In this first blog of a multi-part series, we explore the importance of making sure both public and private natural resources are available to all who want to enjoy being outdoors in New Jersey. 

While there are activities where accommodations may be impossible for some, New Jersey offers a vast array of natural experiences for all. 

New Jersey is known as the Garden State but make no mistake, in addition to gardens and farms galore, NJ boasts more than 452,000 acres of natural and historic property including forests, parks, and recreation areas. Visitors are invited to take part in a variety of activities including biking, hiking, camping, boating, swimming, and picnicking. 

However, for the many New Jersey residents and visitors with disabilities, the New Jersey State Park Service’s invitation to “take advantage of all our recreational, natural, and historical resources” might seem daunting. They might be “opening a doorway to adventure,” as the park’s website says, but adults and children with disabilities require certain accommodations to take it all in. 

As always, Easterseals NJ has you covered. We are committed to making New Jersey accessible, and we do it in a variety of ways. This blog series will be a great resource for New Jerseyans living with disabilities who know that there is nothing they can’t do! 

Check out this website: Recreation and Leisure Services for Individuals with Disabilities Resource Directory. It’s a great resource, broken down by county, offering information on outdoor recreation areas that follow ADA guidelines and offer, when appropriate, options for people with disabilities to get out there and enjoy New Jersey’s bounty of natural resources. 

Why Is Accessibility to Nature Important? 

The importance of physical fitness isn’t a secret. The ability to be outdoors, breathe fresh air, and enjoy the mental and emotional benefits of our beautiful surroundings knows no bounds, nor disabilities. Access to New Jersey’s natural resources is critically vital to one’s happiness and overall well-being.  

That being said, for those living with disabilities, access to New Jersey’s parks and recreational areas can be discouraging. Thankfully, New Jersey (with the help of many private organizations) is committed to making nature as accessible as possible—regardless of one’s age or abilities. 

More than the mental and physical benefits of enjoying our natural world, access to outdoor recreation is educationally significant. The more we are all able to explore and enjoy nature, the more we will be able to understand the world around us.

Nature is truly the world’s science lab and every single person should have access to it. 

According to a great website, Nature For All (which happens to focus mostly on accessibility for individuals with low vision), “understanding nature and its importance to people and communities around the globe increases awareness of the need to conserve natural areas of our planet and work together to reduce the effects of climate change.” 

What’s Next?

In our next blog in this series, we will focus on Braille Trails and Sensory Gardens—two important resources for people living with blindness and low vision to learn more about how they can experience New Jersey’s wonderful parks, trails, and gardens safely. 

As always, the first step to making New Jersey more inclusive is advocacy. Easterseals NJ is committed to increasing the public’s understanding of the needs of people living with disabilities.  

As they say, “the more you know.” Want to be part of the solution? Join the Easterseals NJ Advocacy effort and lend your voice to our mission. Sign up here: I want to be an advocate! 

The post Part One: Making Nature in New Jersey More Accessible appeared first on Easterseals New Jersey Blog.

It’s that time of year again…time to shop ‘til you drop, find the perfect holiday presents, and cross out every person on your list.  

Regardless of which holiday you are celebrating, unless you started shopping months ago, you still have a long way to go to find gifts everyone will love. 

We have a great way to cut down on the hassles associated with dealing with crowds at stores, and you are probably doing it already—shop online! In fact, if you are already a fan of Amazon (or are willing to take a peek) the AmazonSmile program will allow you to get great deals and support Easterseals NJ at the same time!  

In other words: every time you make a purchase, a donation will be made by Amazon to Easterseals NJ! Easterseals NJ is dedicated to expanding opportunities for people living with disabilities in the Garden State. Every donation helps us support our participants in their education, careers, and access to the services they need. 

What is Amazon Smile?

AmazonSmile is a way for shoppers to get the items they need at Amazon’s great prices while automatically supporting their favorite charity—Easterseals NJ! You simply visit smile.amazon.com, browse as you normally would and when you make a purchase—bam!—you are supporting a great cause. 

How Does AmazonSmile Work?

It’s quite easy! Visit smile.amazon.com on your mobile device or computer and select our charity – Easterseals New Jersey – from the list of options.  

That’s it! There’s nothing else to do except make your purchases as you always do. After you connect your Amazon account with Easterseals NJ as an AmazonSmile beneficiary, the charity will receive 0.5% of every purchase you make! 

Important Things to Know About AmazonSmile

• You need to make your purchases through smile.amazon.com to ensure Easterseals NJ receives the donation. Create a bookmark to AmazonSmile on your device so it’s easy to find every time you want to make a purchase. 
  
• You can use your existing account with AmazonSmile! No need to create separate accounts. And, if you set up a baby or bridal registry, or create a wish list, you can link that account to AmazonSmile as well. 
  
