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Newsletter - Volume #5 May 2016
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A Note from Matt ...
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Like a modern-day Footloose, in an era where Deaf people are not supposed to
dance, Nyle DiMarco busts down stereotypes and wins Dancing with the Stars! Throughout DTWS, Nyle received an interpreter, not provided by him, but the show. Across our country, deaf people are denied interpreters for essential services, like medical, legal, education, and governmental services. It is unlawful, but there is almost no enforcement. Nyle would not have access to DTWS without an interpreter, would not be able to learn to dance from Peta without an interpreter, and would not be able to understand the judges without an interpreter.
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DIG in the News
Deaf Inmates Sue Miami-Dade Corrections for Lack of Interpreters
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Summer Fun and Discrimination against Kids
No Kids in the Pool!
Unless the housing facility is a qualified 55 and over housing development, a housing provider cannot have rules that treat children differently, and less favorably than adults.
When the US Congress amended the Fair Housing Act in 1988, it prohibited housing practices that discriminate on the basis of familial status. When it amended the Act, Congress recognized that "families with children are refused housing despite their ability to pay for it."
Summer Camp
Asthma and Air Conditioning
Pool Rules
Click here to read more
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Out and About with DIG
| 6-3-16 |
Small Business ADA Summit,
Hallandale Beach, FL
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| 6-4-16 |
Guardianship Training, Miami, FL |
| 6-17-16 |
FL BAR Animal Law Committee, Orlando, FL |
| June 2016 |
NFHA Conference, Washington, DC |
| July 2016 |
47th Annual Autism Society Conference, New Orleans, LA |
| Sept. 2016 |
Child Protection Summit, Orlando, FL |
| 9-9-16 |
ABC's of Emotional Support Animals, Tallahassee, FL |
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10-20-16
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2016 DRBA West Coast Conference, Los Angeles, CA
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Pictures
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| Vicki Johnson_ Jack Catlin_ and Matt Dietz |
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| 2016 FAWL Leadership Summit |
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Internship Experience at Disability Independence Group
Victoria Chippari
University of Miami, Class of 2016
They say that sometimes the experiences you least expect are capable of making the most lasting impacts on your life. For me, completing my senior practicum with the Disability Independence Group has been one of those unexpected experiences that granted me with so much new knowledge, passion, and interest in a field that was pretty foreign to me. I have always had a desire to work in the human service industry providing help to individuals in need, but never knew exactly what I wanted to do beyond that. The opportunities I was given at DIG helped guide me towards discovering what areas of the field truly mattered most to me and where I believe I can make the biggest impact in the lives of others.
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Litigation: Is Your Child a Runner?
By:
Matthew Dietz
Some children with autism, developmental or intellectual disabilities may wander off without any comprehension of possible danger. This might include running off from adults at school or in the community, leaving the classroom without permission, or leaving the house when the family is not looking. While most children are drawn to water, many autistic children seem even more fascinated by it -- and they're fearless.
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Kids Crusaders Corner
By: Julie Fioravanti
Julie will be back next month!
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Thank you email from students learning about your organization
UM Students, Spring 2016
Undergraduate course at
the University of Miami in the School of Education
entitled Understanding Human Service Organizations
Dear Mrs. Dietz and the rest of the Disability Independence Group,
Thank you again for providing us the opportunity to learn about your organization in such a hands-on way. Before this project, our team had very limited experience working with non-profits, so being able to come into your office and speak with you taught us so much about what it really means to run a non-profit. We were inspired by your passion; it is truly remarkable how driven you all are and how much you care about the work you do for the community. We learned a lot from DIG in terms of our course material (like the importance of open communication in the office place and flexibility and diversity in skills, structural elements of the way you are run, etc.), but we also learned about thinking sensitively at all times with our words (it's Persons with Disabilities, not disabled people!!) with our actions (to open doors for people in wheelchairs), and even with our future business pursuits (having websites that are accessible for everyone is a must).
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Follow us on Instagram
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At The Intersection of Disability and Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault
We have a lot of services for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in Miami-Dade County yet many barriers to those services still exist for persons with disabilities.
