!!!UPDATES / PROGRAM CLOSURES / RESOURCES!!!
To stay up-to-date on how all Easterseals programs and communications regarding the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, visit eastersealsnj.org/coronavirus
We will be periodically updating this page with new information for individuals, families, and the disability community at large to ensure everyone is staying as safe and informed as possible.
EASTERSEALSNJ.ORG
Regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Easterseals New Jersey Blog
No disability or dictionary out there is capable of clearly defining who we are as a person.
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act employers are required to provide reasonable adjustments or modifications that enable you to enjoy equal employment opportunities. An accommodation is effective and provides an individual with an equal employment opportunity to participate in the application process, attain the same level of performance as coworkers in the same position, and enjoy the benefits/privileges of employment available to all employees.
Here are some tips on how to request a reasonable accommodation:
-Inform your employer (verbally or in writing such as written note, letter, or email) that you need an accommodation in the workplace for your hearing loss.
-A family member, friend, health professional, or your job coach may also request a reasonable accommodation on your behalf. For example, you may submit a note from your doctor requesting a change in the location of your work area due to excessive noise that interferes with your hearing aids.
-You or your representative can discuss about what accommodation will help you in the workplace and provide resources on how and where they can inquire information on receiving these accommodations for you.
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CNN.COM
A paralyzed adventurer designed a mountain bike for people with disabilities to explore the outdoors
Today we’ve got 5 helpful hints for job hunting:
-Research frequently asked questions asked at job interviews and how to answer them. Knowing your answers will only increase your confidence.
·-Look up Job interviews ‘do’s and don’ts on YouTube,’ It gives a better visual scenarios of interview skills etiquette.
-Record your self-answering interview questions, why? To understand body communication and what you will be reflecting to the employer.
-Situational questions will be asked, know you experience and be ready to answer questions that has to do with giving an example of time you had to display a skill.
-Dress to impress, research the do’s and don’ts of what to wear for job interviews and prepare yourself for success.
Frank is a proud employee of Speedway in Edison, NJ and is coming up in completing his first year at the company. Frank decided he wanted to return to the working force and pursued assistance from Easterseals Supported Employment.
With the help of an Employment Specialist, Frank expanded on his interview skills, and had a job coach that was able to advocate on his behalf by matching his skill’s set with employment position desired.
Frank’s purpose in working in the community was to gain supplemental income to have the ability to buy his mother extra gifts and making paying bills a little easier. Frank loves working as a store team member because he likes helping others, getting to know people and bringing a welcoming atmosphere for the customers.
He is always ready to work and has the potential and motivation to grow within the company. We are proud of you Frank and we can't wait to see what the future has in store for you!
Together we can knock down barriers and blaze a trail for people with disabilities to reach their goals. Our “On The Other Side campaign launches today with the goal of addressing six key challenges that we want to target for change and help make New Jersey a more accessible place to live.
By addressing these challenges directly, we are working to help people with disabilities in New Jersey get to the other side of what’s standing between them and opportunity.
Learn more: https://www.eastersealsnj.org/otherside/
While one person enjoys their favorite television program, another individual is unable to understand it due to a lack of captioning. Imagine a company hosts a town hall for an important announcement to their employees and forget to provide a sign language interpreter. Perhaps a patient is trying to decide between two medicines and there is no braille to identify them. You can see how this can be problematic.
So what can YOU do to make sure we ALL arrive on the other side of inaccessible communication?
You can help promote awareness by following us on social media and sharing our social media posts designed to make people think more about using diverse communication methods.
As the nation struggles with record unemployment as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re all reminded of how important our jobs are to our overall wellbeing. Hopefully, we will find ourselves on the other side of this pandemic and the jobs will return, but we can’t forget that even before the pandemic, people with disabilities were already struggling to find work.
As companies rebuild their ranks, we need to make sure they are actively recruiting and creating accommodations for applicants with disabilities.
So what can YOU do to make so that we ALL arrive on the other side of unemployment?
You can download our pledge and bring it to either your CEO or Head of HR to have them sign and agree to hire 10% more individuals with disabilities over the next 10 months - Follow the link: https://www.eastersealsnj.org/otherside/increase-equal-employment/
It’s time we acknowledged that support programs in New Jersey are woefully underfunded. These programs (such as Adult Habilitation Programs and Case Management) serve vulnerable populations and require top-quality staff to provide these essential services.
With not enough funding, the staff that work to provide these services are underpaid and the individuals they serve are the ones impacted most. High rates of staff turnover (losing staff to other industries or jobs) and limited dollars to keep the programs running minimize how much they can actually do, and at times have even resulted in closed programs.
So what can YOU do to make sure that we ALL arrive on the other side of underfunded programs and underpaid staff? You can sign up to join our advocacy network and email your local legislators to demand for more dollars for these critical services.
Learn more: https://www.eastersealsnj.org/otherside/improve-funding-for-support-programs/
Even without a global pandemic, critical counseling services can be hard to reach for some – physically and financially. Thankfully, there is a solution. Technological advances have allowed us to reach those we serve with Telehealth solutions, but often, providers struggle to offer these services due to restrictive rules from insurance companies and Medicaid.
This means, we can’t get paid for providing them – yet – and that thousands of people who need help the most can’t access it. By ensuring an equal playing field for telehealth services, we can make vitally important mental healthcare available and easy to access, for those in need.
