UCPeople - Journal for the UCP Community

United Cerebral Palsy Affiliate Consumers and Volunteers Appear on CBS’ The Early Show

ecoordinator@ucp.org (United Cerebral Palsy) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 06:05:51 PST

On Tuesday, October 27, a group of volunteers and consumers representing people with disabilities traveled to New York City to appear on CBS' The Early Show. The appearance was in support of October being National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM).

As mentioned in a previous UCPeople post, NDEAM is run by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), and the 2009 theme was Expectation + Opportunity = Full Participation. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, people with disabilities experience disproportionate levels of unemployment and under-employment. Events like NDEAM highlight this disparity and lead to efforts that will hopefully improve the recruitment and retention of people with disabilities into the workforce.

Last Tuesday, UCP volunteers and consumers gathered on The Early Show Plaza during CBS' live national morning newscast from 7:00 – 9:00 am ET to showcase the importance of NDEAM. During that time, they held and waved signs, and The Early Show's Dave Price and Harry Smith spoke about UCP and NDEAM during two of the broadcast's segments. Following the newscast, participants were provided a great backstage tour of CBS, and they had the opportunity to ask questions and take photos.

UCP is appreciative of the three New York affiliates' efforts, especially United Cerebral Palsy of New York City, for securing and coordinating volunteers and UCP affiliate consumers, helping UCP to spread the word about the importance of NDEAM, to The Early Show’s national audience of 3.3 million.

For more information about the UCP appearance on The Early Show or for any media inquiries, please contact Lauren Cozzi, UCP Communications Specialist, at LCozzi@ucp.org.

Information & Referal: November is National Family Caregivers Month

ecoordinator@ucp.org (United Cerebral Palsy) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:20:53 PST

United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) Helps Kick Off National Family Caregivers Month.

Celebrated every November, National Family Caregivers Month is a nationally recognized time to thank, support, educate and empower more than 50 million family caregivers across the country, who currently provide over $375 billion in "free" care giving services.

UCP is pleased to be an official endorsing organization of NFC Month, an annual event created by the National Family Caregivers Association to bring attention to the needs of family caregivers. "We encourage people to speak up during National Family Caregivers Month," said Suzanne Mintz, NFCA president and CEO. "One of the most important attributes of being an advocate for your loved one is the ability to speak up and understand how to best communicate about their loved ones’ medication issues with health professionals."

President Obama issued an official proclamation about National Family Caregivers Month that states, "The true strength of the American family finds its roots in an unwavering commitment to care for one another. In difficult times, Americans come together to ensure our loved ones are comfortable and safe. Whether caring for a parent, relative, or child, our Nation's caregivers selflessly devote their time and energy to the well-being of those they look after. During National Family Caregivers Month, we honor the individuals providing essential services to family members who could not otherwise look after themselves."

UCP Affiliates support caregivers with a range of respite care and other support programs. Some Affiliates offer a Respitality program that combines respite services with quality hospitality services. Families benefit from the generosity of hotels and restaurants that provide free accommodations and a meal for two, during a 24-hour getaway. This "mini-vacation" weekend gives family caregivers the opportunity to rejuvenate and refresh themselves so that they may return to their families with a brighter outlook.

At the national level, UCP is actively engaged in advocacy efforts to ensure the availability of quality services and supports for caregivers and children and adults with disabilities such as the Lifespan Respite Care Act and the CLASS Act.

We encourage UCP affiliates to acknowledge and honor the family caregivers in their communities. NFCA provides tools and materials that can help you recognize caregivers and conduct outreach events:

In honor of NFC Month, the National Family Caregivers Association will be hosting a free Family Caregiver National Teleclass/Webinar on November 12 at 2:00 – 3:00 pm EST. Safe & Sound: How to Prevent Medication Mishaps is a program designed to teach family caregivers what they can do to minimize the chances that their loved one will experience an adverse drug reaction or event. Please register here or call 800-896-3650.

Additional Resources:

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Getting Safer Care
Caregiving Information from Medicare
Family Caregiving Resources from the Cooperative Extension System

For more information, please contact Lara Terrell at (202) 973-7105.

Announcements - Week of November 4, 2009

ecoordinator@ucp.org (United Cerebral Palsy) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:34:47 PST

Affiliate News

UCP of North Eastern Maine: Bangor Daily News - Pumpkin displays 'a little different' - 20 nonprofit groups take part in Bangor Halloween fundraising event.
UCP of Huntsville and Tennessee Valley: The Huntsville Times - So much to do around town today, it's scary.
UCP of Northwest Alabama: Times Daily - Halloween race raises funds for children.
UCP of Central Pennsylvania: Life without Limits Newsletter - Fall Edition.
UCP of Central Arizona: Call To Action - increased child care licensing fees would have a dramatic affect on UCP's Early Learning Center and Therapy Department.
UCP of the Golden Gate: 7^th Annual Ultimate Holiday Party (December 12, 2009)

Reports

U.S. Government Accountability Office: Voters with Disabilities - Additional Monitoring of Polling Places Could Further Improve Accessibility.
U.S. Government Accountability Office: Higher Education and Disability - Education Needs a Coordinated Approach to Improve Its Assistance to Schools in Supporting Students.

Webinars

Venturneer (Free): LinkedIn for Nonprofit Organizations (November 18^th 2:00-3:15PM EST). Refining your profile and your organization’s profile are only the first step in using LinkedIn to build your nonprofit. If used to its full extent, LinkedIn can source donors, prospective board members and volunteers, showcase your organization’s and take you into donor markets not otherwise tapped. The door is there, for those who have the key.
Network for Good: Building a Dynamic Grantseeking Calendar for 2010 (December 15, 1:00PM EST). How to establish your own grantseeking calendars for 2010; how to uncover the right grant makers - private and government - for your programs and projects; how to understand trends in corporate and foundation giving, as well as significant trends in government grants - stimulus funding as well as other federal and state programs.