• Not all products sold on Amazon are eligible for AmazonSmile charitable donations. Make sure to look for eligible products which are marked “Eligible for AmazonSmile donation” on the product detail pages.  
  
• If you sign up for subscribe and save plans, these will not generate donations for Easterseals NJ through AmazonSmile. 

The post AmazonSmile: Make Purchases & Support Easterseals NJ appeared first on Easterseals New Jersey Blog.

There is still time to request an absentee ballot in New Jersey

Do you want to vote in the 2022 midterm elections but are unable to get to your assigned voting place on Nov. 8, 2022? No problem!

By November 1, 2022 you can request a mail-in paper ballot. Start by pressing this link: https://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/vote-by-mail.shtml

Be sure to follow all directions. Don’t forget to return your ballot! It must be put in a drop box, returned to your County Board of Elections or postmarked by Nov 8, 2022, for your vote to be counted. 

You can also go to an in person early voting location from Oct. 26 – Nov. 6. You can find a location in your County and hours here.  

Americans with Disabilities Have a Voice!

There are many realms in our society where Americans with disabilities are consistently fighting to be included and appropriately accommodated. But, when it comes to having a voice where it really counts—at the voting booths—almost 38 million adults (50 and older) with disabilities are “politically active and engaged leading into the upcoming midterm election,” according to a recent national survey conducted by Easterseals, AARP, and Pathfinder Opinion Research.

It should come as no surprise this population of voters care about issues like inflation, Social Security, and Medicare, the August 2022 survey results revealed.

“Further, this group, who relies heavily on early vote methods and other various accommodations to participate in elections, displays broad and bipartisan support for policies that make it easier to vote and are deeply concerned that politicians passing restrictive voting laws are making it more difficult for older Americans and adults with disabilities to participate electorally,” according to the report summary.

Key Points of Note:

• 9 in 10 Americans with disabilities are registered to vote.
• 89% of those registered voters say they will “definitely” or “probably” vote in the 2022 midterm elections.
• However, only 47% of voters with disabilities (and even fewer people over age 50 in the same population—39%) say they plan to vote in person at their respective polling locations on Election Day, Nov. 8, 2022.
• This population uses early voting methods because almost 50% require special accommodations. You can obtain a mail-in ballot here.

“By combining these survey results with Census estimates for this population, we can conclude that there are more than 33 million registered voters with disabilities in America, and nearly 30 million of these voters are likely to turn out in the 2022,” the report said.

Always looking to increase public awareness of the millions of people living with disabilities in the United States, Easterseals was happy to partner with Pathfinder and AARP to uncover the population’s views on this year’s elections. Easterseals maintains that it’s critically important for all Americans to understand their voting rights and to use their voice whenever possible at the polls.

Current laws diminish this voting population’s access to vote because accommodations are not mandated. As such, the survey also revealed “There is strong bipartisan support for reform that would make it easier for voters with disabilities and those 50+ to vote.”

Voters over the age of 50 with disabilities are, indeed, a major voting block in this country. The three entities summarized their efforts with this survey like this: “Together, we want to make certain people with disabilities know their voting rights, including when, where, and how to vote. The disability community is a powerful force that will not be silenced this election.”

You can view the full summary of this study here. 

The post Survey Shows: Americans with Disabilities are a Major Voting Block appeared first on Easterseals New Jersey Blog.

It comes as quite a surprise to many business owners that the provisions detailed in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) extend to websites. Well, it most certainly does!

People living with disabilities have every right to live, learn, work, and play using the Internet, just like anyone else. They know all too well that many companies aren’t aware of updates made to the original 1990 ADA. Their failure to accommodate people who are blind, deaf, living with mobility issues, etc., has made it difficult for people with disabilities to use the web.

Just as physical accommodations must be included in public and privately owned buildings, like wheelchair ramps, restroom accommodations, braille signage, etc., accommodations must also be added to websites. According to the ADA, websites must be accessible to users of all abilities.

Give it a moment’s thought and you’ll quickly come to the obvious conclusion that making your website accessible to all users is simply good business. Why turn away prospective customers because your site isn’t navigable?

Further, it’s the law. With the enhanced ADA provisions enacted in 2010, all forms of advertising, including websites and social media platforms, are required to be compliant.. failure to comply could result in hefty fines…thousands of dollars!

What Makes a Website ADA Compliant?

Accessibility is the key provision laid out in the ADA guidelines. While we’re most familiar with the physical accommodations mentioned above, there are many modifications that can be made to websites to make them more accessible. Consider the list of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) first published by the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) in 1995.

Simply put, focus on making your website easy to use—for all users.

