NEW YORK, NY – April 17, 2008 – The Disabilities Network of New York City is proud to announce that it has received a $4000 Quality of Life grant from the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation (CRDF).  The award was one of almost 100 grants totaling almost $800,000 awarded by the Reeve Foundation to nonprofit organizations that help people living with disabilities become more fully integrated members of society.

For the second year, the Disabilities Network of NYC will use CDRF support for the disTHIS! Film Series, which will celebrate it's 2nd anniversary on Wednesday, May 7th. Every month, disTHIS! connects art and advocacy by showcasing  groundbreaking, festival-quality films with cutting-edge depictions of the disability experience beyond clichés. Screenings have featured award-winning movies, producers, directors and actors from around the world, including NY premieres of international works and screenings of “forgotten” classics.  The series brings together film buffs, advocates and academics to view and discuss what they’ve seen.

“The Disabilities Network is honored to receive a Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation grant in support of disTHIS!” said Alberta L. Orr, Executive Director. “The success of disTHIS! demonstrates how by breaking outside the stereotypical ways of depicting disability we can gain support by  disabled and non-disabled audiences alike. The disability experience is much richer and more nuanced than the ‘tragic/heroic’ limitations often shown by conventional media. CDRF’s willingness to ‘step outside the box’ and support innovative programming has been instrumental to our continued success.”

The Reeve Foundation’s Quality of Life grant program, started by the late Dana Reeve, acknowledges the ever present and demanding needs of people living with paralysis and other disabilities and the importance to enable individuals to maintain a positive and fulfilling quality of life. To date, the Reeve Foundation has awarded 1,454 Quality of Life grants totaling nearly $12 million to organizations nationwide that help improve opportunities, access and day-to-day quality of life for individuals and their families.