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Celebrate Disability Pride Month: Free Online Events

As July, Disability Pride Month, unfolds, a number of special events and programs are happening virtually. Consider these possibilities:

Assistive Technology for Low Vision: On July 12, 2022, from 12 to 1 pm Eastern Time (ET), the Michigan Disability Rights Coalition will host this program so that individuals with low vision or vision loss can learn how to use assistive technology. Part of the Assistive Technology (AT) TechTuesday Training Series, this session will cover devices and technology available to individuals with disabilities and older adults for daily living, recreational activities, and hobbies. For more information and to register, go to the Eventbrite listing for Assistive Technology (AT) for LOW VISION.

From The New York Public Library’s Business Center: To celebrate Disability Pride Month, a series of online panels are being held as part of “’BIZABILITY: How Creatives, Entrepreneurs, and Non-profits Are Changing the Way We Understand Human Potential.’” Four programs will explore from a business perspective how individuals and organizations are contributing to channel the “power of inclusivity.” These include sessions being held on:
– July 13, 2022, from 3 to 4:15 Eastern Time (ET): Universal Design: How “Inclusive Architecture” Benefits Businesses and People: This session promises to “change forever-and for the better-the way you look at commercial buildings, public spaces, and bathrooms.”
July 18, 2022, from 12 to 1:15 pm ET: How Diversity Actualizes Potential: The Omnium Circus Approach: Participants in this session will discover how the company, Omnium Circus, created a “jaw-dropping audience experience” by hiring “gifted circus performers” from various nations and cultures “embracing a multi-racial, multi-abled, LGBTQ inclusive approach.”
– July 20, 2022, from 3 to 4:15 pm ET: The Nuance of Disability: “Because of,” NOT “In Spite Of”: A film director and producer and writer will share their experiences as professionals who tapped into their disability and made a determined choice to “flourish because of it…” From this vantage point, disability is transformed from a legal requirement or afterthought to a welcome element that adds to creativity.
– July 28, 2022, from 12 to 1:15 pm ET: Millions Lost: The Unrealized Potential of Entrepreneurship and Disability: Although much is written about how individuals with a disability are adept at problem solving, are resilient, and have adaptive skills, like empathy, all of which are key attributes of entrepreneurs, few people with a disability are entrepreneurs or are working with them. In this forum, entrepreneurs with a disability will share their experiences and highlight “the millions of people who are facing unnecessary roadblocks” that prevent them from realizing their potential.
For more information on these programs and to register, visit The New York Public Library webpage on the BIZABILITY SERIES: How Creatives, Entrepreneurs, and Non-profits Are Changing the Way We Understand Human Potential.

During a forum on how to Harness the Power of Inclusion: On July 14, 2022, from 12 to 1 pm Eastern Time (ET), participants will have an opportunity to check their knowledge about disability in the work environment and to learn basic principles of disability employment law. This event, sponsored by the NC Department of Health and Human Services, is an event of Windmills, a disability awareness program providing business leaders with information, skills, and tools to foster an inclusive workplace where all employees can thrive. Additional information and a registration link from Eventbrite can be found here for Harness the Power of Inclusion – Fact or Fiction?

Disability Rights are Human Rights: On July 22, 2022, the San Diego Law Library is presenting a program highlighting the past 100 years of key moments and individuals involved in the disability rights movement. Participants will find out about those leaders “who fought for equality and laid the foundation of the four ’pillars’ of the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act): full participation, independent living, equality of opportunity, and economic self-sufficiency.” The event takes place from 3 to 4 pm Eastern Time (12 noon to 1 pm PDT). For more details and to register, click on the link from Eventbrite to Who Are the Heroes? A History of the Disability Rights Movement.