Tap the Potential (Disabilities Awareness Month)

Tap the Potential, Disability Awareness Month

 

Tap the Potential in 2012

 Tap The Potential Logo
Tap the Potential Disability Awareness month has been celebrated in Milwaukee each October since 2003. This year organizations are sponsoring a variety of activities geared towards raising the public’s awareness of the talents and issues of people with disabilities in our community. Initially coordinated by the Milwaukee County Office for Persons with Disabilities, the 2012 effort is being led by Barbara Leigh from the Milwaukee Public Theatre and Heide Planey from VSA Arts of Wisconsin.
 

Tap the Potential October Calendar

 
Tap the Potential has organized a number of awareness raising events throughout the month. Organizations are encouraged to sponsor their own events and invited to list them on the calendar. The calendar will be updated throughout the month as information is received. To find out more, click here.
 

Art Exhibition(s)

 Picture of butterflies
An exhibition of over fifty artists representing a full spectrum of disabilities is being held at Mitchell International Airport. The Art Exhibition will be on display from October 4th - October 19th. The Artist's Reception is being held at Mitchell International Airport’s main concourse on Thursday, October 18th at 11:30 A.M. 
The Airport show will once again ask the public to share their comments about the artwork. Many passengers wrote messages sending support and encouragement to the artists. Click here to see the messages that were posted in previous years of the event. In 2012, travelers will be asked to vote for their favorite artist in which the top artists will receive cash prizes.
 
If you are looking for to enter some of your artwork into the Art Exhibition or are looking for Art Sales information, please contact Jennifer Vattendahl at 414-847-1991 or Email by clicking here.  Entry forms for the Art Exhibition can be found by clicking here.
. 
Thanks to the committee members: Heide Planey - VSA Arts of Wisconsin, Jan Kruk - Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin, Jennifer Vattendahl - Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin, Barbara Leigh - Milwaukee Public Theatre, Mary Newhouse - Curative Care Network, Susan Endes - MCFI, Cammy Draheim and Bridget Bannon - Community Volunteers and Mike Bonk - Milwaukee County Office for Persons with Disabilities.
 
Additional Events

 

Wednesday, October 3rd 1pm-1:45 pm

Tap the Potential - Pieces: In My Own Voice

North Division High School presented to MPS principals. Facebook link for the event is: https://www.facebook.com/piecesinmyownvoice

 

 

Monday, October 15th  

 

Tap the Potential - Humor and Healing

Excerpts from Barbara Leigh’s one-woman show, at Marquette University

11:00 am, Emory Clark Hall, room 123; 3:30 pm, Rm 117

 

 

Monday, October 15th, 12:00pm 

 

White Cane Safety Day – Flash Mob

Wisconsin Association of Blind Students (WABS) are organizing an informational event about the White Cane law, and are planning to have a flash mob dance at 12:00pm at the Clas Park.

Click here to view the FLASH MOB performance

 

Friday, October 19th  

Tap the Potential - Gallery Night

Independence First
Art will be displayed thru the month of October with an Artists Reception on October 19th, 5pm

 

October 22nd - 26th

MSOE - Wheelchair Days

Students will get the opportunity to use a wheelchair to navigate to and from their class.

In addition they will be hosting a basketball event from 6pm - 8pm on October 24th that will include a basketball game, obstacle course, and a 3 point and free throw contest.

 

Saturday, October 27th, 6 pm 

Tap the Potential - Orcanine Abbey

1718 N. First Street

Reincarnation: Visual art, poetry and prose by Nadia Smale

 

Sunday, October 28th, 9:15am

Mud River Lee

Unitarian Church North
13800 N. Port Washington Rd

Wednesday, October 31st, 11:30am

William Sweeney- Piano

Wilson Park Senior Centers      
 

Bookmarks

 Picture of a bookmark
Each year artwork is submitted by artists with disabilities and laminated for bookmarks. Information about the artist and the sponsoring agency is included on the back. We have collected various works throughout the years and will have bookmarks available at our various events. Previously representatives from five states across the nation saw information about our bookmarks on the website and requested quantities.Click here to see some of our previous bookmarks. Contact Mike if you'd like some bookmarks. Click here to email Mike.
 
Special thanks to Susan Russell - Easter Seals Southeast Wisconsin for coordinating and producing this effort.
 
 

Bus Pass

 
The Milwaukee County Transit System again selected Tap the Potential as one of its weekly and monthly bus pass themes this year.  This year's theme is titled "This Land is Your Land".  To see current and previous bus passes please click here.
 
Thanks to Don Natzke, Milwaukee County Office for Persons with Disabilities; Tom Roehl, Milwaukee County Transit Company; and Dan Spitz for their creativity and talent in creating the pass.
 

More Information: For more information about Tap the Potential contact Mike Bonk, Milwaukee County Office for Persons with Disabilities at 414-278-3938 or email him here.

 

Tap the Potential On Fox 6 Wake Up News