March SEEC E-News

SEEC Insider

March 2019 | Issue Seven

3 Ways to Celebrate Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

From Awareness to Inclusion

March is nationally recognized as Developmental Disabilities Awareness month and often chosen as a time to highlight issues facing this community. While much progress has been made through awareness campaigns, advocates have recently pointed out that our society needs to move beyond just awareness and toward more meaningful

inclusion in schools, workplaces, and the community at large. So, how can you move the needle forward? As a member of the SEEC community, your participation in advancing a progressive view of disability is imperative.

Click HERE to learn three easy ways to celebrate Developmental Disabilities Awareness month while encouraging inclusion.

Inside This Issue

3 Ways to Celebrate Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month: From Awareness to Inclusion
What Moves You Forward? Ava Thurman To Participate in Statewide Advocacy Event
Baking Up A Sweet New Job: Community and Employment Network (CEN) Success Story
SEEC 2019 Gala Update: NBC's Shomari Stone To MC Event

What Moves You Forward?

Ava Thurman To Participate in Statewide Advocacy Event

What moves you forward? What makes you speak up for what is right? How are you brave in the attempt?

SEEC participant, Ava Thurman, was selected to participate in the third annual Brave in the Attempt Talks at Towson University on June 4th. Brave in the Attempt is an annual advocacy event made possible through a public-private partnership between the Developmental Disabilities Administration, Maryland Department of Disabilities, and Special Olympics Maryland. Ava will join nine other participants with intellectual and developmental disabilities to tell her story of advocacy and triumph. Brave in the Attempt uses a ground breaking personal story telling platform in a "TED Talk" format. The event is intended to encourage those with disabilities to serve as mentors and role models for others. Last year, over 250 people attended the event from across Maryland including the First Lady, Mrs. Hogan; Maryland State Police Superintendent, Colonel Pallozzi; and Secretary of the Maryland Department of Disabilities, Carol Beatty.

"I am excited to share my story with others. I really hope I can help people with disabilities to speak up for themselves," says Ava.

The event will be held the evening of June 4th at Towson University. Tickets are FREE and more information is to come on reserving your spot! SEEC hopes to really turn out to support Ava!

C heck out the Brave in the Attempt Podcasts from the event in 2017 Here . You can also view portions of the 2018 event and recruitment video HERE .

Baking Up A Sweet New Job

CEN Success Story

Cristina Schinnerer, or "Cris" as her friends call her, recently landed her dream job at Sweetly Anchored Patisserie in Potomac and couldn’t be happier! Cris has longed to work in a bakery and can not believe her dream has come true.

Cris is supported by SEEC's Community and Employment Network (CEN), Discoveries, and Workforce Development (WFD) teams. In addition to working at Sweetly Anchored, she volunteers at Bethesda Cares Soup Kitchen and Ashbury Methodist Village. Cris benefits from non- text cues to remind her of daily work and volunteer duties. Her Customized Employment Consultant, Melissa Hamilton, made a visual sequence of job tasks that Cris follows every day. Whenever Cris needs assistance with her workflow, staff can point to the picture and remind her of next steps rather than telling Cris what to do. This method of support is helping Cris gain independence on the job.

Cris also uses technology to advance her employment. She recently bought a smartphone. Travel apps on the phone provide Cris the freedom to commute to work independently while keeping in contact with her staff. Cris loves her new phone almost as much as she loves earning a paycheck. And when asked, “What is the best part of working?” she replies, “ MY CASH!”

We, at SEEC, are incredibly proud of Cris and appreciative of the time the CEN, WFD, and Discoveries teams spent working together to help Cris make her dream of employment a reality!

Find out more about SEEC's Community and Employment Network (CEN) HERE .

NBC's Shomari Stone To Return

As Gala Master of Ceremonies

SEEC is thrilled to welcome back NBC 4's Shomari Stone as Master of Ceremonies for the 2019 Masquerade Gala!

Shomari has earned two Emmy nominations and was part of a team winning the Edward R. Murrow Award in 2006. Shomari has been active in his community throughout his career. SEEC is excited to have him back and very grateful for his generosity! Shomari and his wife have also donated a one of a kind NBC 4 Behind the Scenes Tour for our gala silent auction. A great item for any budding journalists or anyone curious to see how the magic happens! Stay tuned!

Find out more about SEEC's 2019 Masquerade Gala HERE

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