Buddy Walk Teams can invite corporate contacts to review sponsorhsip opportunities by downloading the Buddy Walk Sponsor Brochure, team captains can download to print or email a "Save the Date" flyer for donors who may not want to donate to your Team Page at Firstgiving. Additional non-profit documentation is available from Pat Webb at info@dsacf.org.
Buddy Walk Sponsorship
Tropic Thunder: Update
August 13, 2008
Dear Affiliate Leaders,
As you know, the coalition has called for a nationwide boycott of the film, ‘Tropic Thunder’. The film opens today in theaters across the country.
Thank you to those that signed the Coalition's Statement of Support and Solidarity. We still need as many signatures as possible. If your group is interested in signing on, please send your name, group name, and contact information to Barbara Kornblau at Special Olympics, ASAP at mailto:bkornblau@specialolympics.org
The Special Olympics’ has created a new site http://www.r-word.org/. Please take the pledge to support the elimination of the r-word. We encourage you to pass along the link to all your members.
The activities of the coalition’s protest have garnered significant media attention in the U.S. and around the world:
ABC: http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=5560702&page=1
NY Times: (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/11/movies/11thun.html?ref=movies),
NPR:http://www.npr.org/templates/player/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=93531103&m=93531072
We still need your help, your actions, and your voice!
Jon Colman
President
National Down Syndrome Society
jcolman@ndss.org
Dear Affiliate Leaders,
As you know, the coalition has called for a nationwide boycott of the film, ‘Tropic Thunder’. The film opens today in theaters across the country.
Thank you to those that signed the Coalition's Statement of Support and Solidarity. We still need as many signatures as possible. If your group is interested in signing on, please send your name, group name, and contact information to Barbara Kornblau at Special Olympics, ASAP at mailto:bkornblau@specialolympics.org
The Special Olympics’ has created a new site http://www.r-word.org/. Please take the pledge to support the elimination of the r-word. We encourage you to pass along the link to all your members.
The activities of the coalition’s protest have garnered significant media attention in the U.S. and around the world:
ABC: http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=5560702&page=1
NY Times: (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/11/movies/11thun.html?ref=movies),
NPR:http://www.npr.org/templates/player/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=93531103&m=93531072
We still need your help, your actions, and your voice!
Jon Colman
President
National Down Syndrome Society
jcolman@ndss.org
Tropic Thunder Goes "Full Retard"
From the National Down Syndrome Congress on Aug. 10, 2008:
Dear Friends,
I am taking the unusual step of contacting you over the weekend, because we have a lot of work to do and a short time in which to do it.
On Friday, our Resource Specialist, Sue Joe, and I attended a special screening of DreamWorks new film, "Tropic Thunder". Journalist Pat Bauer also attended the screening and reports on the contents of the film on her blog. So far, we are the only members of the nationwide disability community who have seen the film, though more screenings are planned for Monday for leaders in other cities.
To say this film is offensive is an understatement. For me, watching this film felt like sitting through an assault.
The National Down Syndrome Congress is a founding member of a coalition of disability-rights organizations who have been in discussion together -- and with DreamWorks -- about this film. Now that we have seen this movie, there is no doubt but that we must come together to fight what has been characterized as damaging and hurtful hate speech.
Members of the Down Syndrome Association of Los Angeles, led by Gail Williamson, will be among the local and national representatives providing informational leafleting and picketing at the Hollywood premiere of this film on Monday. However, we need your help.
If you are in Southern California and can get to Los Angeles on Monday, please contact Gail at gail@dsala.org.
If you cannot make it on Monday, please start planning for Wednesday's nationwide premiere by polling your members for those who might be able to show up at one or more theatres in your area that day to share our message that movies like "Tropic Thunder" do cause harm, both emotionally and by giving insensitive individuals new ways to taunt children and adults with intellectual disabilities. It would be best to have a large turnout at one theatre than to have one or two people at many, and it is important to involve self advocates.
Lest you think the movie is so ridiculous that no one will take it seriously, Josh Tyler, Editor-in-Chief of CinemaBlend, has already given the film a glowing review, noting that his "current favorite" quote, "You never go full retard," comes from the film.
On Monday morning, we will provide information gathered from various coalition members, to use in your efforts.
In Solidarity,
David Tolleson
National Down Syndrome Congress
email: sue@ndsccenter.org
phone: 770-604-9500; 800-232-6372 web: http://www.ndsccenter.org/
I am taking the unusual step of contacting you over the weekend, because we have a lot of work to do and a short time in which to do it.
On Friday, our Resource Specialist, Sue Joe, and I attended a special screening of DreamWorks new film, "Tropic Thunder". Journalist Pat Bauer also attended the screening and reports on the contents of the film on her blog. So far, we are the only members of the nationwide disability community who have seen the film, though more screenings are planned for Monday for leaders in other cities.
To say this film is offensive is an understatement. For me, watching this film felt like sitting through an assault.
The National Down Syndrome Congress is a founding member of a coalition of disability-rights organizations who have been in discussion together -- and with DreamWorks -- about this film. Now that we have seen this movie, there is no doubt but that we must come together to fight what has been characterized as damaging and hurtful hate speech.
Members of the Down Syndrome Association of Los Angeles, led by Gail Williamson, will be among the local and national representatives providing informational leafleting and picketing at the Hollywood premiere of this film on Monday. However, we need your help.
If you are in Southern California and can get to Los Angeles on Monday, please contact Gail at gail@dsala.org.
If you cannot make it on Monday, please start planning for Wednesday's nationwide premiere by polling your members for those who might be able to show up at one or more theatres in your area that day to share our message that movies like "Tropic Thunder" do cause harm, both emotionally and by giving insensitive individuals new ways to taunt children and adults with intellectual disabilities. It would be best to have a large turnout at one theatre than to have one or two people at many, and it is important to involve self advocates.
