percent for the general population.

Job Prospects Fall Short For Americans With Disabilities

More than 150,000 new jobs were created in October, but that wasn’t enough to budge the unemployment rate for Americans with disabilities, the Labor Department said Friday.

Unemployment remained unchanged for those with disabilities at 14.8 percent in October. This comes as the U.S. economy added jobs for the first time since May.

While unemployment remains high among this group, the October figure represents an improvement over the same time last year when the unemployment rate for Americans with disabilities hit 16.5 percent.

However, individuals with disabilities routinely fare worse in the job market than those in the rest of the population. The unemployment rate for the general public continues to track below 10 percent.

The Department of Labor began tracking employment among people with disabilities in October 2008. There is not yet enough data compiled to establish seasonal trends within this group, so numbers are not seasonally adjusted.

Employment statistics on people with disabilities cover those over the age of 16 who do not live in institutions. The first employment report specific to this population was made available in February 2009. Now, reports are released monthly.

By SHAUN HEASLEY

November 5, 2010

Working With a Disability

Do ADA Accommodations Expand to Dealings with HR? I recently had to request ADA accommodations from my employer due to a diagnosed disorder which affects my short-term memory, focus and concentration as well as how I learn and process information. It is covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act. That fact has already been established. And the disability is enough that it does require the employer to provide some level of accommodation. Among the accommodations suggested by my doctor is that information on changes in policy, rules, or other important information be sent to me by email rather than just told to me verbally by a supervisor. The HR department for my company is located hundreds of miles from where I live and work, so face-to-face meetings are not possible and communication is typically done over the phone or by email. I have requested that, if they do need to contact me, they send me an email with the information before speaking with me on the phone so that I can have it "in writing" to refer back to while we are talking. That way, when we do speak on the phone (usually a conference call), it will still allow me to focus on what is being said and not trying to furiously scribble notes while simultanously trying to carry on a conversation with two other fast-talking people on the other end. However, HR insists on only speaking by phone. Even if I send them an email containing all of the information we have already discussed, and simply request that they confirm OR make corrections to the information, they will not respond unless by phone. Even though this is not directly related to doing my actual job, my disability doesn't JUST affect me while I am working my scheduled shift. It's a disability that affects me in every area of my life. Their behavior is leaving me a little suspicious that they are hoping I will say something over the phone that would allow them to claim that I gave a verbal resignation of my position with the company. Wouldn't ADA-based accommodations carry over into how the company's HR department communicates with me, too? Just wondering. . . - Asked by Female, 29-35 Answers can be viewed here:

FROM SILENCE TO SOUND

A deaf man takes a chance on a risky surgery in hopes of hearing for the first time in his life.

* * *

The award-winning documentary film FROM SILENCE TO SOUND (WINNER - Best Inspirational Documentary, New York International Independent Film & Video Festival), from Brooklyn Girl Productions, teams up with Cinesouq at this year's American Film Market (AFM), which starts today and runs through Wednesday, November 10, 2010 in Santa Monica, California.

FROM SILENCE TO SOUND is an extraordinary film that documents the quintessential life-changing moment of Justin Garrett, a man who has been profoundly deaf since birth, making history as the first recipient of a bilateral, or double, cochlear implant in Oklahoma on March 13, 2006. Prior to the surgery, Justin had less than two percent hearing in both ears. Today he has nearly 98 percent hearing, thanks to the miracles of modern medical technology delivered via his Nucleus® cochlear implants made by industry leader Cochlear™.

FROM SILENCE TO SOUND is available for licensing through Cinesouq, which is owned and operated by Hollywood Wizard LLC, a member of the Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA). Cinesouq's office during AFM is located at the Loews Hotel, 1700 Ocean Avenue, Suite 501, Santa Monica, California 90401. The award-winning documentary is available online for private screening to registered buyers at http://www.cinesouq.com/movie/from-silence-to-sound. Total running time: 48 minutes. English subtitles.