Opportunities

VSA Arts: Collaborative Art Project - "What is Disability" Postcard Project. Get out the art supplies! VSA arts is calling for everyone and anyone to create a postcard that interprets the word 'disability' and mail it in. The postcards will be used to create an exhibition online and in D.C. as part of the 2010 International VSA arts Festival. Download the template here: www.vsarts.org/postcardproject

Other News

Seniors to Seniors (Video): Seniors to Seniors is a coalition of senior citizen advocacy organizations all committed to educating seniors about what the current health care reform legislation means for them once it is implemented. The coalition’s goal is to help filter through the clutter and the hype to educate seniors about how health care reform will help keep doctors in Medicare, stop physician payment cuts, improve long-term care choices, keep Medicare affordable, and close the prescription drug "doughnut hole."
Disability.gov: United We Ride National Dialogue Wants Your Ideas on Accessible Transportation.
JF Activist Blog: Federal Olmstead Enforcement by CMS - A New Day?
USA Today: Sidewalks become battlegrounds.
USA Today Opinion: Our view on disability - Long-term care gets short shrift in health debate. New insurance program worth considering as Baby Boomers age.
Direct Care Alliance: Making Sense of Health Care Reform - What Does it Mean for Direct Care Workers and Consumers?
American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA): Health Reform Hits The House.
Washington Post/Associated Press: House bill likely to include long-term health care.
Wall Street Journal: Plan Creates New Program to Pay for Long-Term Care.
Frogloop, Care2.com Blog: How to Write the Best RFP's.
ABC Affiliate, WJLA News Channel 8: Autism Walk on National Mall Stirs Controversy.

WJLA News 8:
Autism Walk on National Mall Stirs Controversy

Fundraising News

GrantStation: GrantStation Insider for the week of November 2, 2009.
Network for Good: Four Essential Tweaks to Your Appeals in a Recession.
Step By Step Fundraising: Top 10 Ways to Screw up Your Year-End Fundraising Campaign.
Nonprofit Technology Network (NTEN): Case Study - Inside an Integrated Holiday Fundraising Campaign.
About.com - Nonprofit Charitable Orgs: Nonprofit Blog Carnival - Fundraising Tips from 9 Experts.
Future Fundraising Now: Podcast - Things to do that will make you a better fundraiser.

Social Networking/Web 2.0

All Facebook: 5 Ways To Instantly Boost Your Facebook Page Traffic.
Web Pro News: Thinking Beyond Facebook and Twitter for Social Relevance.
Beth's Blog - How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media: Guest Post by Steve Waddell - Systems Mapping for Non-Profits - Part 1.
Geeking for Good: How non-profits can take advantage of Twitter Lists.
Nonprofit Technology Network (NTEN): What's Up With All the Guest Blog Posts? Member Appreciation!
Nonprofit Technology Network (NTEN): Social Media and Technology - What Nonprofits Need To Know.
Conversation Agent: Twitter, Customer Service, and Good Brand Management.

Order Holiday Cards To Benefit United Cerebral Palsy

ecoordinator@ucp.org (United Cerebral Palsy) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:27:40 PST

Looking to buy cards for this holiday season?
Check out this great new way to support United Cerebral Palsy (UCP).

UCP has teamed up with morethancards to introduce UCP holiday greeting cards. There are a variety from which to choose, and proceeds from each sale benefit UCP.

Please check them out, here:
http://bit.ly/UCP_2009_Holiday_Cards

Wish your family and friends seasons greetings and also
support people with disabilities

Order UCP Holiday Cards Today!

-OR-

Send a free e-Card
To your friends and family

For more information, please contact Allyson Doherty at (202) 973-7125.

UCP of Central Maryland Holds Another Successful Golf Tournament

ecoordinator@ucp.org (United Cerebral Palsy) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:39:52 PST

Golf Committee Chair,
Chip Hurley (red sweater)
poses with his foursome and
D.J. Gregory (center)
before teeing off on hole #10.

United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) of Central Maryland recently held its 5^th Annual UCP Golf Classic and raised $30,000. A portion of the proceeds will help to purchase a Youth Up n' Go Walker, a much needed piece of physical therapy equipment for the affiliate's Delrey School, which serves children ages 2 to 21 throughout central Maryland.

This year, presented by Stephen L. Snyder & Family, there were 20 teams including 79 golfers. Attendees at the day-long event enjoyed 18 holes of golf, breakfast, cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, lunch, a live auction, awards sponsored by Nike Golf and a 50/50 raffle where proceeds were split evenly between the winner and affiliate. Golfers also had the opportunity to meet and listen to D.J. Gregory, nationally recognized for walking every hole of every round of every PGA Tour event in 2008, despite having cerebral palsy and being told at a young age that he would never walk. Gregory's walks have spanned 44 tournaments in 45 weeks, more than 180 rounds, 3,256 holes and 988 miles.

Congratulations to tournament winners (l to r)
Perry Snyder; Michael Snyder,
UCP board member; Scott Snyder,
and presenting sponsor Stephen Snyder.

Adaptability was the strength of this year's event. According to Lauren Magee of UCP of Central Maryland, "This year we were worried about not getting enough golfers to fulfill our contract with the golf course. So, to keep our golfer numbers up we enticed them with a three-for-one deal up front — four golfers for $1,500 (one free golfer for each team). I think this adjustment contributed to our success. In fact, some past sponsors who originally said they wouldn't be able to afford the tournament this year were actually able to after we dropped our prices. They couldn't participate as sponsors, but they could still participate as golfers. Having DJ Gregory attend and speak was beneficial to our overall tournament by creating a buzz and providing perspective for our golfers and awareness of our cause."

Special guest, D.J. Gregory,
talks about his life experiences
with cerebral palsy and personal stories
of the professional golfers
he met on the PGA Tour.

