2013 Mayor’s Disability Awareness Fair
2013 Mayor’s Disability Awareness Health Fair
October 4 · 
· Taken at Edgewater Mall
· Taken at Edgewater MallThe Celebration of Health and Awareness was a Huge Success!Thank you to all who participated.
Hero Model Follows Dreams
Dreams are beautiful things. You can do most anything that you believe that you can do.
Here is yet another shining star among examples of bright youngsters with disabilities believing and achieving.
This is a beautiful story that you will want to share with your friends and family.
Karrie Brown, with the help of her totally awesome Momma, is now on her way to becoming a model.
Full story Via ABC News and Yahoo
“Every day Sue would post a picture of Karrie in her favorite Wet Seal outfits — pieces that Karrie said make her “fit in while standing out” — hoping that they would attract the company’s eye.”
“She immediately caught our attention,” Wet Seal’s Yasmin Ezaby told ABC News. “We then asked our fans to get Karrie’s Facebook page to 10k likes and we would give her the trip of a lifetime. She exceeded this goal in two days.”
In fact, as of Saturday, the page is now up to nearly double that number of “likes.”
Wet Seal honored its pledge and flew Karrie and Sue on an all-expenses paid trip from their home in Collinsville, Ill., to Los Angeles, throwing in a trip to Disneyland along the way.
Although Wet Seal runs an annual model search competition, it was the first time the company had done a special challenge focused on one individual.”
Hero Director Shares His Story
“When I Walk” is COMING TO THEATERS OCTOBER 25!
“In 2006, 25-year-old Jason DaSilva was on vacation at the beach with family when, suddenly, he fell down. He couldn’t get back up. His legs had stopped working; his disease could no longer be ignored. Just a few months earlier doctors had told him that he had multiple sclerosis, which could lead to loss of vision and muscle control, as well as a myriad of other complications. Jason tried exercise to help cope, but the problem only worsened. After his dispiriting fall on the beach, he turned to his
Mom, who reminded him that, despite his disease, he was still a fortunate kid who had the opportunity to pursue the things he loved most: art and filmmaking. Jason picked up the camera, turned it on his declining body, and set out on a worldwide journey in search of healing, self-discovery, and love.
An emotional documentary filled with unexpected moments of humor and joy, WHEN I WALK is a life-affirming film driven by a young man’s determination to survive—and to make sense of a devastating disease through the art of cinema.”
Visit Jason’s YouTube page to watch more video clips.
2014 Art Ability Art Fair
Art Ability Fair – A free day of professional art classes for those with disabilities age 8-adult. Pottery, music, photography, art, painting, glamour make-over, dance and more are shared by the Walter Anderson Museum, Lynn Meadows Discovery Center, the Mary C O’Keefe Cultural Center and others to include nonprofit agencies, businesses, artists, art teachers, and community volunteers.
This Year’s Event Date:
Thursday, April 10, 2014 8:30 am-2:30 pm Donal Snyder Community Center, 2520 Pass Rd, Biloxi
This year is a western theme. Please have your staff and students wear western attire such as cowboy hats, neck scarves, vests and such if they have them. We will also have costumes for them to wear for photos. We have a live horse for the videos, but I think it would be fun if we keep this a secret from the kids.
This will be a fun year. Please contact us if you can volunteer for one of these events, or please let me know if you want to be removed from our volunteer list.
Please let anyone interested in coming to sign up as a volunteer by faxing in the registration form (note “volunteer” and what you want to do) or emailing our office. We need ideas or items to borrow to decorate the Donal Snyder Community Center in Western theme for the Art Fair. We will have an indoor backdrop for western photos and outdoors a live horse for videos. We need Cowboy hats, vests and props to also borrow. Managing is not very easy and one can get tips and advice from experts like Andy Defrancesco.
We need help decorating and setting up Wednesday afternoon around 4:00. We also need help taking down and cleaning at 2:30 Thursday.
The art workshop will be on Thursday, April 10th from 8:30-2:30, the Donal Snyder Community Center, Pass Rd, Biloxi. Lunch will again be provided.
2013 Disability Connection Playground Party
The Disability Connection All Inclusive Playground
August 23 · · Taken at Bruce Ladner Field
· Taken at Bruce Ladner FieldDreams Come True – After years of hard work and searching for funds, the non-profit group Disability Connection dedicated a new all inclusive playground. It is the first of its kind in South Mississippi. Read more from Rebecca Powers at http://bit.ly/
Thank you for helping us build a connected community!
