Albinism is a congenital disorder characterized in humans by the complete or partial absence of pigment in the skin, hair and eyes. Albinism is associated with a number of vision defects, such as photophobia, nystagmus, and amblyopia. Lack of skin pigmentation makes for more susceptibility to sunburn and skin cancers. In rare cases such as Chédiak–Higashi syndrome, albinism may be associated with deficiencies in the transportation of melanin granules. This also affects essential granules present in immune cells leading to increased susceptibility to infection.
A virtual community is a social network of individuals who connect through specific social media, potentially crossing geographical and political boundaries in order to pursue mutual interests or goals. Some of the most pervasive virtual communities are online communities operating under social networking services.
The Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) is a human services organization committed to the development of the Arab American community. ACCESS helps low-income families, as well as newly arrived immigrants adapt to life in the United States. Its goal is to foster a greater understanding of Arab culture in the U.S. and in the Arab world. ACCESS provides social, mental health, educational, artistic, employment, legal, and medical services.
NYAS is a UK charity providing socio-legal services through teams of advocates and lawyers. NYAS offers information, advice, advocacy and legal representation to children, young people and vulnerable adults throughout England and Wales. NYAS provides a safety net for people of all ages who have nowhere else to turn.
The autism rights movement, also known as the autistic culture movement or the neurodiversity movement, is a social movement within the context of disability rights that emphasizes a neurodiversity paradigm, viewing the autism spectrum as a result of natural variations in the human brain rather than a "disease" to be cured. The movement advocates for several goals, including greater acceptance of autistic behaviors; services that focus on improving quality of life rather than on imitating the behaviors of neurotypical peers; and the recognition of the autistic community as a minority group.
Autism Network International (ANI) is an advocacy organization run by and for autistic people. ANI's principles involve the anti-cure perspective, the perspective that there should not be a goal to "cure" people of autism.
The Da Vinci Code is a 2006 American mystery thriller film directed by Ron Howard, written by Akiva Goldsman, and based on Dan Brown's 2003 best-selling novel of the same name. The first in the Robert Langdon film series, the film stars Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou, Sir Ian McKellen, Alfred Molina, Jürgen Prochnow, Jean Reno and Paul Bettany. In the film, Robert Langdon, a professor of religious symbology from Harvard University, is the prime suspect in the grisly and unusual murder of Louvre curator Jacques Saunière. On the body, the police find a disconcerting cipher and start an investigation. Langdon escapes with the assistance of police cryptologist Sophie Neveu, and they begin a quest for the legendary Holy Grail. A noted British Grail historian, Sir Leigh Teabing, tells them that the actual Holy Grail is explicitly encoded in Leonardo da Vinci's wall painting, The Last Supper. Also searching for the Grail is a secret cabal within Opus Dei, an actual prelature of the Holy See, who wish to keep the true Grail a secret to prevent the destruction of Christianity.
COLAGE is an organization created in 1990 by the children of several lesbian and gay male couples who felt a need for support.
A child of deaf adult, often known by the acronym "coda", is a person who was raised by one or more deaf parents or guardians. Millie Brother coined the term and founded the organization CODA, which serves as a resource and a center of community for children of deaf adults as an oral and a sign language, and bicultural, identifying with both deaf and hearing cultures. Codas often navigate the border between the deaf and hearing worlds, serving as liaisons between their deaf parents and the hearing world in which they reside.
The depiction of albinism in popular culture, especially the portrayal of people with albinism in film and fiction, has been asserted by albinism organizations and others to be largely negative and has raised concerns that it reinforces, or even engenders, societal prejudice and discrimination against such people. This trend is sometimes referred to as the "evil albino" plot device.
Heřmanský–Pudlák syndrome is an extremely rare autosomal recessive disorder which results in oculocutaneous albinism, bleeding problems due to a platelet abnormality, and storage of an abnormal fat-protein compound. It is considered to affect around 1 in 500,000 people worldwide, with a significantly higher occurrence in Puerto Ricans, with a prevalence of 1 in 1800. Many of the clinical research studies on the disease have been conducted in Puerto Rico.
These organizations for higher education have a common purpose and mission for advocacy in numerous areas of both institutional management and the general public interest. The organizations have specific purpose for issues from faculty unionization to public policy research and service to institutions. Most are focused on the organization and governance of higher and tertiary education, but some are involved in service and research at all levels of education.
Persecution of people with albinism is based on the belief that certain body parts of albinistic people can transmit magical powers. Such superstition is present especially in some parts of the African Great Lakes region, it has been promulgated and exploited by witch doctors and others who use such body parts as ingredients in rituals, concoctions and potions with the claim that their magic will bring prosperity to the user.
Action for Autism (AFA) is an Indian non-profit, education, training and advocacy organisation which provides support and services to persons with autism and those who work with them. Founded in 1991, AFA is the parent organisation began with the goal to "put autism on the Indian map." Awareness of autism in India has grown tremendously in the past decade, and AFA's activities have also changed to meet current needs in India. AFA works through direct services, advocacy, and research to improve the lives of children with autism and their families. AFA is an Indian organisation, and its efforts are focused on the needs of those in India. AFA is also committed to assisting other countries in South Asia achieve legal recognition of autism and develop services for children and families. To more effectively orchestrate national activities for autism, it was relocated to the AFA National Centre for Advocacy Research and Training in 2006.
Chai Lifeline is a chesed organization founded in 1987 by Rabbi Simcha Scholar to help families with "children battling a deadly disease."
The National Black Deaf Advocates (NBDA) is the leading advocacy organization for thousands of Black deaf and hard of hearing people in the United States. Black Deaf leaders were concerned that deaf and hard-of-hearing African-Americans were not adequately represented in leadership and policy decision-making activities that were affecting their lives.
Kerpoof was a children's entertainment and educational website produced by Disney Online Kerpoof Studios, part of Disney Interactive Media Group. Users create cartoon avatars and earn Kerpoof Koins by making, sharing, and voting on virtual artwork. Based in Boulder, CO, Kerpoof was launched in 2007 and has grown to support a large community of users – prior to the Disney purchase, its traffic grew 30% a month on average. Revenue is generated through paid memberships, which allow users to access additional features, such as exclusive characters and avatar accessories. Kerpoof was acquired by The Walt Disney Company in February 2009, and the studio has since launched a suite of interactive entertainment activities on Disney.com, including an original site called Create.
Common Sense Media (CSM) is a non-profit organization that "provides education and advocacy to families to promote safe technology and media for children."
The Canadian Sleep Society (CSS) / Société Canadienne du Sommeil (SCS) is a professional organization whose membership is made up of Physicians, sleep researchers, polysomnographic technicians, dentists, clinical psychologists, students/trainees, and other certified allied health professionals.
Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood house is a 103-year-old comprehensive social services organization based in East St. Louis, Illinois. It is a United Way organization and is a United Methodist settlement house operating 22 programs at five sites in the Metro East St. Louis Metro East.