This event did not come without its share of challenges in the current economic environment. According to Magee, "Our biggest challenge this year was getting event sponsors. A lot of our core sponsors had to drop out this year due to their own company budget cuts. We also had a hard time with our live auction. With today's economy it was harder to not only get donated items, but to get people to spend the money and bid on them. To help off-set our expected loss in auction revenue we decided to add incentive by explaining that all money raised from the auction would go towards the purchase of a specific piece of equipment that costs $3,000. Without that, our auction would have only raised $1,250. But, because that piece of equipment really appealed to a certain golfer that person donated the difference."

UCP of Central Maryland gratefully thanks all participants and volunteers for making this year's event such a success.

Tip for Affiliates

"Understand that with today's economy, planning an event will be difficult, but if you have the budget, still do it. Just re-adjust your goals. Anticipate where your losses may be and try to plan around them. The $30,000 that we raised through this event was less than last year, but it's still better than not raising any money at all by not having the event. And, it creates an opportunity to get out in the community and connect with your donors." - Lauren Magee.

For more information, please visit the UCP of Central Maryland Web site or contact Lauren Magee at (410) 484-4540

Capitol Insider - Week of November 2, 2009

ecoordinator@ucp.org (United Cerebral Palsy) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:50:23 PST

Read Capitol Insider for an overview of the week's most important public policy events.

President Obama Signs Hate Crimes Legislation

ecoordinator@ucp.org (United Cerebral Palsy) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:32:36 PST

Recently, UCPeople reported on the status of hate crimes legislation. On Wednesday, President Obama signed hate crime legislation (H.R. 1913 / S. 909) that extends protection to people with disabilities, among others. The new law expands federal hate crimes protection to include those committed due to gender and gender identity, sexual orientation and disability. It also loosens limits on when federal law enforcement can intervene and prosecute crimes -- the biggest expansion of the civil-rights era law in decades.

A brief video of President Obama's remarks is below, and you can click this hyperlink to review comments regarding this legislation on the White House Web site.

YouTube: President Obama's Remarks at the White House
about the Hate Crimes Act

For more information, please view the U.S. Justice Department, Bureau of Justice Statistics special report about hate crimes or contact Annie Acosta at (202) 783-2229.

Make a Fundraiser Out of Any Event — And Raise Donations Online

ecoordinator@ucp.org (United Cerebral Palsy) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 06:19:56 PDT

Have you ever had a UCP supporter contact your affiliate inquiring about any of the following:

Host a special event to benefit your organization,
Collect donations to benefit your affiliate, or
Provide information about how to host an event to benefit UCP?

Firstgiving.com makes all of the above a possibility without the need for an affiliate to invest in hosting an event or gathering donations. Anyone, regardless of whether they are specifically endorsed by UCP, can access Firstgiving.com's free service allowing the public to raise money for any charity that files IRS Form 990 and is located within the Guidestar.org database.

What is Firstgiving? from Firstgiving.com on Vimeo.

As of October 26, 2009, 2,165,082 people have helped raise $116,363,707 for 30,924 non-profits using Firstgiving.com

For example, UCP supporter Cesar Rondon participated in a non-UCP-related event in August 2009, and he wanted to raise money to donate to UCP. He found Firstgiving.com after speaking with the UCP national office and quickly set up his own event. After a few short steps, Cesar was off and running, or rather cycling to raise $2060.00 for UCP.

Great reasons to use this service:

It is a simple way for a supporter to set up a personalized event by raising funds for an organization without an affiliate having to worry about collecting and keeping track of donations at the event.
It crosses geographical boundaries. If a student studying overseas wants to hold an event on another continent, he or she can still ask his or her friends and relatives to support a cause by easily by signing up online.
The site is safe and secure, and friends and family donate via credit card.
Firstgiving.com provides advice and support through its blog, which offers tips and pointers about how to create successful events. The blog is available at OnlineFundraisingBlog.com
Reports are accessible online and available in real time.
And much more.

Here are some potential events that fundraisers can use to jump start an event dedicated to UCP:

Pool or Darts Tournament	Read and Recall
Quiz Time	Story telling
Barbecue	Picnic Party
Chess Tournament	Comedy Evening
Bowling	Sing or or Hold a Play
Video Games Competition	Face Painting
Fancy Dress Walk or Party	Cheese and Wine Party
Cooking Contest	Treasure Hunt
Run a Marathon or to the End of the Block	Climb a Mountain
Ride in a Bike Event or Race	Host a Golf Scramble/Tournament Among Friends and Co-Workers
Host an End of the Year Holiday Event or Party

The fee for hosting an event on Firstgiving.com is 7.5% of each transaction, which covers securing each transaction online, connecting to Guidestar.org, providing support and ensuring a transfer of money to the benefiting organization. Please click the following hyperlink to learn more about how it works.

The following is a presentation from a Webinar hosted by Firstgiving.com: Nine ways to promote your personal online fundraising page and 99 places to do it.

Nine ways to promote your personal fundraising page

View more presentations from Firstgiving.com.

For more information, please visit the Firstgiving.com Web site or contact Will Hull at (202) 973-7106.

Information & Referral: More October Disability-Related Awareness Events

ecoordinator@ucp.org (United Cerebral Palsy) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 07:17:39 PST

October is coming to an end however I wanted to highlight a few more disability related awareness events that occur each October:

Spina Bifida Awareness Month

Every October, the Spina Bifida Association (SBA) raises public awareness about Spina Bifida during Spina Bifida Awareness Month. Throughout the year, and especially in October, SBA implements key programs and services to support its mission. SBA provides information through their National Resource Center and has Chapters nationwide.

Additional Information:

National Physical Therapy Month

National Physical Therapy Month, sponsored by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), is a nationwide observance held each October. This year's theme is "Move Forward: Physical Therapy Brings Motion to Life." Physical therapy is an important treatment for many people with developmental disabilities.