Feel free to tag friends in our Facebook Photo Album.
2013 Disability Awareness Health Fair
The Mayor’s Disability Awareness Health Fair
The Mayor’s Disability Awareness Health Fair is a free day of health screenings, resource information from over 40 health and disability organizations, disability awareness games and obstacle courses, group fitness classes provided by Gulfport Senior Services, arts and crafts, and inclusive stage entertainment to include groups with disabilities, children, and motivational speaker Greg Smith. Over 800 individuals will attend this event. The Fair is open to the public.
Friday October 4th, 2013 from 10am to 2pm at the Edgewater Mall, South Entrance in Biloxi.
Health and disability organizations are welcome to register for a booth now by faxing the completed registration formto (228) 284-4419.
Groups and individuals are invited to RSVP for the Fair by calling (228) 604-4020.
Healthy Snack packs will be provided to the first few groups that RSVP, so call today!
Disability Challenge games at the 2011 Health Fair
Special thanks to the 2013 Mayor’s Disability Awareness Health Fair Sponsors:
Abbvie Chron’s and Colitis Advocate Program, Millcreek of Longbeach, Nursing Management,
Greg Smith – The Strength Coach, Gulfport Senior Services, and Team Adaptive
A Hero in Memory — Jon Eric O’Connor
http://www.spinalcordinjury-paralysis.org
A hero is gone but never forgotten. Jon O’Conner lived an honorable life and will be missed by many. For those that knew him, he was
“always the most gentle voice in the room — that didn’t mean he backed down or took a back seat –but it had the consequence of him being heard. He cared — he told the truth — he made everyone laugh and feel comfortable.”
Jon was injured in an accidental fall 12 years ago. After his accident he became a “beacon of hope” for all those facing challenges. When asked about his motto he would enthusiastically reply: “It’s Go Forward!”
We invite you to read more about Jon in a letter composed by Peter Wilderotter, President and CEO of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation.
Jon “devoted himself … to improving the lives of everyone living with paralysis” and will always be a hero.
A Blind Lifter
39-year old blind DC-resident Pat Leahy is pursuing his bodybuilding dreams.
About Pat Leahy
via BlindLifter.com
It takes strength, courage, and dedication to compete in bodybuilding. It takes an extraordinary person to compete blind. Nothing can stop award-winning 39-year old blind DC-resident Pat Leahy from pursuing his bodybuilding dreams.
“Blind Lifter” is an upcoming documentary about Pat that will inspire its audience to go for their dreams. The documentary will be released later this fall.
On May 4, 2013, Pat competed in the Organization of Competitive Bodybuilder’s Atlantic Super Show competition held in Richmond, VA, knowing full well that previous injuries could flare mid-performance and permanently affect his future athletic endeavors.
Pat is not competing against other blind bodybuilders. Pat is competing in a field of sighted competitors. 
Pat’s sight loss has presented him with trials, but it does not define him. Professionally, his career encompasses service under Members of Congress, a Cabinet Secretary, and currently the U.S. federal government. Academically, Pat graduated with honors from Millersville University in 1997, with majors in both Political Science and History. He is also a future MBA student. During his free time, Pat enjoys helping our nation’s wounded warriors, swimming, reading, and being an avid baseball fan. Additionally, he has a guide dog named Galahad, who is a five-year old yellow Labrador.
– Read More about his Pat and his new documentary entitled “Blind Lifter”
A Person Can Have a Disability without Being a Disabled Person
My Point of View; Truth
“What’s the difference between “having a disability” and “being disabled”? It all comes down to two sociological theories: the medical/individual model of disability and the social model of disability,”says Lisa Egan at XOJane.com .
Lisa’s latest article discusses the medical vs. social views of disability.
“I am disabled. More specifically, I am disabled by a society that places social, attitudinal and architectural barriers in my way,” asserts Lisa. “This world we live in disables me by treating me like a second-class citizen because I have a few impairments — most obviously a mobility impairment.
“There are many who would argue that they do have a disability. They point out that even if all barriers put in place by society were removed,they’d still have things they can’t do.”
Healing the Mind and Heart Community
Interested in inspiring stories?
Looking for answers to questions on how to deal with chronic pain and illness?
Join the Healing the Mind and Heart Community brought to you by the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation.
“Daniel Gottlieb, Ph.D., a practicing psychologist and family therapist,
will be live in this section every Wednesday from 4-5 p.m. ET.
Leave a question or comment anytime for him in the Mind and Heart Community”