Disabilities Awareness Week 2011: Sports, Art, Film & More
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Things are Looking Up(wards) all over Aquidneck Island this week.
Produced by Looking Upwards, Salve Regina University and the Newport Accessibility Advisory Committee, Disabilities Awareness Week 2011 highlights the everyday experiences of people with various disabilities. With a theme of "Disability, Accessibility, and Possibilities," this year's schedule offers entertainment and unique experiences that allow the community to share diverse experiences and see the world through each others' eyes.
A father's story
This Tuesday, April 12, there is a screening of the film, Including Samuel, an award-winning documentary about a father's experiences as he works to include his son Samuel into the daily life of the community. The film inspired the nationwide "I Am Norm" campaign which promotes the acceptance, respect, and full inclusion of youth with disabilities in schools and communities. The screening will be held at Salve Regina in the O'Hare Academic Center Room 260 from 6-7:30 pm.
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Next a wheelchair basketball game featuring the New England Paralyzed Veterans of America - Celtics wheelchair basketball team. Five brave local players will face off against this powerhouse team. This event is produced by the Gaudet Middle School and Middletown High chapters of Best Buddies, a nonprofit organization which pairs volunteers with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The game kicks off at 6pm on April 13th at Middletown High School and is $3 a person and $10 for families.
Barrier Awareness Day
Thursday, April 14 is Barrier Awareness Day. Take a tour of Rhode Island in a whole new way. Ride in a wheelchair, be blindfolded, or keep your mouth shut for the entire tour and experience the barriers persons with disabilities face every day. Meet at the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum at 9:30 am and see the world from a new perspective.
Also on Thursday, participants of Learning Unlimited and the Ocean State Poets will present a selection of poems from their chapbook Butterfly Wings, a project funded by the John E. Fogarty Foundation. Learning Unlimited is an educational program through which Salve Regina students support and learn from people who have developmental disabilities. The event will be held in the Bazarsky Auditorium in the O'Hare Academic Center from 6-8pm.
Grand opening of Downtown Designs
And ending the week is the Grand Opening of Downtown Designs, a gallery featuring artwork, jewelry and a special line of art from re-purposed materials created by artists with disabilities. The opening is at 57 Broadway across from City Hall from 4-6 pm, and from 6-9 pm Lois Vaughn will play jazz piano selections while you enjoy a dinner and the fantastic pieces of art.
For more information on Disabilities Awareness Week 2011, go here.
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