January 24, 2014

• DACP video shoot offers participants the chance to strut down the catwalk

• Upcoming Portland Commission on Disability meetings schedule

• NFB Rose City Chapter to demonstrate at two Goodwill locations in February

• “PHAME@30” series launching on February 1 at Portland Center Stage

• Program for undergrads to learn more about health disparities available

• First-ever entrepreneurship crash course set for February 7th through 9th

• Incight’s Live Resume to be held February 13, submit info by January 24

• Visit the City’s and PCOD’s Facebook pages for current postings and news

Video shoot offers participants the chance to strut down the catwalk

Disability Art and Culture Projects’ (DACP) upcoming music video shoot is an opportunity to strut down the catwalk and show the true beauty of Portland’s diverse community. Participants will move on the catwalk, fashion show style, Saturday, January 25, from 1:30 to 5 pm at Zoomtopia, 810 SE Belmont Street.

The music video will be made to “I’m Too Sexy” by Right Said Fred and anyone can join in. For those who want to say what they are “too sexy for,” their voices can be recorded for the soundtrack. The video will be show at DACP’s Sex, Love and Disability Fundraiser and to introduce new audiences to how DACP creates opportunities for inclusive arts.

The goal is for the video to portray a group as diverse as possible in age, disability (apparent or non-apparent), sex, gender, race, economics, size, immigrant, refugee, etc.  Participants will need to sign a release form and further information is available by emailing Kathy Coleman at kafia2008@yahoo.com or Cheryl Green at info@storyminders.com.

February 2014 Portland Commission on Disability (PCOD) Meetings

PCoD Executive Board Meeting
Wednesday, February 5, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
St. Johns Room, Office of Equity & Human Rights
Commonwealth Building, 421 SW 6th Ave, Suite 500

PCOD Accessibility in the Built Environment Subcommittee (ABE)
Monday, February 10, 10 am to 1 pm
1900 Building, 1900 SW Fourth Ave, Room 4A

PCoD Public Outreach and Awareness Subcommittee
Tuesday, February 18, 4 to 6 p.m.
Broadway Room, Office of Equity & Human Rights
Commonwealth Building, 421 SW 6th Ave, Suite 500

PLEASE NOTE: All Portland Commission on Disability
meetings and events are open to the public.

NFB Rose City Chapter to demonstrate at Goodwill locations in February

The Rose City Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind has announced that it will be demonstrating in front of two Goodwill locations in February to raise awareness about their wage policies. The first of the two demonstrations will take place on Saturday, February 1, from noon to 2 pm at 1231 NE Broadway with the second one scheduled for Friday, February 21, from 3 to 5 pm at 838 SW 10th Avenue. A representative of the chapter says that everyone is welcome to join in the demonstration.

“PHAME @ 30” series launching on February 1 at Portland Center Stage

PHAME Academy kicks off its 30th anniversary this month on February 1 at 1 pm with “PHAME @ 30” in the Portland Center Stage Armory Atrium. The event is an afternoon of new plays written by PHAME playwrights. Comedy, drama, adventure, social commentary, history, and fantasy collide when local professional actors perform original pieces by eight of PHAME's creatively fearless playwrights.

The reading of the student-written plays is part of Portland’s Fertile Ground Festival of New Plays and offers rare and exciting opportunities for PHAME’s students. By joining PHAME as a "PHAME @ 30" season pass holder, attendees have a VIP seat to this performance and other inspiring shows throughout the year. Attendees can also buy individual tickets to the "New Plays" show through Fertile Ground Festival online, here.

Program for undergrads to learn more about health disparities available

The MCHC/RISE-UP Program is a 10-week summer program that begins May 26th and provides opportunities for enhanced public health training to eliminate health disparities and promote health equity. This program offers learning opportunities for students and has an ultimate goal to promote a more diversified and equal health system by introducing highly qualified undergraduate and students who received their baccalaureate degree within 12 months of MCHC/RISE-UP program orientation) from underrepresented groups to the field of public health. All students interested in addressing health disparities are encouraged to apply.