There are however, promising solutions. They include the Collaborative Partnership of DIG, MUJER, Legal Aid, and CVAC right here in Miami. Building partnerships of essential agencies will increase resources, expertise and create strategies towards addressing these issues. Our goal is awareness first and enhanced services later. This will have a big impact on survivors.
Click here to read more
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The Wallet Card Project
The wallet card is a tool for young adults to use when they come into contact with law enforcement; either as a victim, a witness, or as a potential suspect.
The wallet card will help to clarify any interaction with law enforcement so that the behavior of the person with a disability is not misinterpreted as suspicious or as criminal behavior.
Click here to sign up for a wallet card
The Wallet Card Project is a collaboration with DIG, CGPD, and UM-NSU CARD.
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Asset Building for Individuals with Disabilties
Public benefit programs for people with disabilities, especially Supplemental Security Income (SSI), are not aimed at increasing assets and independence for people with disabilities as a result individuals with disabilities often have very limited income and few, if any, assets. The intent of asset building initiatives is that as individuals develop assets, they will be able to move out of poverty and remain out of poverty. Many asset building services for people with disabilities will NOT cause loss of critical SSA disability cash payments and essential health insurance such as Medicaid or Medicare.
Types of asset building services for people with disabilities:
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Not Your Average Fundraiser
Fundraiser?!?!-Probably a word you expect to hear from an organization. However, this fundraiser will warm your stomach. I imagine you are scratching your head at this point and asking "what could she possibly be talking about?"
First, let me explain the motivation for this fundraiser-By now I hope you have heard about The Wallet CardTM, but if not here is a little about it: "The Wallet CardTM Project is a project of The Disability Independence Group, Inc. that was designed in collaboration with the Coral Gables Police Department (CGPD), and The University of Miami Nova Southeastern University Center for Autism and Related Disabilities. (UM-NSU CARD). The Wallet Card is a tool to be used by a teenager or an adult with a disability." For more information visit http://www.justdigit.org/wallet-cards/
Click here to read more
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Help DIG raise awareness and funds!
DIG's Wallet Card
TM Project creates a direct impact on people with disabilities not only throughout the United States but all throughout the world. We are asking you to help us find a hashtag that can have the same impact in America and beyond. In order to promote DIG's Shake Shack fundraiser, we need your help to come up with a creative and informative hashtag to get all of Miami out to eat for an amazing cause in the fall!
Submissions can be unique and fun, but we ask that you incorporate the Wallet Card and Shake Shack in any way you'd like, this way, we can raise awareness of the fundraising event and about the project in general throughout Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram! Hashtags are a popular way to reach out to both people who know and do not know about DIG. We will be accepting submissions until the beginning of July--more information about how to submit your idea is coming soon!
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Summer Fun in Sunny Florida
...it's a smile, it's a kiss, it's a sip of wine ... it's summertime!
- Kenny Chesney
The temperature is rising and soon everyone will hit the beach. Summers in Florida are epic, and people travel from all over the world to feel the warm sun on their face. As a motorized wheelchair user, I too enjoy the beautiful Atlantic Ocean and sandy beaches on our coast. However, a Florida beach day isn't as simple for me as putting on a bikini, packing towels, a beach hat and sunscreen. There's a lot more that goes into the planning process. Unless it's highly compacted and solid, getting your wheelchair on the sand is next to impossible. Good news! Here in Miami there are a number of recreational opportunities available for wheelchair users to enjoy in the summer festivities just like everyone else.
Sabrina Cohen Foundation
Shake-a-Leg
Click here to read more
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Your Upward Journey
In a nutshell, Your Upward Journey: It Is Easier Than You Think!, is a three-part project (book, self-help seminars and merchandise sale). I intend to promote the book through self-help seminars and sale of merchandise, such as mugs, journals etc.
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A Parcel of Penguins
A PARCEL OF PENGUINS: an Animal Counting Book
IS A CHILDREN'S BOOK THAT TEACHES UNUSUAL NAMES OF GROUPS OF ANIMALS. THE BOOK IS ENTERTAINING AND INFORMATIVE FOR ALL AGES!
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For more information about DIG and to find out how you can be involved, please call or email our executive director, Debbie Dietz at
305-669-2822 or
debbie@justdigit.org.
Disability Independence Group, Inc.
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Thank you to the organizations that support our projects.
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