INFORMATION, RESOURCES, OPPORTUNITIES

CONVERSATION 360°: DATING & DISABILITY
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2ND, 2021 @ 5:45PM

Does the dating with a disability taboo exist simply because it’s not talked about enough?  Well, let’s talk about it!  For many, the dating world has become a cesspool of people looking for their “perfect” partner and only focusing on looks and their idea of the “perfect” partner. Add in the fact that a person has any kind of disability, and people tend to make a long list of assumptions. Dates can be fun whether a person is living with a disability or not. There's lots to do that’s fun, accessible, and that everyone can enjoy. People living with a disability aren’t all going around looking for nurses; everyone wants an actual partner, someone to love. Intimacy is possible, even if it requires some adaptation.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! 
2020 IN REVIEW

With each gift of time, talent, and treasure this year; the love and support gifted to disABILITYsa enabled a continued impact on the San Antonio community through connection, advancement, and strengthening:
  • Provided timely and relevant information to over 6,289 individuals who visited our website over the 2020 year.
  • Connected 2 families with SSDI Assistance, 2 families with Housing Assistance, 1 family with food assistance, 1 family to employment assistance, 1 family with ASL classes and resources available, and 17 families were provided with food boxes through random incoming calls to disABILITYsa.
  • Distributed Census2020 outreach materials to 100 disability service organizations and providers, made 200 calls to families during the Census2020 phone-a-thon, and influenced the inclusion of ASL in Census2020 Outreach efforts and PSAs
  • disABILITYsa hosted 37 and counting weekly Leadership zooms sessions for the Fiesta Especial Royal Court and have formed a wonderful collaborative partnership with Inclusion is Sweet in the process.
  • 11 organizations were strengthened through the Royal Court Program benefiting from the 2020 Royal Court Campaigns and the extra media attention we were able to inspire with the check presentations in May. 
  • Successfully offered the first virtual AccessAbility fest with 53 exhibitors and 273 attendees in October generating 1,038 messages sent between attendees and exhibitors; 22 informational sessions covering topics on Education, Older Adults, Veteran Services, Future Planning, and Employment; 76 meetings scheduled between attendees; and 18 public meet ups scheduled for continuing the conversations after AccessAbility fest!  This experience turned out to be a model for hosting information fairs for other organizations.
  • Enrolled 8 new Fiesta Especial Royal Court members in the Leadership & Life Skills development program for the 2020-2021 program year creating greater visibility for the leadership and contributions individuals with disabilities are making in our community.  Together, these individuals raised a total of $37,000 to benefit programs for children and adults living with disabilities in San Antonio. 
  • Hosted 3 Conversation 360° programs covering topics on Digital Inclusion, Higher Education, and "I Have a Voice" creating a platform for open and candid conversations on the barriers to independence and inclusion San Antonian's living with a disability face and how we can all work together and take a role in tearing those barriers down.
  • Provided training for nonprofit leaders through the Food for Thought program in areas of meaningful measures and online advocates and influencers. 
  • Served on the following committees to amplify the voices of individuals living with disabilities in San Antonio: 
    • City of San Antonio Disability Access Office
    • Bexar County Technical Advisory Committee for Persons with Disabilities
    • Vaccine Implementation Planning Committee
    • Successfully Aging & Living in San Antonio Transportation Workgroup
    • Strategic Housing Implementation Plan (SHIP) Residents & Community Advocates Stakeholder Forum, Member 
    • Fiesta® San Antonio Commission, Elected Commissioner 
    • ALL (Autism Lifeline Links) Collective, Public Policy & Advocacy Workgroup 
    • League of Women Voters, Disability Outreach Committee Chair 
    • ConnectSA
    • ​Census2020 Complete Count Committee
  • Garnered support and community advancement through advocacy work on issues around: 
    • The use of clear masks to help break down communication barriers during the pandemic
    • The inclusion of adult changing stations in public spaces
    • Increased funding for public transportation
    • The inclusion and amplification of the disability voice in planning and visioning efforts such as SA2020, City of San Antonio R&D League, COVID-19 Resiliency & Recovery, Workforce Development efforts, 
  • Collaborated with the City of San Antonio Disability Access Office and the Successfully Aging and Living in San Antonio to "Gather the Experiences of People with Disabilities during COVID-19" and produced a report that was distributed to media, multiple city departments, and community interest groups for consideration in future planning efforts. 
  • Laid the framework and built a road map for increased advocacy efforts, less restrictive disability voter engagement, and community inclusion programs in 2021!  (We're looking forward to announcing these new programs in the New Year!)

WHAT'S HAPPENING SAN ANTONIO???!!
 coming up on the calendar

TOWN HALL: COVID-19 VACCINE
December 10th, 2020 | 7PM
 ​Virtual Town Hall | COVID-19 Vaccination in our Community
December 10, 2020 | 7pm

All community members are welcome to attend and hear from local community leaders, public health experts and faith leaders on the latest information on the COVID-19 vaccine and distribution plan. Scientists and medical professionals are developing and preparing to distribute a safe and effective vaccine that will help us return to normal day-to-day activities.

