UCPeople made its debut in 2004. Since its inception, the UCP National Office has added features and functions to respond to the needs of UCP affiliates. Looking for a better way to enable UCP affiliates to communicate with the National Office, and each other, we began thinking about what would make sense as we enter a new era in technology — something that is updated regularly, with content that is always up-to-the-minute. We wanted something that will automatically notify you when a new topic is posted. After some research, the decision to replace our weekly e-newsletter with a blog was seen as the best way to allow affiliates to creat the content they want to consume.
The blog will mirror UCPeople until the e-newsletter is discontinued sometime this summer. We encourage our affiliates to check the UCPeople Blog at least once per week. You will still have the option to subscribe to receive email updates when a post is ready. Also, you can subscribe to the RSS (Really Simple Syndication) Feed with your Internet Explorer 7 and Firefox Web browsers to receive notification of new content when you sign on to the internet. The UCPeople Blog will operate much like the UCPeople e-newsletter has always operated, and will be hosted online at http://UCPeople.blogspot.com.
Here are some benefits to you in transitioning UCPeople into a blog:
» Interactive Dialogue - two-sided communication with affiliates (via the "Post A Comment" feature) that allows for feedback on each story;
» Surveys - No more challenges with answering a survey because a particular e-mail service disables surveys;
» Easy Post Sorting Feature - Now you can sort posts by "Tags" to find similar stories to others based on keywords used in identifying the blog post;
» Media Content - The ability to post pictures from affiliates, and embed playable videos right on the front page without having to go to another page to view it;
» Archived Issues and Resource links will always be available;
» Best of All, the UCPeople Blog will not clutter your e-mail inbox - You can check the blog on your time and you won't risk accidentally deleting it.
In the coming weeks, we'll share more about the features and benefits of having an affiliate driven communications tool.
For more information or questions, contact Will Hull at 202-776-0406 x.7106
Walking Tall for UCP Michigan
On October, 28th, 2007, Neil Sauter, who has cerebral palsy, completed the Grand Rapids Marathon on stilts in record time, helping raise awareness and funds for UCP Michigan.
Beginning May 5th, 2008, at New Bedford Academy in Lambertville, MI, Neil will continue his fundraising campaign for UCP Michigan by walking across the state of Michigan - an 830-mile journey from the Southern border of the state to the Western edge of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, all on stilts! He will cross the Michigan border into Wisconsin on June 28th.
Along the way he will be visiting schools, organizations, camps, churches, festivals, etc., using interactive story telling to advocate for people with disabilities, to encourage children to become active leaders in their communities, and to raise awareness and funds for UCP Michigan.
Neil's mission is to inspire youth to rise above challenges, stand up for what they believe, and advocate for others. He shares his message by describing how he overcame the challenges associated with cerebral palsy to become a world record stilt walker. He has also created a series of short stories incorporating balloon animals, juggling, magic, and audience participation, which captivate children and teach clear moral messages about becoming a leader in one's community.
Why undertake this adventure? Sauter says,
"After I graduated from college I wanted to do something adventurous and productive before settling into a career. I had my heart set on the Peace Corps but was unable to go due to medical difficulties. At the time I found out that the Peace Corps was out of the question I had just begun my stilt-walking career. Then the idea just came to me; I would find an adventure and a cause of my own that I wouldn't have to listen to anybody who told me I couldn't go. I would take a stand for people with disabilities right here in Michigan."
Neil is a graduate of Grand Valley State University, an adjunct professor at Jackson Community College and works with people with disabilities in a rehabilitation setting. After the walk, he will enroll in a Master's degree program in Natural Resources Management.
Carrying flags representing all fifty states, the ADAPT organization last week met in the plaza of the Hall of the States where it announced the 2008 Ten Best and Ten Worst States which ranks the delivery of home and community services to people with disabilities and older Americans.
The Hall of States building is home to the National Governors Association, an organization that has been very vocal in recent years about the preference of community services over nursing homes and other institutions, yet has not been able to inspire its own members to improve their provision of those services.
Speakers representing states in both the best and worst categories spoke at their press conference about the horrors of nursing home life and the joys of living in the community in those states that provide good community services. Randy Alexander from Tennessee ADAPT and LaTonya Reeves from Colorado ADAPT also spoke of the disability-underground-railroad that assists people in states without community services to move to states where they can live quality lives in their own homes with the supports and services they need.
The grouping of states into the top and bottom ten was based on publicly available data from highly respected researchers, supplemented by the results of an informal survey widely distributed across the country by ADAPT. As has so often been the case over the years, there were few surprises. Many of the ten states doing the least to provide services that allow citizens to receive long term care in their own homes and communities have been on the "worst" list repeatedly.