Lest you think the movie is so ridiculous that no one will take it seriously, Josh Tyler, Editor-in-Chief of CinemaBlend, has already given the film a glowing review, noting that his "current favorite" quote, "You never go full retard," comes from the film.
On Monday morning, we will provide information gathered from various coalition members, to use in your efforts.
In Solidarity,
David Tolleson
National Down Syndrome Congress
email: sue@ndsccenter.org
phone: 770-604-9500; 800-232-6372 web: http://www.ndsccenter.org/
Labels: movie premiere, r word, tropic thunder
RFP Strategic Planning
Health Care Grants available at UHCCF
The United Healthcare Children's Foundation (UHCCF) has announced that new grants are available to help children who need critical healthcare treatment, services, or equipment not covered or not fully covered by their parents' health benefit plans.
The foundation provides grants to families to help pay for child healthcare services such as speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy sessions, prescriptions, and medical equipment such as wheel chairs, orthotics, and eyeglasses.
Parents and legal guardians may apply for grants of up to $5,000 each for medical services and equipment by completing an online application. For an application and more information go to: www.uhccf.org/apply_applicant.html
The foundation provides grants to families to help pay for child healthcare services such as speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy sessions, prescriptions, and medical equipment such as wheel chairs, orthotics, and eyeglasses.
Parents and legal guardians may apply for grants of up to $5,000 each for medical services and equipment by completing an online application. For an application and more information go to: www.uhccf.org/apply_applicant.html
Presidential Candidates & Disability Issues
From an email distributed by Christine Ebeltoft-Bancalari
If you are wondering where the presidential candidates stand on various issues related to ADA, IDEA, etc. this is a good place to get some of that information. (Note: when they refer to disablity issues it typically includes everything from special education to the elderly and war veterans - so it is a wide array of topics. With that said, some of the topics may impact you or your family and I think the way the various candidates address these issues / terms / population should be taken into consideration.)
If you are anything like me, you don't associate the word 'disability' with your child - I know that I don't! However, when it comes to the funding of programs, resources, the creation of laws in our country and even the mindset that is created via the media, it is important that we are aware of what is happening. Even if we don't consider our children 'disabled' the way the laws are written and programs created it is very possible that our children will be classified under that label and as a result either receive or not receive the opportunities they deserve. You are their #1 advocate and voice until they are able to speak for themselves - so, stay informed! :-)
Qutoed from their site:The National Forum on Disability Issues, featuring the 2008 Presidential Candidates (invited) is a historic, nonpartisan forum on national disability policy to be held on July 26, 2008 in Columbus, Ohio. The venue allows us to welcome well over a thousand Americans with disabilities and their friends and family (registration required) to attend the event, and to commemorate the 18th anniversary of our civil rights law, the Americans with Disabilities Act. The forum will feature time slots for the presidential candidates to individually present their visions for the future of disability policy in America followed by questions by Judy Woodruff, news anchor and journalist ("The News Hour with Jim Lehrer"), who will act as the Moderator.
This presidential candidates forum builds on the success of our November primary-focused forum in New Hampshire, where the disability community made history with its first-ever disability presidential candidates forum with participation from seven presidential candidates, five of them in person. In addition to a large live attendance, tens of thousands from across the country will tune in via simultaneous webcast. The forum will also be broadcast live start to finish over all Ohio radio reading services, giving access to the event to people with disabilities in Ohio who don't have a computer and aren't able to attend to attend the event in person. To learn more go to their website: http://www.aapd.com/News/election/080423aapd.htm
Your voice and vote will make a difference. Christie
If you are wondering where the presidential candidates stand on various issues related to ADA, IDEA, etc. this is a good place to get some of that information. (Note: when they refer to disablity issues it typically includes everything from special education to the elderly and war veterans - so it is a wide array of topics. With that said, some of the topics may impact you or your family and I think the way the various candidates address these issues / terms / population should be taken into consideration.)
If you are anything like me, you don't associate the word 'disability' with your child - I know that I don't! However, when it comes to the funding of programs, resources, the creation of laws in our country and even the mindset that is created via the media, it is important that we are aware of what is happening. Even if we don't consider our children 'disabled' the way the laws are written and programs created it is very possible that our children will be classified under that label and as a result either receive or not receive the opportunities they deserve. You are their #1 advocate and voice until they are able to speak for themselves - so, stay informed! :-)
Qutoed from their site:The National Forum on Disability Issues, featuring the 2008 Presidential Candidates (invited) is a historic, nonpartisan forum on national disability policy to be held on July 26, 2008 in Columbus, Ohio. The venue allows us to welcome well over a thousand Americans with disabilities and their friends and family (registration required) to attend the event, and to commemorate the 18th anniversary of our civil rights law, the Americans with Disabilities Act. The forum will feature time slots for the presidential candidates to individually present their visions for the future of disability policy in America followed by questions by Judy Woodruff, news anchor and journalist ("The News Hour with Jim Lehrer"), who will act as the Moderator.
This presidential candidates forum builds on the success of our November primary-focused forum in New Hampshire, where the disability community made history with its first-ever disability presidential candidates forum with participation from seven presidential candidates, five of them in person. In addition to a large live attendance, tens of thousands from across the country will tune in via simultaneous webcast. The forum will also be broadcast live start to finish over all Ohio radio reading services, giving access to the event to people with disabilities in Ohio who don't have a computer and aren't able to attend to attend the event in person. To learn more go to their website: http://www.aapd.com/News/election/080423aapd.htm
Your voice and vote will make a difference. Christie
Universal Studios Outing to Change
We are currently working with Universal Studios Orlando to change our monthly free outings for families instead to a LARGE, one-day event. Stay tuned this fall for more details!