This Months Letter Highlights Successes...

We have much to be proud of, and we can't wait to share it with you. We would like to introduce our newest Board Member and share her story. A former ADA consumer is now an advocate for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Carolina Sled Hockey is making huge grounds across the country. Our Saints & Scholars fundraiser was a huge success with a great turnout and support across the board. The independent living philosophy is more than words, it is an ideal we strive towards every day. Everyone in our community has the power to define themselves regardless of their disability. We don't own success, we share our success.

An Advocate for Success This month we'd like to highlight the success of Matthew Schwab. Matthew is a former ADA consumer and graduate of our Travel Training program. He has since become an advocate for people with developmental disabilities. We'd also like to recognize our Certificated Travel Trainer, Sharif Brown who worked with Matthew exclusively " I am very proud to see Matthew so confident! Travel Training him was a great experience for me! So happy for him."

A Leader Among Leaders Each month we'd like to highlight a board member's who's shown dedication to achieving our mission of ensuring North Carolinian's with significant disabilities live independently in a barrier free community of their choice. This month we'd like to introduce you to our newest Board Member, Brittny Zenere. Brittny is a dedicated and self motivated Social Worker with experience in grief and bereavement settings. Brtinny has always been driven to be an active member within the community, and is a positive voice representing those who experience a disability. She believes in ADA's vision and desires to help this Center for Independent Living grow, so it can better serve people with disabilities in a community that is free of barriers to community inclusion and independence.

Consumers Empowered

ADA staff worked with a TCLI consumer who is also a veteran. He wanted to start college courses but needed to know his discharge status to be eligible for a VA loan.   His Community Inclusion Specialist was able to guide him thru the process of acquiring his high school transcripts as well as coaching him thru the process of requesting  his military discharge papers.    He is now enrolled in the Career Readiness Program at Wayne Community College and waiting to learn his discharge status.

The community inclusion group visited the Chinese Lantern Festival at the Koka Booth Amphitheater this month. Many of the participants brought family members and friends, which along with community members made for a truly inclusive event.  One participant had to use independent living skills to get to the event because he was traveling on his own. While the staff member gave him explicit directions as to which gate to turn into via text message, he still had difficulty telling the Uber driver where to drop him off. However, he was able to use advocacy skills to call the ADA staff member and ask her to tell the Uber driver where to go. While this is not complete independence, the advocacy was one step in the right direction.

ADA Announcements

Early Bird Tickets on Sale Now!

Help support our mission to see all North Carolinian communities are barrier free and individuals with significant disabilities are empowered to live in the community of their choice! Where: Clouds Brewing Taproom:  1233 Front Street, Raleigh NC When: Friday, April 17th @ 7PM!   Each Casino Night ticket includes food and a variety of beverages, as well as prizes, silent auction items, and other fun under a tremendous atmosphere! Interested in sponsoring or donating to our silent auction? Head over to our website for more information!

Become a Sponsor today!

We'd like to invite all our newsletter subscribers to attend our upcoming Open House When: March 19th from 2PM-6PM  Where: 3725 National Drive, Raleigh NC Join us to learn about the independent living philosophy. Connect with avid disability advocates and social work professionals.  Our Certified Travel Trainer and Community Inclusion Specialists will offer presentations on our various programs.

RSVP!

Our Saints & Scholars fundraiser was one of our biggest success so far this year! Thank you to our Board Member's Brittny Zenere, Ali Zahid Malik, and Board Chair, Israel Bocanegra for coming out and showing their support. Get to know our Board Members and see why they are passionate for this community.

Sled Highlights

Carolina Sled Hockey is scoring big across the country! They finished off the 2nd leg of the 10/20 SESHL, leaving Knoxville with a 3-1 record! CSH is currently sitting in 1st place in the standings! The team is feeling like they can bring a SESHL Championship back to Carolina! This weekend also saw Brooke Powell net her first-ever goal. Chris Baucom continued to improve showing he is going to be a key piece to the success of this team. Angela Mooney came in from the start, making several key plays.

What We're Reading

The gathering storm in disability services | Opinion There is a gathering storm in disability policy and services that has been largely ignored or overshadowed by the current impeachment frenzy and the fast approaching presidential primary season. Read more www.pennlive.com

Please Stop Saying "Wheelchair Bound" * Free Wheelin' As people with disabilities become more active in our communities, we move slowly towards equality. We are out in the world living, working, traveling, getting married, raising kids, and doing everything else non-disabled people can do. People... Read more www.freewheelintravel.org

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This project is supported, in part by grant number 1902NCILCL-00 from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201