Arkansas Alliance for Disability Advocacy

10/31/2023

To make sure everyone can participate in the excitement, be sure to create accessible paths for individuals with disabilities or provide alternate options so everyone can have fun trick or treating. Be safe and Happy Halloween!

To make sure everyone can participate in the excitement, be sure to create accessible paths for individuals with disabilities or provide alternate options so everyone can have fun trick or treating. Be safe and Happy Halloween from your friends at GCDD! 🎃

10/11/2023

Tomorrow's Advocacy Takes Action Mock Vote - Fayetteville is postponed!

We will share more information with the new date ASAP! We do have another Advocacy Takes Action Mock Vote - Jonesboro event coming up this month on October 26!

10/11/2023

We will have our own Voting Rights & Public Policy Specialist, Christian Adcock joining as a speaker for the Takes Action Mock Vote - Fayetteville on October 12.

Christian Adcock has been with DRA since November of 2013 and has worked in a variety of issue areas for the agency. He is currently focused on voting rights issues, education, and outreach; as well as public policy. Christian holds a Juris Doctorate from the William H. Bowen School of Law and a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Central Arkansas.

Make sure to RSVP: https://bit.ly/mockvoteRSVP

10/10/2023

We are so excited to have Rita Reese-Whiting as a member of the panel at the Advocacy Takes Action Mock Vote - Fayetteville on October 12.

After losing her sight 15 years ago, Rita became involved in advocating for people with vision loss and is currently president of the Arkansas Council of the Blind. She has a master’s degree in geology, teaching, and rehabilitation counseling.

In addition to hiking and kayaking with her beloved husband, Quinn, she enjoys gardening, creating beaded jewelry, and loom knitting. She is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and currently work as an Independent Living Specialist at Sources for Community Independent Living in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

She states she became a rehabilitation counselor because she "did not want anyone who had lost or was losing their sight to go through the hopelessness and despair my husband and I went through after my sight loss. We spent months in black despair before an offhand comment from my eye doctor gave us a glimmer of hope and set me on the path to regaining my independence. While losing your sight is a devastating blow, I want to educate people and their families that blindness is not the end of the world, and with adaptive products and training, they can live an independent, full, and happy life."

There is still time register! RSVP: https://bit.ly/mockvoteRSVP

10/06/2023

It's time for another !

We are excited to have Gordon Xiong back with us at the Advocacy Takes Action Mock Vote - Fayetteville.

Gordon was born on August 9th, 1994. He was born in Duluth, Minnesota. He is originally from Wheaton, Missouri. However, he moved with his family to Oklahoma in 2016 to run an egg farm operation. He is the oldest of six siblings. He identifies as a wheelchair user.

"Despite being diagnosed with cerebral palsy, I have always done my best to stay positive and try my best to achieve my goals. I recently graduated from the University of Arkansas with my Master's in rehabilitation counseling."

RSVP Today: https://bit.ly/mockvoteRSVP

10/04/2023

The countdown is on for the Advocacy Takes Action Mock Vote - Fayetteville.

We are excited to have some amazing speakers joining us for the event.

First up, Nicole Clowney for Arkansas.

Nicole Clowney represents Fayetteville’s District 21 in the Arkansas House of Representatives. She is an attorney, educator, and mother of two daughters, who is committed to creating safe, healthy, and equitable communities for all Arkansans.

Nicole was born and raised in Oklahoma, the daughter of educators. She holds a B.A. from the University of Chicago and a J.D. from Yale Law School. After clerking for Chief Judge Robert H. Henry on the United States 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, Nicole worked for a non-profit law firm dedicated to children’s law issues.

She now teaches at the University of Arkansas and was the founding leader of the Northwest Arkansas group of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. She lives in Fayetteville with her husband Steve, who teaches at the University of Arkansas School of Law, and her two daughters, Evie (9) and Kit (5).

Since taking office in 2019, she has sponsored bills on a wide range of subjects, including domestic violence, renters’ rights, gun violence prevention, workers’ rights, and juvenile justice.

10/02/2023

Mid-America Science Museum is an exciting place😀, full of loud sounds 📢 and bright lights 🚨—that may be a little too loud or too bright for some of our curious minds💡.

If you know a young learner with sensory sensitivity, join us on Tuesday, October 10th from 9 to 11 AM for our first Sensory Day of the fall 🍁 season when we’ll be lowering the volume and the lights to make sure all our growing scientists feel comfortable exploring the museum.

Sensory Day is funded by the Elisabeth D. Wagner Foundation and free for first 125 guests. We’ll also have complimentary sensory backpacks 🎒 full of tools like noise-reducing headphones🎧, sunglasses🕶, and fidget toys for checkout at the front desk.

For tickets 🎟 or more information, visit https://midamericamuseum.org or call (501) 767-3461.

09/25/2023

- Do you want to learn about your voting rights?
- Are you interesting in meeting disability advocates from around the state?
- What about hearing from state legislators?
- Has the accessible voting machine intimidated you in the past?

Join us at an Advocacy Takes Action Mock Vote Event!

Our first one will be held on October 12, 2023 at the Fayetteville Public Library.

Learn more and RSVP Today: https://disabilityrightsar.org/community-of-champions/