Disability Empowerment Center

Happy Halloween!

Check out these amazing one-legged costumes created by Paralympian and skier Josh Sundquist:

https://www.paralympic.org/feature/us-paralympian-sundquist-fun-halloween-costumes

King County voters! Would you like in-person assistance? Our team at Elections Headquarters in Renton is ready to help.

The Renton HQ Vote Center is open now! The rest of our county's Vote Centers will open November 2, 4, and 5.

Find all hours and locations at kce.wiki/VoteCenter

Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!

Our next EPIC outing will be a free trip to the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle.
🐅🐏🐒🐆🐖🐢

Friday, Nov. 15, 12-4 p.m.

Meet at either:
- Disability Empowerment Center's Seattle office at 12 p.m. to take the bus together (we will leave at 12 sharp!)
- Woodland Park Zoo's West Entrance (5500 Phinney Ave. N.) at 1 p.m.

Everyone is responsible for finding their own way home.

This outing is free and includes zoo entrance tickets. Must RSVP by Friday, Nov. 8: [email protected]

Our EPIC program (Empowering People In the Community) gives you a chance to explore places around our region together with other people with disabilities. All are welcome!

Find more events: disabilityempowerment.org/events
[Visual: Graphic with a blue background, colorful dots and the text "EPIC peer outings! Explore the Seattle region with us."]

From our friends at All of Us Research:

Health research can pave the way towards better employment supports in the workplace. With better medical diagnostic procedures, people can access accommodations more easily. For people with disabilities, this could help us get the support we need to do our jobs well. These are key factors in disability employment.

More inclusive health research helps all of us do well in life and at work.

Learn more about how you can be part of making research more inclusive: bit.ly/AllofUsInclusion-FB.
[Visual: All of Us Research Program photo with a woman standing outside in front of a flowering hedge. She is using arm crutches.]

Are you ready to vote?!

Today is the last day to register to vote online. Visit VoteWA.gov to make sure you're ready to vote. After today, if you need to register or update your registration, you can visit a Vote Center for in-person assistance!

People who are blind or vision impaired use a variety of tools to navigate the world. One of those is audio descriptions, which describe what's happening in theater, movies, TV shows and other art forms.

The American Council of the Blind has an amazing resource list about audio descriptions on their website.

Check it out here:
https://adp.acb.org/ad.html
[Visual description: Audio description symbol, the letters 'AD', indicating that the content includes an audio narration of visual elements for the visually impaired.]

Live accessible theater!

Wicked has a sensory-friendly performance at The Paramount Theatre on Saturday, Nov. 16th! 🎶💚 (This performance also has ASL interpretation.)

Sensory-friendly and inclusive performances are designed to provide a supportive and judgment-free environment for people affected by sensory processing challenges so they may enjoy the shared experience of live theatre 🎶

Learn more: stgpresents.org/tickets/accessible-performances

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[Visual: Promo graphic for Wicked with two witches. Text reads "The untold true story of the Witches of Oz."]

Posted • This week is Invisible Disabilities Week! Swipe ➡️ to read! Some days, my disability is invisible. Other days, it's not. On good days, you might not see it, but on tougher days, when you see me struggling or using my mobility aid, it's plain to see.

Now, whether my disability is visible or not, I want to remind everyone during that accessibility is essential for many living with invisible disabilities. As no matter how I feel each day, I rely on accessible parking, seating, restrooms, and entrances. All important in allowing me to simply partake in regular everyday activities.

So this is just a reminder that on the days my disability isn't visible, it doesn't mean I might not be struggling. After all, most people only notice my disability when I struggle to get up from a seated position, or when I have to use the elevator because I can't climb stairs and they definitely notice when I fall to the ground and need more than one person to assist me in getting back up.

All this to remind everyone: Think before you judge. As not all disabilities are visible.

 

Meet these incredible individuals, including disability justice activist Alice Wong.

Here's who made the 2024 MacArthur Fellows list This year, filmmaker Sterlin Harjo, poet Jericho Brown and disability rights activist Alice Wong are among the recipients of the so-called "genius grants." Each fellow receives $800,000.

Learn about how the Be My Eyes app pairs sighted volunteers with people who are blind or vision impaired to help them with everyday, practical tasks.

(This reporter tried it out herself.)

I tried Be My Eyes, the popular app that pairs blind people with helpers The app helps blind or visually impaired people connect with users for everyday tasks – and has way more volunteers than its creators expected

Northwest Access Fund offers free, online classes on financial basics for people with disabilities each month. Learn how to budget, get an understanding of how credit works, learn how to apply for disability benefits, or do all three! Learn more and register here: https://www.nwaccessfund.org/coaching/classes/

[image description] Flyer advertising online classes on November 5, November 12, and November 19 at 12:00pm

We have some new faces at Disability Empowerment Center!

It's so fun to have new staff and new AmeriCorps members in our offices. We'll be introducing them one by one to you here and on our blog.

First up... meet our new Outreach & Education Coordinator, Mariel!

P.S. Have a recommendation for things she should do as a newcomer to the PNW? Post your ideas here!

Meet Mariel — Disability Empowerment Center Meet our Outreach & Education Coordinator, Mariel!

If you are registered to vote in King County, your ballot is on its way!

