Brazos Valley Center for Independent Living

Connecting people to the power of independence

outreach

Accessibility Help Desk

Logo for Texas Reds Festival. The picture is an outline of the State of Texas with a giant t-bone steak covering from the tip of Texas near Brownsville to about Ft. Worth. The steak has a cluster of purple grapes with a green vine situated on top of the steak as if stretching horizontally from the Texas New Mexico border to the Texas Arkansas border.ANDBrazos Valley Center for Independent Living logo

Look for the Accessibility Help Desk near the shuttle drop off location.  Below is a list of what you will find at the help desk. This is a community service brought to you by the Brazos Valley Center for Independent Living. Please stop by and say howdy!

  • Information about:
    • Accessible parking;
    • Transportation options;
    • Restrooms;
    • Exit routes;
    • Accessible routes; and
    • Where to find gluten free food options.
  • Materials in alternate formats:
    • Tactile maps; and
    • Braille schedules.
  • Concierge services/items including:
    • Long bendable straws;
    • Wheelchair charging station;
    • Loaner wheelchair;
    • Service animal relief area;
    • Transportation; and
    • Designated driver services.
  • On-site services:
    • Sighted-guides;
    • Sign Language Interpreting; and
    • Personal Attendants.

The BVCIL is a consumer-based, consumer-controlled, cross-disability, cross-cultural, non-residential, private nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation. BVCIL’s mission is to promote the full inclusion and participation of individuals with disabilities in all aspects of community life.

 

Facts About Age-related Hearing Loss

Think you have to be 70 to start having age-related hearing loss? Think again! According to a recent blog article from The Ability Center of Greater Toledo, hearing loss can start as early as our 40s, and we also don’t do our ears any favors with all that loud music through our headphones.

Hearing loss can sneak up on us gradually so that we don’t notice the difference until the decrease in perception is already pretty significant. Hearing loss also occurs from the top down, that is, higher-pitched sounds are the first to go.

The mechanical process of hearing loss involves the death and destruction of tiny fibers in our ears called cilia that, once gone, do not reproduce or regenerate. Exposure to loud noise for long periods of time can accelerate the loss of these structures.

Whatever the cause, some good news is that there is assistive technology that can help those with hearing loss maintain their independence. Hearing aids are, of course, the first line of defense for hearing loss. Other devices are also available, such as telephone and television amplifiers, that make life with hearing loss more enjoyable. Other technology, such as smoke detectors and doorbells with flashing lights, employ our other senses to help keep us safe.

Be sure to check out that blog post for more information.

 

Local Vision Awareness Day with Assistive Technology

Learn more about living with vision loss on Tuesday, April 3, 2013. Sponsored by Christal Vision and presented by Freedom Scientific, this seminar will feature hands-on demonstrations of many products useful to people who have low vision, such as adaptive computer software, digital magnifiers, and “talking” devices. Participants will also enjoy FREE learning sessions and a free lunch.

Space is limited, so be sure to register early! Here’s the info:

Date: Tuesday, April 3, 2013Time: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Location:
United Way of the Brazos Valley
909 Southwest Parkway E., Suite 100
College Station, Texas 77840

Register by Phone: (800) 336-5658
Register by Email: Seminars@FreedomScientific.com
Register Online: www.FreedomScientific.com/Seminars

March is Brain Injury Awareness Month

The Brain Injury Association of America reminds us that, “A brain injury can happen anytime, anywhere to anyone. Brain injuries do not discriminate. Did you know that 1.7 million people will sustain a brain injury each year? An injury that happens in an instant can bring a lifetime of physical, cognitive and behavior challenges and early, equal and adequate access to care will greatly increase overall quality of life. This is our goal. Please click here for more information.

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!