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2025 Monthly Newsletter

A Note From Debbie...

Global Accessibility Awareness Day

This month’s newsletter continues our Taking Action series with Part 3: Check Your Voting Status—a simple but powerful step to make sure you’re ready to use the power of your vote. We’re excited to guide you through how to stay prepared and engaged in the democratic process.



May also brings an important reminder: May 15th is Global Accessibility Awareness Day. At DIG, we believe that accessibility—especially digital accessibility—is essential for equal participation in every aspect of life. Let’s continue working together to create a world where everyone has access, online and off.

Featured Articles

Taking Action: How You Can Make A Difference - Part 3

By: Deborah Dietz

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As part of our ongoing series to help you get more involved in advocacy, we’re breaking things down into four simple steps.


In March, we started with Step 1: Find Your Elected Officials - because knowing who represents you is the foundation of civic engagement.


Last Month, we continued with Step 2: Contact Your Elected Officials - because reaching out to your representatives is one of the most direct ways to get involved.


This month, we’re moving on to Step 3: Check Your Voting Status. 


Even if you think you’re registered and ready, it’s always a good idea to double-check. Laws change, deadlines move, and errors can happen—so taking just a few minutes now can save you stress later. Your vote is your power, and protecting it starts with knowing your status.


Here are three important things to know when checking your voting status:


Make sure your registration is current.

  • Your name, address, and party affiliation must be up-to-date—especially if you’ve moved, changed your name, or want to vote in a primary.


Know your deadlines.

  • Every state has different deadlines to register, update your information, or request a vote-by-mail ballot. Check your local election office or visit vote411 to check your registration status.


Look out for changes.

  • Election laws can change from year to year. Make it a habit to confirm your voting status before every election, even if nothing has changed on your end.


We hope these tips help you feel more confident and prepared. Your opinion truly matters, and every action makes a difference.


Stay Tuned...


Watch our video.


Go to our YouTube Playlist to see all of the videos in this series.


Next month, we will finish this series with Step 4: Stay Informed. This final step will help you stay engaged and ready to take action when it counts most.


Let’s keep moving forward together!

DIG's Projects In The Community

the wallet card logo a blue hexagon that says the wallet card inside in white ink

The Wallet Card Project focuses on helping people with disabilities and first responders communicate with each other. 


The Wallet Card Project is an initiative designed to improve communication during interactions between individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and law enforcement.


Whether you’re a caregiver, teacher, community organization, or part of law enforcement, visit our newly updated Wallet Card Project Page for more information on how to access these resources and apply for a wallet card.

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Our DIG Supper Social Club is a monthly, neuro-diverse dining experience.

Food, Fun and Friends!

DIG's April Pizza Night was a Blast!

Photo collage of DIG April Pizza Night
Photo collage of DIG April pizza night and raffle winners
Photo collage of DIG April pizza night
Coming soon photo for DIG Summer Partnership with Coral Gables PD

Benefits Information

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Blue and red Center for Independent Living of the Keys logo


Green and white WIPA logo

WIPA program and SSA Beneficiaries with

Psychiatric Disabilities

By: Lesly Quintanilla Lopez


A large portion of beneficiaries who could potentially receive WIPA services are individuals with mental health diagnoses. There is a high rate of unemployment/underemployment of this population.

 

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Social Security Income (SSI) both provide needed financial assistance to many people in the United States who have mental health conditions. The two programs are run by the US Social Security Administration (SSA). SSDI provides monthly income to individuals who are limited in their ability to work because of a physical or mental disability. Currently almost nine million individuals receive SSDI, and as of 2013, 35.2% of recipients qualify for disability based on a mental health condition.  85% of people with Mental Illness want to work but are afraid to lose their disability status and healthcare.

 

How WIPA can help?

  • Community Work Incentives Coordinators, CWICs, address employment barriers by educating beneficiaries and their advocates/professionals and supporting the various federal and state work incentives.


Read More Here

Important Resources

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Be Sure to Check out Our DIG Blog

for Much More

Important Information and Resources!

Do you have suggestions for future content or articles for our monthly newsletter?

If so, email your ideas and suggestions to our newsletter editor,

Justine Chichester.

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