Los Angeles, July 28 – This week, America has been celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the most comprehensive piece of civil rights legislation ever passed for people with disabilities.

In celebration, the disability advocacy nonprofit RespectAbility, with a significant operation in Los Angeles, is hosting #ADA30 Summit 2020. Its crowning day will focus on how citizens and the government can partner to bring about the future that we would like to see by the time the ADA turns 40. It will be star-studded with messages from national, state and local leaders, including National Governors Association Chair Gov. Larry Hogan, Former Gov. and Cabinet Secretary Tom Ridge and Sen. Chris Van Hollen. [continue reading…]

The Phillips Collection participates in celebration of artists with disabilities to commemorate 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Washington, D.C. — The Phillips Collection is delighted to announce a partnership with RespectAbility for the upcoming #ADA30 Summit 2020. The summit is a free, virtual, week-long celebration in honor of the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Together with RespectAbility, The Phillips Collection will provide participants with daily virtual, accessible gallery tours that celebrate artists with disabilities. The summit will run from Monday, July 27, through Friday, July 31, 2020.

“The Phillips Collection is honored to be a part of such a monumental milestone for Americans with disabilities, and for the opportunity to showcase works of art from our collection for this celebration,” says Dr. Dorothy Kosinski, Vradenburg Director and CEO of The Phillips Collection. “We are honored to welcome and learn from communities with different cognitive and physical abilities, including combat- related stress injuries.” [continue reading…]

As we head into Shabbat, I wanted to offer some highlights from Tuesday’s 5th session of our Disability Access and Inclusion Training Series for Jewish Organizations, “How to Ensure a Welcoming Lexicon, Accessible Websites and Social Media and Inclusive Photos.”

An organization’s website, in today’s digital world, can be seen as its front lobby – and, given that many physical office buildings are closed right now, most connecting between the public and organizations takes place online, making it our only front door. This webinar addressed how to open that door for everyone.

Our expert panelists – Tatiana Lee, Hollywood Inclusion Associate at RespectAbility; Sharon Rosenblatt of Accessibility Partners; and River McMican of Keshet – offered key recommendations for making our digital platforms welcoming to people with disabilities. Here are some points they offered: [continue reading…]

Los Angeles, California, July 24 – As the entertainment industry seeks to be more inclusive of talent with disabilities, RespectAbility, the nonprofit that produced The Hollywood Disability Inclusion Toolkit, highlights examples of best practice among studio executives, producers, writers and actors in both the television and film industry during a virtual event.

Taking place as part of a larger week-long celebration of the 30^th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), ADA30 Summit: Fighting Stigmas With Hollywood airs live on both Zoom and Facebook Live on Wednesday, July 29, from 1:00 – 3:30 p.m. ET / 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. PT. [continue reading…]

Washington, D.C., July 22 – With more than 1 million workers with disabilities out of work due to COVID-19, the national disability nonprofit RespectAbility is hosting a two-part panel of thought leaders to honor the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and to talk about building a better future of work for people with disabilities.

Taking place on Thursday, July 30, The Future of Work for People with Disabilities is part of a weeklong series of virtual #ADA30 events focused on building a better future and successful ways to get more people with disabilities into the workforce. [continue reading…]

New Tools to Be Released

Washington, D.C., July 22 – As more than 6.3 million students in America with disabilities are coping with COVID-19, the national disability nonprofit RespectAbility is hosting experts and self-advocates to mark the 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act and to promote greater success for students with disabilities.

“Thus far during the pandemic, distance learning has been a train-wreck for students with disabilities. Much more must be done so that no more harm comes to students with disabilities. This includes both access to real learning and preventing further mental health distress,” said Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, president of RespectAbility. Mizrahi is dyslexic herself and, as a parent of a child with disabilities, is working to enable her own child to have access to a quality education during this current COVID-19 crisis. [continue reading…]

Los Angeles, California, July 22 – Across America people are doing vital work – protesting and working to fight structural racism. At the same time, Black and other people with disabilities are being excluded even in nonprofit groups that are working to fight inequity.

RespectAbility conducted a major study and published Disability in Philanthropy & Nonprofits, which looked at the levels of disability inclusion in the social sector across the country. The largescale study found significant data showing that nationwide, organizations overall want to be inclusive, but are unintentionally excluding the one-in-five people with disabilities. [continue reading…]

#SNAPDeliverySavesLives

Washington, D.C. July 21 – With the COVID-19 pandemic raging out of control and many resisting wearing life-saving masks, something as simple as going to the grocery store can become a life or death decision. People with disabilities and other underlying medical conditions are uniquely vulnerable to this disease and need access to safe options for putting food on the table.

According to the CDC, 90 percent of COVID-19 hospitalizations are people with underlying conditions. Moreover, it is very hard for people who are blind to see who does or does not have a mask on. People who use wheelchairs cannot simply jump out of the way when someone comes near them without a mask. Thus, in places where people are not wearing masks or practicing full social distancing, RespectAbility – a national disability nonprofit – is encouraging people with disabilities to use food pickup or delivery so they can stay healthy. [continue reading…]

This week, almost 400 people registered for the exciting session, “How to Ensure Accessible Events: Both Live and Virtual Across All Platforms.” By now, you’re probably aware of our  Disability Access and Inclusion Training Series for Jewish Organizations and Activists offered by a coalition of over 45 Jewish organizations. If not, this week is the place to start. Perhaps the most exciting thing about our record-breaking numbers is that, even if everyone only follows the tips and tricks we gave this week, it would be a quantum leap forward in access and inclusion for the Jewish world. Combining that with next week’s session, “How to Ensure a Welcoming Lexicon, Accessible Websites and Social Media and Inclusive Photos,” we will literally revolutionize the way your organization approaches disability inclusion. There is amazing learning to be acquired in all seven webinars; yet if your time is limited, I strongly recommend watching the accessible recording of this week’s webinar, and then register for the one on Tuesday. [continue reading…]