Brazos Valley Center for Independent Living

Connecting people to the power of independence

Public Input

Research Opportunity for People with Traumatic Brain Injuries

A great way people with disabilities can self-advocate is to help raise awareness by participating in surveys and studies.

The West Virginia University Center on Excellence in Disabilities is doing an online survey-based research study about the sleep quality and decision-making abilities of people who have had traumatic brain injuries. To be eligible, participants must be 18 years old or older and have sustained a brain injury within the past 3 years.

To participate, please visit TBI Research Project.

Eligible participants who complete the study will receive a $10 Walmart gift certificate.

Time for the 2013 Mayors’ Award Nominations

Do you know someone in our community who has done a fantastic job making life equal for people who have disabilities?

Junction 505 and The Bryan/College Station Mayor’s Committee on People with Disabilities is seeking nominations for this year’s annual Mayors’ Award. From the announcement: “This award is to acknowledge and recognize outstanding contributions by individuals in our community to eliminate attitudinal, physical, and social barriers for people with disabilities.”

Anyone in the community can nominate, and self-nominations are encouraged. Nominations are due by September 3, 2013. To access the nomination form and submission instructions, please click BCSMC Award Application 2013_2pg

The award will be presented at Junction 505’s annual Harvest Moon Fundraiser on Thursday, October 17, 2013.

Great Fun Opportunity to Help Promote Accessible Parking in Texas and Win a Prize!

Parking Mobility is having a fun contest to help promote the importance of accessible parking in Texas for people who have disabilities. Accessible parking helps people who have disabilities maintain their independence by making it easier and safer for them to get in and out of places of employment, do their own shopping, and run their own errands.

Between now and March 11, Parking Mobility is collecting photos of vehicles parked improperly in accessible parking spaces. You can email photos to Mack Marsh at mack@parkingmobility.com.

The three people who send Mack the most photos will each get a $100 gift card to Apple. Also, if you send Mack the names and email addresses of everyone you tell about this contest, every time they send a photo, you also get one point toward winning your own card. Easy!

This contest is not meant to get our neighbors in trouble. Cars in the photos sent will not be given tickets.The point is to help remind everyone why we should respect accessible parking for people who really need to use it.

Here is an example of a photo someone sent Mack:

2/26/13, 4:00 p.m., outside an Olive Garden restaurant.

parking

Have Fun!

National Disability Employment Awareness Month Poster Competition

The Texas Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities is reaching out to Texas artists who have disabilities to contribute their artwork in a competition to create this year’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) poster. The deadline for submissions is Friday, March 15, 2013. For more information, contest guidelines, and submission forms, please visit the NDEAM initiative website at:

http://governor.state.tx.us/disabilities/ndeam/ndeam_poster/

National Disability Employment Awareness Month occurs each October to highlight the importance of diversity in building a strong and creative work force.

 

A Community Discussion on School Discipline and the “School to Prison Pipeline”

The Brazos County Branch of the NAACP invites the community to an open discussion on School Discipline & the “School-to-Prison Pipeline,” a disturbing national trend wherein children are funneled out of public schools and into the juvenile and criminal justice systems. Join us, as we dialog with guests from the NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, Inc.

Wednesday, February 13, 2013
African American Museum
500 East Pruitt Street
Bryan, TX  77803
7:00 PM
For additional questions and concerns please contact Ms. Ann Boney president of the local NAACP at 979-778-5902