East Suburban Citizen Advocacy

Special Olympics - Young Athletes

posted November 30, 2016
Special Olympics Young Athletes is an inclusive sports play program for children aged 2-7. Young Athletes is an early introduction to sports and to the world of Special Olympics, where children enjoy games and activities that develop motor skills, hand eye-coordination and social skills.

Spring Season 2017, Saturdays, 10-11 am, January 7 - February 25

Location: University of Pittsburgh, William Pitt Union, Room 501, 3959 Fifth Avenue, Pgh, Pa 15213

For more information, contact PittSPOAYA@gmail.com

ESCA Partners with Amazon (Smile)

posted November 30, 2016
AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support East Suburban Citizen Advocacy every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to ESCA.
To shop at AmazonSmile simply go to smile.amazon.com from the web browser on your computer or mobile device. You may also want to add a bookmark to AmazonSmile to make it even easier to return and start your shopping at AmazonSmile
On your first visit to AmazonSmile, you need to select East Suburban Citizen Advocacy, Inc to receive donations from eligible purchases before you begin shopping. Amazon will remember your selection, and then every eligible purchase you make on AmazonSmile will result in a donation.

Consider your Holiday Purchases through Amazon Smile, and ESCA will be greatly appreciative.

DrumStix Cancelled for Nov 3, 2016

posted November 03, 2016
Drumstix has been cancelled for Thursday November 3, 2016. See you next week.

Disability Rights Pennsylvania Announces Voting Rights Email and Hotline for Voters with Disabilities

posted November 02, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, November 1, 2016
Disability Rights Pennsylvania
301 Chestnut Street, Suite 300 Harrisburg, PA 17101
(800) 692-7443 (Voice)
(877) 375-7139 (TDD) www.disabilityrightspa.org
Contact: Peri Jude Radecic, CEO (717) 236-8110, Ext. 302


Disability Rights Pennsylvania Announces
Voting Rights Email and Hotline for Voters with Disabilities
717-839-5227 or email: electionday@disabilityrightspa.org 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on November 8

Harrisburg, PA – Disability Rights Pennsylvania (DRP), a leader in disability rights legal and advocacy services for nearly forty (40) years, will operate an email and telephone hotline to provide voter assistance to persons with disabilities in Pennsylvania on Election Day, Tuesday, November 8, 2016. Dedicated DRP attorneys and advocates will receive and respond to every email and phone call as they are received from
7:00 am to 8:00 pm on Election Day.
Voters with disabilities who encounter barriers to voting, have been refused the right to vote, have been challenged as to their residency or identity, want to verify their polling location, or who simply have questions about voting can email DRP at electionday@disabilityrightspa.org or call the hotline at 717-839-5227. The email and hotline will be staffed live from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm on November 8.
“This election is exceedingly important to our community.” said Peri Jude Radecic, Chief Executive Officer of Disability Rights Pennsylvania. “Our vote will help decide whether we have lawmakers who will vote to end waiting lists for home and community based services, increase support for competitive and integrated employment, provide adequate funding for Medicaid and Medicare, increase the availability of accessible and affordable housing, and more. I urge our community, our family, and our allies to turn out and vote on November 8.”
Protecting and advancing the rights of people with disabilities
Federal civil rights laws were passed to ensure that people with disabilities have access to polling places, are able to register to vote, have voting materials in accessible formats, and can exercise a private and independent vote. These laws include the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act of 1984, the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, and the Help America Vote Act of 2002.
Disability Rights Pennsylvania notes that barriers for people with disabilities on Election Day can include inaccessible polling places, lack of accommodations, voter intimidation, and accessible machine failures. Voters who experience problems or barriers should call 717-839-5227 or send an email to electionday@disabilityrightspa.org. Individuals who speak languages other than English should state their language and an interpreter will be connected to the call. Callers using the Pennsylvania Relay Service can dial 711.
Disability Rights Pennsylvania (DRP) is the statewide protection and advocacy agency for Pennsylvanians with disabilities. DRP protects and advocates for the rights of people with disabilities so that they may live the lives they choose, free from abuse, neglect, discrimination, and segregation. DRP’s vision is a Commonwealth where people of all abilities are equal and free. www.disabilityrightspa.org.