What can YOU do so that we ALL arrive on the other side of this mental health crisis? You can sign our petition - 29 states and Washington D.C. have already passed policy to allow providers like us to provide this service and get paid for it (referred to as “pay parity”), unfortunately New Jersey has not. It is time for New Jersey to catch up.
Sign our petition here: https://www.eastersealsnj.org/otherside/make-mental-health-accessible/
Via The Mighty: Disney Introduces Adaptive Costumes for People With Disabilities
THEMIGHTY.COM
Disney’s New Adaptive Costumes Are Magical
Via Mashable: 'Cooking in a Wheelchair' is a joyful, accessible YouTube show full of practical tips.
MASHABLE.COM
'Cooking in a Wheelchair' is a joyful, accessible YouTube show full of practical tips
When you join our advocacy network, we will keep you up-to-date on important disability-related legislation. Together we can address the access issues here in our state and make our community a place where people with disabilities can thrive: https://www.easterseals.com/nj/get-involved/advocacy/
We are less than 2 weeks from the 2020 General Election and our votes are the most powerful advocacy tool we have. Take the Easterseals New Jersey Voter Pledge today so that people living with disabilities and mental health challenges and those who care for them can help shape the results of this critical election! Pledge now 👉 https://www.votervoice.net/EastersealsNJ/Surveys/6148/Respond
Google is making Assistant’s voice features much easier to use for people with disabilities.
THEVERGE.COM
Google is making Assistant’s voice features much easier to use for people with disabilities
Upcoming series Foundlings empowers children with disabilities to save the future.
GAMESRADAR.COM
Upcoming series Foundlings empowers children with disabilities to save the future
As the nation struggles with record unemployment as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re all reminded of how important our jobs are to our overall wellbeing. Hopefully, we will find ourselves on the other side of this pandemic and the jobs will return, but we can’t forget that even before the pandemic, people with disabilities were already struggling to find work.
As companies rebuild their ranks, we need to make sure they are actively recruiting and creating accommodations for applicants with disabilities.
Learn more at eastersealsnj.org/otherside
Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling with an important message about our On The Other Side campaign!
Twitch to Donate $1 Million to The AbleGamers Foundation to Help Gamers with Disabilities.
IGN.COM
Twitch to Donate $1 Million to AbleGamers to Help Gamers with Disabilities - IGN
Let’s face it; the world was not designed with people with disabilities in mind. There are still barriers, both physical and systematic, keeping individuals with disabilities from pursuing their goals.
Our #OnTheOtherSide campaign aims to address these challenges directly so people with disabilities in NJ can get to the other side of what’s standing between them and opportunity.
Learn more now at eastersealsnj.org/otherside
We need YOU! We are asking our supporters to sign our petition to voice your support for A-4179 / S-2559, a bill that would require telehealth services receive the same treatment that in-person services do. This bill would enable the wellbeing of so many New Jerseyans who may experience challenges in accessing the healthcare that they need.
29 other states, plus the District of Columbia, have already enacted similar legislation. It is time for New Jersey to join the majority of the country by passing this important bill which would guarantee fair access to telehealth services. Hit the link to sign now 👉 https://www.votervoice.net/EastersealsNJ/Petitions/2394/Respond
When you join our advocacy network, we will keep you up-to-date on important disability-related legislation. Together we can address the access issues here in our state and make our community a place where people with disabilities can thrive. Visit https://www.easterseals.com/nj/get-involved/advocacy/
Many individuals with disabilities rely on public assistance programs like the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) and affordable housing in order to stay safe and see progress in achieving their goals. Recent threats to these programs leave those people in dire circumstances with only unhealthy and unsafe daily living options to choose from.
Many people are forced to choose between affording housing or paying for their mental health medications. Or they may only be able to afford foods that are unhealthy and lead them to develop high-blood pressure or diabetes – increasing their stress and endangering their lives. With these programs properly funded, however, we have seen many of our program participants see success and live full, productive lives.
Learn how YOU can help ensure we ALL arrive on the other side of stigmas: https://www.eastersealsnj.org/otherside/increase-access-to-state-programs/
#WayBackWednesday to this great success story!
They say that life is composed of a series of special moments and memories, so we try to enrich the lives of our program participants by helping them have more of them!
Our Sayreville location is one of nine-day programs across the state serving hundreds of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This summer we shared a new experience with our program participants when we were specially invited to the Make-a-Wish Castle in Monroe, NJ. The Sayreville staff consisting of Elizabeth Ciancia, Andrea O'Brian, and Quetcy Sosa, entered the mesmerizing new world castle with 15 of our participants.
We were immediately welcomed with great warmth and taken into the grand castle to admire its elements of beauty. The participants were in awe. A special highlight of the trip was the “wish room” where we learned that “no wish or dream is far from reach.” Everyone left with that message embedded in our minds and feelings of hope and happiness. It was an experience they still talk about today!
The Castle staff shared their motto with us to “transform lives, one wish at a time.” This is what I feel we do every day with our program participants as well. I come to work every day and try to make it the best day of their lives.
Elizabeth Ciancia, Direct Support Professional | Sayreville
Actors with disabilities will be included in auditions for each new film and television production at NBCUniversal, which becomes the second major media company to make such a commitment.
APNEWS.COM
NBCUniversal vows auditions for actors with disabilities
Via BuzzFeed News: 18 Books That Will Help You Better Understand Disability And Chronic Illness
BUZZFEEDNEWS.COM
18 #OwnVoices Books About Disability And Chronic Illness
