MISS AMERICA AND MISS WHEELCHAIR VIRGINIA: A CONVERSATION ON EHLERS-DANLOS SYNDROME

Rick Fleming, an artist with Down Syndrome based in Austin, Texas was commissioned to create a tote bag featuring the presidential nominee, Joe Biden. Now, his work is official campaign merchandise and through a confluence of events led to Fleming meeting his 'hero.' Video Credit: Video of Biden and Rick Fleming over Zoom: The Biden campaign Photos: SAGE Studio Song Credit: Storybook Shuffle by Dreamlamp

Camille Schrier, Miss America, and Ryann Kress, Ms. Wheelchair Virginia both have a rare genetic condition called Ehlers Danlos syndrome. BirdMine set up a meeting between the two beauty queens to discuss their condition and how they advocate for disability and invisible illness. Photo credit: Camille Schrier, Ryann Kress, Miss America organization Song credit: Malibu Sunrise by Noah Smith Upright by Lincoln Davis Beauty by Cody Martin Beautiful by Joshua Nichols

BirdMine presents "New Reality, New Routine: Six Employees with Disabilities Navigate Returning to Work during Covid" #### Follow BirdMine Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/BirdMineStories Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/BirdMineSto... Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BirdMineStories Website: https://www.birdmine.com About BirdMine: BirdMine is a production company focused on elevating the voices of the powerless, disenfranchised and underrepresented. Our objective is to produce unique and underreported stories happening around the country, and world. #### Music by: Artist: Cody Martin Song: Facing Legend Artist: Moments Song: Forgotten Road Artist: Hola Hola Song: All Was Not Lost Artist: Acreage Song: Ivy Artist: Sounds Like Sander Song: A Thousand Lakes Licensed through Soundstripe

Emily Morrissey has had her own business, Emily's Bracelets, since 2018. The 22-year-old who has cerebral palsy, and lives in Chesterfield, Virginia, creates bracelets using colorful beads. The business began because Emily's family feared she wouldn't find a job after high school because of her disability. When the Covid-19 pandemic began, Emily's Bracelets pivoted to making and donating masks to frontline workers. In total, they donated 500 masks to doctors, nurses, etc. Emily's story is the fourth of a four-part series by BirdMine about people with disabilities in the workforce and their experience going back to work during the Covid-19 pandemic. #### Follow BirdMine Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/BirdMineStories Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/BirdMineSto... Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BirdMineStories Website: https://www.birdmine.com About BirdMine: BirdMine is a production company focused on elevating the voices of the powerless, disenfranchised and underrepresented. Our objective is to produce unique and underreported stories happening around the country, and world. #### Music by: Artist: Cody Martin Song: Facing Legend Artist: Sounds Like Sander Song: A Thousand Lakes Licensed through Soundstripe

BirdMine presents part three of "New Reality, New Routine: A Four-Part Series on Returning to Work for Employees with Disabilities." When the Covid-19 pandemic began, Shelley Lantz, who has Down Syndrome, worked three jobs in Richmond. But then, Covid-19 spread around the country and she was out of work. Around the same time, Elizabeth Redford, decided to use her newfound free time to invest in tAblespoons, a baking program launched in 2017 as part of her nonprofit. #### Follow BirdMine Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/BirdMineStories Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/BirdMineSto... Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BirdMineStories Website: https://www.birdmine.com About BirdMine: BirdMine is a production company focused on elevating the voices of the powerless, disenfranchised and underrepresented. Our objective is to produce unique and underreported stories happening around the country, and world. #### Music by: Artist: Cody Martin Song: Facing Legend Artist: Acreage Song: Ivy Artist: Hola Hola Song: All Was Not Lost Licensed through Soundstripe

Andre Williams is a porter at Starbucks in New York City. He does “a little bit of everything” at Starbucks, including maintenance, greeting customers, sanitizing and cleaning, and all-around customer service. Williams had worked at Starbucks for a year when the Covid-19 pandemic began, forcing Starbucks to close. Williams’ story is the second, of a four-part series by BirdMine, about people with disabilities in the workforce and their experiences going back to work during the Covid-19 pandemic. #### Follow BirdMine Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/BirdMineStories Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/BirdMineSto... Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BirdMineStories Website: https://www.birdmine.com About BirdMine: BirdMine is a production company focused on elevating the voices of the powerless, disenfranchised and underrepresented. Our objective is to produce unique and underreported stories happening around the country, and world. #### Music by: Artist: Cody Martin Song: Facing Legend Artist: Moments Song: Forgotten Road Artist: Hola Hola Song: All Was Not Lost Licensed through Soundstripe

BirdMine presents part one of "New Reality, New Routine: A Four-Part Series on Returning to Work for Employees with Disabilities." Part I: Michelle examines the story of Michelle Wensmann, who had been a greeter at Shake Shack on the Upper East Side of New York City for the past year. Wensmann, who has learning disabilities, was progressing each and everyday, and then a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic struck. Not working was a struggle for Wensmann, who calls her co-workers a family. She was asked to come back in June, but life and work have since changed. #### Follow BirdMine Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/BirdMineStories Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/BirdMineSto... Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BirdMineStories Website: https://www.birdmine.com About BirdMine: BirdMine is a production company focused on elevating the voices of the powerless, disenfranchised and underrepresented. Our objective is to produce unique and underreported stories happening around the country, and world. #### Music by: Artist: Cody Martin Song: Facing Legend Licensed through Soundstripe

On August 4th, an explosion rocked the capitol of Lebanon, Beirut. It left the country in anguish and impacted Lebanese at home and abroad, including in the United States. BirdMine spoke with nine Lebanese Americans about the devastation in Lebanon. Follow BirdMine Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/BirdMineStories Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/BirdMineStories Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BirdMineStories Website: https://www.birdmine.com About BirdMine: BirdMine is a production company focused on elevating the voices of the powerless, disenfranchised and underrepresented. Our objective is to produce unique and underreported stories happening around the country, and world. ####