Get Started with Social Media

Friday, December 2, 2016

2:00 PM

North Country Center for Independence

80 Sharron Avenue

Plattsburgh, New York 12901

518-563-9058

This Friday, NCCI will host "Get Started with Social Media," a workshop for people with disabilities interested in using social media. The event is free, and will provide a basic overview of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and several other social media platforms.

Topics will include:

- Key features of different social media platforms.

- Which platform best fits your skills, interests, and personality?

- Privacy, security, and how to make social media a positive experience.

- People with disabilities and disability culture online.

Whether you are experienced, just starting out, or just curious about social media, come join us with your questions, concerns, and ... if you can ... bring your devices!

Last Week on Twitter

Last week on NCCI’s Twitter feed …

Last Week on Twitter

Here’s what was on NCCI’s Twitter Feed last week:

Post-Election Reading

If you are trying to sort through what the election results mean for people with disabilities, there is a growing list of articles and statements you can read. Some are dire and gloomy. A few strive for firm, assertive calm. Others are almost optimistic, and could work just as well if a different candidate had won.

Taken together, these pieces help flesh out what is at stake, and what people with disabilities want to see, and don't want to see, from the next Presidential administration.

I’m a disabled American. Trump’s policies will be a disaster for people like me.

Ari Ne’eman, Vox.com - November 9, 2016

ADAPT's Open Letter to President-Elect Trump

American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today (ADAPT) - November 9, 2016

Statement from the National Disability Leadership Alliance on Solidarity and the 2016 Presidential Election

National Disability Leadership Alliance - November 9, 2016

10 Things the New Administration Can do to Address Disability Rights

The Ruderman Family Foundation - November 11, 2016

An Open Letter to President-elect Trump on Behalf of Americans with Disabilities

Michael Morris, Huffington Post - November 14, 2016

Election Day +1

Whether you are happy with the election's outcome or not, we as people with disabilities are going to need to pay even closer attention to our civil rights and the service structures we relay on. Big changes of ANY kind are always risky, especially for people with disabilities. Although the election is over, now is the time to learn more about disability issues. We can't let it all drop again until the next election.

Locally, we have a new Mayor in Plattsburgh, Colin Reed, and a new state Assembly Member, Billy Jones. We will need to get to know them, and help them to know the disability community better.

We will have to work twice as hard tomorrow as we did yesterday. But people with disabilities are strong. We have to be. We can do it.

NCCI is on Twitter

By now, most people have probably heard of Twitter, though what they’ve heard is often not so pleasant. Is it the tool of choice for sophisticated bullying? Is it a toy for self-important nobodies who think people care about what they ordered in a restaurant? What can anyone possibly say in 140 characters anyway?

Twitter is an acquired taste, but at its best, is an incredible tool of online communication and community-building. It is worth the time to explore, especially if you have a particular interest, like disability life, culture, and issues. Starting today, NCCI will post a recap of everything we shared on Twitter the week before. This will include bits of information, links to interesting disability-related articles, and “Retweets,” that is, copies of things other people on Twitter have said that we think are worth reading.

If you are interested in exploring Twitter yourself, and would like a little guidance, stay tuned for possible trainings here in the North Country. In the meantime, take a few moments to complete our free, completely anonymous Social Media Survey. The results will help give us a better idea of what kinds of social media the North Country disability community uses and would like to use.

Here are last week’s NCCI tweets:

Disability Questions for North Country Election Candidates

Disability issues have been discussed a little more than usual in this year's elections, mostly focused on the Presidential candidates. However, a lot of important disability policy is made in Congress, and by state and local elected officials.

Here are some questions we would like North Country candidates to answer on issues that matter to people with disabilities and their families:

Mayor and City Council

What specific actions should the City government take, beyond bare-bones compliance with accessibility laws, to make the downtown area of Plattsburgh accessible for residents and visitors with disabilities?

County Legislatures

What specific policies and strategies should County governments use to make transportation more accessible, reliable, and affordable for people with disabilities?

Judges, District Attorneys, County Sheriffs

What would you do to prevent harm to people with disabilities from mishandled encounters with law enforcement … including people with cognitive impairments, autism, or mental illness?

State Legislatures

Would you support increasing State Medicaid funding for home care, in order to meet new overtime pay requirements without cutting services that maintain disabled peoples’ basic independence?

Congress

Do you support or oppose "ADA notification bills," which seek to prohibit people with disabilities from suing businesses for Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility violations, unless they first give written notice and allow a waiting period, such as 90 days?

We look forward to honest, thoughtful answers to these questions from all the local North Country candidates. Candidates may send replies to Robert Poulin, Executive Director, at: robert@ncci-online.com. Answers will be shared unedited here on the NCCI Blog, and on NCCI’s Facebook and Twitter pages.