2026 AL AHEAD Spring Workshop EMPOWERMENT THROUGH INNOVATION: SELF-ADVOCACY STRATEGIES & AI TOOLS FRIDAY, FEB. 27, 10 A.M. - 3 P.M. Register: buff.ly/kvqkTZB

Save the Date - Upcoming UAB RAN Events

The AUCD Policy Glossary provides plain language definitions of commonly used policy and advocacy terms, organized A–Z. www.aucd.org/policy-terms...

Two amazing ADAPers! Cecilia Ballinger speaking at the annual ADHD Conference at the University of Alabama (first photo), also pictured beside Christina Norris at the ADAP table (second photo)!

Happy Holidays! We’ll return to the office on January 2nd, 2026! Please note: we will be monitoring our voicemail and waitlist while our office is closed, so you can still leave a message or head to our website! (800.826.1675, adap.ua.edu)

🚨 From the Alabama Parent Education Center:🚨 Join Us for an Open House! 🎄 🕞 When: Thursday, December 11th, 2025, 3:30pm - 6:00pm 📍 Where:Open House will be held at our office located at: Alabama Parent Education Center 10520 US Highway 231 Wetumpka, AL 36092

We wish all of you a happy, heartfelt, and healthy Thanksgiving holiday! Our office will be closed tomorrow and Friday. We’ll be back on Monday, December 1st!

Applications are open for the Medicaid Beneficiary Advisory Committee! Anyone with experience can apply. The Agency is looking for: Current or former Alabama Medicaid recipients Family members of recipients Paid or unpaid caregivers of recipients MORE INFO here: buff.ly/i5ELYNL

You can tune in line to this tele-town hall for a 2026 legislative session preview! This event is sponsored by AARP of Alabama. When: Thursday, Nov. 13th at 11am Where: Toll-free at 855.436.3547 OR facebook.com/alabama.aarp

The People's Justice Council, Rebuilding Together of South Alabama, and We Rise present a Home Energy Renovation Workshop for Choctaw, Clarke, and Washington counties! When: January 20th, from 9am-3pm Where: Jackson Library, 213 College Ave, Jackson, AL. You can register here: buff.ly/yAs2gST

Governor Kay Ivey enacted several proclamations this week - ADAP Executive Director Shannon Shelley-Tremblay attended the signing and is pictured here! National Disability Employment Awareness Month: buff.ly/Zgl5Gp2 Family Caregivers Month: buff.ly/AMTJaMd

Have you checked out Accessing Potential Through Assistive Technology (APTAT)? They help people of all ages discover and access assistive tech! You can learn more about them here: accessingpotential.org

NDRN is gathering stories outlining the voting experiences of people with disabilities. ESPECIALLY if you have ever voted absentee or using a mail-in ballot, NDRN would love to hear from you! Share your experience here → buff.ly/D92XfNP

Fox 6 had a great spotlight last night on Abilities at Work - a whole 30-minute spotlight on disabilities in the workplace! Arc of AL: buff.ly/qcTpuCl AIDB: buff.ly/gsDLTlS Lakeshore Foundation: buff.ly/3s73LoE United Ability: buff.ly/GymBPmL WEInc: buff.ly/w3cmohV

ADAP will be at the Assistive Technology Complex today until 1pm! Come say hello to us at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex (BJCC, 2100 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd N, Birmingham, AL 35203)! Pictured, from left: Tammy Blue, Cecilia Ballinger, and Christina Norris, all smiling at the camera!

What issues do you care about most? Chances are, they’re on the ballot this year. State and local elections will determine these issues for your community, and make a real impact on your everyday life. ADAP celebrated National Disabilities Voter Registration Week this past weekend in Huntsville!

Check out our amazing new video content on how the Client Assistance Program (CAP) can help you! It's featured on the front page of our website. You can check it out here: adap.ua.edu

The Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services (ADRS) is looking for a parent or caregiver of a child with special health care needs! ADRS is looking for Local Parent Consultants for their Birmingham and Selma offices Interested? Email your resume’ to [email protected]!

On Saturday, September 13, we are coming together to celebrate Disability Voting Rights Week (DVRW)! Where: Lowe Mill Arts and Entertainment District, First Floor Connector Space Date: Saturday, September 13, 2025 Time: 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Ever wonder how to start meaningful conversations about disability and neurodivergence at work? Join ReelAbilities for an interactive film experience! When: September 18, 2025, 1pm EST (12pm Central) Where: Zoom (Register here: jccmanhattan-org.zoom.us/meeting/regi... )

ADAP Executive Director Shannon Shelley-Tremblay, Congresswoman Terri Sewell, and Representative Curtis Travis of Alabama’s 72nd district talk together about disability rights and issues important to our community at Rep. Sewell’s “Congress in your Community” tour!

GO VOTE TODAY! You have until 7pm before the polls close! Let us know about your experience and report on the accessibility of your polling location: tinyurl.com/AccessReporting

Municipal elections are almost here! Check out our Insta story on upcoming Alabama elections! 👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼 www.instagram.com/stories/adap...

🚨 TODAY is the last day to give ADAP your input on what matters most to you! 🚨

We're closing out our community input survey THIS FRIDAY! We are SO CLOSE to receiving responses from ALL of Alabama's 67 counties, so take a minute and let us know what matters to you - your priorities will shape our work in the coming year!

