Call for Submissions for an International Exhibition

The International Symbol of Access : White outline of a wheelchair user within a blue square.

The Center on Human Policy, Law, and Disability Studies at Syracuse University is seeking "images of the access symbol used in different locations and in different times for an international exhibition charting the symbol's global spread and local evolution.
Images could include a photograph, artifact (pin, t-shirt, etc) or document with a variant of the symbol. These would be donated to the program's ISA Archive. Images and artifacts should include the details of its location (e.g. accessible entrance, Hyatt Hotel, Bethesda, USA), the date, and name of photographer or source from which it was taken.

For more information, visit the website.

National Inclusive Schools Week

"National Inclusive Schools Week highlights and celebrates the progress of our nation's schools in providing a supportive and quality education to an increasingly diverse student population, including students with disabilities, those from low socio-economic backgrounds, and English language learners. The Week also provides an important opportunity for educators, students, and parents to discuss what else needs to be done in order to ensure that their schools continue to improve their ability to successfully educate all children."
VSA arts is an Association Partner of this effort. Please visit the website here to learn more about how you can participate.

Call for Cultural Commentators for Disability Studies Quarterly

Cultural Commentators are authors/scholars who contribute two essays called cultural commentaries per year. DSQ needs eight persons to accept this important contributory role for an appointment period of two years. Cultural Commentaries are concise essays, approximately 600 - 800 words in length, that provide timely and insightful interpretations of current disability issues taking place in the richness and complexity of the social world. It is anticipated there may be opportunities to produce some commentaries as audio and/or video digital documents to be aired on the DSQ website. In lieu of the more traditional book reviews, play reviews, or music reviews, the purpose of Cultural Commentaries in Disability Studies Quarterly is to offer a variety of analyses, interpretations, and critiques of social events and artifacts that engage, illuminate, and critique the cultural ethos of a given activity or social product. Possible examples of Commentaries include (but are certainly not limited
to) analyses of

* Media (Books, Websites, Newpapers, Magazines, Video games, Plays, Movies, Podcasts, Television/Radio) * Political activity (Legislation, Court rulings,
Government policies)
* Corporate or Business activity (New Products, Corporate
Policies)
* Everyday Life (important mundanities offering insight into disability, social context, and the human condition)

Commentaries should draw upon a variety of scholarly theories and discourses in order to excavate the social problematics, potentials, and possibilities of the most current forms of social activity taking place around the world. Commentaries should be current, poignant, provocative, rich, troubling, humorous, informed, and....perhaps above all....not even remotely suggestive of boredom.
How to Apply: Please send name and contact info along with one sample possible Cultural Commentary (about 600-800 words) to DSQ Assistant Editor Kami Darling at darling@wowway.
Deadline is January 1, 2007.

Sixth Poetry and Short Story Book Release

VSA Arts of Charlottesville Albemarle announces the release of their sixth Poetry and Short Story book, Through Our Eyes, written by individuals with disabilities and their caregivers in central Virginia. Through Our Eyes originates in the love of human experiences and imagination. The publication is a result of an ongoing poetry project sponsored by the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County Parks and Recreation Departments, in collaboration with the Charlottesville/Albemarle VSA Arts. The project promotes writing, creativity skills and the therapeutic value of poetry for individuals with disabilities and their caregivers.

Serving as an inspiring collection of one hundred and seventeen poems and short stories, Through Our Eyes, is written and designed by individuals who want to share their daily accomplishments, as well as struggles, taking you along on their journey. The fifty-two writers represented in Through Our Eyes represent a much broader voice . . . . . . .they speak for the 58 million Americans with disabilities, the fastest growing minority group that affects one in five households.

Some of the authors have disabilities from birth, an accident, disease, medical conditions due to aging and mental or learning disabilities. However, they all celebrate their abilities and uniqueness with us through written thoughts.

The book can be purchased for a $10.00 donation at the Charlottesville Parks and Recreation Department in the City Hall Annex or by calling 434-970-3264. Anyone interested in helping to promote all forms of art for individuals with disabilities may join the Charlottesville/Albemarle VSA Arts Committee. The committee works closely with VSA Arts of Virginia, an affiliate of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Perf

Volunteer Receptions at St. Joseph's Villa

St. Joseph's Villa will host special receptions on Thursday, November 16 (2-4 pm) and Friday, November 17 (10 am - noon) for people interested in becoming a volunteer. During the events, potential volunteers can take a tour of the Villa and ask questions about specific volunteer
opportunities.

The Villa is especially interested in finding people who can donate a couple of hours a week to work in the Donation Center, to teach arts classes to children in the Child Development Center and to serve as tutors for students in the Villa's Dooley School. During the Holiday season, the Villa will need several additional volunteers to process toys donated to our clients.

Please call Catherine Stanley at 521-5577 and let her know that you can attend. Thank you!

Call for Art for Harrisonburg & Rockingham County Residents

The Arc of Harrisonburg and Rockingham (formerly the Association for Retarded Citizens) is again holding a special Art Contest for individuals with mental retardation and other developmental
disabilities. The contest is open to individuals of any age with mental retardation, a developmental disability, or developmental delay who reside in either Harrisonburg or in Rockingham County.

More information and the application can be found by clicking on the link below:

http://www.hrarc.org/content/documents/Art%20Contest%2007.pdf

Asperger's Support Group at St. Joseph's Villa?

St. Joseph's Villa is considering starting a support group for families of children with Asperger's Syndrome. There will be a meeting to share information at 4:00 pm on Thursday, November 16 at Brook Road Academy on the main Villa campus (8000 Brook Road).

Participants do not have to be parents of current Villa clients; the meeting is open to all families who have a child with Asperger's Syndrome. The group will be led by Nancy Toscano, LCSW BCABA.

For more information or to sign up, please contact Nancy Toscano at
804-553-3267 or ntoscano@sjvmail.net.