MTV's "World of Jenks"

MTV is putting the spotlight on what it is like to transition to adulthood as someone with disabilities. The documentary style show, "World of Jenks," is hosted and documented by Andrew Jenks who lives with three people, each for a year, and follows their journeys. Among those three people is Chad DenDanto, a man diagnosed with pervasive developmental disorder, which is on the autism spectrum, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Jenks states that “We realized (at MTV) that we had an opportunity to humanize and destigmatize what it’s like to have autism. One in 88 American children have autism now. It’s something prevalent that could use more mainstream media attention.” We agree, Jenks, and we would like to thank you for allowing Chad's autism to no longer define him.

For the website of "World of Jenks, please visit:

http://www.mtv.com/shows/world_of_jenks/series.jhtml

"Dolls for Downs"

When people look at dolls, they tend to gravitate towards the ones that look like them. Dolls today are made with different genders, races, and there is even a line of dolls for cancer patients. But, there was not a single doll line for people with disabilities. Imagine the disbelief of Hannah Feda, a girl with down syndrome, when she continued to flip through catalogs and states to her mother "none of these dolls look like me. not one." Hannah's mother, Connie Feda, decided to create a line to provide children with down syndrome and other disabilities a chance to have a doll that looks like them, that they can relate to. Feda created this line and called it "Dolls for Downs." She states that the dolls are not only fun to play with, but they provide occupational therapy skills ,for its users. Feda continues by saying that users who have not developed certain motor skills can learn with the doll's clothing and removable features such as buttons, zippers, velcro, ties and snaps. We applaud Feda for creating such a difference with her unique product.

To purchase "Dolls for Downs," please visit:

http://www.dollsfordowns.org/index.html

America's Choice is Alexis Wineman, a Contestant with Autism

As we have been promoting all along, people with disabilities can do anything. Even win the prestigious title of "America's Choice" in the famed Miss America competition. Alexis Wineman, a beauty queen with autism, was chosen as the "America's Choice" this year.

http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2013/01/15/beauty-queen-autism-history/17078/

Learning to Walk Down a Curb

Here is an uplifting video about a 4 year old boy who is completely blind and learns how to walk down a curb independently. As the description of the video shows, it is "a lesson in bravery."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=BsXa-mAKDVs

FDA Approved Bionic Eye Offers Partial Vision to the Blind

The FDA has recently approved a Bionic Eye device called the Argus II.This new device offers partial vision to the blind, a landmark in the field of corrective technology. The Argus II allows people with a certain type of blindness to see the presence of people or cars, crosswalks on the street, and sometimes large numbers or letters. The Argus II is made by Second Sight Medical Products and helps to treat people with severe retinis pigmentosa. How the device works is impressive in the field of opthamology. The device is essentially an artificial retina that allows visual signals to bypass the damaged portion of the retina and be transmitted to the brain. In the future, the company that created the Argus II plans to revolutionize the opthamology field further by implanting electrodes directly into the brain's cortex to address all types of blindness. For now, all of us at EmpowerTech are impressed with the company's technological advances, and we cannot wait to see what they develop in the future.

For more information on the Argus II, please visit:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/15/health/fda-approves-technology-to-give-limited-vision-to-blind-people.html?pagewanted=1&_r=0

Media Advisory for EmpowerTech's FUNdraiser

MEDIA ADVISORY


WHAT: REALITY TV STARS & LOCAL BUSINESS LEADERS TEAM UP TO RAISE FUNDS FOR WESTCHESTER-BASED NON-PROFIT, EMPOWER-TECH

WHEN: Wednesday March 13, 2013
5:00 p.m.—9:00 p.m.

WHERE: Melody Bar and Grill
9132 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90045
(310)-670-1194/ http://www.barmelodylax.com/

EVENT: An extended happy hour to raise funds for EmpowerTech, a Westchester-based non-profit that provides computer training to persons living with disabilities. 100% of customer tips will be donated to EmpowerTech; the public is welcome and encouraged to attend.

WHO: Juliannah Richmond & Kimberli Russell—stars of the hit reality series, “Basketball Wives,” will join local community business leaders as “guest bartenders.”

FOR MORE Joan Anderson, Executive Director-- EmpowerTech
INFORMATION: (818) -665-8001/ janderson@empowertech.org

About Empowrtech:

Founded in 1986 as the “Computer Access Center”, EmpowerTech today uses modern Assistive Technology to help persons with disability obtain the skills and the confidence to perform important computing tasks that many take for granted such as accessing and using the Internet and creating and reading documents.

To learn more about EmpowerTech and to view some of its many, many success stories, please visit: http://www.empowertech.org/success.html.

EmpowerTech is having a FUNdraiser at Melody Bar & Grill!

Melody Bar and Grill is featuring the first annual Celebrity Bartending Event from 5pm to 9pm on Wednesday March 13. During that time, all tips from drinks poured by volunteer celebrity bartenders, 100% of tips collected go directly to support EmpowerTech’s programs.

Where: Melody Bar and Grill 
9132 S. Sepulveda Blvd Westchester, CA (4 minutes from LAX)

When: Wednesday March 13^th 5pm-9pm. We will work in shifts.

Why: Because you all are fun and it’s for a good cause!!!
 

·        Drinks will be poured by volunteer celebrity bartenders

o   Celebrity bartenders include: Juliannah Richmond (actress), Kimberli Russell (Basketball Wives), Barry Van Dyke, Karen Dial, Jim Kennedy, Dr. Kevin Walsh, Chamberlain Duru, and MORE!

·        100% of their collected tips will be used to support  EmpowerTech programs