Synopsis:

Director Chase Matthews offers this moving documentary about Justin Garrett, a completely deaf young man who agreed to undergo radical cochlear implant surgery that could possibly make him hear for the first time. Matthews follows Justin as he prepares for, submits to and recovers from the high-stakes surgery. Success will reverse Justin's condition, but failure will irrevocably destine him to a lifetime of total silence.

Awards & Accolades:

* WINNER - Best Inspirational Documentary (New York International Independent Film & Video Festival)

* WINNER - Best North American Documentary (International Film Festival Egypt)

* WINNER - Best Documentary USA (Everglades International Film Festival)

* BEST DOCUMENTARY nominee (Trail Dance Film Festival)

* BEST DOCUMENTARY nominee (International Film Festival South Africa)

"Incredible film." - ABC / KTUL

"... An intimate and powerful portrait of courage ..." - Adrian Belic / ACADEMY AWARD® NOMINEE

"... Spellbinding ... the ultimate story of beating the odds ..." - Camryn Manheim / EMMY® AWARD WINNER & GOLDEN GLOBE® AWARD WINNER

More information is available at http://www.fromsilencetosound.com

ABOUT BROOKLYN GIRL PRODUCTIONS

Brooklyn Girl Productions is a knockout production company™. We produce films, commercials and multimedia with high production value, a sense of humor, and a smile. Our mission is to entertain and empower people through our various artistic endeavors, while creating a positive environment both on and off the set. To reduce the impact of our productions on the earth, we are committed to a green philosophy from start to finish on each and every project. We love what we do, why wouldn't we? For more information, visit http://www.brooklyngirlproductions.com

Read more: http://www.disabled-world.com/entertainment/hearing-first-time.php#ixzz14M23vo1H

Enable America Reaches New Heights in 2010 Employment Programs

TAMPA, FL – October 18, 2010: The nation’s first organization devoted solely to improving employment opportunities for people with disabilities has announced its strongest ever series of events for October and November. This fall Enable America will provide employment support services across three states to more people than ever, a total of nearly 150 people with disabilities.

“We have always known the need was there, and with increasing support from companies that recognize the benefits people with disabilities bring to the workplace, we can grow our programs that have already been proven to be successful,” said Richard Salem, founder and CEO of Enable America. “Our work now stretches across Florida, North Carolina, and Texas.

”Enable America is a proud participant in National Disability Mentoring Month, which is held each October, and is sponsored by the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD). This year Enable America will conduct employment mentoring programs at seven organizations in Florida and North Carolina. Among the participating companies are Progress Energy, Rex Healthcare, the Carolina Hurricanes, WakeMed, SAS and Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina.

In conjunction with Veterans Day, Enable America centers its November focus on aiding veterans and wounded warriors. The highlight of Disabled Veteran Employment Mentoring Month will come the week of November 8-12, when Enable America will provide employment services to more than 40 veterans at six separate locations across three states, including Texas.

“We have developed two programs which we have found provide the greatest assistance when the unemployment rate is high,” said Steve LaBour, Executive Director of Enable America. “Our Career Mentoring Days match mentors from local companies with ‘mentees’ from the community, people with disabilities or wounded veterans who often have difficulty finding work. In addition, our Job Seekers Workshops help people improve their skills by giving them the opportunity to work in small groups and one-on-one with human resource managers, people who are actually on the front line of hiring.”

Enable America has been honored for its work in this field. Earlier this year the organization won the 2010 Non-Profit Achiever Award by The Corporate Achievers for Individuals with Disabilities (CAAID). CAAID Chairman Chris Rosa said, “Enable America’s disability employee mentoring programs are national best practices that are consistent with our core principles, promoting equal access, opportunity, and full participation of professionals with disabilities in a truly diverse global workforce.”

