Samantha VanSchoick

find me on threads. I'm just a #marketer, standing in front of marketers, asking them to make their marketing #accessible. @Official_CIL. YIMBY. @Dignity_MA.🦓

[Samantha VanSchoick @SelfAndStory]

@Official_CIL is on the move! https://t.co/JQ10ImALiK

[Jesse Kanson-Benanav @jessekb]

Building more homes lowers rents. Full stop.

Don't let anyone lie and tell you that building homes raises costs. If that were the case, Austin would be among the most expensive cities in the country instead of seeing rents drop by 7%.

[Pallavi K. @pallavitura]

Attended an international disability related conference & suffered some amount of vicarious triggers & guilt because two out of three sign language interpreters chosen by the organisers were not able to interpret the information clearly, which means that almost 2/3rd of the information did not reach the deaf audience members.

Despite volunteering & trying my best, I could not make it into a fully accessible experience for a close deaf friend. This has happened several times in the past as well, and I always just try to gulp it all down as many other experienced people from the field do. Maybe it's time to talk about it.

Here is a list of a few things that can make conferences truly inclusive & accessible!

1. 5 Star (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐) hotels but 1 Star (⭐) Access is never going to be cool. If the organiser can spend on expensive hotels, flight fare & other gifts then access budget, and ensuring good quality sign language interpreters is basic and non-negotiable.

2. Must ensure that the sign language interpreters understand the languages (spoken & signed ) of the conference.

3. Must include persons with disabilities from the beginning planning stage. Check with deaf experts about the quality of sign language interpreters before finalizing them.

4. Engage with the audience. Most conferences tend to be dull if there's only one way flow of monotonous information. Try to have more time for Q & A or other forms of audience engagement, have some games or activities ; only passively listening will not get their attention.

5. Ensure all kinds of people with disabilities who have rich lived experiences & important learnings to share are included.

6. Avoid Shh.. culture : There's no need to Shh.. every negative comment / feedback or jump to defend. In fact appreciate it so that it can be improved & done better.

7. It is important to address the urgent issues which are brought to notice proactively. Take support of the experts & resolve the issues.

8. Inform the speakers & panelists to be crisp & try to finish on time. The interpreters must be well aware & prepared about the content and take turns, it's not okay for interpreters to disappear at the last moment when they realise that they do not understand the content.

9. It is sign language that is beautiful, not the interpreter. Many hearing people without knowing sign language assume that the interpreter has done a great job, only a deaf person or other experienced interpreter will be able to gauge whether it was good interpreting, so it's better to avoid showering praises on the interpreter without the knowledge of language.

10. Last but not the least, if you see someone volunteering to make the event more accessible because the conference interpreters are not able to do justice, don't get offended or take them for granted. Instead find a way to make it up to them.

Think about if you want a conference that's truly inclusive or just an illusion of inclusion.

[Rodger Sherman @rodger]

THIS
THIS IS WHY

[Shea Serrano @SheaSerrano]

THEY FUCKING WON IT ON A KICK RETURN AHHHHHHHHHHH

J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS AHHHHHHHH

[Bill Barnwell @billbarnwell]

One of the crazier emotional swings you'll see in Week 1!

[Oluwajomiloju @JomiAdeniran]

New York Jets fans watching tonight’s game https://t.co/mIP2v3lR1r

[CIL @Official_CIL]

This week, we celebrate all of the amazing Direct Support Professionals around the country. Without them, independent living wouldn't be possible for many people with disabilities. In honor of DSP week, take a look at some quotes about the work local DSPs are doing! #DSPRW2023

[Samantha VanSchoick @SelfAndStory]

this tweet is for a presentation that shows ppl how to add content warnings to tweets, this is not actually sensitive content, unless you're a very sensitive man who had his feelings hurt because *gasp* a movie didn't center your experience.

[Nicole Jorwic @nicolejorwic]

On the 58th anniversary of #Medicare and #Medicaid it’s important to recognize the value of the programs AND to commit to:

Making home and community-based services #HCBS mandatory in #Medicaid to end waiting lists

Adding vision, dental & a long-term care benefit to #Medicare

[The Boston Globe @BostonGlobe]

Editorial in @GlobeOpinion: Does a housing application really need to be 30 pages long? https://t.co/cyyb8ujXiH

[Samantha VanSchoick @SelfAndStory]

still unable to drink coffee without spilling it on myself but also look at these nesting bowls I made

[High-Profile @highpromonthly]

.@MassDev Issues $25M Bond to @Official_CIL for Mass. Community Residences
https://t.co/Y1wRqWKZcF
#massachusetts #supportivehousing

[Brian Wallach @bsw5020]

To the family members taking care of a loved one, I want to say:

1. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
2. Please remember to take care of yourself. It is easier to type than to do, but it is so important.

Good night moon.

[Samantha VanSchoick @SelfAndStory]

Join me in asking your member of Congress to support The VITAL Act, which would increase affordable, accessible housing for people with disabilities & older adults. Write one here: https://t.co/a3aSkbuvtJ #VITALhousing #DisabilityForward

[Samantha VanSchoick @SelfAndStory]

CIL has #grant money available to help low-to-moderate-income #Connecticut homeowners w/ disabilities make #accessibility modifications to their homes and provide critical capital improvements. Please fill out our AccesSolutions Application to apply: https://t.co/gpFLykSolH

[tori @dietcokestan]

imagine being a board member seeing three adults brawling and one yelling I AM THE ELDEST BOY

[Jenny Schuetz @jenny_schuetz]

Kindness is everything. If you didn’t buy a home here 20 years ago, tough luck.

[Samantha VanSchoick @SelfAndStory]

Honestly this was & is completely predictable