The Advocacy Show

We're a group of individuals that advocate for others. We promote the Advocacy Show! ***** WE ARE LGBT & DIVERSITY COMMUNITY SUPPORTED *****

[everythingfox]

The best thing you’ll see today

[abilitiy4us-blog]

So Cute!

[abilitiy4us-blog]

We had a great first Meeting!

We had a great first meeting as we met up with the new team and we got to know each other. Nick and Robert are Awesome people and I am happy to have them on the Ability 4 Us Team. We will be meeting with them next week same place same time.

[dualvoidanima]

“MOON DRIVE”

[abilitiy4us-blog]

This is a cool gif!!

[salmianna]

Gif illustration I made for Suomen Kustannusyhdistys to promote to teachers so they’d get better published books and e-books for schools.

Instagram   I    Twitter   I    Giphy

Ps. Tumblr could you increase the size limitations for GIFs? Maybe from 2MB to 5MB? Would help so so much. Thanks!

[surprisebitch]

yes, that is britney spears, (who has sold more than 200 Million records, has six #1 albums, 2 diamond albums, has more than 400 awards, and has a net worth of 220 million dollars) waiting in line to be served at starbucks wearing pyjamas

[abilitiy4us-blog]

Well I see my teen favorite singer acting like she was never famous. Lots of respect goes out to her.

[abilitiy4us-blog]

We are Rejuvenating Our Organization!

We are bringing in new people as we focus on advocacy and the issues surrounding us advocates. We’re meeting tonight with our new team as we will be discussing advocacy!

[abilitiy4us-blog]

We Support the LGBT Community!

We support you no matter who you are!

[melonmemes]

[abilitiy4us-blog]

This is so me!

[shencomix]

[for-those-rainy-days-blog]

[abilitiy4us-blog]

Cute!

[abilitiy4us-blog]

OPWDD Front Door Walkthrough

[cllynchauthor]

Autism $peaks

Let’s not argue over whether autistic people want to be cured. Because it doesn’t matter.

Many people, autistic and allistic alike, are under the misapprehension that Autism $peaks is seeking for cures and/or treatments for autism.

Some autistic people say they support it because they would love to be able to understand the NT experience and be more comfortable in the NT world.

Yeah… so I went to the Autism Speaks website and looked into their research.

It seems to boil down to three categories:

1. A project that examines genetic causes of autism, which they call Missing, because they think we have something missing. They plan to use this knowledge to prevent autistic children from being born or to try to replace the thing that’s “missing”. Because we aren’t whole people I guess. Because being different means being broken.

2. Research into autistic “medicines” to make us stim less, have fewer meltdowns etc. Rather than, oh, say, letting us stim so we don’t meltdown in the first place.

3. Funding research into behavioural therapies that force autistic children to stop stimming, look people in they eye and generally act more like NTs. Note that many autistics who have received these treatments often say it makes their personal experience worse because they feel like being their natural selves is wrong or bad and when deprived of comforting stims their anxiety levels and discomfort increase.

None of this is going to help us understand NTs. None of this is aimed at making us enjoy life as an autistic person more.

All of it seems directed at preventing NTs from having to deal with or understand us.

That’s not a cure.

That’s a paper bag for our heads.

[abilitiy4us-blog]

Please share!!!

[aspie-the-scarlet-a]

Please, pass on this positive message. Thank you.

[pianoprincesssara-blog]

Please spread this around on instagram and Twitter and facebook! Tumblr understands how autism speaks is bad, but those other ones don’t. Spread it if you can by using the hastags: #saidnomother #autismspeaks #AutismAcceptanceMonth #autismawarenessmonth #lightitupblue Please!

[abilitiy4us-blog]

This is good to know! No Longer Supporting AutismSpeaks

[cyarinart]

Not a tragedy, not a burden, not a stereotype. We need no cure, we need care and acceptance.

Autismspeaks uses shock and pity to raise funds for “research”. It doesn’t give autism a voice, it harms and fuels stereotypes.

[abilitiy4us-blog]

So True!

[autism-artism]

You are wonderful as you are ♡

[abilitiy4us-blog]

So True

[opwdd]

Commissioner's Message on Employment First

Dear Friends and Colleagues:

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo yesterday signed an Executive Order to establish the Employment First Commission, which will be tasked with creating an employment first policy in New York State. The initiative will help the state achieve its goal to increase the employment rate of people with disabilities and register 100 businesses to hire people with disabilities as part of their workforce strategy.

The Executive Order builds on the employment services currently offered by OPWDD to people with developmental disabilities who have the option to work, including supported employment, the employment training program, self-directed service options, employment and benefits counseling, and the recently launched Pathway to Employment program.

The OPWDD Transformation Agenda also outlines strategies to increase competitive and integrated employment opportunities and sets targets to transform sheltered workshops to models of integrated employment.

We look forward to contributing to the Governor’s Employment First Commission goals through OPWDD’s many services and supports that assist individuals with developmental disabilities to prepare for, find, and maintain jobs and live richer lives. As always, we will continue to work with individuals and families to ensure that they have options and that their choices are respected.

Kerry A. Delaney

Acting Commissioner

P.S. Communication is critical to our collective success, and OPWDD’s Facebook page is a great place for individuals, family members, employees, advocates, and other stakeholders to exchange thoughts and ideas. Please feel free to join the conversation.

[abilitiy4us-blog]

This is great