>Ridgewood – The Ridgewood Community Access Network (CAN) will be presenting a 3-day disability awareness program October 2-4. Click Here
Entitled “Access Ridgewood”, the program will seek to generate awareness about “our abilities, disabilities, special gifts and special needs.” The program will consist of the following five elements:
– Students – Each of Ridgewood’s public schools will participate in the program. New Jersey Department of Human Services Commissioner Jennifer Velez will lead a discussion at Ridgewood High School. The movie, “Autism: The Musical”, will be shown at Benjamin Franklin Middle School and George Washington Middle School, and Linda Walder Fiddle, Executive Director of The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation, will lead a discussion. And theme-based activities will be held at Village elementary schools.
– Seniors – An event – “Seniors…Able Body, Able Minds” – will be held at the Village’s Community Center. The program will include comments from New Jersey Director of Aging and Community Service Greg Papazian, New Jersey Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Field Representative Traci Burton, and presentations from the Ridgewood Department of Parks and Recreation, Valley Hospital, and the Ridgewood YMCA.
– Community Fair – There will be an event showcasing the talents and abilities of several children and young adults with disabilities. Bergen County Disability Director Jim Thebery will emcee the event. Local organizations will also be on hand to share their disability-related work, services and programs. Several New Jersey political leaders will be on hand, including Lt. Governor nominee Loretta Weinberg, Assemblyman Dave Russo, Assemblyman Scott Rumana, and Bergen County Executive Dennis McNerney,
– “Forrest Gump” Showing – The local Clearview theater will be showing – free of charge – the much-acclaimed production of “Forrest Gump”, a movie that underscores the capacity of anyone to accomplish great things.
– Interfaith Service – Ridgewood’s religious community will come together in a very special service that will focus on the need to embrace everyone, regardless of a person’s “abilities, disabilities, special gifts, and special needs.” Captioning available for those with hearing impairments.
This entire program is being co-sponsored by the following companies and organizations: Clearview Cinema, North Jersey Community Bank, Ridgewood News, Ridgewood Press, Suburban News, TD Bank, TotalCaption, and the Village of Ridgewood’s Learning Services Home & School Association.
