VSA arts of Pennsylvania, the coordinator of Independence Starts Here: A Festival of Disability Arts and Culture announces the receipt of a grant from Alseres Pharmaceuticals as part of the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation's Quality of Life grants. Independence Starts Here was one of only three arts projects nationwide to receive a grant, which focuses on enhancing quality of life for people with disabilities, primarily those that affect mobility.

Independence Starts Here: A Festival Of Disability Arts And Culture, running October 18-November 20, celebrates classic and contemporary art influenced or informed by the experience of disability and features artists with and without disabilities. The Festival features performances of theater, music and dance; readings of poetry, plays and other literary arts; historical, cultural, and visual art exhibits; lectures; workshops; film series and other art projects. The festival also celebrates the work of leaders in the disability and cultural communities to increase accessibility in Greater Philadelphia and highlights organizations who offer accessibility on a regular basis and those who are working to create accessibility for the first time. More than forty arts organizations throughout the city will participate in the Festival, some holding events create specially for the Festival and others enhancing their ongoing activities with Festival-related events.

"We are very grateful to Alseres Pharmaceuticals and the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation for their visionary support. As a foundation of national stature, their support is an important vote of confidence in our inaugural Festival," said Mimi Smith, who is coordinating the Festival.

Alseres Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a leader in the field of development of diagnostic and therapeutic products for central nervous system (CNS) disorders and nerve repair. Created by the late Dana Reeve in 1999, the bi-annual Quality of Life grants program supports organizations that help people living with disabilities become more fully integrated members of society. The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation is dedicated to curing spinal cord injury by funding innovative research, and improving the quality of life for people living with paralysis through grants, information and advocacy.

For more information, visit www.independencestartshere.org.