Disability Connection

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Category Community

Blog , Community , News

Local PRAM Chapter Supports DC

From the PRAM’s monthly newsletter:

Community Service Project
Disability Connection

“Dear PRAM members,

For our next service project, we will be partnering with Disability Connection who helps seniors and veterans as well as people with disabilities to gain employment. For the months of April, May and June, we will be collecting new or gently worn work attire. Most of their clients are looking for entry level positions, and we can accept any and all sizes and styles. Feel free to donate nice jeans, polos, suits, dresses, ties, scrubs, etc. They will also accept letter or letter-like (imitation) portfolios/folders for their clients who are out interviewing. These portfolio/folders look professional for interviews and some of us have ones we don’t use. Thank you for supporting this service project through your donations. I challenge you to go through you closets now. You can deliver those directly to Disability Connection, located at 700 Pass Rd in Gulfport in the Gulfport School Annex down the hall from maintenance. Call first to (228) 604-4020  to coordinate drop-off or bring these items to the next PRAM meetings. Feel free to visit www.DisabilityConnection.org or email Office@DisabilityConnection.org for more information.”

Thank you,

Jessica Breazeale, Community Service Chair

View The Employment Connection Page

Visit PRAM Mississippi Beach on FB

Blog , Community , News

Thank You CVS Caremark

Thank you for Assisting Disability Connection with the 26th Arbor Day Run/Walk/Roll!

February 18, 2014

Dear CVS Caremark,

Thank you for your sponsorship of the 2014 Arbor Day 5k -1 Mile Run/Walk/Roll. The Arbor Day event was incredibly successful, and it’s all thanks to organizations like yours.

Statistics are still being compiled, but raw numbers are as follows:

  • 75 organizations were part of the event.
  • Over 30 nonprofit, service, and health organizations participated, and at least 10 different schools and day programs brought individuals to participate.
  • Over 460 individuals registered and participated in the 26th Arbor Day 5k – 1Mile Run/Walk/Roll for Disability Awareness. And at least 50 additional participants walked the 1Mile – ¼ Mile challenge to support of individuals with disabilities.
  • More than 70 volunteers assisted with event set –up, implementation, and clean up, logging 350 philanthropic hours.
  • The Event received significant media attention. 5 TV stations did interviews, several newspaper, magazine, and radio stations provided additional coverage, and the event was posted on numerous community calendars.
  • The Event was promoted by the Mississippi Gulf Coast Tourism on their website.

Thank you for assisting Disability Connection in “creating a connected community.”

We look forward to working together again in the future to serve individuals with disabilities. News stories and photos will soon be posted at  www.DisabilityConnection.org with information about our next scheduled event, the Art Ability Fair, April 10th.

We will also be hosting a day of planting and partying with kids and adults with disabilities and the community at-large on our Disability Connection Community Playground. We expect to select a day in March for this event.
Our Best,

Janie O’Keefe
Executive Director

Arbor Day Runner at Finish Line
Blog , Community

2014 Run Walk Roll Success!

Thank you to everyone who helped make the 2014 RWR ROCK!

View Pictures Here

View Race Results Here


Donations can still be made via PayPal to

Disability Connection, a 501 (c) (3) Nonprofit Corporation.

Post by Disability Connection.

 

A fun event to encourage healthy lifestyles and disability awareness.

Arbor Day Race Starts

At Disability Connection (DC), our mission is “creating a connected community to inform, assist, and participate in collaborations that engage individuals with disabilities, eliminating barriers, and fostering cooperation and understanding.”

The Arbor Day Run/Walk/Roll is a fun event promoting healthy lifestyles to individuals of all ages with and without disabilities. This event has 3 goals: to promote healthy lifestyles, to encourage people with disabilities to be active community participants and join the fun of a Run, and to share information on community resources for people with disabilities and the underserved. An estimated 800 individuals participate each year.

The Arbor Day Finish Line PhotoThe event includes music, snacks, accessible sports demonstrations, and vendors promoting health and wellness. Individuals with disabilities will receive information on community resources, opportunities for socialization, and disability sports opportunities including tennis, basketball, soccer, and basketball. This event is in partnership with the 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.

 

 

Call the office for Sponsorship Information.

Disability Connection, 700 Pass Rd, Gulfport, MS, 39501

228.870-7775; Fax 228.284.4419

Office@DisabilityConnection.org

 

  • mike
  • May, Mon, 2013
Community , News

Mississippi Angels Pageant

A pageant for anyone with special needs.

Saturday, November 9th Starting at 2pm
Magnolia Civic Center 127 East Bankhead Street New Albany, MS 38652
Anyone with special needs is invited to participate. Any age from 0-105 are welcome.

Hair and makeup will be provided. Pageant wear or Sunday best is requested, but not required.

Contact Information :
Julie Bogue
Email: jlbogue@yahoo.com
Phone or text: 662-507-9950
  • mike
  • May, Fri, 2013
Community

Reeve Foundation: Who’s 2013’s Best Mom on Wheels?

Do you know an extraordinary mom who’s living with paralysis?

Nominate her now for the 3rd Annual Reeve Foundation Best Mom on Wheels Contest!

In honor of Mother’s Day, the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation wants to celebrate every mom in our community.