The states are listed alphabetically, not ranked numerically:
Ten Best States
Honorable Mention
Alaska Colorado Maine Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota New Hampshire Oregon Rhode Island Vermont
Alabama District of Columbia New Jersey Ohio Pennsylvania
"No state is ideal, and no state is all bad in how it provides home and community services," said Bob Kafka, ADAPT National Organizer. "This, as always, is simply a snapshot based on current information from the Kaiser Commission, the Research and Training Center on Community Living at the University of Minnesota, Thomson Healthcare, and our survey."
2008 Believable Hope Conference Update: Caregiving of the Future
In partnership with the Institute for the Future and AARP UCP will develop an online game that simulates a future reality of caregiving.
This unique Caregiving Game, a simulation of the expereiences and decisions that caregivers often make, will empower players of all ages to shape their personal and collective futures by experiencing a potential caregiving role - today. Players will participate by contributing original stories through a variety of electronic mediums that end up on a shared online platform. Ultimately, the Caregiving Game will build the foundation for a new UCP online community that connects people with disabilities and also their caregivers in a fun, interactive and education forum.
Believable Hope conference attendees will be able to experience the Caregiving Game through beta-testing, providing insight on the scenarios and the key design elements of the prototype game.
Don’t miss out on this truly unique experience - Register todayfor the 2008 Believable Hope Conference, sponsored by United Cerebral Palsy.
» Change.org is launching a social action blog network and is looking for bloggers to lead communities in the issues they care about. Each blogger will lead an online community focusing on a different social, political, or environmental issue, maintain a daily blog covering news and offering commentary, convene leading nonprofits and activists working on the issue, and help people translate their interests and passions into concrete action. For more information on these part-time and paid positions, visit Change.org.
» Partners in Policymaking: Five online courses for people with disabilities and families to learn how to be active partners with those who make policy.
UCP says thanks TimesDaily.com, 5/6/08 On behalf of United Cerebral Palsy of Northwest Alabama, thank you to everyone who so generously supported our 44th annual telethon on March 16 on the Valley's CW.
All ages gear up for Long Island Marathon Newsday.com, 5/6/08 So far, the largest number of registrants, at 3,800, are signed on for the 13.1-mile-long half marathon. Among them will be about 60 runners helping to raise $60,000 for the United Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County, in celebration of its 60th anniversary.
Successful House Hearing on Telephone and Television Accessibility Justice for All (Blog), 5/6/08 On May 1, 2008, the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet held a lively hearing on "Enhancing Access to Broadband Technology and Services for Persons with Disabilities."
Arctic Circle closes due to ADA lawsuit Time-Standard, 5/6/08 "When you have lawyers like this — they're within the law, but I think the law should be changed," he said. "People shouldn't be allowed to prey on businesses like that."
One in Four Disabled Seniors Use Risky or Ineffective Medicines Newswise, 5/6/08 Roughly a quarter of Americans with disabilities age 65 and older reported using at least one prescription drug deemed inappropriate for persons his or her age. These include drugs -- such as Xanax, Demerol, Darvon and Procardia -- either because they are ineffective, pose a high risk of side effects, or may be avoided in favor of a safer alternative.
Technology helps the disabled find independence South County Journal, 5/5/08 This year's fair will be held in conjunction with the National Americans with Disabilities Act Symposium and Expo. The fair will feature demonstrations, service organizations, as well as companies and devices for a variety of disabilities.
Those are the three favorite words of the performers of Beyond the Evening Star Theater, a group of extraordinary young people who entertain audiences despite their own challenges.
U.N. pact for rights of disabled comes into force Forbes, 5/3/08 A U.N. convention aimed at ensuring equal rights for the world's 650 million disabled people in work, education and social life went into force Saturday.
Cerebral Palsy Roll-A-Thon WCTV, 5/3/08 Saturday, United Cerebral Palsy of Tallahassee, also known as UCP held their 12th annual Roll-A-Thon.
Man with cerebral palsy turned his disability into a capability Owings Mills Times, 5/1/08 United Cerebral Palsy of Central Maryland, based in Pikesville, awarded Soden, 41, its "Can Do" award this spring "for persevering to achieve his goals despite his cerebral palsy," according to a statement from the nonprofit organization.
AT&T unrolls iPhone plan for people with disabilities East Bay Business Times, 4/29/08 AT&T Inc. has adopted a new Internet and messaging plan for Apple Inc.'s iPhone designed to help people who are deaf or have a speech or hearing impairment stay connected.
How non-profits are using social networking to raise money and awareness Chicago Tribune, 4/30/08 Online social networks used to be just gathering places for friends and long-lost acquaintances. Then the marketers arrived, followed by politicians and job recruiters, all looking to tap into a growing mass of young people who are spending much of their time on the Web. Now, non-profit organizations are testing ways to raise money through these networks, betting that the Internet's viral nature will open fresh avenues for fundraising and marketing.
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