Additional Information

APTA's Web site for professionals and patients.
The My Child Without Limits Web site also has a section on physical therapy.

National Down Syndrome Awareness Month

The National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) sponsors Down Syndrome Awareness month in October. During the month the Society has promoted the "My Great Story" campaign which honors and celebrates the great stories of the 400,000 Americans living with Down syndrome by showcasing these stories in a beautiful online storybook. This book will feature inspirational stories about work, school, friends, family, hobbies, travel, the NDSS Buddy Walk^® program and many other things.

Additional Information:

My Child Without Limit's Down Syndrome Page

Announcements Week of October 28, 2009

ecoordinator@ucp.org (United Cerebral Palsy) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 05:52:27 PDT

Affiliate News

UCP of Mobile: Goldstein's Holiday Diamond Dig (November 14, 2009).
UCP of Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties: YouTube - Wings - a film about UCP Wheels for Humanity.

YouTube: Wings - a Film about UCP Wheels for Humanity
View more at Nobelity.org
UCP of South Florida: 21^st Annual Great Chefs Tasting Party (November 8, 2009).
UCP of East Central Florida: Holiday Ornaments and Poinsettias.
UCP of Metropolitan Detroit: 4^th Annual Life w/o Limits through Acessible Technology Conference & Expo (November 12, 2009).

Webinars

Care2: Cause Marketing - Getting the Message Right for the New Consumer/Donor (November 5, 2009 2:00PM EST). As more consumers look to live lives of purpose, the cause-oriented marketing space has become increasingly crowded. Clear communication of your brand is more important than ever to cut through the noise. Join Care2 and BBMG for an informative webinar on how socially responsible brands and nonprofit organizations can leverage current consumer trends to win loyalty and inspire action.
National Family Caregivers Association: National Family Caregivers Association is hosting a free program for anyone caring for a loved one taking multiple medications called Safe & Sound: How to Prevent Medication Mishaps (November 12^th, 2:00pm – 3:00pm EST). Anyone can listen to the free program by phone or online. The program will improve family caregivers understanding of their loved ones' medication issues. For information and registration visit the National Family Caregivers Association Web site or call (800) 896-3650.
Social Security Administration: Wounded Warriors Webinar (November 4, 2009, 2:00PM EST).

Information & Referral News

Exercise is Medicine: Information and recommendations for exercising safely with a variety of health conditions.

Other News

CBS News - 60 Minutes: Epilepsy - A Fight For The Cure.
Politico: Axelrods speak out on epilepsy, daughter.
JF Activist Blog: Glenn Close and Family Tackle Stigma of Mental Illness.
Direct Care Alliance: DCA Video Diary - Renee Tillman and CNA Renee Tillman Makes News.

YouTube: DCA Video Diary - Renee Tillman
Media dis&dat: New Mobility magazine celebrates its 20^th anniversary
Disability Scoop: Hate Crimes Bill Protecting People With Disabilities Headed To White House.
Healing Thresholds: Autism eBrief. Weekly news and information on autism therapies.
DelMarvaNow.com: Children with autism can become happy, productive adults.
Newsweek: Blind Spot. Museums Working to Increase Accessibility for Blind.
SignOnSanDiego.com: Blindness won't be his handicap - Recent diagnosis doesn't sidetrack local golfer.
Disabled World: Educating Students With Disabilities in Cyberspace.
Patrcia E. Bauer: Marlee Matlin offers encouragement.
Patrcia E. Bauer: Travolta’s autism disclosure prompts support, criticism.

Fundraising News

A Small Change Blog: Monthly Giving.
GrantStation: GrantStation Insider Week of October 26, 2009.
Getting Attention - Helping Nonprofits Succeed Through Effective Marketing: The Why Behind the Disconnect — Supporters Embrace Orgs Online, but Don't Give There.

Social Networking/Web 2.0

Socialnomics – Social Media Blog (Video): Statistics Show Social Media Is Bigger Than You Think.

YouTube: Social Media Revolution
Socialnomics – Social Media Blog: Companies Ban Social Media = Bad Idea.
Nonprofit Tech 2.0 - A Social Media Guide for Nonprofits: 10 Tips for Managing Social Media Burnout.
Duct Tape Marketing: 3 Ways for Businesses to Take Full Advantage of Facebook.
Media Bistro: Google SideWiki: What Are the Implications for PR?

Capitol Insider - Week of October 26, 2009

ecoordinator@ucp.org (United Cerebral Palsy) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:43:28 PDT

Read Capitol Insider for an overview of the week's most important public policy events.

Australian Affiliate Reports on CP Research

ecoordinator@ucp.org (United Cerebral Palsy) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 11:01:07 PDT

Keeping up to date with the latest research about cerebral palsy is now easier with a free weekly bulletin produced by the Australian UCP affiliate, The Spastic Centre. CP Research News covers intervention and prevention research, with abstract summaries about the findings. It's of interest to practitioners, researchers and management. To subscribe, e-mail Robyn Cummins with the words "Subscribe CP Research News" in the subject line. Back issues can be found on the Cerebral Palsy Institute Web site.

Bonus:

Please read The Spastic Centre's Blog: The Scene. The blog co-authors, Robyn Cummins and Katrina Welch, bring you details about news, events, activities, Web sites and great resources for people wit.h and family and care givers of those with cerebral palsy. Robyn and Katrina roam Australia and the globe looking for the best information to bring to blog readers.

For more information, please visit The Spastic Centre Web site or contact Robyn Cummins.

Information & Referral: Ask Lara - Exercise for People with Disabilities or Chronic Health Problems

ecoordinator@ucp.org (United Cerebral Palsy) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 11:03:38 PDT

Q: I know that exercise is important however I have a disability and/or chronic health condition and do not know what I can do for exercise?

