Omnipotent October
Omnipotent is one of our favorite “O” words, and it helps us to celebrate the month of October with alliteration. Omnipotent means “all-powerful,” and we recognize that none of us can (or even want to be) all-powerful. Nevertheless, we all could use a bit more power at times.
October brings us many blindness-related month and day recognitions, including:
- National Disability Employment Awareness Month
- World Blindness Awareness Month
- Blind Equality Achievement Month
- October 15:
- White Cane Awareness Day
- White Cane Safety Day
- Blind Americans Equality Day
- And, in the United Kingdom, they celebrate National Braille Awareness Week October 9-15 this year!
This month, we are so excited to highlight information and tools that empower blind/low vision individuals – taking a step toward Omnipotence!
- October 1: Harnessing Information Using Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses with David De Notaris
- October 8: Advocacy Information and Resources
- October 15: White Cane Information and Resources
- October 22: Braille Information and Resources
- October 29: Employment Information and Resources
This week, we share advocacy and information resources and for blind/low vision students and young adults. Remember, advocacy is a great way of raising awareness every day – especially during Blindness Awareness Month!
Why Advocacy?
As people who are blind/have low vision, we meet many others who have little understanding about what we need. Sometimes those people make wrong assumptions, and their “help” can actually be very unhelpful.
Advocacy Information and Resources in the Bridges Resource Library
Roots of Our Rights: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Origins of the Americans with Disabilities Act entry
ADA in Education entry
ADA in Employment and Government entry
ADA in Employment and Independent Living entry
Advocacy in Education in High School
Self-determination
Figure Out What You Need—Self-determination entry
Determining What Training You Need entry
Assessing and Meeting Accessible Assistive Technology Needs entry
Sample Goals for Secondary Transition Self-Advocacy entry
Accommodations
Types of Assessment Accommodations entry
Accommodations Versus Modifications entry
Self-advocacy with school staff
Coaching Your Teachers on Accessibility entry
Getting the Accessible AT Devices and Training You Need into Your IEP entry
Advocacy in Education After High School
Life After IEPs—When Do Things Change, and Why? entry
Life After IEP—Changes in Rights to Accommodations and Modifications entry
Life After IEPs—Changes in Rights to Instructional Services entry
Life After IEPs—Changes in Rights to Accessible Equipment entry
Advocacy in the community
Healthcare settings
Reasonable Accommodation Rights in Healthcare Settings entry
Transportation
Rights When Traveling by Air entry
Guide Dog User Rights in Ride-shares and Cabs entry
Guide Dog User Rights in Public Places entry
Guide Dog User Rights in Maryland Reference Sheet entry
White Cane User Rights entry
White Cane User Rights in Maryland Reference Sheet entry
Advocacy resources from the ACB and the NFB (blind/low vision consumer organizations)
Media and Publications from the American Council of the Blind entry
Publications and Media from the National Federation of the Blind entry
Self-Advocacy Tools from the National Federation of the Blind entry
Advocacy Resources from the American Council of the Blind entry
Reach Out to Us at the Free Bridges Helpdesk anytime!
Please check out the Bridges Technical Assistance Center Resource Library today!
Contact us
Follow the Bridges Helpdesk Facebook page for more transition tips, and please contact the Bridges Technical Assistance Center’s Free Helpdesk for Maryland Blind/Low Vision Transition Students, Families, and Educators anytime using:
- Our Accessible web form
- Email: Helpdesk@IMAGEmd.org
- Text or Leave a Voice mail message: (410) 357-1546
- Bridges Helpdesk Facebook page or Facebook Messenger
This unique project is being coordinated through The IMAGE Center of Maryland, a center for independent living in Towson.