The information session will be followed by Questions & Answers.  Townhall live stream will be on www.ksat.com and Facebook live @SAMetroHealth

Brought to you by: City of San Antonio Metropolitan Health District and KSAT 12.
PURSE-U-ABILTIY AUCTION
FEBRUARY 9TH, 2021
ONLINE PLATFORM

2020’s Best & Worst Cities
FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

With the physical and economic challenges of managing a disability in mind, WalletHub compared more than 180 most populated cities across 34 key indicators of disability-friendliness. Their data set ranges from physicians per capita to rate of workers with disabilities to park accessibility. Click on the map below for rankings.  Click on the link (https://wallethub.com/edu/best-worst-cities-for-people-with-disabilities/7164/#) for findings, expert insight from a panel of researchers and a full description of WalletHub's methodology.
Source: WalletHub

2020 virtual accessability fest
access our archives & exhibitor hall

The 14th Annual AccessAbility fest 2020 has come to an end, but you can still access the resources, information, and opportunities we put together for you this year!  

Missed the registration?  No worries!  Simply click the button below to gain access to the 2020 Recordings and Archives. 

GATHERING EXPERIENCES DURING COVID-19
INDIVIDUAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL SURVEY

The City of San Antonio Disability Access Office, disABILITYsa, and the San Antonio Area Foundation are conducting a survey to gather the experiences of people with disabilities during the COVID-19 response and recovery.  Your thoughts and knowledge will help us better understand the impact on our community.  The survey is in English, Spanish and American Sign Language (ASL).   The survey can be found on the SA Speaks Up webpage or you may also go directly to the survey by clicking on the button below. 

​Questions about this survey can be directed to the Disability Access Office at 210.207.7135 or DisabilityAccess@SanAntonio.gov. 

BIAS IN PUBLIC HEALTH DATA
disability advocacy in san antonio

Join CivTechSA in partnership with the City of San Antonio’s Office of Innovation to look at bias in public health data by providing your thoughts or joining us from a community conversation.  This Community Conversations survey and event series tackles three areas where bias impacts data-driven policymaking: Identity, Reach, and Trust.

It is important that people with disabilities are part of this process so we ask you to continue the conversation by sharing your perspective. 

This series of community conversations aims to answer the questions:
  • Can we eliminate bias in Public Health data? 
    Public Health data refers to how we quantify people and the environment, leading to important conclusions that determine policy, programming, and other outcomes.  
  • How can we identify and eliminate bias from datasets that shape people’s access to public health resources, how programs are designed, and how benefits are allocated?
    Accountable, ethical uses of public information for social good must actively resist the criminalization and surveillance of low-income communities, people of color, and other marginalized populations. However, they must also work to include the diverse identities and experiences of our community.   
 
Fill out the form on the Community Conversation webpage to share your thoughts on the Priority Health Survey case study, or any of the Community Conversation topics.  The will be found near the bottom of the page in the section titled We Want to Hear From You.   
 
Please click on the webpage link at: https://www.civtech-sa.com/community-conversations/  for the form and more information on the Community Conversations.
 
If you have any questions or need assistance in completing this form, please contact the City of San Antonio’s Disability Access Office at 210.207.7135 or DisabilityAccess@SanAntonio.gov

I HAVE A VOICE
disability advocacy in san antonio

The Service & Leadership Program (SLP) identifies opportunities and provides training for both individuals living with and without disabilities who are interested in advocating and serving the San Antonio community by engaging in volunteerism, service on nonprofit boards, and participation in strategic conversations about the future the San Antonio community.  While there are other opportunities for people with disabilities to learn to advocate for themselves, this program specifically works on providing the tools, resources, and connections for both individuals living with and without disabilities to advocate for the disability community as a whole.

DISABILITYSA MEMBERSHIP
(BE A PARTNER IN OUR MISSION!)

Your membership helps to financially support the programs and services offered by disABILITYsa, helping to fulfill our mission to educate, advance, and engage individuals living with a disability in the San Antonio community by sharing information, creating opportunities and strengthening the organizations that serve them.

INDIVIDUAL MEMBER OPTIONS
Basic Level $60/year ($5/month)
Supporter Level $132/year ($11/month)

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION MEMBER OPTIONS
Basic Level - $250 
Supporter Level - $500

FOR-PROFIT BUSINESS MEMBER OPTIONS
Basic Level - $500
Supporter Level - $1,000
Sustainer Level - $2,500

A full description of member benefits are available online.

invest in our mission

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disABILITYsa PayPal Giving Fund
disABILITYsa received 501c3 Tax Exempt status as of March 14, 2017.
Click for Financial Support Options
Strengthen Nonprofits Through
disABILITYsa
Business Members
Autism Treatment Center
Mass Mutual
Ride Connect Texas

CREATIVE GIVING

WHAT'S NEXT?
VOLUNTEER OPS
Click on the links below
to volunteer with us!
​
Saturday, Oct. 3rd, 2020
AccessAbility fest 
Join our Volunteer Facebook Group to stay updated on upcoming opportunities.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Food for Thought Postponed
​MARCH, 2019
Elevating Meaningful and
​Measurable Outcomes.
October 3rd, 2020
AccessAbility fest /
​abilitySTRONG Parade
See the Calendar for more.
If you would like to contribute information for this site, please email us at  info@disABILITYsa.org.
​We are unable to provide advice or referrals, so please refer to our Resource page if you need help finding services.
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