 |
 |
|
|
|
  A Note from Matt.....
The Olmstead Supreme Court decision is one of the foundation blocks to Disability Independence in the United States. June 22nd marks the 16th anniversary of the Olmstead decision that ensures that people with disabilities have the right to live in community based settings, and not in institutions. Every day at DIG, we fight for the right for kids with disabilities to be at home with their families; we fight for the right for persons with disabilities to stay in their homes with accommodations; we fight for the right to have the ability to make medical choices; and we fight for right for persons with disabilities to have the same opportunity to live, love and thrive in our community. Community integration also involves leisure activities as well, and this month, we are highlighting sports and entertainment activities. In addition, our Wallet Card video, to give persons with autism or developmental disabilities a tool to self-identify to first responders to avoid misunderstandings or dangerous situations, has been awarded a Bronze Telly Award at the 36th Annual Telly Awards, and we are proud that our project is making a difference to achieve full community integration. For more information about our wallet video, go to http://www.justdigit.org/wallet-cards/ For more information about the Olmstead decision, go to http://www.ada.gov/olmstead/ or http://www.olmsteadrights.org/ |
|
|
Water Safety
Water safety is a nationally relevant issue during summer due to the prevalence of social activities within the pool or beach. Extra caution and awareness are tools that are extremely important to use in order to prevent a tragedy such as drowning. According to a 2014 Red Cross survey, more than half of all Americans (54%) either cannot swim or do not have all the basic swimming skills. Alarming statistics of this kind are essential to understanding potential danger within fun summer activities, and learning water safety tips. (click here to read more) |
Kids Crusaders Corner 
Julie will be back next month with another story. This month we want to say thank you to Adam and Jen.
Meet team Nick, Adam, and Jen. Adam and Jen ran a race last weekend. Adam and Jen run for Nick.
To learn more about the organization, I Run 4 Michael please click the link below.
|
|
 Rotary Club of Harris County-- Meeting their community's needs By: Sharon Langer The Rotary Club of Harris County Georgia has a 17 year history of service to their community. I was privileged to join them this month at a summer breakfast meeting and hear about a unique project they started for persons with disabilities. I am hoping that by writing about this project other Rotary groups might be encouraged to start their own project. In partnership with a local faith based non-profit called FOCUS, residents who need ramps in order to enter their homes are identified. These folks are unable to afford to put in the ramps and the Rotarians provide not only the materials but actually come to the homes and build the ramps. They are beautiful and functional. Please see the picture of one they built this year. The creed of Rotary is that leaders from all walks of life are united to amplify their individual contributions to make the world a better place to live and work. The Rotary Club of Harris County puts that creed to work. I want to particularly congratulate Tom Cheatham who was the fundraising chair this year for raising over $10,000 towards these endeavors. https://www.facebook.com/HarrisCountyGeorgiaRotaryClub |
|
|  Guardianship Video
Recently the Disabilities Independency Group partnered with the Dade County Legal Aid Society and the Statewide GAL Office to present the training "Guardianship and Guardian Advocate Training for Attorneys." The training features a distinguished panel including the Honorable Maria M. Korvick. The presentation includes identifying developmental disabilities, everything you need to know about plenary guardianship and guardian advocates, and how to interview children with disabilities. The training was approved by the Florida Bar for 3.0 Hours of CLE credit. Watch the video on the Florida Statewide GAL Program website. http://guardianadlitem.org/training-advocacy-resources/conferences-training/ And then click the link to the video: https://youtu.be/dmD0R76Oeu8. |
Volunteers
If you are interested in volunteering please contact Sharon Langer at
[email protected]
|
 Follow us on Twitter: 
@dislaw
@justdigit
|
|  The Exceptional Theater Company By: Rachel Goldstein The Exceptional Theater Company ("ETC") is a remarkable 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, designed to teach theatre to individuals of all ages with physical and/or intellectual disabilities throughout Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties, with over 20 drama classes, and a summer program in Asheville, North Carolina. The ETC drama classes recently presented a wonderful show 'Sound of Musicals'. Here are stars Joshua Goldstein and Lauren Barney on stage during their performance. For more information on this unique organization and upcoming events, visit http://www.etcsouthflorida.org/. |
|
 Ride de Vuelta - Sports without limitations, we all can do it!!! By: Mick Jackson Mick Jackson, founder and former professional snowboarder from California, knows very well the Chilean terrain due to many competitions and visits to the country and created Ride de Vuelta in early 2014 in Santiago, Chile. Mick's motivation was to provide opportunities for people with disabilities but from an ecological and inclusive approach, which is very important to create and strengthen the links between friends, siblings, peers and family. Ride de Vuelta is where people with and without disabilities can learn a challenging and extreme sport because we are motivators...enabling people to dream! (click here to read more)   |
|
|  ADA 25th Anniversary - The State of the Florida Bar and Courts By: Matthew Dietz
And today, America welcomes into the mainstream of life all of our fellow citizens with disabilities. We embrace you for your abilities and for your disabilities, for our similarities and indeed for our differences, for your past courage and your future dreams. Last year, we celebrated a victory of international freedom. Even the strongest person couldn't scale the Berlin Wall to gain the elusive promise of independence that lay just beyond. And so, together we rejoiced when that barrier fell.
... I now lift my pen to sign this Americans with Disabilities Act and say: Let the shameful wall of exclusion finally come tumbling down. God bless you all. Remarks of President George Bush at the Signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, July 26, 1990.
