The Chesapeake Center, Inc. (CCI) is excited to announce several events taking place throughout the month of March in recognition of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. The theme of “SEE ME” was chosen to encourage the community to look beyond a person’s disability and see the same hopes and dreams that all people want and have the right to pursue in our lives. A #SeeMeTalbot social media campaign will highlight the many facets of people with disabilities in our community during the month of March.
On March 6, CCI is hosting a Business Seminar at the Talbot County Free Library in Easton from 9:30 – 2:30. The focus is inclusion in the workforce and will cover such topics as “Strengthening your Workforce” and the “Untapped Workforce” as well as an overview of the Employment FIRST Initiative by Kathleen Walker from the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Administration. Highlights will include employer success stories from Talbot County businesses. CEU’s will be available and lunch will be provided. Partners include the Talbot County Chamber of Commerce, and local representatives from the Department of Rehabilitative Services and the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.
On March 9th, also at the Talbot County Free Library in Easton, CCI will host an opening reception at 12 noon for their Art Exhibit “SEE ME”. The artwork on display will celebrate the intelligence, strengths, and abilities of people with developmental disabilities. Participants will include CCI, Benedictine Adult Services and the Arc of Central Chesapeake. Following the reception, a special showing of the movie “Intelligent Lives” will begin at 1:00pm. This award winning 70-minute movie follows three young adults with intellectual disabilities as they navigate high school, college and the workforce. The film shines a light on the shameful and ongoing track record of intelligence testing in the United States.
CCI is grateful to the United Fund of Talbot County for providing the grant funding to support these events. Since this year marks the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act it is important that we celebrate the accomplishments that have been made in the disability community while also recognizing that more work needs to be done to reach full acceptance of people with disabilities. For more information and to register, please contact the Chesapeake Center at 410-822-4122.
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