Craig Howell CELEBRATING ALL ABILITIES – A committee of city officials and community volunteers is working to organize several days of activities in observance of Disability Independence Week. Events are set to be held July 18 to July 25.

WEIRTON — For the third year, the Weirton community is invited to come together and celebrate the differences and similarities of all residents.

“We’re about a month away from our week-long celebration,” Weirton Assistant City Manager DeeAnn Pulliam said.

The third annual Disability Independence Celebration, scheduled for July 18 to July 25, will feature seven days of activities to raise awareness of continued efforts to support everyone equally, no matter their abilities.

It is held in observance of the 1990 signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“We all have some type of challenge we’re facing,” Pulliam said.

A committee has been formed to organize activities throughout the observance in coordination with organizations throughout the community.

Kristin Tulenko, an area resident with cerebral palsy who is part of the event’s planning committee, noted it is one of the few events in West Virginia that helps raise awareness and celebrate these aspects of society.

“There’s really nowhere that does stuff like this,” she said.

The week’s events will begin at 9 a.m. July 18 with a 5K run, walk and roll event on the Panhandle Rail Trail. It is being organized with cooperation from the Brooke-Hancock Family Resource Network and the Coalition for Disability Inclusion.

A reception for a new art exhibit at the Summit Art Gallery will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. July 20, with assistance from the Top of West Virginia Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Top of West Virginia Arts Council.

July 21 will feature a flag football scrimmage between athletes from Special Olympics of Hancock County and representatives of the Weirton International Association of Fire Fighters Local 948. The game will take place at Edwin J. Bowman Field, with a time to be determined.

The Family Resource Network and Inclusion Circle will team up July 22 to present Inclusive Books and Candy Bingo, beginning at 5 p.m. in the activity room of the Mary H. Weir Public Library. An inclusive pool party is set for July 23 at Starvaggi Memorial Pool.

Inclusive bowling will be available from 6 to 8 p.m. July 24 at Holiday Lanes, and the observance will conclude July 25 with the Disability Independence Day Celebration from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Weirton Event Center.

“This is going to be a lot bigger than we’ve had in the past,” committee member Ashley Foltz said.

The July 25 event will feature food and refreshments, speakers, a performance by Cloak and Dagger On the Air focusing on the implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and more.