NARIC will join representatives from several NIDILRR-funded projects at the Smithsonian’s Festival ADA: 25 Years of Disability Rights this weekend on the National Mall! Come to the National Museum of American History July 24th, 25th, and 26th to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. You’ll find panel discussion, exhibits, and demonstrations highlighting advancements in access, technology, and inclusion. Here’s a program of what will be under the tent (PDF)!

Step inside the tent and look for the NIDILRR table where you’ll meet representatives from:

• The ADA National Network, with representatives from individual centers highlighting publications, tools, and training for large and small businesses, government entities, and the general public. Look for resources targeted to the hospitality industry in particular! You can also take a few quick seconds and sign on to the Pledge to Recommit to the ADA.
• The Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center: Develop and Evaluate Technology for Low Vision, Blindness, and Multi-Sensory Loss at the Smith Kettlewell Institute. This project develops technology solutions for wayfinding, descriptive video, tactile maps, and much more!
• The Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Improving the Accessibility, Usability, and Performance of Technology for Individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (DHH-RERC) at Gallaudet University. DHH-RERC research includes telerehabilitation, peer training in technology, hearing aid fitting, and other hearing technology issues.
• Hearing researchers from George Washington University focusing on advances in cochlear implants.
• The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Community Integration for Individuals with Psychiatric Disabilities (TU Collaborative) at Temple University. This center focuses on intervention, training, and support for people with mental health issues so they may live fully in the communities of their choice. Look for great resources on building welcoming religious communities, developing peer support, the importance of leisure activities, and much more!
• Cognitopia, developers of technology solutions for independent living for people with cognitive disabilities. Through small business innovation research and field initiated grants, Cognitopia has developed real tools for real life!
• The Center on Brain Injury Research and Training, with several NIDILRR grants focusing on brain injury and cognitive rehabilitation. Take a look at their innovative programs and publications for youth and adults recovering from TBI.
• IDRT, a local (Silver Spring) small business developing innovative sign language solutions under SBIR grants. This is your chance to try out the suite of tools at MyASLTech and take a peek at their project with deaf communities in Morocco!
• And us! We’ll be there on Saturday afternoon and will bring some samples of the excellent work of the grantee community. Here’s a preview!

There will be so much going on these three days, plus an exhibit inside the museum and events at the Kennedy Center. We’ll post pictures on our social media streams. Will you be there? If you can’t attend, let us know how your community is celebrating in the comments section!