New Via Thrift Store opens...

Now Open - Via Thrift Store
Parkway Shopping Center
1583 Lehigh Street, Allentown, PA 18103 610-437-1612
Monday to Saturday 10 am – 6 pm

Fresh styles and names you know. Fabulous finds at bargain prices. Great value for a great cause.

Value has several meanings these days. People look for value when they shop and want things that are worthwhile at a good price. The Via Thrift Stores are value centers in every sense, offering great value to customers while supporting a great cause. When you shop or donate to the Via Thrift Stores, you are helping children with disabilities. Proceeds from the Via Thrift Stores benefit Via’s Children’s Services, helping provide a bright future for children with disabilities. All children deserve a healthy start in life and you can make a difference when you shop at Via Thrift Stores.

Via works with infants and toddlers to identify and treat developmental delays and include family in the process so therapy can continue at home. Via trains early childcare staff so children with special needs have the opportunity to grow and learn alongside their friends.

When you shop or donate to the Via Thrift Stores you are making a difference in a family’s life. Enjoy the shopping, bring some of your unwanted clothing, shoes or accessories, and give your clothes a second chance. Donate your unwanted items and help children with disabilities.

Empowerment Day 2008...

Spectrum Community Services, Inc. through a Special Projects Grant from the PA Developmental Disabilities Council will be holding their second “Empowerment Day” on Monday, May 5, 2008 from 9:30-3:00 at the Best Western Conference Center in Bethlehem. This is a free event!
“EMPOWERMENT DAY 2008” is being held to provide individuals with developmental disabilities the knowledge and tools to become self advocates. Our speakers will not only provide information about self advocacy but they will motivate and enlighten each and every person present. The speakers this year have all been their own self advocates with friends and family to support them. Their stories will inspire all participants to become their own “self advocate”. This day promises to provide entertainment, information, and a chance to see friends, make new friends, and learn new skills. We also will have some display booths with information for you to take home that will help you become a self advocate. Please join us for a fun day of learning and friendship.

Our Schedule this year includes:

Schedule of Events

9:00-9:30AM REGISTRATION

9:30-10:15AM SUJEET DESAI– SELF ADVOCATE AND
MUSICIAN WILL PRESENT “MY STORY”

10:15-11:00 AM SUJEET DESAI– MUSICAL PRESENTATION- PIANO,
CLARINET, VIOLIN, AND ALTO SAX

11:00-11:15AM BREAK

11:15-12:00 PM CHOICE OF 2 BREAK OUT SESSIONS-
1) SPEAKING OUT WILL PRESENT ON “SELF
ADVOCACY AND STARTING YOUR OWN GROUP” OR
2) SPEAKING FOR OURSELVES WILL PRESENT ON
“BEING YOUR OWN SELF ADVOCATE”

12:00-12:15 PM BREAK

12:15-1:30PM LUNCH

1:30-3:00PM DIANA AND KATHY– MOVIE “BODY & SOUL” AND
PRESENTATION ON SELF ADVOCACY

Teleconference on voting

Please join The National Youth Leadership Network (NYLN) for a national teleconference and webcast on Tuesday, April 15, 2008 at 8:00PM Eastern; 7:00PM Central; 6:00PM Mountain; 5:00PM Pacific and 2:00PM in Hawaii.
Are you ready to vote in the 2008 election? Are you ready to show Washington and the nation, the power of the disability vote? If so, this is the event for you!
Join to learn more about:
. The process of voting
. Ways to register to vote
. Voter registration tips
. Accessibility at the voting booth
. How to become an informed voter
Also, you will receive information on:
. The history of people with disabilities and the right to vote
. Statistics on voting and people with disabilities
. Voting legislation (laws that affect people with disabilities)
. The importance of people with disabilities using the right to vote
Help youth with disabilities catch the power of the disability vote!
To sign up, go to http://organize.aapdvote.org/t/872865/3672934/35151/0/?u=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5ueWxuLm9yZy8%3d&x=79ba1576 and click the teleconference link at the bottom of the screen. After you register, you will receive the toll free number and the link to the website in your email. Please call 1.866.480.6565 if you have questions.
This teleconference and webcast is supported by Independent Living Research Utilization (ILRU) in conjunction with NYLN.
The opinions and views expressed are those of the presenters and no endorsement should be inferred.