Do, Download, Donate: National Disability Independence Day

Today Civic Entertainment Group spotlights the 31st anniversary of National Disability Independence Day, passed in 1990 and celebrated annually on July 26th to honor the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which ensures that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else.

We hope you will continue to join us in celebrating this anniversary by learning more about the ADA and its impact across our communities. Please see below for our curated selection of resources for you to thoughtfully participate in these ongoing dialogues and efforts.

 

DO

  • Attend:  The ADA @ 31: A Conversation with Bobby Silverstein and Susan Mazrui 7/29 (Register HERE).

  • Social Media Accessibility: Use this checklist created by United Talent Agency to make your content more accessible.

  • Integrate closed-captioning for your virtual experiences:

    • FYI: Zoom API Tokens

      • Consider for events with multi-lingual / non-native language participants.

      • This method is used to integrate third-party closed captioning vendors so they can provide closed captioning in multiple languages in post-production.

 

DOWNLOAD

  • Watch

    • Code of the Freaks – A feature-length documentary that offers a radical reframing of the use of disabled characters in film.

    • Sound of Metal –  A heavy-metal drummer’s life is thrown into freefall when he begins to lose his hearing.

  • Expand Your Feed: Follow Disabled Content Creators

  • On the Record (NPR) – Still Fighting For Rights: 31 Years of ADA (25min Read or Listen)

 

DONATE

  • Disability Rights Fund: Grant making collaborative with the global disability rights community that provides financial and technical resources to advocate for equal rights and full participation in society.

  • Guiding Eyes for the Blind: Long-time friend of Civic, Guiding Eyes is a nonprofit organization that provides superbly bred and trained dogs to people who are blind, visually impaired or in need of additional support and independence.

  • Respectability: Works with elected officials, policy makers, educators, nonprofits, the entertainment + news media and more to fight stigmas and advance opportunities.