Last month, Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Jorge Labarga signed a proclamation honoring the 25th anniversary of the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act and designated July 2015 as a month of commemoration for the anniversary within Florida's state courts system.(click here to read more)
|
|
|  Pet-Friendly Hurricane Evacuation Centers By: Monica Sabates Hurricane season in Miami-Dade County is a force to be reckoned with. The season's span between June 1st and November 30th leaves a considerable amount of time for a hurricane to strike suddenly and swiftly in one's vicinity. Being mindful and prepared for what may come is the first step to ensuring one's safety and the safety of one's pet or service animal. One option for an individual living in an evacuation area, unsafe structure, or mobile home in Miami-Dade is to pre-register for a Pet-Friendly Hurricane Evacuation Center (PFHEC) before a hurricane announces its arrival. (click here to read more) |
|
|  Disability: The Market You're Missing Part II By: Rachel Goldstein Welcome back for part two of my series addressing some of the most commonly asked questions by businesses. In part two I am going to focus on the most frequently asked question, "What can I do so I do not get sued?" With such a complex question in mind, this article is by no means comprehensive and simply meant to provide a basic understanding of what businesses are obligated to do to ensure people with disabilities are not excluded. (click here to read more) |
|
|  What Makes Someone Inspirational? By: Matthew Dietz Last month, I went to the 2015 Miami Herald/El Nuevo Herald Silver Knight Awards, where I saw the most brilliant, civic minded high school seniors in South Florida get recognized for their achievements. Each and every award winner was inspirational and made a change in others' lives. Every winner was announced, a brief description of their accomplishments and what school they attended were read and then they were invited on stage to receive their award and pose for pictures. Many of the students struggled to make it on the stage: they were nervous, excited, surprised; many were crying, and almost all of the young women were wearing high heeled shoes. One young woman actually lost her shoe as she rushed on stage to accept her award and pose for her picture. The winners were of all races, genders, sexual orientation, and religion. However, when the winner for Social Science, Claudio Martinez, was announced, he struggled more than most making it up the stairs. He was very unsteady making his way on stage, which is common for those with cerebral palsy who can walk. What surprised and disappointed me was that the TV reporter who was the emcee for the event said, "There's a real inspiration," when Claudio made it to the top of the stage without falling down. I was shocked and disappointed at this ignorance. He did not make any comment when the one young lady lost her shoe or when the other winners stumbled in their high heels. (click here to read more) |
|
|   Miami-Dade County Hurricane Preparedness
News Conference-May 29th, 2015 Click to watch the conference Be prepared! Hurricane season begins on June 1 - November 30. Take charge of your safety by making a hurricane plan ahead of time and stocking up on vital supplies. |
 Out and About with DIG
June 25-26
Florida Bar
Annual Convention, Boca Raton, FL
Sept 24-25 Children's Legal Services (CLS) Conference, Tampa, FL
|
|
The Wallet Card presented at the Family Caf?
By: Rachel Goldstein
Senior Staff Attorney Rachel Goldstein attended the 17th Annual Family Caf? in Orlando, Florida and gave a presentation, One Tool for Successful Interactions with Police: The Wallet Card. The Wallet Card Project is the product of a unique collaboration between Disability Independence Group, the Coral Gables Police Department and the UM-NSU Center for Autism and Related Disabilities. For more information about the Wallet Card or to get a Wallet Card, visit our website at www.justdigit.org.
|
|  The Wallet Card Project
By: Debbie Dietz Update: We have made over 1,300 wallet cards this year. Our video has been played over 11,000 times. Go to our website to watch the video and sign up for a wallet card: http://www.justdigit.org/wallet-cards/ |
|
Benefits from SSA for People with Disabilities
The Social Security and Supplemental Security Income disability programs are the largest of several Federal programs that provide assistance to people with disabilities. While these two programs are different in many ways, both are administered by the Social Security Administration and only individuals who have a disability and meet medical criteria may qualify for benefits under either program. Social Security Disability Insurance or Title II, Disability Benefits: pays benefits to you and certain members of your family if you are "insured," meaning that you worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes. Supplemental Security Income pays benefits based on financial need. Click here to read more about the Comparison of SSI and Title II Disability Benefits
|
|
|  Legislative Update
1. Regis Little Act to Protect Children with Special Needs, which ensures vulnerable foster youth have a guardian in place at age 18 was signed into law by Governor Scott. 2. CS/HB 71: Service Animals. Requires public accommodation to permit use of service animal by individual with disability; provides conditions for public accommodation to exclude or remove service animal; revises penalties for certain persons or entities who interfere with use of service animal; provides penalty for knowing & willful misrepresentation with respect to use or training of service animal. This was signed by Governor Scott. |
Like our Animal Partners Facebook page
|
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 as mugs, journals etc.
|
|
Lucky 13 Casino Night by the Pets' Trust, June 6, 2015
Over 400 people attended the Pets' Trust "Mercedes-Benz of Cutler Bay Casino Night".
Our client, Monica Alboniga with her children, Stevie the dog, and Yarelys and Marlon from DIG.
|
|
|  Litigation: Fair Housing Reasonable Accommodations - Hey Mr. Landlord please can you make one little change so I can live in my home? By: Matthew Dietz Last month, Disability Independence Group filed two cases, one on behalf of a woman who is blind, and another case on behalf of a veteran who had a massive heart attack and needed a simple accommodation. Instead of allowing a simple and easy accommodation, the Landlord decided to find some way to evict them. Many landlords believe that it is the terms and conditions of the apartments they rent are not subject to modification - its "take it or leave it." But, the Fair Housing Act requires landlords to make modifications to rules, policies or procedures, so that tenants with disabilities can have the same opportunities to live in a home and in an integrated community. (click here to read more) |
|
A Parcel of Penguins
UPDATE!!
The book is currently being printed. If you supported this project, please email Max and give him your mailing address. You should have your book soon.
If you already have a t-shirt please post a picture of you wearing the t-shirt on our Kids Crusaders Facebook Page.
|
|
|
|
|
|
DIG in the News 
