GREETINGS FROM DISABILITY RIGHTS & RESOURCES!
April has been all about our Disability History Exhibit! Disability Rights & Resources is currently featuring a twenty-two panel Disability History Exhibit chronicling disability history from 3500 BC to 2005. The exhibit is on loan from People First until May 9, so make sure you check it out before it’s gone! Also in the news this month: Judy Roy’s 30th year at Disability Rights & Resources!
April Calendar:
April is National Autism Awareness Month!
April 29: Peer Support Group Meeting, Disability Rights & Resources, 10-11am
April 30: Early Bird registration deadline for 2014 NCIL conference
May 9: Last day to check out the Disability History Exhibit at Disability Rights & Resources
May 15: Peer Support Group Meeting, Disability Rights & Resources, 10-11am
Congratulations on 30 Years, Judy Roy!
April 9, 1984, thirty years ago, marked Judy Roy’s first day with our organization (well before it was called Disability Rights & Resources!). During her impressive thirty-year tenure, Judy has held several positions, including Volunteer Coordinator, Independent Living Skills Trainer, Computer Lab Specialist, Lead Advocate, and, currently, Programs Coordinator.
When asked about some of the more memorable moments she’s experienced here, Judy recalled writing the first grants to acquire computers for consumer use. What initially started as two computers has now grown into a full-scale Technology Lab, with computers equipped with accessibility features for blind persons and persons with low vision. Judy also talked about how empowering and exciting the ADAPT marches and annual NCIL conference marches have been. More recently, Judy was instrumental in championing Money Follows the Person legislation for Alabama, which resulted in 505 new Medicaid waiver slots for our state.
Judy also touched on some more personal reflections, talking about the lasting friendships and relationships she’s forged with people while working at Disability Rights & Resources. “This work has given my life purpose and meaning. I can’t imagine not coming work, and I genuinely enjoy being here,” she said.
While Judy has witnessed Disability Rights & Resources’ impact on the community over the last thirty years, she also had some thoughts on where we might be headed in the future, and some new directions she’s excited to see us going in–in particular, Independent Living Specialists focusing on youth and “changing the attitudes of parents in transition to one of confidence in their child’s future and potential.”
So congratulations on thirty years! We thank you for all your years of devotion and service to our agency!
A Word from the Technology Lab!
Things are really picking up steam in the Technology Lab this Spring! We are excited to have so many new individuals focused on achieving their independent living goals, and we are pleased to offer the technology and computers to assist those individuals in doing so. The purpose of the lab is to facilitate independent living skill development and professional development, such as learning how to type, resume building and job searching, learning how to navigate the computer, training on how to locate and access resources, employment readiness preparation, etc. Our Peer Advocate would like to remind everyone that these are the primary uses for the lab, and that watching non-training related videos, movies, or games is not an acceptable use of the Disability Rights & Resources Technology Lab. The lab is open Monday-Friday from 8:30-4:00. Please contact Josh Whitmire at 205-251-2223 to schedule an appointment!
