Marking Helen Keller’s Birthday
To mark Helen’s 140th birthday on June 27, American Foundation for the Blind invited everyone to “explore the first ever fully accessible Digital Helen Keller Archive.The page includes letters between Helen Keller and Mark Twain, blogposts about Helen, and resources for students.
Reentry
Writing in the Harvard Business Review, Sarah Clayton and Anthea Hoyle of United Minds state, “Many companies will need to enhance current practices…with a greater capacity to deal with stress, anxiety, and uncertainty ‘in house’. This … [means] building greater internal awareness of, sensitivity toward, and ability to address employee concerns.” They suggest five areas to assist employees during reopening. Access to a limited number of HBR articles is free without subscription. Source: Philanthropy New York
Dress for Success?
The New York Times ran an article this week about the Zoom shirt, i.e., the shirt you wear to all your zoom meetings. One interviewee said he had worn the same shirt for 70 days in a row, and no one seemed to notice (light blue oxford buttondown?). Another stated that he was down to two shirts from the 210 he felt he had to have when going to the office, and that he hangs them on the back of his chair at the ready. How do you Zoom?
Texts to de-stress
The National Disability Institute launched the #ResilientPwD texting campaign to “deliver information, tips and interventions to people with disabilities and chronic health conditions.” Sign up for a free six month subscription to twice a week texts that will “ help combat stress and feelings of isolation, build positive thinking and establish new behavior patterns that promote emotional well-being and financial resilience.” All texts and related activities have been vetted by expert panels. Especially helpful for those without an internet connection. For full description and to sign up go here or just text the keyword RESILIENT to 833-632-0273.
It wouldn’t be July 4th without Music…
The Boston Pops has eight weeks of concerts streaming on its Pops at Home website. This week it’s the traditional Boston Pops Fourth of July celebration, ending, of course with “Stars and Stripes Forever. Previous weeks and additional content across their site.
For those who prefer the classical side of the Boston Symphony, go to PRX for The Best of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. They’re at number three of a series of nine two-hour programs. In that posting from 1959, Aaron Copland conducts his Appalachian Spring plus additional works. Previous programs continue to be available. PRX is “a non-profit media company specializing in audio journalism and storytelling.”
Dance…
The Fisher Center at Bard College is offering Spiegeltent from Home, a series of DJ Mixes that are sure to make you move, even from a chair. Until July 15, DJ Sammy Jo is spinning a mix of 16 hits from the likes of Chic, Spice Girls and Dua Lipa; other Djs take over during the following six weeks. In addition, the center’s virtual platform, Upstreaming, offers an opera, The Wreckers, a spoken word festival, and other delights this summer.
And Grilling
Chris Peltz, who has RP, is creating a small empire out in Springfield, Missouri with Blind Grillin’, his non-profit for blind people who love to grill. His motto is, “If You’re Lookin, You Ain’t Cookin,” as he takes viewers through grilling food from tomahawk ribeye, to ribs, salmon and even smoked banana bread. There’s information on kamado ceramic grills, which he explains are safer than traditional grills, on the site. Chris does his teaching through a series of You Tube videos, where a click on a video generates income for his mission – providing accessible grill kits to wounded veterans and first responders.
National Federation of the Blind president Mark Riccobono shouldn’t be missed, either, grilling turkey burgers over a hot open flame in his back yard, complete with critique from a young family member. NFB has many distance education resources on its website here.
Both NFB and ACB are hosting virtual conferences in July, as we look forward to celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the ADA on July 26th.
Enjoy the holiday, everyone, and much success with your summer programming – however you’re providing it!
N.B. We are not able to check accessibility of referenced websites at this time. Kindly report any problems.