Reminder that today is the LAST DAY to register to vote in upcoming municipal elections! Local issues matter for our community, especially when it comes to public transportation, accessibility, parks, and even housing and utilities. You can register online at AlabamaVotes.gov!

Join our free workshop for teens & young adults with disabilities! When: August 14, 9:00am-12pm Where: Christ Wesleyan Church 151 Van Buren St., Daphne, AL

Our very own Cecilia Ballinger, everyone! Cecilia wrote an incredible piece on why it's crucial to honor Disability Pride each July–we are so proud of her and grateful to work with her each day. Read her article here: tinyurl.com/ceciliapride

Though Disability Pride Month is ending, our commitment to self-reliance and self-determination continues! We're excited to share that Cecilia Ballinger was chosen by Equal Justice Works to write about the importance of honoring disability pride each July and how to be supportive advocates!

ADAP is hosting a disability resource fair in Hale County - come see us! When: July 7th, 2025, 5pm-7pm Where: Hale County College and Career Academy, 19875 AL-69, Greensboro, AL

ADAP’s Andrea Mixson and Tammy Blue just wrapped up an amazing few days at the AL-APSE conference in Mobile! Their session was on employment and the Client Assistance Program (CAP) - and if you’re interested, you can find out more about CAP on our website! (ADAP.edu) Check out some great pics! ⬇️⬇️

The Huntsville Accessible Transportation Alliance (HATA) is presenting a workshop on accessible travel training! When: July 22, 2025, 10:30am - 3:30pm Where: Gallery Ballroom at AC Hotel, 435 Williams Ave SW, Huntsville, AL 35801 Register: buff.ly/gg9Vf7G

The documentary Caregiving is centered on the personal experiences of caregivers providing for loved ones, and the challenges and triumph they face each day. The “needs gap” for information may be greater for caregivers than it is for care recipients.

Are you a person with disabilities that needs to make changes to your housing rules or to your home’s physical structures to make it more accessible? Join this workshop to learn about your rights to do so! When: Tuesday, July 8, 2025, 3pm CST Register: buff.ly/2vI3i77

People First of Tuscaloosa is hosting their June chapter meeting! When: June 25th, 12:30pm-1:15pm Where: Mt. Pilgrim Baptist Church, 128 39th Street East, Tuscaloosa, AL

The federal government is on the brink of cutting the only independent watchdogs that protect people with disabilities. Tell Congress: Protect P&A funding. secure.everyaction.com/I6avR5LSvUam... #HandsoffDisabilityServices #ProtectPnAs (1/2)

Get excited for AL-APSE this month! ADAP's own Andrea Mixson and Tammy Blue will be presenting at the AL-APSE conference in Mobile at the end of June! To register: al-apse.org/index.htm

Join ADAP in Demopolis for a presentation and resource fair! This event is FREE, accessible, and open to the public. When: June 16, 5pm-7pm Where: Theo Ratcliff Activity Center, 306 1st Ave, Demopolis, AL

🚨 We need your input to shape our priorities for next year - your opinion counts!🚨 Take our survey! Head here: tinyurl.com/CommunityInput2025 (🧵 - 1/3)

Info about the ID waiver: shorturl.at/v5Alk Info about the Living at Home Waiver: shorturl.at/HrVuc To comment, email: [email protected] by June 14, 2025, at 11:59pm CST.

The released Congressional budget shows Medicaid facing $880 billion in cuts. There is not enough waste, fraud, or abuse to cover $880 billion and these changes WILL resullt in Americans losing health care. Tell your Congressperson: Hands Off Medicaid! secure.everyaction.com/tZYmQsJTmUCS...

Tomorrow, on Saturday, May 10, ADAP will be at the Disability Arts Festival at the Alys Stephens Center at UAB! More info below: ⬇️⬇️⬇️ DISABILITY RESOURCE FAIR | 12P I ASC COMMUNITY ARTS SHOWCASE 11P I ASC

Families USA, the nonpartisan organization dedicated to protecting health care consumers, has launched a series of graphics and action items you can take to protect Medicaid for you and your family. Check out the graphics here, and we'll post some links for you in the replies!

We'll be at the League of Women Voters of Alabama May Voter Skills training, talking voting rights, voting with a disability, and more! Join us next month: bit.ly/May2025VoterSkills

Join the Egg-ceptional Easter Event by United Way at Athens High School! Where: Athens High School Courtyard When: Sunday, April 6th, 1:30pm

ADAP's very own Cecilia Ballinger, Equal Justice Works Law Fellow, will be presenting an overview of Alabama Medicaid Waivers on April 15, from 1:30pm-5:30pm at the APEC's Raising the Standards Conference! To register to attend the conference: www.surveymonkey.com/r/2025raisin...

All you can eat crawfish, live music, and baseball - benefiting the Easterseals of Central Alabama! Where: Riverwalk Stadium, Montgomery, AL When: Saturday, April 5, 3-6pm Admission: $50, VIP $100, Kids 3-10, $20 purchase at mudbugball.com

Check out the Au-some Autism Community Fun day in Dothan! Presented by Ausome Progressive Path - they'll have music, food, vendors, games, and more! Where: 128 S. Woodburn Dr When: April 5, 2025, 2:30pm-4:30pm

Applications are open for the Disability Resource Network's Financial Literacy Institute Cohort Fellowship! Four online workshops by experts are available. Five applicants will be selected as fellows, receiving a certificate and a $100 stipend. Apply by April 31st: tinyurl.com/2c7axeja