Not registered? Sign up here:
https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/elections/how-to-vote/register-to-vote

Watch your mailbox! You should receive your ballot by Monday, October 21. If it doesn't arrive, give us a call at 206-296-8683 and we'll get you what you need to vote.

Free webinar!

Register now for "Autoimmunity, Disability & All of Us," a conversation on Wednesday, October 23, at 11 a.m. PT. Learn how more inclusive health research may lead to better treatments and care for all.

Register here: https://bit.ly/DH-Autoimmunity
ASL and CART will be provided.

Hosted by American Association on Health and Disability with the All of Us Research program.


[Visual in alt text]

Our Eastside Peer Group is next Tuesday!

Join Disability Empowerment Center for their Eastside Peer Group to discuss communication and setting boundaries with caregivers. You'll also have the opportunity to create a care map and identify your circle of support.

📅 Tuesday, Oct. 22 | 2-4 p.m.
📍 Together Center, Redmond (16305 NE 87th St., Suite 113)
Virtual option available.

If interested in attending please email [email protected] and request accommodations at your earliest convenience.

Come and join the LIHI team through our Job Fair on Tuesday! Visit the link to register: https://buff.ly/3U6kCbT

Accessible voting alert!

Four Accessible Voting Units (AVUs) will be available on Saturday, Oct. 19, from 12-4 p.m. at the Central branch of the Seattle Library for anyone who needs them to vote.

Voters can register, use the AVU with the assistance of our registration team to vote their ballot, and/or use the secure ballot drop box to return their ballot.

An AVU is a type of voting machine designed to enable individuals with disabilities, including those with visual, auditory or physical impairments, to vote independently and privately. These units typically include features such as:

- Audio ballots for voters with visual impairments
- Touchscreens or keypads with Braille or large print options
- Sip-and-puff devices or foot pedals for voters with limited mobility
- Headphones for audio feedback

Learn more about accessible voting options and locations at King County elections:
https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/elections/how-to-vote/ballots/accessible-voting-options

October 15 is White Cane Awareness Day.

That means it's a great opportunity to pause and recognize the role that white canes play in helping blind people to travel safely and independently.

Have you ever wondered how or if to help someone who is blind cross the street?

First, remember that a white cane is a tool to explore and navigate the environment, which blind folks are used to doing all the time independently. No need to shout warnings or physically steer us unless we ask for help.

Here are more helpful etiquette tips to keep in mind when meeting a blind person when you're out and about.

Courtesy Rules of Blindness | National Federation of the Blind I am a blind person. Please say hello and get to know me! I want people to feel comfortable around me.

Are you ready for the big one?

Thursday, October 17, is the Great Washington ShakeOut Drill!

People throughout Washington state will be practicing earthquake preparedness. Families, schools, businesses, or organizations can register to participate in the drill.

For more information, visit shakeout.org

It's National Disability Employment Awareness Month!

Why are these "holidays" important? Because they let everyone know where we've come from and what work we all still need to do to advance disability rights.

One thing you can do is learn more about the Disability Rights Movement. Here's a great recap of big moments in disability history from the Anti-Defamation League.

https://www.adl.org/resources/backgrounder/brief-history-disability-rights-movement
[Visual: Screenshot of ADL website with header a Brief History of the Disability Rights Movement]

Our staff member Leanna chatted with KING 5 TV yesterday about the issues with the new Metro G Line bus stops near our office.

“Public transit can be a real, again, door opener. It can be frustrating when it’s not as accessible as you would like it to be,” said Leanna Namovic, the program manager for the Disability Empowerment Center, a nonprofit organization that works with people of all backgrounds in King County.

“Our purpose is to help people with disabilities be able to live their fullest lives in their communities,” she continued.

Read the full story:

King County Metro has temporary fix in place to ensure 3 bus stops are ADA compliant SDOT said it’s currently working on a long-term fix. Options could include hydraulic lifts on buses or pouring additional concrete to raise the street.

October is Blindness Awareness Month!

An estimated 2.2 billion people around the world are Blind or experience vision impairment. That's a whole lotta people!

Learn some facts:

Blindness Awareness Month Blindness Awareness Month brings a heightened focus on the blind and visually impaired community.

Join our virtual Smooth Talkers this Saturday, the 12th from 10am to 11am via zoom! An AAC-User and family meetup for people of all ages and abilities who use technology to communicate.
Now offering both virtual and in-person options! An AAC-User and family meetup for people of all ages and abilities who use technology to communicate.
Now offering both virtual and in-person options!
Sept 14th : In-person
Oct 12th: Virtual
Nov 9th: In-person
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/93208798502?pwd=djRvaDdFSnhsanpYbUVTNkxrRUZhdz09
Passcode: TheArc!
**AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) refers to devices, systems, strategies and tools that replace or support natural speech.
For questions: email Jae Kim at [email protected]

What does holistic care look like for people in recovery?

In a recent conversation hosted by the American Association on Health and Disability, two expert panelists shared their perspectives on peer support and emerging practices in supporting recovery care.

Access the recording: aahd.us


[Visual: Quote from Earl Miller: “We know that recovery is not a one size fits all model. It's not ‘I'm recovered, and I get there and then I'm done.’” From the Exploring Recovery, part of the 2024-2025 Disability & Health Webinar Series hosted by AAHD and the All of Us Research Program.]