Enable America provides other services designed to improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Community connection forums bring local leaders, lawmakers, employers and service providers together to learn and share success stories. These meetings are an important step in building a bridge between those with disabilities, and their community.

Other successful programs launched by Enable America include VetConnect, which is dedicated to helping wounded warriors re-acclimate to civilian life, by pairing them with veterans who have faced similar challenges. Since 2007, more than 200 wounded warriors and their families have been served by VetConnect mentors across the country.

Enable America

Enable America, a non-profit organization devoted to empowering people with disabilities to achieve independence through employment, is encouraging participation in this week’s “Breaking Boundaries” women’s leadership conference sponsored by The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC).

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“Just as Enable America works to improve economic opportunities for people with disabilities and wounded warriors, NAWIC is working to increase the leadership skills and experiences women need to compete and succeed more effectively in today’s challenging job market,” said Steve LaBour, Executive Director of Enable America. “We think this is a tremendous event with numerous benefits for all who attend.”

The all-day event is being held this Thursday, November 4, at Pearl Stable at the Historic Pearl Brewery in San Antonio. The conference is being hosted by motivational speaker and broadcaster Sonny Melendrez, and features six of San Antonio's top female executives: Jelynne Burley, Terry Brechtel, Rita Phillip, Kathy Acock, Trish DeBerry Mejia, and Melinda Wickley.

The keynote speaker will be Roslyn Courtney, CEO of the executive training firm Roslyn Courtney Consulting. Courtney will discuss how to win big, change mindsets, and do business in a better way, for those who are looking to accelerate careers, businesses, and organizations.

One of Enable America’s primary sponsors in San Antonio, Clark/Hunt Construction, is also a sponsor of the conference. Clark/Hunt has supported Enable America’s work with disabled veterans and wounded warriors in Texas in holding employee mentoring days. Thanks to the company’s Belinda Graham, NAWIC has agreed to aid Enable America in this effort by sponsoring five women who are disabled veterans, and will pay their registration and conference fees.

The “Breaking Boundaries” conference is aimed at women who are looking to improve strategies needed to take advantage of opportunities in a rapidly changing marketplace, by learning from some of San Antonio’s top leaders. More information and registration material for the event can be found at the NAWIC website, nawicsatx.org/leadership2010.html.

About Enable America: Enable America was established in 2002 by attorney Richard Salem as a non-profit organization dedicated to helping people with disabilities find employment and live independently. The organization’s Community Connections, Business Connections, and VetConnect programs unite members of the disability community and business community to raise awareness and increase employment opportunities for the 54 million Americans with disabilities, including our nation’s wounded warriors. More information can be found on the organization’s web site, EnableAmerica.org

Read more: http://www.disabled-world.com/news/america/texas/nawic-san-antonio.php#ixzz14LxfZaHu

Second Annual Disability Pride Celebration in honor of the 20th Anniversary of the American's with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Multiple San Francisco Bay Area community based organizations are collaborating to celebrate. Please join us for our second annual event!.

"Everyone Can Dance! 2010" provides an opportunity for people of all abilities to meet and advance self expression through movement. This event promotes the importance of self love and social movement as antidotes for alienation and isolation within our community while eating pizza and making new friends.

Last year 200 participants, 25 volunteers and 12 sponsors made this event a great success. Click to see: Last Year's Sponsors and 2009 Everyone Can Dance Photos.

WHEN:

1 p.m. - 3 p.m. Saturday, December 11th, 2010

WHERE:

SF LGBT Center, 1800 Market Street, San Francisco, CA

WHY:

On this 20 Year Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, we encourage people with and without disabilities to join us for this event to reflect upon the rights and obligations of this Act as well as have a great time sharing food, entertainment and fun.

DisabledCommunity.Org is a federally recognized non profit. Our tax id is 20-1830538.

Further information can be found at DisabledCommunity.Org

Read more: http://www.disabled-world.com/news/events/2010/disability-pride-event.php#ixzz14LwUHggv