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Jon Cryer Issue

Articles in the Jon Cryer Issue; VOICEYE — It’s Free; Ashley Fiolek — On the Go!: Humor — Dying to Know: Geri Jewell — Sticky Situation: China — The Great Tangshan Earthquake: Part 1: Long Haul Paul — A LifeCycle: Ruderman — A Family with a Strong Foundation: Comcast — Live Olympic Games Audio Description: Hugh Herr — Bionic Innovation: Jon Cryer — Two and a Half Miles for Shane’s Inspiration: Debra Ruh — Hire Talent, Now!: Jennifer Sheehy — Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor: ABILITY’s Crossword Puzzle; Events and Conferences.

The Great Tangshan Earthquake. Image: Woman, crying bleeding and covered in dust

The Great Tangshan Earthquake: Part 1

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In 1976, a powerful earthquake struck Tangshan in northeastern China, nearly destroying the entire city and taking the lives of 240,000. At the time, international experts estimated those wounded who became paraplegics would not live beyond 15 years. However, 40 years later, 817 out of 960 are still alive. Though they escaped the hand … Read more

Title: Jon Cryer-The Goodhearted Thespian. Image: John Cryer is happily sits in a sunny park setting, surrounded by grass, trees and bushes.

JON CRYER — Two and a Half Miles for Shane’s Inspiration

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Born to a playwright and an actor, Jon Cryer’s fate as a performer was sealed from birth. However, being an actor and in the eye of the public on a regular basis can be a lot of work. Watching Cryer take photo after photo with admiring fans, his smile never once faded. Try smiling … Read more

Title: Tapping Into Disability. Image: Debra Ruh stands with diverse members of the TecAccess team.

DEBRA RUH — Hire Talent, Now!

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In 1987 while working as a systems administrator and executive in the banking industry, Debra Ruh gave birth to a beautiful girl, Sara, who was perfect and happened to have Down syndrome. Ruh found the world had very low expectations for Sara. Later, Ruh was drawn to Virginia for both work and better educational opportunities for … Read more

HUGH HERR — Bionic Innovation

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Engineer and biophysicist Hugh Herr knows what it’s like to lose a limb. He also knows how important it is to have reliable prosthetics that get you back in the game. A double amputee himself, Herr heads the Biomechatronics research group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Media Lab, as well as his … Read more

Title: Building a Foundation for Social Justice. Image Jay Ruderman speaks at the Ruderman Inclusion Summit.

RUDERMAN — A Family with a Strong Foundation

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Jay Ruderman is president of the Ruderman Family Foundation, which focuses on the inclusion of people with disabilities worldwide and educating Israeli leaders on the American Jewish community. Recent he spoke with ABILITY’s Chet Cooper and Lia Martirosyan about his philanthropy across a range of initiatives. Chet Cooper: How did the Ruderman Family Foundation, … Read more

Comcast , NBC Getting Rewired for Accessibility

COMCAST — Live Olympic Games Audio Description

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In addition to its vast array of video, Internet and phone services, Comcast is the parent company of NBCUniversal, which includes Spanish-and English-language broadcast networks, 17 cable networks, a motion picture company and far more. The communication giant’s Symphony marketing initiative promotes such programming as the Olympics and The Wiz Live! ABILITY’s Chet Cooper, … Read more

Title: Inclusion Works. Image: DAS Jennifer Sheehy presents on stage at the 25th anniversary of the ADA Celebration.

JENNIFER SHEEHY — Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor

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On the Friday afternoon before Labor Day weekend, the streets of Washington, D.C., are barren except for a warm breeze blowing a few stragglers home for the three-day weekend. Parking is prolific, and normal congestion is reduced to a stray car passing by. Elvis has left the city, but the Department of Labor (DOL) … Read more

Humor Therapy-Dying to Understand Death Image of a dark grim reaper with skeleton face and hand holding a coin. Backdrop of a light dipping beneath the dark horizon reflecting on water.

Dying to Know

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I just recently found out from my doctor that I’m dying. He says that everyday I’m getting closer to death. He also thinks that I may not make it past ninety-two. He predicts that I’m probably going to die of old age. Wow, can you believe that? Now it’s all I can think about. … Read more

Paul sits in a highback chair by the lake and watches the warm colors of the sun striping the sky at sunset.

A LifeCycle

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Having an unpredictable disease like multiple sclerosis (MS) helps me separate out and concentrate on the things in life that are really important to me. I understand the disease is unpredictable and, at any moment, I could be dealing with a completely new physical or cognitive symptom. I also appreciate how lucky I am to … Read more

Ashley, wearing a sunhat and street clothes, sits on her mountain bike while looking out over a river.

On the Go!

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I just finished an MX class in Cali, picked up my new Husky, and am packing up to relocate back to the east coast, close to my parents! Over the last several months, I have been traveling to different states for my MX schools, while I’ve also have been getting addicted to racing my new … Read more

Head of a cartoon boy with a cap and patch over his eye blowing a big pink bubble-gum bubble that states "Sticky Situation".

A Sticky Situation

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Yesterday as I was standing in line at the grocery store, I couldn’t help but notice all the gum on both sides of the checkout aisle. This, while the person ahead of me piled more and more groceries on the conveyor belt. (I never knew a shopping cart could hold so many items!) Instead … Read more