Brazos Valley Center for Independent Living

Connecting people to the power of independence

disability

Guests on Brazos Valley Magazine

KAMU is the local PBS station for the Brazos Valley.
KAMU is the local PBS station for the Brazos Valley.

 

Brazos Valley Center for Independent Living is excited to announce our debut on KAMU TV‘s program, “Brazos Valley Magazine”. Dr. Sharon Colson is the host of the locally aired program and she invited BVCIL to attend as some of her guests. Jackie Pacha, Executive Director, and Shelby Catron, Office Assistant, arrived on set August 21st where they were given the opportunity to talk about BVCIL and our recent Americans with Disabilities Act anniversary celebration. Part of the show consists of footage produced by some of KAMU TV’s student production assistants and our wonderful accessible bus is the star! Please support your BVCIL by watching us on Brazos Valley Magazine next week!

The episode that BVCIL was a guest on will be aired on these dates:

  • August 28th, Thursday, 7:00 PM CST
  • August 30th, Saturday, 5:30 PM CST
  • August 31st, Sunday, 5:30 PM CST

All of the air dates will be on these channels:

  • Locally on HD Channel 12
  • Suddenlink Cable Channels 4 and 700
  • DirecTV Channel 15
  • DishNetwork Channels 4 and 700
  • Or, online streaming… CLICK HERE

 

Free Local Help with Tax Preparation

Well, well, if it isn’t Uncle Sam’s favorite time of year again! It’s frustrating enough if you have to pay ol’ Uncle Sam, but wouldn’t it be nice not to have to pay someone to do the paperwork? Well, YES!

We are very fortunate here in the Brazos Valley to have FREE local tax prep help available courtesy of AARP Tax-Aide. And no, you don’t have to be over 65.

TIMES AND LOCATIONS

Clara Mounce Library, Bryan
201 East 29th Street, (979) 209-5600February 1 – April 15
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, 1-5 PM
Thursday 2-5 PM

Larry Ringer Library, College Station
1818 Harvey Mitchell Parkway, (979) 764-3416
February 1 – April 15
Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 9 AM – 5 PM
Saturday 9 AM – 1 PM

Workforce Solutions
3991 East 29th Street, (979) 595-2800
February 4 – April 15
Tuesday 5:30 – 8:0 PMSaturday, 9 AM – 1 PM

St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Brenham701 Church Street, (979) 836-4441
Thursday, February 5, 13, 20, 10:00 AM – 2:30 PM
April 3 and 10, 10:00 AM – 2:30 PM
Appointment Preferred, call (979) 836-4441

WHAT TO BRING

  •  Picture ID, such as driver’s licenseSocial Security/Medicare cards or other official documentation for taxpayers and ALL dependents
  • Copy of last year’s tax return, if available
  • W-2 forms from ALL employers
  • Unemployment compensation statements
  • SSA-1099 forms for ALL taxpayers and dependents who received Social Security benefits
  • ALL 1099 forms from other sources
  • Documentation for real estate interest and taxes paid
  • ALL forms indicating federal income tax paid
  • Dependent care provider payments and information (name, employer ID, social security number)
  • ALL receipts and/or cancelled checks if itemizing deductions

Living Without Limits Panel Discussion This Tuesday, February 4

February is Low Vision Awareness Month!

Come join Insightful Connections, the organization of Texas A&M students who are blind or visually impaired, to learn more about the challenges and triumphs of those who have low or no vision. Topics will be Braille, independent travel, assistive technology, and life experiences, followed by a question-and-answer session.

Logistical details are:

When: Tuesday, February 4th
Location: Koldus 111
Time: 5:30pm – 6:30pm

National Disability Employment Awareness Mnth (NDEAM) Poster Art Contest 2014

Even though we just finished National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) in October, it’s already time to start thinking about this year’s initiative and the poster art. The deadline to enter this year’s contest is March 15, Here’s the heads-up on a little healthy competition from the official announcement:

“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 requests from other states. In 2013, 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. Contact information is listed on the website.”

Wow! What a great opportunity for a new or developing artist who has a disability to get discovered! Take a look at the great winners from the past two years.

Here’s 2012’s poster:

Texas NDEAM Poster 2012And this one is from last year. Inspiration, anyone?

Texas NDEAM poster 2013

Position Available with Disability Services at Texas A&M

Accommodations Counselor (Student Development Specialist II)
Disability Services, Texas A&M University
 
ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY AND DEPARTMENT
Texas A&M University is a land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant institution located in College Station, Texas. The university is centrally located, approximately equidistant from three of the ten largest cities in the United States (Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio) and the state capital (Austin). The university’s enrollment is more than 50,000 students studying for degrees in twelve academic colleges including the Health Science Center and School of Law.
 