A: Regular exercise and activity benefits everybody, especially people with disabilities who are disproportionately affected by obesity and heart disease. Luckily, there are some great resources available to help people with disabilities or activity limitations engage in healthy exercise activities.

Exercise is Medicine, sponsored by the American Medical Association and The American College of Sports Medicine, has a mission to make physical activity and exercise a standard part of a disease prevention and medical treatment in the United States. They produce materials that address exercise issues for people with several common conditions, such as cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, cancer, brain injury and many others in the Your Prescription for Health series.

Exercise is Medicine also has materials for physicians, media, health and fitness professionals, and policy makers. Please view these materials to learn what you can do to help promote exercise and fitness for people with disabilities in your community.

Another great resource is the National Center on Physical Activity and Disability.

Additional Resources

UCP Sports and Leisure Channel
Fit for Life Brochure
http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/prevent/fitlife.pdf

Announcements - Week of October 21, 2009

ecoordinator@ucp.org (United Cerebral Palsy) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:23:59 PDT

Affiliate News

UCP of Orange County: New Chief Executive Officer.
UCP of Central Arizona: YouTube - Teamwork with Circle K and other Sponsors
UCP Land of Lincoln: Welcome to the opening of Gone For Good Document Destruction business. UCPLL celebrates National Disability Employment Awareness Month and the AbilityOne Program.
UCP of the North Bay: WineBev - A Social Enterpise Subsidiary Employs People with Disabilities
UCP of Greater Houston: 12^th Annual John Granato Celebrity Golf Classic (November 19, 2009).
UCP of Mobile: Goldstein's Holiday Diamond Dig Date Announced.
UCP of San Joaquin, Calaveras & Amador Counties: Recordnet.com - Three firms honored for helping new S.J. mothers.

Conferences/Summits

Including Samuel: Official invitation/contest to attend the National Youth Inclusion Summit in Washington, DC (January 9-10, 2010). Anyone ages 12-21 who hosts an Including Samuel Movie Party can apply to attend the National Youth Inclusion Summit in Washington DC. Those selected will receive two nights’ lodging and one round-trip ticket from anywhere in the continenal United States to attend the Summit (application deadline: November 6, 2009).

Other News

Internal Revenue Service: The New Form 990 - Getting Started - Video Series Introduction.
Disability Scoop: Education Secretary Won't Accept Status Quo For Students With Disabilities.
Disability Scoop: Obama Seeks Additional $250 Stimulus Payments For People With Disabilities.
Disability Scoop: Advocates Worry That Autism Is Stealing The Show.

Marketing News

Getting to the Point - Helping Nonprofits Succeed Through Effective Marketing: 13 Nonprofits Honored for Outstanding Taglines - "Nothing Stops a Bullet Like a Job" Pulls Top Honors for Homeboy Industries

Fundraising News

Katya's Nonprofit Marketing Blog: Your supporter is a participant, not an audience.
Katya's Nonprofit Marketing Blog: What your donor is really thinking - inside her mind.
Step By Step Fundraising: Fundraising Training Events, Teleseminars for Fall 2009.
Doing Good Things Well: What Do You Care About?
TechSoup: Fundraising Week 3 - Donation Processing and Accounting.
Convio (PDF): Toolbox for the Modern Nonprofit - Donor Management Made Easy. Is your donor database the source of more headaches than contributions? Missing data. Lost contacts. Unwieldy reports. Sound familiar? Managing your data and supporter relationships shouldn't be painful. If your database system has seen better days, it may be time to ease the pain and consider a flexible, easy-to-use system that fits your organization.

Social Networking/Web 2.0

WebProNews: Balancing Blogs And Twitter (Blogger turns 10 years old)
Beth's Blog - How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media: June Holley and The Art of Being Rhizomatic (The Practice of Network Weaving).
Beth's Blog - How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media: Can Networks Have Social Impact?
Beth's Blog - How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media (Video): What do Twitter, Books, Wine, and Fundraisers have in Common?
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog: Mixed Links - Good Stuff for Nonprofit Communicators.
CNN: Does your social class determine your online social network?
Nonprofit Technology Network (NTEN) (Audio): Managing Technology to Meet Your Mission - Recap and Recordings of the ONTC.
Web 2.0 - A Social Media Guide for Nonprofits: 29 Nonprofit Bloggers to Follow on Twitter.
Philanthropy 411 Blog: 130 Foundations That Tweet.
Blogher: 10 Elements of an Effective Nonprofit or Do-Good Blog.

Follow Up: The Art of Building Character, A Mural Brings ‘Harmony’ to Dowd Center in Central Ohio

ecoordinator@ucp.org (United Cerebral Palsy) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:44:32 PDT

UCP of Central Ohio and Great Western Academy, an Imagine School, recently completed and installed a mural at the Dowd Center library thanks to a generous $1,000 grant from the Greater Columbus Arts Council (GCAC). The project, entitled The Art of Building Character, provided a fun learning experience for fifth grade students, while incorporating a mentorship opportunity for artists with disabilities.

The mural's theme was centered around characteristics and behaviors that successful people in history exhibited during their lives and is meant to promote positive behavior to the youth in central Ohio. Students who attend the after-school programs at the Dowd Center took part in a contest to name the mural, which is fittingly called "Harmony."

Prior to beginning the mural, UCP's participant artists and students from Great Western Academy attended a lecture and discussion about character traits. After identifying positive character traits, the students and artists integrated citizenship, kindness and integrity in the mural for the Dowd Center. The Dowd Center is part of the Homeless Families Foundation, which provides an after school and summer program for homeless and at-risk youth. The Dowd Center has approximately 125 participants and provides them with a curriculum to overcome their obstacles. In addition, the center offers a place where children can succeed academically, regardless of their background.

