ICPJ member Jan Wright discusses her initial involvement volunteering with the organization to becoming an active member, involved with initiatives regarding climate change, local food, and trade agreements.

Debora Blake, J.D. and Director of ACCESS Education, Advocacy and Consultation discusses how parents of children with ADHD can best advocate for their children at school. She gives a basic overview with plenty of time for questions and answers.

This event is co-sponsored by AADL and CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder) of Washtenaw County.

Micheal A. Hudson, Museum Director at the Museum of the American Printing House for the Blind in Louisville, Kentucky explores major advances made in learning and literacy for folks who are blind or visually impaired since 1784, and introduces a few interesting characters that most people do not know about.

Micheal has been the museum director at the Museum of the American Printing House for the Blind since 2005. He holds an M.A. in the History of Technology from the University of Delaware and spent the first eighteen years of his professional life working in collections and exhibits at the Kentucky Historical Society in Frankfort.

This was one of several related events held in conjunction with the Downtown Library exhibit Child in a Strange Country: Helen Keller and the History of Education for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired, which was on display in the lobby of the Downtown Library and on the Third Floor from Friday, May 2 – Wednesday, June 25.

If you know someone who has vision loss, find out more about the services offered through Washtenaw Library for the Blind and Physically Disabled@AADL.

On May 14th, AADL held its Biennial Visions Vendor Fair at Washtenaw Community College. Over 500 people attended the event, which was cosponsored by the State of Michigan’s Bureau of Services for Blind Persons and Washtenaw Community College and funded in part by the Friends of AADL and the Ann Arbor Host Lions Club.

Here is a quick look back at the VISIONS 2014 Vendor Fair: What's New In Technology And Services for the Blind And Visually Impaired

Over the past 60 years, we, as a society, have gradually turned childhood into a time of resume building rather than a time of joyful play. The consequences of this include a dramatic rise in a wide variety of mental disorders in childhood, a rise in feelings of helplessness, a decline in empathy, and a decline in curiosity.

Nationally-known Childhood Expert Peter Gray, author of Free to Learn: Why Unleashing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life shows how children are biologically designed to educate themselves through play. Free play with other children—lots of it—is essential to children’s healthy intellectual, social, and emotional development.

Peter Gray is a research professor of psychology at Boston College who has conducted and published research in neuroendocrinology, animal behavior, developmental psychology, anthropology, and education. His recent research has focused on the role of play in human evolution and how children educate themselves through play. He also authors a regular blog for Psychology Today entitled Freedom to Learn.

Come join the conversation about sustainability in Ann Arbor! The City and the Ann Arbor District Library host the third annual Sustainable Ann Arbor series. The series includes four events (held monthly and ending in April) with each focusing on a different element of sustainability from Ann Arbor’s sustainability framework.

This final event in the series centers on Local Food, including highlights from the Ann Arbor farmers market, our local food economy, and tips on how to support and participate in Ann Arbor's local food system. Panelists include ​Jenna Bacolor, Executive Director, Community Education & Recreation Ann Arbor Public Schools; Hillary Bisnett, Healthy Food in Healthcare Project Director, Ecology Center​​​​; Sarah DeWitt​, Farmers Market Manager, City of Ann Arbor​; Robert Grese, Director, Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum; Professor, UM School of Natural Resources and Environment; and Yousef Rabhi​, Chair, Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners;

Each program will include a series of short presentations followed by a question and answer session. The forums offer an opportunity to learn more about sustainability in the community and tips for actions that residents can take to live more sustainably. Details of this series, and information and videos from current and past Sustainable Ann Arbor Forums, are posted on the City's website.

Do you have a child who has a disability? Are your aware of their legal rights?

Laura Athens discusses the legal rights of students with disabilities from preschool through high school. Protections under the Individuals with Disability Education Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act will be reviewed and educational options and dispute resolution options will also be discussed.

This event is cosponsored by the UM Council for Disability Concerns as part of the Council's Investing in Ability Week.

The P.L.A.Y. Project (Play & Language for Autistic Youngsters) is an evidence-based developmental intervention for families of young children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Founded in 2001 by Richard Solomon, M.D. in response to the lack of intensive early intervention services for children with ASD, the P.L.A.Y. Project is a practical approach to autism intervention that has helped thousands of families in close to 30 states and seven countries.During this presentation geared to parents and professionals, Dr. Solomon will provide an overview of The P.L.A.Y. Project model, including video examples, and will answer questions.Richard Solomon, MD, has nearly 20 years of experience working with children with autistic spectrum disorders as a developmental and behavioral pediatrician. He is an adjunct associate professor at the University of Michigan and the Medical Director and founder of The Ann Arbor Center for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics and The P.L.A.Y. Project (Play and Language for Autistic Youngsters).

AADL is extremely proud to host violinist, arts educator, and President of the Detroit-based Sphinx Organization Aaron Dworkin, as he discusses his long-awaited inspirational memoir "Uncommon Rhythm: A Black, White, Jewish, Jehovah's Witness, Irish Catholic Adoptee's Journey to Leadership." The book is a harrowing yet moving account of Aaron's personal journey through social isolation and discrimination to found one of the nation's cultural jewels, the Sphinx Organization. Books will be on sale at the event and the evening will include a book signing."Uncommon Rhythm" is a tapestry of stirring narrative, precious photos and poignant poems. A MacArthur Fellow, Aaron is driven by the single vision of inclusion for all, and hopes that this book will inspire all people who have ever felt like outsiders to nurture their own gifts and make valuable contributions to society.Named a MacArthur Fellow, a Member of the Obama National Arts Policy Committee and President Obama's first nominee to the National Council on the Arts, Aaron P. Dworkin is the Founder and President of the Sphinx Organization, the leading national arts organization that focuses on youth development and diversity in classical music. An author, social entrepreneur, artist-citizen and an avid youth education advocate, he has received extensive national recognition for his vast accomplishments.He is the recipient of the National Governors Association Distinguished Service to State Government Award, Detroit Symphony's Lifetime Achievement Award, Michiganian of the Year, Crain's 40 Under 40 and Who's Who Awards, BET's History Makers in the Making Award, AT&T Excellence in Education Award, University of Michigan's African-American Alumni Council's 5 Under 10 Award, Entrepreneur Of The Year Award by the National Black MBA Association-Detroit Chapter, and Interlochen Arts Academy's 2003 Path of Inspiration Award.He has also been named one of Newsweek's 15 People Who Make America Great and has been featured in People Magazine, on NBC's Today Show and Nightly News with Brian Williams, on CNN's Airport Network-Innovator Series and Anderson Cooper 360 and on NPR's The Story and Performance Today. In addition, he has appeared in numerous articles in The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Detroit News and Free Press, Washington Post, Chronicle of Philanthropy, Emerge and Jet Magazines and many other media outlets.

Dyslexia, a language-based learning disability that affects between 5-10% of the population, affects reading, spelling, and writing. As a result, the school years can be extremely challenging for both the student and the parents. Dr. Joanne Marttila Pierson, Associate Director of UM's University Center for the Development of Language and Literacy (UCLL), will discuss this difficult learning disability and introduce UCLL's new dyslexia web-based curriculum and resource center www.dyslexiahelp.umich.edu. She will also discuss strategies to help navigate the school years and build a strong foundation for success. This event is co-sponsored by the Institute For Human Adjustment at the University of Michigan.