A reputable web developer should be familiar with the guidelines laid out in the ADA, and should be able to enhance your site to bring it up to compliance.

Don’t be penny wise and pound foolish. In other words, paying a web developer to bring your site up to ADA standards today will cost you a lot less than one non-compliance fine tomorrow.

Benefits of Making your Website ADA Compliant

Aside from the obvious benefit, which is avoiding hefty fines for non-compliance, making your website accessible to all users will benefit your business in many ways.

Consider the following:

• Include people living with disabilities as part of your customer base because they are prospects! Don’t give users a reason to abandon your site because of lack of accessibility.

• Improve brand image so you can gain a positive reputation for being accessible.

• Capture older users; No demographic should be excluded from using your site.

• Enhance your SEO; An ADA-compliant website has a better search presence.

• Increase overall site usability for the benefit of all users, not just those people living with disabilities.

When is a good time to upgrade your website to make it ADA compliant?

Today! Don’t wait another minute. This is a process that will require expertise and care, along with thorough and extensive testing.

Get the ball rolling as soon as possible and you’ll be rewarded with a whole new population of customers!

The post Is Your Business Website ADA Compliant? appeared first on Easterseals New Jersey Blog.

If you are super lucky, you love your work. Getting up every day is a thrill and you can’t wait to see what new information the day will bring. However, if you are, unfortunately, like most, you go to work to earn a paycheck. And, hopefully, you have more good days than bad.

If you find yourself “not fitting in” at work, stop and think. Does your company have a Diversity and Inclusion policy that protects you?

Statistics reveal that companies throughout the United States are placing more and more weight on this issue of diversity. They are creating programs to make everyone feel they are an important and valued member of the team. Recognition programs are on the rise. Many employees are finding homes with employers who value the differences they bring to company culture, rather than focusing on how differences can divisive.

On the other hand, there are no shortage of companies that haven’t zeroed in on a commitment to advancing strategies that foster diversity and inclusion. Even if there is a desire to do so, management hasn’t invested the resources, time and talent, to bringing the programs to life.

At Work, Inclusivity Begins at the Top

The Organization CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion “aims to rally the business community to advance diversity and inclusion within the workplace. The CEO pledge outlines a specific set of actions the signatory CEOs will take to cultivate a trusting environment where all ideas are welcome, and employees feel comfortable and empowered to have discussions about diversity and inclusion.”

Easterseals New Jersey wholeheartedly supports this effort. We recognize that more than 1,600 Chief Executive Officers have signed this pledge, and more companies than ever before are actively making the topics of diversity and inclusion part of their annual meetings and strategies.

One fact coming from the study is that DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) was named a top priority for many of the executives. According to Gartner, the importance of the topic appeared to be “1.8 times higher in 2020 than in 2019.” The same study claims there was about an 800 percent rise in online job postings in that time by recruiters who are committed to diversity.

Another survey reports developing, adopting, and encouraging progress in corporate diversity programs was at the top of corporate 2021 priority lists.

When It Comes to Inclusionary Practices, Does Your Company Make the Grade?

It’s hard to raise your hand and admit your company has shrugged off issues of diversity and inclusion this long. We get that. But today is a great day to get started.  We’ve all heard (and likely experienced) fallout from the Great Resignation. Turning a blind eye to creating a workplace where all employees feel accepted, respected, and valued isn’t going to do your company any favors in getting positions filled with quality talent.

However, it’s not only about hiring people to create the appearance of diversity and inclusion. It’s about both talking the talk and walking the walk. When your team represents all walks of life and truly seeks input from people who help to foster a diverse culture, you will be at the precipice of something truly amazing. Allowing all members of your team to have a voice, especially when it comes to decision-making strategies and program development, does myriad things. It:

1. Invites everyone to have a seat at the table.
2. Shows tangible commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
3. Produces ideas from many that a few couldn’t have possibly dreamed up by themselves.

That’s the true value of diversity and inclusion: Understanding that everyone has a voice that deserves to be heard. The best ideas come from people who feel valued and encouraged to speak their minds. Creating an inclusionary workplace where no idea is a bad idea, but instead a steppingstone to build on will help to attract the best and brightest talent to your doorstep (or Zoom/Teams screen if you are remote).

Hiring? Find out how you can become a resource for Easterseals New Jersey  and help Easterseals’ clients to prepare for the workforce.

Easterseals New Jersey is a tremendous resource for individuals and families with disabilities and special needs. We offer many programs and services that make a profound difference in lives of individuals and their  families every day. Please contact Easterseals New Jersey to find out how you can get involved and create positive change.

The post Easterseals New Jersey Supports CEOs Who Support Workplace Diversity and Inclusion appeared first on Easterseals New Jersey Blog.