UCP of Central Ohio would like to thank the Greater Columbus Arts Council for their support in making this educational and artistic endeavor possible. Students, participants, artists and the community at large, all learned the importance of inclusion, acceptance and how learning can be fun. This collaborative effort enhances the cultural knowledge of elementary-aged children in greater Columbus through integration of art and textbook curriculum, in addition to creating an opportunity for artists from UCP to become mentors to the children. The Art of Building Character project also fits well into the framework of the GCAC Neighborhood Arts Program, because this funding enables UCP of Central Ohio's artists to develop artistically and improve learning experiences and quality of life for many students for years to come.

For more information regarding this project, please visit the UCP of Central Ohio Web site or contact Gina Ginn at (614) 279-0109 x209.

UCP of Central Ohio: Two Arts Programs
Building Character, Connecting Abilities

Capitol Insider - Week of October 19, 2009

ecoordinator@ucp.org (United Cerebral Palsy) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:04:33 PDT

Read Capitol Insider for an overview of the week's most important public policy events.

Guest Post: ‘Treadmill Aids Children’s Motor Skills’UCP of Central PA ConsumerBenefits from Early Intervention Therapy

ecoordinator@ucp.org (United Cerebral Palsy) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 11:01:07 PDT

By Erica Dolson, The Sentinel
Jason Malmont, photographer

Melodie Corcoran hits the treadmill four days a week for eight minutes at a time.

She listens to music as she works out.

She stands at 32 inches tall.

Luckily, the pediatric treadmill where the 20-month-old from Camp Hill, PA walks is only 32 inches long, 18 inches wide and 7.5 inches high.

Melodie has Down syndrome, a genetic condition in which a person has an extra chromosome. The pediatric treadmill is a tool proven by research to stimulate the automatic walking response in children with conditions, such as Down syndrome, that traditionally cause motor delays.

The treadmill is housed at the Capital Area Children's Center in Camp Hill, one of the facilities from which United Cerebral Palsy of Central Pennsylvania operates. It is currently available for use by all UCP of Central Pennsylvania families; within the next six months, families of children who receive Early Intervention services in Cumberland, Dauphin and Northern York counties will also be able to use the service.

"I'm so excited," said Diane Isham, physical therapist with UCP of Central Pennsylvania. "I've wanted to do this for awhile."

The benefits

Children with Down syndrome usually begin to walk about one year after their typically developing peers, Isham said. The repeated action of walking on the treadmill builds a child's strength and improves both the pattern and quality of their walking, Isham explained.

Research also shows it helps children with Down syndrome walk up to 101 days earlier than those without treadmill training, she added.

Therapists may also use an adult treadmill, at a speed of under a half-mile per hour, to achieve the same result, Isham said. To her knowledge, this is the only pediatric treadmill in the area.

The $1,300 treadmill was purchased with funds from the Jerry and Donna Nailor Fund through The Foundation for Enhancing Communities and the Central Pennsylvania Down Syndrome Awareness Group.

"We find out that someone in the central Pennsylvania Down syndrome community has a need, and we wanted to find the money so that need could be met," said Brian Guillaume, president of the board of the Central Pennsylvania Down Syndrome Awareness Group.

An ideal training schedule would be five days a week for eight minutes at a time, but because of the availability of the room at the center, families will have access to the treadmill only four days a week, Isham said.

Fun, too

Children can use the treadmill as soon as they can bear weight on their legs, Isham said, and the treadmill at UCP of Central Pennsylvania includes a suspension system to hold the child up.

Secured in the harness, Melodie looks safe, albeit a little silly, her mother, Wendy Corcoran said. Melodie has been training for about three weeks, and it's obvious that her experience has been fun, and effective, her mother said.

"She oftentimes smiles," Corcoran said. "I see her getting stronger. I see her legs, she moves them more because she knows what to do with them."

Isham offers one training session for families, she said. Families who are interested must go through their physical therapist.

The treadmill and suspension system have also been used to help children with cerebral palsy, an option UCP would like to investigate in the future, Isham said.

"This is one technique in a whole bag of techniques a therapist has," she said.

"If I can build up (Melodie's) strength, it builds her confidence. It builds my confidence as a parent," Wendy Corcoran said. "You know you're doing something to help her in the future."

In Focus

For more information on the pediatric treadmill, contact Diane Isham, UCP Central Pennsylvania physical therapist, at (717) 975-0611.

For more information, about the Central Pennsylvania Down Syndrome Awareness Group, visit their Web site or contact Brian Guillaume, president of the board, at (717) 218-0242.

For early intervention resource information,
please visit MyChildWithoutLimits.org

For more information about this story, please contact Erica Dolson with The Sentinel or Lynda Bowen with UCP of Central Pennsylvania at (717) 975-0611 x253.

UCP of Mobile’s Camp SMILE: No Limit To The Adventure

ecoordinator@ucp.org (United Cerebral Palsy) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 11:01:07 PDT

Imagine the excitement of engaging people with disabilities in activities that empower them to just be themselves and have fun. That is the intention at United Cerebral Palsy of Mobile's Camp SMILE.

Last year, UCPeople reported about Peter Gaudet, a Camp SMILE participant featured on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. This year, UCPeople is happy to report that 2009 marks Camp SMILE's first official year in West Mobile, resulting from the generosity of David and Debbie Pilot, who donated the use of Camp Grace as the official Camp SMILE site.

From mid-June through mid-July, campers and counselors had the chance to participate in fishing, archery, canoeing, raft cruises and most exciting of all, riding a zip line!

This year, Junior League of Mobile (JLM) volunteers headed up three activities for the campers, including archery, outdoor games and a special project decoupaging tissue onto canvass. For many volunteers and Camp SMILE staff, it was incredible to see campers engaging in archery, especially when many of them had never shot a bow and arrow. The smiles on their faces afterward said it all.

Outdoors, there were some intense games of volleyball and kickball, and everyone cheered for their friends regardless of the team.

