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| Performing Arts Studio West Newsletter |
August 2009 |
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Long Beach  Magazine Features PASW in their August Issue
The August issue of Long Beach Magazine features PASW staff member Jennifer Ballinger in an article located in their Arts and Entertainment section, titled: "Art Imitates Life"
PHOTO: BACK ROW: Randy Klinenberg (Managing Director), Chardell Brown (Technical Director) Jennfier Ballinger (Talent Manager/Consumer Support Specialist)
FRONT ROW: Steve Niel (Acting Coach/Special Projects),John Paizis (Director/Founder)
Jennifer had been working as a special education teacher in the Long Beach Unified School District for years before she came on board at PASW in October of 2006. Having left the school district to focus on her own daughter, who has disabilities, Jennifer turned out to be just what PASW and her daughter needed. PASW is staffed by a team of very qualified entertainment professionals but they needed someone with a broad expanse of experience with the disabled, which Jennifer had. Click HERE to read more from "Art Imitates Life".
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PASW senior staff member and professional actor Diana Jordan featured in the Long Beach Gazette
"Actor With Disability Fights for Equal Rights"
Diana Jordan has been an acting coach and industry liason for PASW for about ten years now. Diana has a master's degree with the California Repertory at California State University, Long Beach, has performed in over 30 plays and has appeared on such television shows as "7th Heaven", and played roles in films including "Rule of Three" and "The Young and Evil". Diana, who was born with cerebral palsy, is deeply involved with the Screen Actors Guild and others in I Am PWD (inclusion in the Arts Media of People With Disabilities). To read more from the LB Gazettes article about Diana's work and life click HERE.
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University of Southern California Visits PASW 
This month, about twenty of PASW's actors had a paid opportunity to be interviewed by Wingspan Pictures, who was hired by USC to produce a series of programs for their on-line course to be used in their masters program, instructing teachers how to work more effectively with students with disabilities.
It was a great opportunity for both the crew of Wingspan and our studio actors, to share what it was like for them while growing up and going to school. It gave great insight into certain techniques which may be used in the future when teaching a disabled population in both classrooms, specifically for students with disabilities and when these students are mainstreamed into classrooms of students without disabilities. This production took place here on the PASW soundstage in Inglewood. It was a lot of fun and a great experience for all concerned. We look forward to doing more work with Wingspan.
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The Disabled Community is in Mourning
Senator Edward Kennedy 1932-2009  Senator Edward Kennedy passed away this week, losing his battle with brain cancer. Ted Kennedy did so much to help people in his life and career and especially people with disabilities by introducing The Americans With Disabilities Act in 1990. Please read this wonderful exert from an article written by Fern Cohen, a woman with disabilities.
Why People With Disabilities Are Mourning the Loss of Edward "Ted" Kennedy by Fern Cohen
"As a person with a disability, who has been wheelchair-bound for the last four years, I have a very special reason for mourning the loss of Senator Edward M. Kennedy. Senator Kennedy was the biggest champion in the United States Congress for people with disabilities. In addition to advocating for the rights and equality of anybody who didn't have the advantages he had growing up, Senator Kennedy was involved personally with two disabled family members. He grew up with an older sister, Rosemary, who was mentally challenged. His sister Eunice Kennedy Shriver, who passed away very recently, started the Special Olympics, which recognizes the athletic skills of people with disabilities. Later, Senator Kennedy's son, Teddy Jr., was diagnosed with bone cancer at just 12 years of age. Teddy Jr. lost one leg, and had to learn to walk with a prosthetic leg. He was permanently disabled, and Teddy Sr. would never let him give up trying to lead a normal life...
Kennedy introduced the Americans With Disabilities Act [ADA] in 1990. The bill was designed to prohibit employers from discrimination in hiring, and in the workplace, against people with disabilities. But it does so much more, for which I am eternally grateful".
Please click HERE to read more from this article.
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Performing Arts Studio West
438 S. Market Street
Inglewood, CA 90301
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