A Special Word of Thanks! |
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During the month of July we celebrated the 31st Anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) into law. It's hard to believe it has been 31 years! Although there is much to celebrate, there is still a lot more work to be done. In order to bring about necessary change, we must continue to work together to educate and advocate what EQUAL access should look like. The dRC staff and Board of Directors are honored to be of service to this community and to partner with so many other great organizations and disability advocates to work towards this goal. We want to thank you, our community, for celebrating the 31st Anniversary of the ADA with us. Among those we'd like to specifically thank for their generosity are WECT-TV News Reporters - Kendall McGee and Dru Loman; Senator Jeff Jackson, T'Geux Boys food truck, Hi-Wire Brewing, Blaze Pizza, Pacha Soap, Sea Love Sea Salt, Art in Bloom Gallery, Michael Macias, Dr. Susan Burch, and all of our generous donors.
Please visit the links of these businesses and take a look at their unique products and services.
Send them a "thank you" and extend the good-will!
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If you enjoyed the music of Michael Macias who played at our Hi-Wire Brewing event and are interested in purchasing his CD, please email Brian Barnette at the email below or click the image to the left to be taken to Apple Music!
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Good screen time hygiene may help lower the risk of myopia and digital eye strain. Studies have suggested that near work activities—including screen time—may be connected to both nearsightedness and digital eye strain. To help combat this, encourage your child to follow the 20-20-20 rule: Look up from the screen every 20 minutes and focus at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds. More valuble advice is listed here https://www.aao.org/.../tips.../tips-children-eyes-vision
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Partnerships and Collaborations |
The dRC is a proud member of the New Hanover County Resiliency Task Force. The mission is to build our community’s resiliency, we work to reduce and prevent ACEs (trauma), respond to existing trauma in children, adults and providers with knowledge, empathy, and compassion, and create opportunities for our community to form meaningful connections with one another.
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The disAbility Resource Center is also proudly announcing that we are an Associate Partner with the Harrelson Center.
The mission of the Harrelson Center is to provide a humanitarian services campus of non-profit that offer
HOPE, OPPORTUNITY, and EMPOWERMENT.
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It is STILL summer! While it is still hot outside we wanted to share one of Stevie's most popular Money Saving Monday posts. It has great tips on saving money on home expenses. Do YOU have tips for saving money? Let's hear them!
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With the Eviction Moratorium expiring on July 31st please be sure to check out the great information available for renters and landlords to find help. On July 28th, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) debuted a new look up tool that allows renters and landlords to find information on rental assistance in their area. PLEASE click the link below or send an e:mail to [email protected] with the subject RENTAL ASSISTANCE TOOL KIT and we will forward the information that we have!
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There is HOPE & HELP - "Even through these trying times with COVID-19, and the many grievances the pandemic has caused, there is always hope-- when you know where to look. By taking the time to open the links shared in the article, you can take assisted steps in deciding what you need to help better your living circumstances."
Tracy Fullard-dRC Housing Specialist
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Rental Assistance for Older Adult Tenants
The COVID-19 pandemic has increased housing instability for many older adult tenants. There are tools available to help prevent evictions of older adults, including emergency rental assistance, available across the country through locally run programs.
This week, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) debuted a new tool that helps renters and landlords look up rental assistance in their area and apply for assistance. The Rental Assistance Finder is designed to help tenants and landlords take advantage of emergency rental assistance that can be used to cover rent, utilities, and other housing costs, with the goal to keep people in their homes.
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A TEAM EFFORT
dRC's wonderful office neighbor, the Arc of Wilmington, was looking for a wheelchair for one of their clients. Thanks to all the generous donations of new and like new wheelchairs dRC has received over the last several months we were able to help. It's very fortunate when local organizations can work together and support the efforts in assisting the community!
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A Day Spent Fishing Is A Day Well Spent
We are all guilty of taking the simple things in life for granted. For example, could you imagine living in Wilmington and NOT being able to even get to the beach?! That is the reality for some individuals like our friend Steve. Unfortunately, Wrightsville Beach town officials do not allow WAVE, our public transit system NOR the DART system to provide service to the beach. Despite Wave transit's attempts to provide service to Wrightsville Beach, town officials cited concerns with large buses and the cost to the city. This is such an injustice for people with disabilities, as well as others who depend solely on public transportation, who want to live, work, or enjoy Wrightsville Beach! Furthermore, services like Uber, Lyft and taxi cabs rarely can accommodate someone who who needs to remain in their wheelchair.
Before Steve acquired his disability, he was an avid fisherman. In fact, he still loves to fish but, too, many barriers exist to allow him to do so. When dRC started working with Steve on his independent living goals, he shared with us that the first thing he would like to do after transitioning out of a nursing home would be to go fishing again. dRC staff were determined we were NOT going to make him wait until that day arrived. We wanted Steve to be able to go fishing now. In order to make this happen, dRC made arrangements with a local accessible transportation provider to pick him up and take him to the Wrightsville Beach fishing pier. It was a perfect summer morning that day which culminated in catching a fish.
Obviously the cost of using this type of service is considerably more expensive than using public transportation or DART. The majority of the individuals we serve at dRC could not afford spending money on transportation for non-essential trips. To make ends meet each month, funds for transportation are reserved specifically for grocery shopping, appointments or running errands. So the next time you are enjoying the beach, we hope you will remember Steve's story and meditate on the thought that if you were in his place how much you would miss the beautiful blue ocean, the sound of the waves, the warm sand on your feet, and the sun warming your body and soul. This is what we are denying people with disabilities when EQUAL access is not provided.
If you are interested in learning more about this issue and would like to get involved, please contact Gloria Garton, Executive Director of dRC via email
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Julie was recently able to successfully find a new apartment despite the challenges of finding affordable housing in our area. After she paid her security deposit, first months rent, and moving costs there wasn't much money left to get her through the rest of the month. dRC was happy to assist her with some basic necesseties for her new home. Only because of the generosity of our donors are we able to provide this additional support and success stories like this can be shared. |
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St Jude's is another organization that dRC is so proud to partner with. St. Jude's and their many dedicated volunteers provide life sustaining food and support to individuals in our community who are unsheltered and many living with a disability. Thanks to their Food Bank we were able to assist a dRC consumer with some grocery needs. Another great example of the types of help made easier when we support each other.
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Hope4NC is here to help. As a Crisis Counseling Helpline tailored to the current pandemic, the program offers crisis counseling services to all North Carolinians affected by the ongoing COVID-19 public health crisis. The Hope4NC Helpline (1-855-587-3463) is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and does not require callers to have insurance.
In addition to their services, Hope4NC is also encouraging self-care in the new year. Find exercises and guides to self-care for physical, mental, social, emotional, and spiritual health on the Trillium Hope4NC Facebook page.
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Our own Billy Eno coaches the Diamondbacks in the Miracle League and he is inviting EVERYONE out to see a game or two! The Fall league begins in September. Come out and enjoy a game or sign up to be a volunteer! If you would like more information visit their website at https://www.accessilm.org
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AUGUST 5TH, 2021, 4-6PM
2 session times, 4-5PM and 5-6PM. Up to 14 people per time slot! You must be registered and can do so below!
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The disAbility Resource Center was so proud to have been profiled on WECT Community Spotlight in July and then again during our social outing at the Hi-Wire Brewing. We are very grateful for the acknowledgment of the team at WECT.
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Click the images above to view the spots! |
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We wish to share that several members of the dRC Team have experienced the loss of loved ones this summer. Please keep them in your thoughts during this difficult time. |
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