Finally, all campers worked on a special project to decoupage tissue onto canvass. The pieces of art went to donors, which wouldn't have been possible without Camp SMILE and JLM volunteers.

JLM remains thrilled to continue its partnership with Camp SMILE as the organization carries out its mission to empower children and adults with disabilities to live their lives without limits by providing an inclusive summer camp experience where there is no limit to the adventure.

For more information, visit the Camp SMILE Web site or contact Marty Wheeler at (251) 479-4900.

Information & Referral: Infantile Spasms Awareness Week

ecoordinator@ucp.org (United Cerebral Palsy) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 07:17:39 PST

The Child Neurology Foundation has declared the week October 11-17 as Infantile Spasms Awareness Week (ISAW), and it has created a Web site to raise awareness about IS among pediatricians, child neurologists, parents and caregivers. The site contains downloadable brochures, posters and videos to help spread awareness about this little known condition.

Infantile Spasms (IS) are a form of Epilepsy that usually present in an infant's first few months of life and often go undiagnosed, leading to long term developmental and intellectual delays and disabilities. Early and aggressive treatment can impact the prognosis of infants diagnosed with IS. As with other disabilities, early intervention is key. Please follow this link to help spread the word about IS in your community.

Additional Information:

Annoucements - Week of October 14, 2009

ecoordinator@ucp.org (United Cerebral Palsy) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:54:30 PDT

Affiliate News

UCP of Northwest Missouri: The News-Press & St. Joe Now - Wheelchair doesn't slow down student - UCP helps girl with cerebral palsy lead busy life.
UCP of Central Pennsylvania: United Way Day of Caring 2009: Photo Gallery.
UCP of West Central Wisconsin: Star Fest 2010 Telethon and Snow Biz (January 30, 2010).
UCP of the North Bay: North Bay Grapevine - Fall 2009 Newsletter.
UCP of Hudson County: United Way of Hudson County Presents UCP of Hudson County with $100,000.

Webinars

Network for Good: Free Training - "Missionize" Your Year-end Fundraising (October 20, 2009 1:00 PM EDT).
FirstGiving.com: Ghosts are scary, raising money online is not (October 21, 2009 3:30 PM EDT).

Other News

Disability Scoop: A Special Needs Guide To Beating Swine Flu.
Disability Scoop: Registry To Connect Special Needs Families With Resources.
Disability Scoop: Obama - Federal Government Must Take Lead On Disability Employment.
The Examiner: National Council of Disability report shows major health care discrepancies for disabled

Fundraising News

TechSoup: Fundraising E-mail Series No. 2.
Katya's Nonprofit Marketing Blog (Video): What to do when people are cheap: show value.
Donor Power Blog: Social media means listen, not just talking.
Network for Good: 5 Steps to Getting Your (Donation) Ducks in a Row.
Getting Attention - Helping Nonprofits Succeed Through Effective Marketing: 5 Nonprofit Marketing Innovations for Recession Survival.
A Small Change - Making Sense of Fundraising for Nonprofits: Eating Excellent Fundraising For Breakfast

Social Networking/Web 2.0

Nonprofit 2.0 - A Social Media Guide for Nonprofits: Five Essential Apps for Your Nonprofit's Facebook Page.
Digiday - Daily: Knowledge is Power in Measuring Social Media Success.
Capitol Communicator (Video): The Brand Ramifications of Google Sidewiki.
Beth's Blog - How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media: 7 Tips for Measuring the Success of Your Blog.
Alexa Scordato (Video): TEDxBoston - Reverse-mentorship and Bridging the Digital Divide.

YouTube: TEDxBoston - Alexa Scordato 7/28/09
Community Spark: Inside the mind of an online community lurker.
Dallas Morning News: Seniors finding social networking exhilarating.
TopRank^® Online Marketing: 7 Considerations for Tracking Social Media Success.
Buzz Paradise: How to Collect Donations Using 2.0.
Wild Apricot: Nonprofit Web site or Nonprofit Blog?

Capitol Insider - Week of October 13, 2009

ecoordinator@ucp.org (United Cerebral Palsy) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:48:39 PDT

Read Capitol Insider for an overview of the week's most important public policy events.

Hate Crimes Legislation Passes The House of Representatives: Key Provisions To Protect People with Disabilities

ecoordinator@ucp.org (United Cerebral Palsy) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 05:53:21 PDT

Previously, UCPeople reported on hate crimes legislation. On Thursday, October 8, 2009, hate crimes legislation passed the U.S. House of Representatives, and the bill will go to the Senate next. The hate crimes legislation would prohibit crimes "based on the actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability of any person." The legislation would also give the federal government authority to prosecute violent hate crimes based on disability when local authorities fail to act. In addition, it would allocate $5 million each year to the Justice Department to provide assistance to local communities in investigating hate crimes. This legislation is attached to the Defense Authorization Bill, which funds operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, among other things. It is expected that the Senate will pass the bill and the President will sign it.

Hate crimes legislation comes on the heels of a recently released special report by the U.S. Justice Department's Bureau of Justice Statistics. The report, based on data from the 2007 National Crime Victimization Survey, found that people with disabilities experienced violent crime at a rate one and one-half times greater than people without disabilities. For females with disabilities, the rate was twice as high as women without disabilities. People with intellectual disabilities were most at risk. One in five people with disabilities who experienced violent crimes felt that they had become victims because of their disability.

The report can be found at:

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/capd07.htm (Web)
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/ascii/capd07.txt (Plain Text)

For more information, please contact Annie Acosta at (202) 783-2229.

Girl With Cerebral Palsy Opens Hearts Through Artwork

ecoordinator@ucp.org (United Cerebral Palsy) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 11:01:07 PDT

Most kids expect to see their artwork on their parents' refrigerator, and not hanging in bank and credit union branches across the greater Sacramento, California region. Three years ago at age nine, Celeste Hewitt painted a swirling pink heart. This summer, her artwork became a symbol of how the greater Sacramento region is coming together to support local families with developmental disabilities.

