Disability Community Applauding Rish Park Move
Disability Community Applauding Rish Park Move
Disabled community celebrates Department of Environmental Protection’s takeover of Rish Park
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (CAP NEWS/WCJB) – Wheelchair-bound Floridians have not been able to use a beachside park specifically created for them for more than three years. They have been asking for change, and now they are getting it. The Agency for Persons with Disabilities is giving control of the park to an agency with more experience…
Disability advocates criticize park’s closure (WCTV News)
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (CNS) – For many, Labor Day is summer’s last hurrah, filled with time at the beach and barbecues, but many in the state’s physically disabled community are going to be left out because the state has been slow to reopen the one park that is dedicated to those with physical disabilities. Rish Park…
Staying centered with a ‘Professionally Distanced’ book of columns
My friend Kim gave me a wonderful set of books to read this off season. “The Broken Earth Trilogy” by NK Jemisin. It is wild. We have had some super relaxing Saturday’s this summer at Dowling Manor where I have read these books for hours on end. It has been a great year-plus of amazing…
Employment incentive program for people with disabilities is good for Florida
With or without a disability, everyone wants to work in a competitive and integrated environment. For some to achieve this milestone, it can seem impossible. People with disabilities can face expenses for help with daily living tasks like showering, dressing, using the bathroom and related necessities of $40,000 per year or more. With the COVID pandemic,…
Blake Dowling: A conversation with bestselling Florida author Jeff VanderMeer
“This weekend, I had the absolute honor of reading a book by Florida State University professor, Dr. JR Harding. JR is a hell of a man, with quite the story to tell. I recommend it to anyone. Lee Corso from ESPN called it “a great read and story about a determined young man. An inspiration to us…
2020 Henry Viscardi Achievement Awards
Meet 11 global recipients of the 2020 Henry Viscardi Achievements awards! Every year, the Henry Viscardi Achievement Awards recognizes extraordinary leaders from across the U.S. and around the world who, through the example of their accomplishments and advocacy efforts, are reshaping societal perceptions, eliminating barriers, and improving the quality of life for people with…
We’ve come a long way with ADA (Tallahassee Democrat Article)
Thirty years ago Sunday, while signing the American With Disabilities Act, President George Bush (41) stated that, “as the Declaration of Independence has been a beacon for people all over the world seeking freedom, I hope that the ADA will likewise come to be a model for the choices and opportunities of future generations around…
FOOTBALL PLAYER TO QUADRIPLEGIC: JR Harding’s story of his TWO spinal injuries, advocacy & outlook
In episode 41 of Meredith for Real: the curious introvert, JR Harding shares how a fist fight in his teens changed his life … & then how a car accident 15 years later did it again. He also shares how the impact that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) changed his quality of life &…
How Passionate Advocacy Continues to Pave the Way for Persons with Disabilities (Tallahassee Chamber Podcast)
On this week’s episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast, we are joined by Dr. JR Harding. Dr. Harding is a recognized disability leader with over 37 years of personal and professional experience within the disability community. He is a two-time U.S. Presidential appointee, seven-time Florida gubernatorial appointee, and has made significant contributions to national, state,…