To all those who are celebrating APRIL birthdays we say HAPPY BIRTHDAY! NO FOOLING!
Happy SPRING Holidays, however you celebrate this wonderful season!
Here is an article by Joshua Loebner from 2016: https://advertisinganddisability.com/2016/04/20/sign-of-the-times-burger-king-brings-asl-to-branding/
It highlighted an effort Burger King had to recognize the Deaf Community, and diversity as a whole. Let's hope they continue this campaign. Share your appreciation with them by letting them know it matters to you!
Visit Burger King's Facebook page and share your feedback!


Actor, model, and filmmaker Nyle DiMarco demonstrates "Thank You" in American Sign Language.
April 15 is
National ASL Day
For individuals who are deaf, American Sign Language, ASL, is essential to communicating with others. Yet too often its importance is ignored or overlooked. Frequently I have overheard people say, “oh it's great to see that person signing for the deaf people that are watching.” However, that signing is critical for their ability to understand what is being communicated to them and communicating with others.

As a disability advocate and someone who is hard of hearing, the global pandemic has highlighted much needed awareness about the importance of providing ASL---especially during emergency announcements, press conferences, doctor appointments, at the hospital, vaccination clinics, participating in meetings, and so forth.

However, the pandemic, has also posed challenges for the deaf and hard of hearing community. Wearing a mask, blocks important facial expressions which are essential to ASL. Masks also make it difficult for people who also depend on being able to read lips.
According to a 2011 survey, about 3.6% of the U.S. population, or about 11 million people, consider themselves deaf or hard of hearing. Most importantly, under the Americans with Disabilities Act, interpreters must be provided for any communication access. If you are a business, do you know how to hire an ASL Interpreter? Do you know where to find a list of local ASL interpreters? If your answer is no, please contact us at
910-815-6618. 

Here is the link to a list of interpreters:

They also have an entire page of ASL videos and CART devoted to providing valuable information about Covid-19.
 
So please join dRC in observing National ASL Day on April 15th. Please remember to THANK all the ASL interpreters who provide essential communication access to us daily. If you are business, take a moment to evaluate if you are providing effective communication to all your customers or clients.   
-Gloria
Part of creating and bringing about change is ASKING for it. And also recognizing and appreciating it when it comes, even in small steps. Here is another article from 2018 about the first Starbucks location, known as "the signing store" dedicated to customers who are deaf and hard of hearing.
Do YOU wish to recognize a local business or organization for setting a standard of assessability and meeting the service needs of our community? Send us and email and let us know!
Friday April 2, 2021 is World Autism Awareness Day and in the month of April The Autism Society celebrates Autism Awareness Month and this year their campaign is named “Celebrate Differences”. The Autism Society wants to make the public aware of the fact that in the United States in 2010 there were 1 in 125 children being recognized as a part of this community however in 2020 the findings are that 1 in 59 children are receiving this diagnosis. With this recent increase the need of active support to promote inclusion and acceptance has become a major focus.
The dRC remains strong in advocating for inclusion of any individual with any disability. We know that awareness is the beginning to acceptance so we strive to not only help individuals with disabilities to advocate for themselves, but we also are here to help everyone understand how they can be more accommodating and inclusive by not making assumptions but asking before you help if help is needed. This promotes the independent living philosophy and allows individuals to maintain their privacy and dignity while being active members of their community. If you want to know if there are ways your organization or business can be more accepting or increase your ability to include everyone reach out to the dRC.
Renee will be holding a special SOAP MAKING Class on April 26th! To sign up and to request accommodations please email Renee at

and as a reminder...
ALSO the Next Chapter Book Club has chosen "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" by Lewis Carroll as the next book! It's a GREAT time to join them in exploring this all time classic! So much to talk about in this book! Email Renee to get the information and to request accommodations! renee.holder@drc-cil.org
The dRC and the Next Chapter Book Club also welcome Brendan, who will help facilitate with Renee!
Here is what he says about himself;
"My life is viewed as a success story.
I had seizures as a baby. I was placed on the Ketogenic Diet to stop the seizures. My last seizure was in August of 1988, which means this August it will be 33 years since my last seizure. I went to various Special Education schools from ages 2-19. At age 19, I was mainstreamed into Northern Valley Regional High School for my junior and senior years of high school. In 2008, I graduated from Northern Valley Regional High School and then would go somewhere my doctors that was not possible as young child, going to college. Four years later, in 2012, I graduated from Dominican College in Blauvelt New York with a BA in English and a 3.4 GPA. In November 2016, my parents and I moved out of Harrington Park, New Jersey and moved to Leland North Carolina. 

