Fitness Inclusion Network

The Museum of Science & Technology - MOST is currently doing a poster series to highlight assistive technology in the community. ARISE Adaptive Design was chosen as the organization that the poster highlighted.

Today, Monday, July 13th, is Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GIST) Awareness Day. It is estimated that 3,000-5,000 people develop GISTs in the US each year. GIST comes in several different forms. Most affect adults, some affect children, and some run in families. GISTs are part of a group of cancers called soft tissue sarcomas. There are many symptoms of GIST including, abdominal discomfort or pain, presence of a palpable abdominal mass, and feeling full. To read more, click the link - https://liferaftgroup.org/understanding-gist/

In the new movie Minions and Monsters, released on June 24th, a new character named Ed is introduced, who is deaf and hard of hearing. The language minions use is usually gibberish or Minionese, but the movie's creators decided to create a character who represents the disability community. They have created a custom Minionese sign language. They worked with a sign language coach to develop the Minionese sign language. To learn more, click the link https://screenrant.com/minions-monsters-ed-sign-language-franchise-changing-character-explained/

Museum of Science & Technology - MOST is having their monthly sensory-friendly time on Sunday, July 19th, from 9-11 AM and then again from 4-6 PM. The sounds are turned down, air compressors are turned off, and the lighting is adjusted. These early and late hours help ensure that wait times and crowd sizes are reduced. It's free for members, $9 for adults, and $7 for youth and senior non-members. Personal assistants are always free.

Sephora has recently launched quiet hours. Where the music is turned down. They minimize strong scents and will not bother you as you're shopping, but are still there to help if needed. Hours vary depending on the store. To find hours at your local store, click the link https://www.sephora.com/beauty/quiet-hours

New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities is hosting a watch party for the World Cup final on July 19th at the Kensico Dam Plaza. Doors open at 12 PM and the match starts at 3 PM. They will have family-friendly activities from 12-3 and a sensory tent. To get your tickets, click the link. https://events.newyorkstateunited.com/e/u/checkout/new-york-state-2026-world-cup-match3/tickets/order?displayCode=Kensico

Above are two pictures of the Disability Pride flag. The one on the left is the original flag created in 2019 by Ann Magill. The zig-zag lines were meant to represent how people with disabilities have to maneuver around all the barriers they face. They realized that when viewed on a device, the design caused symptoms in individuals who had visual disabilities. Magill then changed to the design pictured on the right in 2021.

● The Red stripe is for physical disabilities
● The Gold stripe is for neurodiversity
● The White stripe is for invisible disabilities and
disabilities that haven't been diagnosed yet
● The Blue stripe is for emotional and
psychiatric disabilities
● The Green stripe is for sensory disabilities

The faded black background mourns and rages for victims of ableist violence and abuse. The diagonal stripes cut across the walls and barriers that separate the disabled from society, also representing light and creativity cutting through the darkness.

Happy Disability Pride Month! Disability Pride Month is celebrated in July every year. Disability Pride started as a day in 1990. The first official Disability Pride Month was in July 2015. Many cities across the country have celebrated Pride with parades and festivals. This month, the theme is "The World Works Better With Us." It emphasizes that when people with disabilities are included, respected, and supported, communities function more effectively across schools, workplaces, healthcare, transportation, and public spaces.

The Wild Center is in the Adirondacks in Tupper Lake, NY. The Wild Center has a museum about nature, but it also has many accessible trails throughout the woods. They even provide wheelchairs, walkers, and motorized scooters. If you're interested, they ask that you call ahead due to the limited supply. Most of the trails are paved, but one is difficult due to the terrain, and one is not considered accessible at all. If you're interested in learning more, click the link: https://www.wildcenter.org/visit/accessibility/

Today, Saturday June 27th, is International PTSD Awareness Day. PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) Awareness Day originally started in the US. It was created to educate people about PTSD and encourage people to openly talk about it. Research shows that 10% of people will experience PTSD at some point in their life. Many people with PTSD are often misdiagnosed and develop other disorders. These disorders can make PTSD worse.