The Department of Disability Services is one of seventeen departments in the Division of Student Affairs.  Disability Services promotes an inclusive environment at Texas A&M University by facilitating appropriate accommodations, empowering students to be self-advocates, and educating the campus community.  Disability Services offers accommodations counseling, evaluation referral, disability-related information, adaptive technology services, sign language interpreting and transcription services for academically related purposes. 
 
BRIEF POSITION OVERVIEW
Serves as one of eight professional staff members who work with a variety of students with disabilities to provide and facilitate academic accommodations.  General office conditions with the majority of time spent in contact with students. Attends meetings and conferences concerning students and with student groups at times beyond usual working hours. Requires ability to multi task and work cooperatively with others.
 
RESPONSIBILITIES
  • Provide on-going service and case management to a caseload of students with disabilities.
  • Identify students with disabilities who are eligible for services (review documentation, conduct initial interviews).
  • Assist as needed with exam accommodations and other assigned projects.
  • Consult with campus units and departments regarding accessibility issues and laws.
  • Serve on University, Division and Departmental committees and task forces.
  • Keep updated on research and issues related to students with disabilities in higher education.
  • Evening work and/or travel may be required.
  • Other duties as assigned.
 
QUALIFICATIONS
Education: Bachelor’s degree required. Master’s degree in student affairs, counseling or related field preferred.
 
Experience:  One or more years of full-time experience in student affairs work or related specialty with a Bachelor’s degree. No full-time experience required with a Master’s degree.
 
Special Knowledge: Preferred knowledge of disability law as it applies to higher education, knowledge of educational technology. A working knowledge and/or experience of students with psychiatric and mental health concerns and/or of students with Asperger’s Syndrome/Autism Spectrum Disorders.
 
Salary:  $33,000-38,000
Application Deadline: Review of applications will begin January 27, 2014 and will continue until position is filled.
 
TO APPLY
All applicants must complete the official university online application at http://jobpath.tamu.edu. 
  • See posting number #: S00375FY14
  • It is also strongly recommended that all applicants attach/upload a current resume and cover letter as part of the online application.
 
All correspondence and questions related to the positions and search should be directed to:
 
Tracey Forman, Assistant Director and Search Committee Chair
Department of Disability Services
Cain Hall B118, 1224 TAMU
College Station, Texas  77843-1224
 
Telephone:  (979) 845-1637
Fax:             (979) 458-1214
Email:          traceyf@disability.tamu.edu
Website:      http://disability.tamu.edu

Youth In Development Internship Program

From the program announcement:

“The summer 2014 Youth in Development (YiD) internship program is aimed at students and recent graduates with disabilities who aspire to careers in international development or international affairs.  Applications are open until January 29, 2014.

The YiD program will bring a group of talented graduate students, recent graduates, and rising college juniors and seniors with disabilities to Washington, DC, for nine weeks. This will include a one-week training and orientation program followed by an eight-week internship at an international organization in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area. USICD will cover the cost of fully-accessible housing during the YiD progam, reimburse travel expenses to and from DC, and provide a limited stipend. It is anticipated that the program will run from May 25 to July 25, 2014. These dates may be subject to change.

The United States International Council on Disabilities (USICD) launched the YiD internship program in 2013 with funding support from the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation.  The project follows from a vision, core to USICD’s mission, to increase disability inclusion in U.S. foreign affairs by supporting future generations of Americans with disabilities to invest their skills and talents in this field.

To  learn more about the YiD program, eligibility criteria, and the application process, please visit http://usicd.org/template/page.cfm?id=257.  This website answers Frequently Asked Questions for applicants.  You can also download a printable handout about the YiD internship program.

Please disseminate this email, or the printable handout, among students and recent graduates who may be interested.  If you are an international organization in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area interested in hosting a YiD intern, please communicate with yid@usicd.org.

Application deadline for the summer 2014 YiD program is January 29, 2014.

P.S. In addition to coordinating the YiD program, USICD also leads the campaign for U.S. ratification of the “Disability Treaty”.  This is the first international treaty to protect the human rights of people with disabilities.  We are interested in hearing from campus and student leaders who want to help mobilize others to take action in support of the Disability Treaty.  Please communicate with Andrea Shettle at ashettle@usicd.org for details.  No time to be involved?  Then you may want to simply sign and disseminate a petition at http://bit.ly/Youth4CRPD.”

Very well said! Good luck to all interested youth!