I currently participate in two Next Chapter Book Clubs which is a book club for people with disabilities.

I am a frequent writer for the new Cape Fear Voices newspaper."
Don't forget the COUPON CLASS!
Wed April 7
Wed April 14
12:30 - 1:30 pm
Many THANKS to Publix Supermarkets and the team at the Publix Supermarket in Ogden for their generous support of the Coupon Class.
WOULD you like to sponsor our newsletter and reach a VERY LOYAL consumer base across five North Carolina counties? If you would or know of a business or organization who would sponsor the dRC Newsletter for a month or for a year, we can think of several ways that it would benefit EVERYONE! Click the sign or email media@drc-cil.org
And check out these articles highlighting benefits of marketing to the disAbility Community as consumers.


Have you ever wondered about the fun and fascinating hobby of BIRD WATCHING?
Audubon is working on bringing more diverse audiences to an interest in birds and birdwatching and bird-listening. Wilmington is such a great place to see our feathered friends in the "wild" and in our yards. And migration starts soon!!

On April 29th from 7-9 p.m. Cape Fear Audubon is hosting a Zoom program on Birdability with Freya McGregor, "the OT Birder" (occupational therapist). Our co-hosts are Forsyth Audubon and Blue Ridge Audubon.  What is "birdability?" For Audubon, it is part of our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion initiative, focusing on removing barriers to access for birders with mobility challenges, blindness or low vision, intellectual or developmental disabilities (including autism), mental illness, being Deaf or Hard of Hearing and other health concerns.  Check out the Audubon Birdability map:  https://gis.audubon.org/birdability/.
Virginia Holman, a local birding enthusiast from Carolina Beach, has shared a great article from SIERRA Magazine. It mentions the accessibility mat championed by Ocean Cure, as well as challenges and benchmarks of several Birders with disabilities.



photo of VIRGINIA ROSE | COURTESY OF MIKE FERNANDEZ/AUDUBON
Billy recently joined the gang from Access of Wilmington for the opening of Miracle Field. ACCESS of Wilmington (Operators of Miracle Field at Olson Park in Wilmington, NC) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization providing accessible fitness, adaptive sports and recreation for children, adults and veterans living with disabilities.

They will also be hosting the Miracles in Motion 5K + 1-Mile Run, Walk or Roll
on April 23rd.
Get more information by clicking the links or the photo at the right!
People with disabilities are at far greater risk of being the victims of sexual assault and sexual abuse than those without disabilities. The statistics vary depending upon the severity and the metrics, and harder to quantify as the culture of silence and discomfort hampers the reporting and help needed to address the issue.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and as such we can use the recognition to start conversations, seek guidance and support, and find organizations and groups dedicated to assisting those in need.

As one of dRC Coordinators relayed an interaction while assisting a consumer in need- "Sexual Violence does affect the disabled community more than anyone would like to believe. ​Men, women, young and old persons with physical, or emotional and cognitive problems, and disabilities in general are at greater risk of being assaulted. Women who are deaf or hard of hearing are at greater risk still. It is not uncommon that many cases go unreported to the proper authorities because the perpetrator is a care-giver or known to the victim. Yes, it takes a lot out of you when listening to their horror stories. But we must remain professional, this is the only way we can get them the immediate help and services they need. Most victims need a safe place to stay. Depending on the type of shelter, they are not always conducive to healing immediately following an assault, and due to the trauma of the assault, or due to accessibility of the shelter they are not always an option. The dRC is here to support those who are victims of sexual assault as well as the Rape Crisis Center ." They can be reached at 910-392-7460 or email supportrcc@coastalhorizons.org 

Here are links to a few articles worth reading-


RAINN is the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization. RAINN created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline in partnership with more than 1,000 local sexual assault service providers across the country.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, help is available
Even a small donation can make a BIG difference. Our friend Anette got her new glasses and she looks fantastic! The dRC is so proud to be able to be of service in this great community. You can help make a difference by sharing our newsletter, joining us on our social media sites, like FaceBook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram, and if you are able, donate to help support our mission. And if you have items to donate that can be repurposed by others (ramps, wheelchairs and mobility devices, shower stools, bars, etc) please let us know!


April Fool's Day is April 1st. We didn't want to prank anyone, but here is a great background on the day from History.com
We leave you with another great ASL tutorial from Nyle DiMarco