Welcome to SMG eNEWS™
2007, Mar 12th

The Solutions Marketing Group’s eNews is a bi-monthly communiqué that connects business to the market of people with disabilities.

Message From The Founder

Heightening Awareness and Understanding
By Carmen Jones, Founder and President

Did you know that:

• Fifty seven (57%) percent of hearing impaired people said they were more likely to buy a product advertised in a captioned commercial? *
• Fifty three (53%) make a special effort to purchase products from companies that underwrite program captioning and 38% actually change brands as a result of an advertiser's support? *
• Even individuals who do not have disabilities — and don't live with those who do — exhibit strong brand loyalty toward products affiliated with disability-related causes? **

The research indicates there are benefits for companies targeting people with disabilities. This segment has proven that it is extremely brand loyal to those that address their needs. What's more, businesses that reach them not only build good will, but also impact their bottom-line among those with and without disabilities.

Over the next year we will be featuring the SMG Equal Access ad campaign, designed to heighten awareness and understanding about people with disabilities. A new ad will be unveiled when the SMG eNewsletter is sent. The theme for our inaugural ad is customer loyalty. I hope you enjoy the campaign and learn something new in each one.

Warm regards,

Carmen D. Jones
President/Founder
info@disability-marketing.com

Sources:
*National Captioning Institute
**Atlanta Paralympic Committee Study

Profiles in Excellence
Profiles in Excellence is a monthly article, published by SMG, that features companies and organizations that demonstrate leadership in accessibility, employment, customer service and marketing to the nation's 54 million Americans with Disabilities.

Big Opportunities - "Little People, Big World" TV Show
By Joan Leotta

Finding inventive solutions in a world designed for people without disabilities makes each day a reality adventure for people with disabilities. The Learning Channel (TLC) has packaged that adventure into a reality-style television show featuring a couple with dwarfism, Matt and Amy Roloff, and their four children, one of whom, Zach, is also a little person. The show, “Little People, Big World,” premiered to critical and community acclaim in March 2006 and started a second season in October 2006. On April 9, 2007 the latest season of “Little People, Big World” will begin.....
[ more information about this ]

Featured Article
Special to Disability-Marketing.com

The Need for Independence By Joyce Bender, President and CEO of Bender Consulting Services

Today, sometimes Americans with significant disabilities are denied independence. The shackles that bind people with significant disabilities are the shackles of pity. Parents, although meaning well, often apply those shackles over the years of a child with a disability growing up in this country. As parents of a child with a significant disability, those parents who believe they are protecting their child are really imprisoning their child to a life of dependency. That is in fact, the real disability....
[ more information about this ]

Accessibility
sponsored by Universal Design Newsletter

Blind Students Struggling for Access to Material for College Classes By Jessica Bernstein-Wax, GoUpstate.com

Rapidly advancing technology is greatly improving the lives of disabled Americans. Despite these advances, blind college students still struggle to get their textbooks and course materials on time -- and in a format they can readily absorb. Blind advocacy groups are pushing for legislation requiring higher-education publishers to produce electronic versions of textbooks for blind college students. The electronic copies would conform to a universal file standard, which could then be converted to multiple formats, such as Braille or text-to-speech.....
[ more information about this ]

Customer Service
sponsored by W.C. Duke Associates, Inc.

Talking ATMs in New York and New England From Center for An Accessible Society

Over 1400 "talking ATMs" in New York and New England are being installed to improve access for visually-impaired banking customers throughout the New York and New England region. The talking ATMs are equipped with universal audio jacks, and provide listening devices to persons with vision impairments through which they can receive private audio instructions for transactions typically displayed on the ATM screen for cash withdrawals, balance inquiries, transfers & payments and deposits....
[ more information about this ]

Employment

Lack of Jobs, Accessible Homes Another Disability to Overcome
By Randy Myers, ContraCostaTimes.com

In the 35 years since the disability rights movement took root in Berkeley, California, changes have swept the nation without achieving the goal of full equality. Now, advocates want to increase the number of disabled people in the workforce. Other top priorities include lowering the high poverty rate, ensuring technological advances accommodate the disabled and creating more affordable, accessible housing....
[ more information about this ]

Appeals Court Rules EEOC Can Proceed With Disability Discrimination Lawsuit Against Wal-Mart
By The Associated Press

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission can continue its disability discrimination lawsuit against Wal-Mart Stores Inc., an appeals court has ruled. The EEOC filed the suit in January 2004 claiming that Bentonville, Ark.-based Wal-Mart violated the Americans with Disabilities Act when it refused to hire a man who has cerebral palsy....
[ more information about this ]

Marketing

Marketing Model for People with Developmental Disabilities From QualityMall.org

QualityMall.org is a showcase of promising practices and innovations that promote quality of life for persons with developmental disabilities. The primary purpose of QualityMall.org is to collect and disseminate information related to or useful in promoting quality of life for persons with developmental disabilities. It is not a retailer or vendor of products or services, but uses the theme of a shopping mall to help connect visitors to the best products and services available. People involved with, experienced with, or simply aware of such services are invited to visit QualityMall.org, shop the many "stores," and make recommendations for new products and services....
[ more information about this ]

News & Announcements

Find Your State Disability Prevalence From Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Wells Fargo Seeks People with Disabilities for Leadership Development Program
From Margaret Roffee’s February Info Summary

DOL Announces $2.5 Million in Grants Available for Healthcare Worker Programs
From JFA Listserv, AAPD