The Memphis Center for Independent Living hosted the Deborah Cunningham Access Awards on July 29 at Crosstown Concourse. MCIL works with people with all types of disabilities to increase or maintain the freedom to pursue active lives in the community. The organization doesn’t provide housing or direct services, but rather they connect people to resources to meet their needs – from partner organizations like DeafConnect. DeafConnect CEO Natasha Parks was honored to be part of the panel discussion at the awards ceremony, which recognized Lynn Tune for the passion and compassion she brings to her work at Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
Interpreters Jim Walker and Rhonda Sanders with DeafConnect provided ASL interpreting for the event
The event program pointed out that one in five people in Shelby County and across the country are people with disabilities, making them “the largest minority group and the only one you can join in an instant.” DeafConnect is honored to partner with other organizations to support people in the Mid-South who are D/deaf and hard of hearing.