Disability Connection

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33rd Annual Arbor Day 5K-1 Mile-1/4 Mile Run Walk Roll

 33rd ARBOR DAY 5K-1 MILE-1/4 MILE RUN/WALK/ROLL, Town Green, Biloxi

Please join us for a fun event to encourage healthy lifestyles and disability awareness.

    Option 1

Event at Biloxi Town Green: Saturday, Feb 20, 2021 Join this fun event promoting healthy lifestyles to individuals of all ages with and without disabilities. This event has 2 goals to encourage a healthy lifestyle and to encourage people with disabilities to be active community participants by joining the fun of a run.

All Registration for Individuals is through the Gulf Coast Running Club. You can register for the Run/Walk/Roll at the event or pay a discount by Pre-Registering, postmarked by February 12, 2021. To pre-register, go to www.GulfCoastRunningClub.org, click on the Arbor Day Run. Print the registration form, and mail it to the address on the form. On-line registration is optional at www.RaceRoster.com. Runners receive a T-shirt. Runners with challenges receive a Medal. Volunteers/Caregivers do not need to pay registration fee to accompany a walker, but can register to receive a t-shirt.

This event is in partnership with Gulf Coast Running Club, the most respected running club in South Mississippi. The race includes a ¼ mile challenge so that everyone, including wheelchairs, can participate in the healthful benefits of a run with awards following.

Saturday Schedule (Run with Gulf Coast Running Club, Town Green):

  • 8:00-9:30        Registration and Sign-in for those Pre-Registered          
  • 9:00                 5K Race Start
  • 9:45                 1 Mile and ¼ Mile Ability Challenge Start

    _______________________________________________________

 

OPTION 2

Event at School or Optional Walking Track: group scheduled

Due to the current pandemic, DC is offering a second option to participate in the 2021 Arbor Day Run/Walk/Roll. Individuals and/or groups can register through DC, pay $10 per individual, and walk/run/roll a minimum of ¼ mile at the time and location of their convenience. Staff can verify the list of those completing the walk to receive t-shirts and medallions for the participants.

 Call the office for Sponsorship and Team information.

Disability Connection, 700 Pass Rd, Gulfport, MS, 39501; 228.604.4020; Fax 228.284.4419

Ocean Springs City Hall Office: 228.870.7775

Office@DisabilityConnection.org

Disability Connection now has a full time ADA Coordinator on staff

janie-o-keefeJanie O’Keefe, the Executive Director of Disability Connection, has completed the ADA Coordinator Training Certificate Program.  The ACTCP is offered through the University of Missouri, College of Human and Environmental Services, School of Architectural Studies and the Great Plains ADA Center.

Twenty-five years ago, through the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), our nation committed itself to eliminating discrimination against people with disabilities.  Disability Connection is proud to play a role in working towards a future in which all the doors are open to equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, integration and economic self-sufficiency for persons with disabilities.

2015-Gardening from a chair is practical & enjoyable!

Want to make your life a little greener? Start with a garden.  The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation have great adaptive gardening tips for people living with paralysis featured in the Reeve Health Minute series.

For most people, a few simple adaptive practices can make gardening from a chair practical, easy, and highly enjoyable.

Take a look at our gardening videos and see if this is the activity for you.

You’ll get to spend time outside, connect with others, and make sure your meals are full of delicious, healthy fruits and vegetables.

Wendy Crawford, founder of mobileWOMEN.org and the Raw Beauty Project, shares her special adaptive gardening tips in each episode. Running only a few minutes long, each video is packed with great information. Now it’s up to you!

View one video or the whole series:

The gardening series is part of our popular Reeve Health Minute videos. Thousands of people around the world have accessed these videos to learn more about adaptive practices from swimming, to cooking, and improving your mind.

Each episode is full of actionable tips for individuals living with paralysis to improve their health and wellness.

Enjoy the warmer weather and go spend some time outside in the sun.

Happy gardening!

Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation ChristopherReeve.org

Taking the Extra Step

janie-o-keefe    When asked what the most rewarding part of her career is, O’Keefe says it is the clients and the people they have the opportunity to serve.  “When you see how happy they are when they have accomplished things they could have never done without help, you can never put a price on that.”
Please click  #sheisnoble for full article

2014-Ocean Springs announces a Disability Connection office in City Hall

OCEAN SPRINGS, MS (WLOX) –

DC logo For Upload_Download_4PiecesThe city of Ocean Springs will pay the owners of Psycamore nearly half a million dollars as part of a settlement with the psychiatric counseling clinic.  The 437,500 settlement covers Psycamore’s damages and costs associated with the case. The city will also provide additional training for a current employee to serve as the city’s ADA Compliance Officer. That person will, most likely, be a senior official in the Building Department. City elected officials, selected staff and members of the Planning Commission will also undergo several hours of training on the city’s obligations under the ADA, according to a plan approved by United States Department of Justice.  Ocean Springs city leaders have partnered with Disability Connection, a Gulf Coast advocacy organization for people with mental and physical disabilities, to provide office space in the Mayor’s Office for an outreach resource manager to counsel citizens in Jackson County when they have complaints or are in need of services.  Phone # (228) 870-7775.  Please click link below for full story:

http://www.wlox.com/story/27480991/ocean-springs-settles-with-psycamore-owners

 

2015 – Art Ability Fair Success

Thank you to all who participated!

If you are missing pictures, please contact us : office@disbabilityconnection.org

Below is the FB Album showing all the portraits that we have.

Thanks!

-DC Team

Portrait pics from the Art Ability Fair 2015 – Feel free to tag and share! More to come.

Posted by Disability Connection on Sunday, April 19, 2015

2014-Special Needs Halloween Costume Ball

Special Needs Halloween Costume Ball
Click to enlarge

    2014-Special Needs Halloween Costume Ball! 

 

  •     Oct. 17, 2014–6pm-10pm
  •     Sponsored by the City of Biloxi
  •     Dr. Frank Gruich Sr. Community Center (591 Howard Ave.)
  •     Free Admission & Free Food
  •     Costume Contest
  •     RSVP to Director’s office @ 228-388-7170

 

Volunteers Help Veteran Build Ramp

Volunteer Helping
Volunteer Helping

 

Veteran Gets Ramp for Wife
Veteran Gets Ramp for Wife

GULFPORT, MS (WLOX) – A Navy veteran was moved to tears Monday when volunteers showed up at his home on 36th Street in Gulfport. John Walker desperately needed a wheelchair ramp for his wife, who’s coming home from the hospital in a few days. He didn’t ask for help. But several organizations decided to team-up to get the project rolling. Volunteers unloaded a pile of lumber as they prepared for a project that will take several days.  Mr. John Walker didn’t expect to see the outpouring of support. “Oh, it’s great!” he said with a big smile. His wife of more than 50-years, Kathleen, recently broke her leg. Realizing she needed a wheelchair ramp, the 85-year old man decided to build one himself. “To get her inside easier, and I was even going to put a chain to it to pull it in,” said Walker. The Retired Senior Volunteer Program of Harrison County (RSVP) heard about Mr. Walker’s situation and contacted Disability Connection. “We came and inspected it and it did not look like it was as safe as it should be. It did not look like it would survive long term, so we agreed to basically start over and give him a fresh brand, new ramp,” said Disability Connection Executive Director Janie O’Keefe. The Home Depot donated the materials. Volunteers, like U.S. Army Specialist Kegan Wood, signed-up to help.  Disability Connection also offers emergency home repairs and home weatherization for veterans, senior citizens, people with disabilities, and low-income families. Veterans get priority. For more information, you can call the organization at (228) 604-4020 or (228) 870-7775.