For two months, local residents in five counties surrounding Sacramento had the opportunity to purchase a "Love My Family" heart at SAFE Credit Union branches, with proceeds supporting UCP of Greater Sacramento. After making a $5, $10 or $15 donation, each person printed their name on a copy of Celeste's artwork, which hung in the branches.

Each dollar amount was tied to a specific UCP program. The $5 hearts supported a child at the UCP Autism Center for Excellence at Sacramento State University, the region's only after-school therapeutic recreational program for kids with autism. For $10, local residents helped provide care for an exhausted parent caring for a developmentally disabled child, through the UCP of Greater Sacramento family respite program. By purchasing $15 hearts, local residents helped give a child or adult the chance to ride a horse while developing self-confidence and motor skills in the hippotherapy program, UCP Saddle Pals.

The campaign raised $7,000 for UCP of Greater Sacramento programs, showing how the community opened their wallets and hearts.

"Money goes a long way at our UCP affiliate," said Doug Bergman, president and CEO. "With $7,000, we can provide several hours of respite care to 50 families, cover the costs for more than 15 children to attend the UCP Autism Center for Excellence at Sacramento State for a month or provide a child with therapeutic horseback riding lessons for more than a year."

Equally important, the campaign taught young Celeste that she has a gift that makes a difference. She has not let cerebral palsy stop her from being an artist—or a traveler or equestrian, for that matter. She is living life without limits, and thanks to her beautiful artwork, others will too.

For more information, please contact Samantha Garcia at (916) 565-7700.

Information & Referal: October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month

ecoordinator@ucp.org (United Cerebral Palsy) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:16:10 PST

Congress designates each October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). As stated on the Office of Disability Policy (ODEP) Web site, this effort to educate the American public about issues related to disability and employment actually began in 1945, when Congress enacted a law declaring the first week in October each year "National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week." In 1962, the word "physically" was removed to acknowledge the employment needs and contributions of individuals with all types of disabilities. In 1988, Congress expanded the week to a month and changed the name to "National Disability Employment Awareness Month."

This year's NDEAM theme is Expectation + Opportunity = Full Participation.

Please click here to learn more about NDEAM and related activities that will be held during the month.

The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) sponsors Disability Mentoring Day (DMD) each year during NDEAM. This year, it falls on October 21st. DMD is a large-scale national effort to promote career development for students and job seekers with disabilities, through hands-on career exploration, on-site job shadowing, and ongoing mentoring leading to internship and employment opportunities. Please click the following hyperlink to find DMD Coordinators and activities in your area.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, people with disabilities experience disproportionate levels of unemployment and under-employment. In September 2009, the percentage of people with disabilities in the labor force was 22% compared with 70.5% for persons with no disability. The unemployment rate for those with disabilities was 16.2%, compared with 9.2% for persons with no disability. Events like NDEAM highlight this disparity and lead to efforts that will hopefully improve the recruitment and retention of people with disabilities into the workforce.

Additional Resources:

Annoucements - Week of October 7, 2009

ecoordinator@ucp.org (United Cerebral Palsy) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:53:56 PDT

National News

UCP: Politico's CLICK - Hines Makes Appearance at UCP Event.
UCP: K Street Kate: Able Body.
UCP: MediaBistro's FishbowlDC: ABC's Moran and Actress Hines Lend Hands to UCP.
UCP: Washington Examiner's Yeas & Nays: 'Curb' star Hines celebrates work of palsy institute.

Affiliate News

UCP of West Alabama: Tuscaloosa News - State Fair begins today. "United Cerebral Palsy of West Alabama is sponsoring the fair for the first time this year, and partnered with the Tuscaloosa County Park and Recreation Authority to use Sokol Park for the event."

Online Documentary

The Specials: The Web-based series follows the ups and the downs of the lives of a group of 20-something housemates with developmental disabilities (four with Down syndrome, one with Williams syndrome). The group lives in Brighton, UK and is providing the voiceover for the series. It's funny, touching, honest and definitely note worthy.

Other News

Disability Scoop: Groups Outraged Over Video Released By Autism Speaks.
Diversity World: September 2009 e-Newsletter.
JF Activist Blog: White House Announces Disability Employment Awarness Month.

Advocacy

Nonprofit Tech 2.0 - A Social Media Guide for Nonprofits: Five [More] Fun and Fabulous Twitter Tools for Nonprofit Organizations and Activists.
All About Advocacy: Government Embraces Social Media.

Fundraising News

GrantStation: GrantStation Insider, Weekly Fundraising Annoucements.
Nonprofit Technology Network (NTEN): Online Donors - Why They Leave and How to Win Them Back.
Donor Power Blog: Is direct mail dying, or should we just kill it?

Social Networking/Web 2.0

Nonprofit Tech 2.0 - A Social Media Guide for Nonprofits: Social Media is Going Mobile, and So Should Your Nonprofit.
Nonprofit Tech 2.0 - A Social Media Guide for Nonprofits: HOW TO: Create Videos for Your Nonprofit Without a Video Camera, a Budget of $0, and Little-to-No Tech Skills.
Family Support Clearinghouse: The Family Support Center on Disabilities - Knowledge & Involvement Network (KIN) forums offers a centralized resource on the options available to individuals with disabilities and their families.
Copy Blogger: How to Change the World Using Social Media (a discussion of "social proof" a.k.a. "herd mentality" or "bandwagon effect")
The Social Media Marketing Blog: Recent Facebook Demographics.
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog: What Nonprofits Can Learn from Politico's Success.
Meryl's Notes Blog: 10 Commandments for Writers Using Social Media.
Katya's Non-profit Marketing Blog: Is philanthropy ready for the new consumer?