Updates

A room submerged in complete darkness; lightless and uncompromising.  You reach for your fork, but hit your glass instead. Your optic nerve is rendered totally useless and you have to rely on your other senses to guide you.  Your hearing peaks, your taste becomes piquant, your touch more delicate.  Your nose betrays your lips with every bite of the secret menu items.  A considerately and vigilantly set up multi-course meal will amaze you with every bite as you dip into each dish and discover the difference your eyes can make.  A challenge that is sure to keep your mind reeling with anticipation! Test your skills and see if you can guess what you are eating before concluding with the chef’s menu reveal.

---

Dining in the Dark is back! Come out and join us for live music, raffles, a cash bar, a sensory room, and a multi-course meal that will leave you guessing!

The event is on April 11th, 2015, 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Tickets are:
Individuals $75
Couples $145
Reserved Table for 8 $575

Buy your tickets at www.DiningInTheDarkBCS.com

Or, Call/Come In to get an order form.

Help us raise low vision and blindness awareness as well as promote the Brazos Valley Center for Independent Living by supporting Dining In The Dark!

---

---

Sponsorship opportunities are also available!

Slate ($1,000) – 8 event tickets; logo presence on Dining in the Dark website; & recognition in program.

Black Onyx ($2,500) – 8 event tickets; logo presence on Dining in the Dark website; 1/4 page ad in program; & live mic recognition at the event.

Obsidian ($5,000) – 8 event tickets; logo presence on Dining in the Dark website; 1/2 page ad in program; & live mic recognition at the event.

Black Pearl ($7,500) – 8 event tickets; logo presence on Dining in the Dark website; 1 page ad in program; & Live mic recognition at the event.

Black Diamond ($10,000+) – Title Sponsor – recognized in all before, during, and after promotional efforts. Ad proudly displayed on the back window (27.5in x 22in) of the BVCIL bus; prominence in broadcast, print, and internet promotions on BVCIL & Dining in the Dark websites; 8 event tickets; logo presence on Dining in the Dark website; 2 full page ads in program; Braille printed plaque; & live mic recognition at the event.

Some of our current sponsors:

---

For any questions or help, please email shelby@bvcil.org or call 979-776-5505

We have sold out in the past so be sure to get your tickets soon!

We hope to see you there!

On behalf of the Texas Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities:

This is our formal Call for Entries for the Texas NDEAM Poster Art contest for 2015.

Each year in October, the Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities produces a Texas poster for National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), which is distributed free of charge to businesses all across the State.

The art featured on the poster each year is an original piece created by a Texas artist with a disability. The winning artwork is incorporated into the national theme announced each year by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP). The design of our Texas posters has become so popular that, in addition to our statewide distribution, we frequently have many requests from other states. In 2014, we distributed more than 2,500 posters.

Submissions from Texas artists with disabilities can be sent to us as a photo of the original work in a digital format, ideally a JPEG or PDF, attached to an email (this is the preferred method), OR as a color photocopy OR with the image on a CD sent by postal mail. The original artwork does not need to be submitted with the entry. There is NO FEE for entries. All entries must be accompanied by a signed Entry Form, which is available on our website along with the Submission Guidelines. Entries must be received by email or postmarked by March 15; the winner will be announced by April 15. Artwork in any media is accepted; there is no specific theme required.

Once the panel of judges has determined the winner, we will make arrangements to receive the original artwork, which will be designed into the 2014 Texas NDEAM poster. The original art and the poster will be on permanent display in the Office of the Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities, and will be featured in offsite exhibits from time to time. The winning artist is also invited to be a featured guest at the annual Lex Frieden Employment Awards ceremony in October.

For Submission Guidelines, Entry Form, a view of the past NDEAM posters, and more information, please visit our NDEAM page on our website or contact us directly.

Texas Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities
512.463.5740 or Relay Option of your Choice
512.463.5745 – Fax
P.O. Box 12428
Austin, TX 78711
GCPD@gov.texas.gov

Kroger has a Community Rewards Program that allows Brazos Valley Center for Independent Living to receive funds every time our supporters shop at one of their stores.

Kroger is committed to helping our communities grow and prosper. Year after year, local schools, churches and other nonprofit organizations will earn millions of dollars through Kroger Community Rewards®.

Kroger Community Rewards® makes fund-raising easy…all you have to do is shop at Kroger and swipe your Plus Card!

If you would like to be able to donate to us every time you go grocery shopping, follow the steps below.

First, if you do not already have a Kroger Plus Card, you will need to sign up for one. Go to www.kroger.com/account/create to create an account and follow the steps.

Next, once you have an account or if you already have one, you will login and go to “Account Summary”. If you scroll all the way to the bottom, you will see a section titled “Community Rewards” where you can click the “Enroll” button and it brings you to a search page. Enter the BVCIL NPO number 17902 or just search our name. Then, click enroll. It’s that easy!

Now all you have to do is make sure you use your card at check out when you shop at Kroger and they will automatically donate to us at no extra cost to you!

You must present your Kroger Plus Card or provide your Alternate ID at the register during the transaction in order for it to count towards the program.

You should begin seeing at the bottom of your receipts, “At your request, Kroger is donating to Brazos Valley Center for Independent Living”.

If you have any questions, email shelby@bvcil.org and I will do my best to answer them.

 

Thank you to Kaitlyn Kellermeyer for her generosity in including Brazos Valley Center for Independent Living in her initiative to place wind chimes around campus to better accommodate students with visual impairments. Read more about it at the following link:

Initiative to accommodate students with visual impairments moves forward