By Menachem Rephun, Creative Spirit Communication Manager A Disability Pride Parade in New York City, from disabilitypridenyc.org. Since its beginnings in the early 19th century with efforts to provide formal education for deaf and deaf-blind individuals, the disability rights movement has worked to achieve inclusion and societal acceptance, shatter stigmas, and expand recognition that individuals with...

By Menachem Rephun, Creative Spirit Communication Manager We’re very saddened to share that Judy Heumann, the renowned disability rights activist who co-organized the historic “504 Sit-In” in 1977 and helped pave the way for the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and the Rehabilitation Act, has passed away at...

By: Menachem Rephun, Creative Spirit Communication Manager February is Black History Month, which celebrates black heroes contributions, triumphs, and achievements throughout U.S. history. One aspect of Black History Month that has been less explored is the significant, historical contribution made by African-Americans to the disability rights movement, which promotes equity and inclusion for the millions...

In 2023, the 61 million Americans with disabilities, including the 15 - 20% of the population who are neurodivergent, are still facing record unemployment. Within the disabilities community, another group still has not received adequate representation: individuals with chronic conditions (i.e. rare diseases).

Creative Spirit strongly and unequivocally condemns the statement made this week by Rep. Sean Tarwater (R), chairman of the House Commerce, Labor, and Economic Development Committee, that people with disabilities will, in his words, “rot at home” without sheltered workshops, and that people with disabilities “really can’t do anything.” This perspective denies the basic dignity...

By: Menachem Rephun, Creative Spirit Communications Manager 2023 is here! As always, the start of a new year brings the opportunity to reflect on our growth and progress in improving employment inclusion for people with disabilities. Although there are areas where improvement is still needed, 2022 showed a number of positive and encouraging trends. According...

By: Menachem Rephun, Creative Spirit Communications Manager More than half a century after his life was tragically cut short, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) remains one of the most revered and influential civil rights leaders of the 20th century. Through non-violent protest and organized campaigns of...

By Menachem Rephun, Creative Spirit Communications Manager For most of the 20th century, Americans with disabilities were marginalized and denied fundamental inclusion and accessibility at school, work, and public transportation. In 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was enacted with the promise of finally creating an inclusive, equitable society that would protect individuals with...

Written by Menachem Rephun, Creative Spirit Communications Manager Video by Alex Colby and Will Thomas, Bless You On Oct. 20, we held a special fundraiser and celebration at the Music Hall of Williamsburg, hosted by Advertising Week. This year’s event was unique in marking the 5th anniversary of Creative Spirit’s founding in 2017. The event...

In a world designed mainly for sighted people, being blind or vision-impaired can often be a challenge. This extends to finding fair-wage employment, which is difficult for many blind people due to ableism (discrimination against people with disabilities) in the hiring process, and companies that, even in 2022, often fail to provide reasonable accommodations. According...