Public health experiences offered to students are:

• Clinical/Community: Students rotate through clinical experiences provided by Maternal and Child Health disciplines (pediatrics, psychiatry, neurology, physiatrist, physical therapy, occupational therapy, nutrition, social work, psychology, speech/language, special education and nursing). In addition, students will have planned experiences in providing community-based health care and support systems for underserved groups.
• Community Engagement and Advocacy: Students work with professionals in the University Center of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, Public Health and related systems on the formation, implementation and evaluation of health care and disability legislation, regulations and practice guidelines. The critical role of engaging underrepresented communities in shaping responsive systems of care receives a special emphasis.
• Research: Students work with research mentors on a wide range of public health prevention, treatment and epidemiological studies. Students receive training in conducting community-based participatory research, which engages communities that are currently underserved by mainstream systems.

To apply for admission into MCHC/RISE-UP, please complete the required application package by the application deadline of January 31, 2014. Questions may be directed to MCHC-RISE-UP@kennedykrieger.org with further information available at the Kennedy Krieger Institute website.

First-ever entrepreneurship crash course set for February 7th

Startup Weekend Access is set for Friday through Sunday, February 7-9, and is a first-ever special-edition Startup Weekend focused on entrepreneurship and accessibility. The event will be at the Portland Development Commission, 222 NW 5th Avenue and focus on innovations for and with the participation of people with disabilities.

Aspiring entrepreneurs, developers, designers, marketers, product managers, and entrepreneurs of all abilities come together to share startup ideas, form teams, build products, and launch startups. Essentially, it’s a crash course in entrepreneurship that lets participants experience what it’s really like to build and launch a startup. Whether a participant has an idea for a new mobile app to make life easier or just wants to learn more about entrepreneurship, they are encouraged to attend. The mission is to create an environment where anyone can innovate together.

There is a registration fee which also provides for meals.  For more information and to register, visit the event website. There are a very limited number of scholarships available for those on a tight budget. To apply, email swaccesspdx@gmail.com to apply or if there are questions.

Incight’s Live Resume to be held February 13, submit info by January 24

Incight is offering a “Live Resume” event on February 13 from 8:30 to 10:30 am and 20 selected participants will have three minutes to verbally present themselves to 10 to 15 employers. After presentations, there will be 45 minutes for networking. The event is for job-ready individuals who want to meet local businesses, work on their networking skills and practice their interviewing technique.

Participation in Live Resume is a competitive process with a limited number openings for job seekers. Interested individuals with disabilities need to submit their resumes and what type of job they are seeking to Tiana Tozer at tiana@incight.org no later than January 24, 2014.

The resumes and additional information, if requested, will be reviewed with selected candidates will be asked to attend a pre-interview at the Incight office in downtown Portland. Pre-screening interviews will take place January 27-30 and February 3-4, prior to the event. Candidates, who are selected to participate in the actual event, will be expected to attend a practice session also in downtown Portland on Tuesday, February 11. The candidates will be informed of the event’s location.

Anyone interested in participating must be available for all three steps of the event: pre-screening interview, practice session and actual event. Please contact Tiana Tozer with any questions at tiana@incight.org, or phone 971-244-0305.

Visit Disability Program Facebook page for news, event postings

The Office of Neighborhood Involvement Disability Program Facebook page features daily postings of news, videos, events and issues of interest to people with disabilities. Visit the program’s Facebook page to read these postings and other information posted daily on disability issues, news and concerns.

Get more news/information at the Commission’s website

You can access more information on resources, events and the Portland Commission on Disability at the program’s website:

http://www.portlandonline.com/equityandhumanrights/index.cfm?c=49185

The Commission has begun development of its own website, which is found at www.PortlandDisability.com. There are links for meeting calendars, the Commission’s Facebook page, commissioner profiles and other information. Please visit and follow the Commission’s development. Recently, the PCOD Facebook provided news about home health care workers right-to-organize under threat by court case, Amber Zion to interpret national anthem at Super Bowl in ASL, denouncing the term “mentally ill” and more.

To update your contact information, if you know someone who would like to receive the newsletter or if you wish to submit information for the newsletter, please call 503-823-4432 by phone or email admin@portlanddisability.com.

Please note: This information may also provided in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF formats. Please use the contact information above to make your request for an alternative format.

The Disability NEWS is created and distributed by the City of Portland’s Office of Equity and Human Rights and its Office of Neighborhood Involvement’s Disability Program.