Greetings from Disability Rights & Resources!
We’ve had a very busy summer so far and are excited to share what we’ve been up to! Please take a moment to check out our July newsletter, events calendar, and be sure to visit our website, Facebook, and Twitter!
2013 Magic City Chocolate Challenge Recap!
Disability Rights & Resources’ inaugural Magic City Chocolate Challenge was a blast and a HUGE success! We had a wonderful turnout–over 325 people came out to enjoy the festivities and to support our fundraising efforts! Chocolate Competitors included The Bright Star, Johnny Ray’s, Annalyce’s Bake Shop, Cantina, MIX by Cafe Dupont, and Ms. Jessie Chism (representing Children’s Workshop Outreach Ministries, Inc.). While all the competitors created fabulous and delicious desserts, the chocolate pie from Johnny Ray’s received the People’s Choice Award. The live auction winner, who won a Regions Green Bicycle and helmet, was Disability Rights & Resources’ own Wanda Berry! The event also featured remarks from Dan Kessler, Phil Klebine, Joe Rada, and Graham Sisson.
We’d like to extend an extra special thanks to the Junior Board, our raffle donors, eCO Credit Union, everyone who volunteered at the event, and our sponsors– Cantina and Regions Bank. To see more photos from the 2013 Magic City Chocolate Challenge, scroll to the bottom of the page and check us out on Facebook. We’re already getting excited for next year’s event!
Disaster Preparedness Kits Now Available!
Disability Rights & Resources currently has a stockpile of Disaster Preparedness Kits that need to be distributed! The duffle bags are thoroughly packed and include first aid kits, pocket radios, potable water and vacuum-sealed food, life rafts, flashlights, batteries, ponchos, a handbook guide on planning for emergencies, and other items. If you have questions about emergency preparedness or if you are are interested in a free kit, please contact Judy Roy at (205) 815-6142, or e-mail Judy at judy.roy@drradvocates.org. Funding for the kits is provided by the Alabama Department of Public Health.
TapTapSee and Accessible Technology
In our June newsletter, Mike Norris touched on the various accessibility features available on the iPhone and iPad. This month, we’re highlighting an app called “TapTapSee”—Apple’s innovative camera app for persons who are blind or visually impaired. TapTapSee will locate and identify an object in your surrounding environment, first by photographing it and then speaking the identification back to you. To use TapTapSee, just focus your iPad, iPhone, or iPod Touch in the general direction of what you’d like to identify and then double-tap the screen to take a photo. Once the image is processed, the app will speak aloud what it’s identified. A particularly useful aspect of this technology is its ability to identify US paper currency. One user remarked that the app not only identified her guide dog, but specified “German Shepherd”; another described using TapTapSee to help color-coordinate daily wardrobe choices. TapTapSee was named “App of the Month” by the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) in March 2013 and has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from users. For more information on TapTapSee, please visit http://www.taptapseeapp.com/ or contact Mike Norris at (205) 251-2223 ext. 114, or e-mail Mike at mike.norris@drradvocates.org.
The 2013 Annual Conference on Independent Living is Almost Here!
This year’s annual NCIL conference will take place from July 24-27 at the Grand Hyatt in Washington, D.C. The theme for this year’s conference is “Regeneration,” with a focus is on “new leadership, new ideas, and fresh growth.” The conference will host several workshops and events, including a forum on systems advocacy, addressing issues faced by young persons with disabilities, and using peer support to empower new advocates. Disability Rights & Resources staff will be in attendance, so be sure to check back next month for a recap! For more information about this year’s Conference on Independent Living, click here.
Mark Your Calendars!
July 20: Jasper Hand Rail Installation (contact kiersten.atkinson@drradvocates.org if interested in volunteering!)
July 24: Montgomery Center for Independent Living “Chat and Chew” 11-1, Montgomery
July 24-27: 2013 Annual Conference on Independent Living, Washington D.C.
July 26: 23rd Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
August 2: Birmingham Consumer Advisory Council Meeting, 11:30-1, Homewood ADRS Office
August 9: AL DAN Regional Meeting, 10-3, Disability Rights & Resources Birmingham Office
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