Fwd: Disability Pride Month, Upcoming Workshops, and More!

[Anne Ward]

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Ability Central <he...@abilitycentral.org>
Date: Tue, Jul 8, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Subject: Disability Pride Month, Upcoming Workshops, and More!

Your July 2025 Ability Central Newsletter

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Click here to view this email in your browser. Access:Ability Your monthly newsletter from Ability Central | July 2025 Disability Pride Month July is Disability Pride Month. Here’s Why It Matters for Everyone. Every July, we celebrate Disability Pride Month, honoring the identities, experiences, and contributions of people with disabilities. The celebration began in 1990, marking the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a civil rights milestone that continues to shape access and inclusion today.   But Disability Pride is more than history. It’s about embracing disability as a natural part of human diversity and challenging the stigma that still surrounds it. It’s also a moment for everyone, not just disabled people, to reflect on how we build a more accessible, equitable world. Why It Matters Today In a time when challenges to inclusion and equity are top of mind, disability must be part of the conversation. Whether you're a caregiver, educator, employer, or ally, understanding disability and advocating for access makes our communities stronger and more connected. Explore Tools for Awareness, Access, and Support The Portal offers free resources that empower individuals, families, and service providers to improve communication access and understanding across a wide range of disabilities. Articles and Guides Our growing article library covers everything from neurodiversity and stroke awareness to communication disorders and mental health. Whether you're new to disability topics or looking to deepen your knowledge, these popular articles are a great place to start: How to Recognize Autism Symptoms in Children and Adults Learn the early signs of autism across age groups and how to support neurodivergent individuals. Seven Tips to Recognize and Prevent a Stroke A practical guide to identifying risk factors and taking action before it’s too late. How Do I Know If Someone’s Having a Stroke? Recognize stroke symptoms fast with this essential communication-first approach. Asperger’s Syndrome: Is Asperger’s the Same Thing as Autism? Explore the history and evolving understanding of Asperger’s in today’s diagnostic landscape. What Keeps Someone From Talking? Information You Should Know About Muteness An overview of the causes, types, and communication strategies related to selective mutism and speech loss. Services Directory Looking for support near you? Our services directory connects you with local and national organizations offering education, rehabilitation, technology training, and advocacy. These resources are for everyone, not just people with disabilities. Whether you're a parent, professional, ally, or advocate, you’ll find tools to help you build more inclusive environments at home, at work, and in your community. Upcoming Workshop Series It’s All About H.E.R.: Hope. Empowerment. Resilience. A nationwide workshop series from Ability Central is coming this fall! We’re thrilled to announce It’s All About H.E.R., an exciting new workshop series designed for young women ages 18 to 22 with communication disabilities. This virtual series is all about confidence, connection, and discovering your voice in a space that truly sees and supports you. Led by dynamic, disabled facilitators, each session combines real talk with practical tools for navigating life, identity, and communication. Participants will also get exclusive access to a downloadable toolkit, filled with resources to keep the momentum going long after the workshops end. The series is completely free and fully accessible, with live captioning and ASL interpretation available. Each workshop is open to participants nationwide, with only 50 spots available per session. Want to be the first to know when registration opens? Email us at comm...@abilitycentral.org and we’ll add you to the list! From the Newsroom Leadership Changes to our Executive Team We’re entering a new chapter at Ability Central and want to share an important leadership update with you. President and CEO Barry Saudan has stepped down after years of dedicated service. Under Barry’s leadership, we’ve expanded our impact, strengthened our mission, and reached more people than ever before. We’re also saying farewell and extending heartfelt thanks to Director of Philanthropy Matt Cherry and Director of Systems and Technology David Kehn, both of whom have played key roles in shaping Ability Central’s growth and innovation. To guide us through this transition, long-standing board member Griffen Stapp has stepped in as Interim Executive Director. Griffen brings deep experience and a strong commitment to our mission of communication access for people who are Deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent. We’re grateful for the leadership that brought us here and excited for what’s next. Stay tuned for updates as we continue this journey together. Read the release Resource Roundup July is National Cleft & Craniofacial Awareness Month This month, we recognize National Cleft & Craniofacial Awareness & Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness about cleft lip, cleft palate, and other craniofacial conditions that affect thousands of children and adults in the U.S. Cleft and craniofacial conditions can impact speech, hearing, feeding, and social connection. Early intervention, surgery, therapy, and family support all play a vital role in improving outcomes. Throughout July, we’re featuring informative articles on the Ability Central Portal that explore cleft lip and palate, including causes, treatment options, communication tips, and lived experiences. Check them out to learn more and share with your community. Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate: Seven Quick Facts You Should Know Cleft lip and cleft palate are structural differences in the lip or roof of the mouth that are present from birth. This article addresses the causes, types, and day-to-day challenges of living with a cleft lip or cleft palate. Keep reading Cleft Lip and Palate: First Steps After Diagnosis Receiving a confirmed diagnosis of a cleft lip or cleft palate can be overwhelming. Ability Central will address the first steps after diagnosis, including what to expect during and after cleft surgery.   Keep reading Donate

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