Your monthly news & updates
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28
th
Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act
Significant barriers to community inclusion can be as big as steps or as small as straws. When Starbucks chose to eliminate straws due to environmental concerns, it did not take into account the need of some persons with disabilities who require straws to enjoy their drink. The Disability Community spoke out about inclusivity, and Starbucks listened.
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Disability Rights Florida Files Lawsuit Against Agency for Persons with Disabilities Regarding Carlton Palms.
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Florida is one of 31 states in this country that doesn't fully protect LGBT people from discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations.
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Emotional Support Animal Complaint Settles After Battle with Condo
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HOPE is pleased to announce that a settlement has been reached in a disability complaint
that HOPE filed with HUD on behalf of two of our clients, the Johnsons.
In February 2017, Mrs. Johnson contacted HOPE for assistance with a reasonable accommodation request made for her husband to have an emotional support animal (ESA). She also sought help regarding fines imposed by the condominium association because of the ESA.
The Johnsons reside at a condominium community in Lauderhill, Florida. Mr. Johnson is a person with a disability who requires an emotional support animal.
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This week Florida officially started a REV UP Florida Chapter.
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Out and About with DIG
Supper Social Club
August 6, 2018
NACC
August 23-25, 2018
San Antonio, TX
Supper Social Club
September 10, 2018
Supper Social Club
October 8, 2018
Supper Social Club
November 5, 2018
Supper Social Club
December 3, 2018
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Matt and Debbie at the CIL Summer Bash
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Matt speaking on a panel at the NLADA Conference
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Debbie and Matt meeting Mayor Gillum
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DIG staff and interns saying goodbye to Nia
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Capital One financial training for the Deaf
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Capital One financial training for the Deaf
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REV UP Voter Registration Week with the Enable Project
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Day 3 - MDC InterAmerican Campus
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Day 4 - Enable Project Social Event
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Day 4 - Enable Project Social Event
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Day 4 - Enable Project Social Event
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Day 4 - Proclamation from Miami-Dade County and Commissioner Daniella Levine-Cava
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Day 4 - Proclamation for National Disability Voter Registration Week
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Day 5 - Miami Lighthouse for the blind
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Day 5 - Miami Lighthouse for the blind
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REV UP - Making the disability vote count
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I like to share new and innovative projects in the area of victims’ rights and share solutions that are cutting edge and hopefully game changing. I believe “
SEEK THEN SPEAK
” is such a project.
It is a new program that PUTS VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT.
End Violence Against Women International (
EVAWI
) has received funding from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime to enhance and expand their “Seek Then Speak”, initiative. “Seek Then Speak” provides sexual assault survivors a way to interact directly
with a technology platform to gather information, explore options and connect directly with local resources to get help or report to law enforcement.
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Recently, Lisa (you remember her-DIG’s Staff Attorney) took her annual family vacation which she claims she did not take me on because I do not have a current passport. I called her bluff and reminded her Airlines have not gone that far.
Anyways, feeling envious, I had Matt assist me with a little research on Lisa’s Family’s destination. Lo and behold, we came across, “Puppies and paradise.”
Apparently, a shelter capitalized on the vast numbers of tourists that visit each year to help socialize their pups and potentially get some adopted. I thought this was such a great idea as I, myself, was rescued from a shelter in Georgia. I hope this inspires some of you to visit some attractions off the beaten path next time you are away from home!
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DIG Facebook Page - General DIG information
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Deaf Alice Facebook Page - Issues related to the Deaf Community
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Kids Crusaders Facebook Page - Issues related to medically fragile and medically complex children and their families
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Animal Partners Facebook Page - Issues related to service animals and emotional support animals
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Employment support for people with disabilities
If you are disabled and you are pursuing employment, you are not alone. You can find many agencies providing employment support and help you to reach your vocational goal.
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“Medical necessity is defined as accepted health care services and supplies provided by health care entities, appropriate to the evaluation and treatment of a disease, condition, illness or injury and is consistent with the applicable standard of care.”
The latest piece of equipment I’ve obtained in my arsenal of medical devices, since my spinal cord injury, is the Bioness L300 Thigh Cuff. After a rigorous schedule of physical therapy and strengthening over the past two years, my right leg still tends to buckle when I walk with my walker, causing me to fatigue easily and have to stop and rest every few minutes. A bent right knee also effects my balance and makes it more difficult to stay on my feet for any long period of time. My physical therapist suggested the Bioness to me as a possible solution to help me straighten that right knee and hopefully re-educate my quadricep muscle to straighten, instead of buckle, when I walk.
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The wallet card is a tool for young adults or adults to use when they come into contact with law enforcement; either a a victim, a witness, or as a potential suspect.
The wallet card will help to clarify any interaction with law enforcement so that the behavior of the person with a disability is not misinterpreted as suspicious or as criminal behavior.
The Wallet Card Project is a collaboration with DIG, CGPD, and UM-NSU CARD.
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This month DIG visited the campers at Camp Shriver to make them wallet cards and to practice safe interactions with the City of Miami Police Department. Thank you to the staff at the Sandra DeLucca Center and the City of Miami Police for making this a successful event.
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City of Miami Police Officers
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Role Playing with officers and campers
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Role playing with officers and campers
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Lorinda will be back soon with a new article.
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“The vote is the most powerful instrument ever devised by man for breaking down injustice and destroying the terrible walls which imprison men because they are different from other men.”
This week is National Disability Voter Registration Week and DIG has been holding events all over Miami Dade county to bring awareness and discuss the challenges surrounding voting for persons with disabilities. During this
week it came to my attention that we are not doing enough to ensure that students with disabilities are aware of their right to vote and we are not discussing with them how to register to vote. This is a missed opportunity and this must change.
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Primary elections in Florida are right around the corner-
August 28, 2018
.
The deadline to register to vote is
July 30, 2018
. Registering may seem intimidating, but the process and requirements are simple!
However, keep in mind that Florida is a closed primary state, meaning you can only participate in the primaries if you are a registered party member.
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Who is running for office?
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This is a list of the candidates for the August 28, 2018 primary elections of Florida. The candidates are organized by the office they are running for and then alphabetized by last name within their respective party. As the state of Florida is a closed primary state, primary elections are only for voters who are registered with one of the two major parties. As such, any third-party candidates or independent candidates will not be found in this list
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When you shop
Amazon Smile, you can support our organization.
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Join us for dinner and conversation at California Pizza Kitchen in Coral Gables.
August 6, 2018
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Watch out for our new training program called Dragonfly.
Coming Soon.
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In a nutshell, Your Upward Journey: It is Easier Than You Think!, is a three-part project (book, self-help seminars and merchandise sale). I intend to promote the book through self-help seminars and sale of merchandise, such a mugs, journals, etc.
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Disability Independence Group | Phone:
305-669-2822
| Fax:
304-441-4181
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