The Cisneros Center for New Americans is excited to announce the creation of the American Dream Fellowship, a paid opportunity for young and driven leaders who are passionate about empowering new immigrant families to fully engage their communities and live out their American Dream.

During this paid 13-month fellowship, fellows will work together with community stakeholders in our inaugural host community of Northwest Arkansas to address barriers to integration for new immigrant families. Fellows will educate, advocate, and innovate.

Educate. Fellows will work to instill a sense of urgency about education in new immigrant families by engaging family members in educational goals and breaking down barriers to academic achievement. In the process, the Fellows themselves will grow in their understanding and appreciation of the host community, and will embark in their own journey of personal growth.

Advocate. Fellows will work to Improve access for new immigrants to the resources and services they need to pursue the American Dream, including through the path we have developed: A Road Map to The American Dream. To do this, Fellows will create strong and meaningful relationships with community members and stakeholders, and use their work to lend a voice to the community’s needs.

Innovate. Fellows will work closely with the community to leverage collective impact, proven strategies, and innovative technologies. The host community’s leadership and fellows will work closely to generate creative solutions that maximize resources and impact.  [Read more…]

Open our Annual Conference Guide (in PDF or plain text) to find everything you need to know about the 2014 Annual Conference.

Then, register online or by using the printable registration form. Online registration gives you the ability to register up to three attendees with one transaction and accepts Discover, American Express, Visa and MasterCard.

All registrations received and paid before April 30, 2014 are eligible for the Early Bird registration rates.

This year, you can use NCIL’s custom link to reserve your room at the Grand Hyatt.

New – 45 Day Hyatt Guestroom Cancellation Policy

Grand Hyatt room reservations cancelled after close of business (5:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time) 45 days prior to arrival will be subject to a non-refundable cancellation charge equal to one night’s room & tax.  [Read more…]

The next White House Office of Public Engagement disability community conference call featuring Catherine E. Lhamon, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education, will take place on Thursday, March 27, 2014.  The call is the White House’s way of keeping you informed about various disability policy issues, introducing you to Administration officials who work on these issues, and hearing your input. The White House strongly urges you spread the words among your networks.

• When: March 27, 2014; 3:00 p.m. Eastern (Please dial in 5 minutes early)
• RSVP online. Once you register, a confirmation page will display dial-in numbers and a unique PIN. You will also receive an email confirmation of this information.
• This call is accessible to deaf and hard of hearing participants via live captioning. For live captioning feature, at the start time of the call, please login to CART.

*This call is off the record and not for press purposes.

Through the Looking Glass is offering two scholarships for high school seniors or college students who have parents with disabilities. A total of fifteen $1000 scholarships will be given out in the fall 2014.

There are separate requirements for high school seniors and college students:

High School Seniors

To be eligible, a student must be a high school graduate (or graduating senior) by the summer of 2014, planning to attend a two-year or four-year college in the fall of 2014 in pursuit of an AA, AS, BA or BS degree, and have at least one parent with a disability.

College Students

To be eligible, a student must be currently enrolled in a technical or vocational school or a two-year or four-year college with continued enrollment through fall 2014 in pursuit of an AA, BA or BS degree, be 21 years of age or younger as of March 17, 2014, and have at least one parent with a disability.

Selection criteria for both scholarships include academic performance, community activities and service, letter of recommendation and an essay describing the experience of growing up with a parent with a disability.  [Read more…]

The HSC Foundation, in partnership with the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL), is now accepting applications for a paid fellowship position with the organizations’ disability youth transition and collaboration work. This fellowship is ideal for a person with a disability who has an interest in youth career transitions and employment solutions. The fellowship starts in June 2014, and continues for 12 months. Under the supervision of NCIL’s Executive Director, the Youth Transitions Fellow (YTF) will gain exposure to youth programs serving people with disabilities and will have the opportunity to facilitate collaboration among internship, fellowship, and apprenticeship programs based in the Greater Washington, DC area.

Read the full job description and application instructions.

The next White House Office of Public Engagement disability community conference call featuring a senior Administration official will take place on Wednesday, February 26th. The call is the Administration’s way of keeping you informed about various disability policy issues, introducing you to Administration officials who work on these issues, and hearing your input.

• Date of Call: Wednesday, February 26, 2014
• Start Time: 3:00 p.m. EDT (please dial in 5 minutes early)
• All participants must rsvp. Once you rsvp, a confirmation page will display dial-in numbers and a unique PIN. You will also receive an email confirmation of this information.
• This call is accessible via live captioning. Go to live captioning.

This call is off the record and not for press purposes.

Dear Advocates and Friends,

2013 was a trying time for our nation and for the Independent Living Movement. As we anticipated and adjusted to the new healthcare law, gridlock gripped Washington, eventually leading to shutdown. In the midst of overwhelming obstacles, our community fought back. We brought the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities back to the Senate. We took major steps toward bringing about an Independent Living Administration. And in every town and every city, advocates did the hard work, on the ground, to protect the civil rights of people with disabilities and actualize our dream: independence for all.

Yet many of our brothers and sisters remain locked in nursing facilities and other institutions. The Independent Living Program remains a hostage to the whims of bureaucrats. And American culture has not yet fully embraced the Independent Living philosophy of consumer control.

These are battles we can win – with your help. For that reason, I ask that you become a NCIL Member. Your direct participation in the national Independent Living Movement is critical for its success.

NCIL continues to provide first class member benefits, including training and technical assistance, insurance benefits, and a world-class Annual Conference. Most importantly, NCIL provides its members with representation on Capitol Hill, ensuring that our voices are heard by those with the power to enact our priorities. I hope you will join us as we build a future of independence for all.

• Open the NCIL 2013 Annual Report in PDF or plain text.

Sincerely,

Kelly Buckland, Executive Director

The spring edition of NCIL’s Legislative & Advocacy Priorities is now available at the NCIL website.

• NCIL Legislative & Advocacy Priorities (PDF or plain text).

This document contains specific information on the national legislative and policy priorities identified biannually by the NCIL membership, including funding for the Independent Living Program, healthcare and long-term care, housing, transportation, education, and more.

Please share this document with your Center or SILC staff, board, and the Senators and Representatives who serve your districts.

Contact NCIL for further information on the issues discussed in this document.

The HSC Foundation’s ADA Program is seeking the next generation of disability advocates! Young leaders with a disability are encouraged to apply for up to $10,000 in funding.

The Advocates in Disability Award (ADA) program awards and encourages a young adult with a disability between the ages of 14 and 26 who is dedicated to positively affecting the lives of individuals with disabilities and their families. The program also supports an innovative project developed by the recipient to serve and empower individuals with disabilities.

Funded by both The HSC Foundation and the Sarah Beth Coyote Foundation, the selected recipient is awarded $3,000 in recognition of his or her disability advocacy and will receive up to an additional $7,000 in funding support for a project to benefit the disability community. Applicants must be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States at the time of application submission and recipient selection.  [Read more…]