Holidays and Important Dates

World Cup 2026 is coming! The games start on June 11 and run through July 19. It takes place every four years, and for soccer fans, the World Cup is always a big deal. This year, the World Cup is an especially big deal for fans in the New York/New Jersey area because New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium will be hosting eight matches, including the much-anticipated final game on Sunday, July 19. 

So no one is left out of the excitement, we put together this guide to help fans with disabilities in New Jersey get the most out of their World Cup 2026 experience. 

NOTE: This list will grow as the games get closer. If you have a recommendation to share with the community, please email laura.warne@rutgers.edu. It is being compiled as a helpful guide only, and we encourage you to independently verify all information.
 

After 15 years of service, our dear friend and colleague Ann Martinelli is stepping down from her role as a Training and Consultation Specialist. She has left a lasting impact on the Community Living Education Project and will be sorely missed. 

From Diwali to Halloween, October has it's fair share of holidays. It's also National Disability Employment Awareness Month, a time to recognize the value and talent American workers with disabilities add to our workplaces and economy.

Today is World Emoji Day, and a good time to think about the power of symbols and what they tell us about our biases and assumptions about what disability is and looks like.

This year's Disability Pride Month is coming at an uncertain time for many individuals receiving Medicaid. Many important and worthy disability organizations are also facing proposed federal and state budget cuts, and this landscape of funding uncertainty creates tremendous stress and uncertainty for the individuals relying on their services.

Now is an especially critical time to uplift, empower, and celebrate friends, family, and neighbors with disabilities. We hope you will plan ways large and small to celebrate Disability Pride Month throughout the month of July.

Learning and advocacy for a loved one is a lifelong commitment and can sometimes feel overwhelming. Let us acknowledge that it is overwhelming.  

As we wait for warmer days and the first buds of spring, we invite you to make a commitment to start by learning more about person-centered thinking and planning.