LEAP Cleveland

We are very proud to be a part of this impactful event. Already looking forward to the next one!

LEAP staff and volunteers had a great time at the Guardians Disability Pride Celebration! We had a table at the resource fair prior to the game and then enjoyed watching the team bring home a victory. We look forward to continuing our partnership with the Guardians to celebrate disability pride!

ATTENTION!

Due to the forecasted air quality over the weekend, and an abundance of caution, the Talent and Art Show has been rescheduled. The new date will likely be Saturday, August 15. Once date is confirmed, new marketing materials will be sent out/posted.

Thanks for understanding!

Join us next Wednesday, July 15, for the Disability Pride Night at Wade Oval Wednesday! There will be music, food trucks, activities, and more. The Community Sign Choir, that we co-sponsor with The Cleveland Hearing and Speech Center, will be performing as an opening act.

We hope to see you there!

Follow the link for more information: https://www.universitycircle.org/events/2026/06/17/wow-wade-oval-wednesdays

Happy Disability Pride Month!

Each July, we celebrate disability identity, culture, and leadership, while also recognizing the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that was signed on July 26, 1990.

The Disability Pride Flag, shown below, is meant to represent people with any kind of disability and to recognize that disability is a natural part of human diversity.

To learn more about Disability Pride Month, click on the link below.

https://thearc.org/blog/why-and-how-to-celebrate-disability-pride-month/

We are so proud of our Executive Director, Beth Glass, for receiving this recognition from our community partner MaxHousing! keep up the great work, Beth!

Earlier this month, MaxHousing had the honor of presenting the 2026 Stephen P. Hansler Award to Beth Glas, a truly deserving recipient. Established in 2014 the award recognizes those who share the vision and values of MaxHousing and its longtime President Steve Hansler.

Beth joined MaxHousing in 2007 and ultimately served as Executive Vice President until 2023. Her impact on the organization cannot be overstated. From helping make Cotman Vistas a reality to leading the Anderson Center program for 9 years, Beth made sure that the work of MaxHousing always remained centered on the people with disabilities that we serve and helped shape MaxHousing's reputation for listening, creativity, and advocacy.

Two tenants joined in presenting the award to her. Derrick Moss, a resident for nearly 40 years, spoke about the profound impact Beth had on his life and the lives of many other residents of the Vistas Apartments. Antoine Robinson shared about how much Beth truly cares about people with disabilities and her commitment to making sure their voices are heard in the community. Their stories were a reminder that accessibility is not about features or checklists. It's about people.

In accepting the award, Beth reflected on the power of stories. That accessibility becomes real when we understand how something as simple as doing laundry independently, can transform a person's world. She reminded us that the best advocacy begins with listening.

Today Beth continues this work as Executive Director of LEAP (Linking Employment, Abilities, and Potential), where she is carrying that same compassion and wisdom, into a larger sphere.

In presenting the Award to Beth, MaxHousing President Steve Hansler said it best when he remarked that “working with Beth felt like being one of the people who loved a band before everyone else discovered how fantastic they were.” He encouraged others to pay attention to what Beth is doing because she is truly a leader, making a difference for people with disabilities.

We thank Beth Glas for the countless lives she has touched, and for helping people live better, fuller, and more independent lives.

Happy Juneteenth! Today marks a pivotal moment in history, celebrating freedom and the ongoing pursuit of justice for all. As we reflect on liberation, let's also remember that true freedom means equitable access and opportunity for EVERYONE, including people with disabilities. The fight for disability rights is deeply intertwined with the broader struggle for human dignity and self-determination.

In observance of Juneteenth, the LEAP office will be closed today. We encourage everyone to take time to learn, reflect, and celebrate.