Simply tell them in 200 words or less how the mom that is special to you has changed your life, your family’s life, or your community. Include a photo of your nominee.

All moms are eligible, whether biological, adoptive, or a foster mom. She does not have to use a wheelchair, but she must be living with paralysis.

“People think just because you have a spinal cord injury means you are not capable of being a mother,” says last year’s winner, Edna Escher-Gaston of Swarthmore, PA. Edna has a daughter, two step-daughters, and six grandchildren. “My daughter used to tell me when she was very young, ‘You’re still my mom.'”

This year’s winner will receive a $500 gift card from Tilt-A-Rack®, producer of Mobility hitch mounted aluminum carriers to make the transportation of wheelchairs, and electric mobility scooters eliminating the need for trailers — as well as the honor of being the 2013 Best Mom on Wheels!

You must submit your entry by midnight, May 14th. You can read all the official contest rules.
Reeve Foundation judges will review all the entries submitted and chose 10 semi-finalists who will be posted on their website.

Then the community will determine our winner with an online vote.
Honor a special woman in your lifeby nominating her to become this year’s Best Mom on Wheels!

  • mike
  • Apr, Tue, 2013
Community , News

Official Ribbon Cutting Party for the Disability Connection Community Playground

Disability-Con                     

YOU’RE INVITED TO COME AND CELEBRATE ACCESSIBLE PLAY!

Ribbon Cutting Party for the Disability Connection Community Playground

Friday, May 10th, 11am to 1pm at the Bruce Ladner Memorial Park off Highway 53,

 just west of Highway 49, Gulfport in Harrison County.

Join Disability Connection for light refreshments, art, music, dancing, and more as we celebrate the official grand opening of the Disability Connection Community Playground, Harrison County’s first fully-accessible playground.
The event is open to the public, but Disability Connection appreciates an RSVP for planning purposes. Come celebrate accessible play and bring your own bagged lunch!

THE DISABILITY CONNECTION COMMUNITY PLAYGROUND
A variety of specialized equipment designed for everyone to play, a lighted walking track, benches, accessible bathrooms, shade, and ample parking.

“…We enthusiastically recommend…the Disability Connection Community Playground. I…understand the value that Disability Connection is to the communities of South Mississippi…” Phil Bryant, Governor of Mississippi.

The Community Playground is brought to you by:

Harrison County Board of Supervisors, IP Casino Resort Spa, Brown, Mitchell & Alexander, INC., Kaboom!, Playscapes of Mississippi, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Biloxi, and Best Buy.

  • mike
  • Mar, Tue, 2013
Community , News

Gulf Coast Human Resource Association Chapter Scholarship

To help finance higher education for gulf coast students, GCHRA will offer a scholarship to students pursuing a four year degree at an accredited college or university.

One (1) scholarship will be awarded annually. This year’s Chapter scholarship will be a $1000 scholarship awarded in the fall of 2013.

Qualified applicants must be:

 a resident of Jackson, Harrison, or Hancock County

 enrolled full time in an undergraduate or graduate program at an accredited college or university (preference given to majors of a Business or Human Resource related discipline)

 at least starting their junior year (college level) during the semester or term of the award

 have a minimum of a 2.5 GPA (Cumulative)

Applicants must submit all eligibility requirements and provide a completed application packet postmarked before May 15, 2013. Application packet includes:

1) scholarship application

2) resume

3) official transcript

4) cover letter

5) two (2) letters of recommendation from a teacher, or supervisor from a job or volunteer position

Selection criteria will be based on the applicant’s academic achievement, leadership and participation in school and community activities, honors and awards, work experience, statement of educational and career goals, recommendations, and cover letter. Preference will be given to active Student SHRM members and students pursuing degrees in a human resources related career field.

Mail to: Gulf Coast Human Resource Association, P.O. Box 3308, Gulfport, MS 39505

Scholarship Application can be found here.

  • mike
  • Feb, Mon, 2013
Community , News

Disaster Legal Services Available to Storm Survivors

Disaster Legal Services provides legal assistance to low‐income individuals who, as a result of the disaster, are unable to secure adequate legal services. The Federal Emergency Management Agency, through an agreement with the Young Lawyers Division of the American Bar Association, provides free legal help for survivors of a presidentially declared major disaster if they are unable to pay.

Disaster legal assistance that local lawyers typically provide covers:

·         Help with insurance claims for doctor and hospital bills, for loss of property, loss of life.

·         Drawing up new wills and other legal papers lost in the disaster.

·         Help with home repair contracts and contractors.

·         Advice on problems with landlords.

·         Preparing powers of attorney.

 The Young Lawyers Division of The Mississippi Bar has provided a toll free number, 877-691-6185, that is staffed Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. When staff steps away or during all other hours of the day, a caller may leave their name, and a good daytime contact number. A legal representative will return an applicant’s call as soon as possible.

Legal help in any area of law is only available if the legal issue is directly related to a declared major disaster. Disaster legal advice is limited to cases that will not require a fee.

– Information courtesy of FEMA – 770-220-5226

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). For TTY call 800-462-7585.

 FEMA’s temporary housing assistance and grants for public transportation expenses, medical and dental expenses, and funeral and burial expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, applicants who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA loan officers to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.