Transportation is a key component of living an independent life in San Antonio. Our constituents deserve a better transit option than they are receiving right now. A tax shift of 1/8 cent that is set to expire in 2021 is on the table, and the VIA Board has the right to put that decision in front of the San Antonio community on the ballot during the November election. Millions of dollars are available annually for public transportation if we come together and act NOW.
Our transportation system has been historically and chronically underfunded and the time to speak up for something better is NOW.
You have an opportunity to have your voices heard on Thursday, July 9th at a special meeting at which VIA Trustees will decide how they will move forward to secure funding that will impact the transportation options for those you serve...not just today, but perhaps for decades into the future.
REGISTER TODAY for the Citizens to be Heard and let the trustees know the significant impact Public Transportation has on your life today, tomorrow, and years down the road.
Our transportation system has been historically and chronically underfunded and the time to speak up for something better is NOW.
You have an opportunity to have your voices heard on Thursday, July 9th at a special meeting at which VIA Trustees will decide how they will move forward to secure funding that will impact the transportation options for those you serve...not just today, but perhaps for decades into the future.
REGISTER TODAY for the Citizens to be Heard and let the trustees know the significant impact Public Transportation has on your life today, tomorrow, and years down the road.
New Faces at disabilitysa
Welcome summer interns!
by Madeline Smith | July 2020
disABILITYsa is fortunate to have several new faces join us for the summer. We welcome five new talented interns to our organization. Our new team members include Stephanie Serrano, Sharif McNeill, Madeline Smith, Mary Jlay, and Glorious Asantewaa. We look forward to seeing the contributions these young individuals make as they grow and learn with disABILITYsa. Welcome to the disABILITYsa family, interns!
disABILITYsa is fortunate to have several new faces join us for the summer. We welcome five new talented interns to our organization. Our new team members include Stephanie Serrano, Sharif McNeill, Madeline Smith, Mary Jlay, and Glorious Asantewaa. We look forward to seeing the contributions these young individuals make as they grow and learn with disABILITYsa. Welcome to the disABILITYsa family, interns!
Stephanie Serrato
Stephanie Serrato, a junior finance major at UTSA, comes on board as an accounting intern for disABILITYsa this summer. “I am excited to work with disABILITYsa because it is an amazing opportunity to learn about the nonprofit sector. I believe it is important to focus on organizations that make communities a better place.” After graduating, she hopes to work toward her Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) or Certified Financial Planner (CFP) certification.
Sharif McNeill
Sharif McNeill joins our team at disABILITYsa as a program intern this summer. Sharif is a sophomore at San Antonio College, pursuing an associate degree in Social Work and a Level 2 Case Management Certification. “I am excited to work with this organization because I am passionate about people living with disabilities and I love being able to connect people with outside resources that are available to the community.”Sharif aspires to be a case manager and help low-income families, people living with disabilities, and elderly individuals manage their daily living and connect them with resources in the community.
Madeline Smith
Madeline Smith is a senior history major at Trinity University who brings a creative mindset and an eye for detail to her work as a development and communications intern at disABILITYsa this summer. “disABILITYsa is an incredible organization to work with this summer and has already provided me with the opportunity to gain experience in a variety of tasks such as social media content development, fundraising, marketing, and website maintenance & development.”
Madeline looks forward to learning transferable skills and applying her passion for diversity and inclusion to the museum field. She is glad to join disABILITYsa for the next several weeks and will continue to follow their work in the community after the completion of her internship.
Mary Jlay
Mary Jlay joins the team at disABILITYsa as a program and fundraising intern for the summer. Mary is a sophomore at Northwest Vista College working towards a degree in education. “I am excited to have the opportunity to intern and assist with disABILITYsa this summer. This opportunity gives me a chance to meet some new faces and to even learn some new skills myself.” Mary hopes to become a mathematics or English Language Arts (ELA) teacher and help students learn efficiently and with a greater depth of understanding.
Glorious Asantewaa
Glorious Asantewaa is an enlisted U.S. Navy service member and sophomore at San Antonio College pursuing a degree in biology. Glorious comes on board as a program and fundraising intern at disABILITYsa this summer. “What really excites me the most about working for this organization is that there are a lot of great opportunities for me to experience different kinds of communication. Also, I have the pleasure of working on the fundraising committee which is a really great opportunity.”
Glorious would eventually like to transfer to UTSA to continue her degree in biology. Her goal is to become an officer in the Navy as a general physician in the medical service corps to serve both her country and her community.
Miriam Rodriguez
Miriam Rodriguez, a sophomore at Northwest Vista College, has joined our team at disABILITYsa as a communications assistant. She is a biology and pre-nursing major in the process of transferring to earn her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). “I am extremely eager to be a part of the team that makes up disABILITYsa and educate myself as well as others around me. I am excited to venture into the communications and social media marketing aspect of this organization and expand my networking for future endeavors.”Upon receiving her BSN, Miriam plans to continue her education by working toward her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) with the goal of working in pediatrics.
Stephanie Serrato, a junior finance major at UTSA, comes on board as an accounting intern for disABILITYsa this summer. “I am excited to work with disABILITYsa because it is an amazing opportunity to learn about the nonprofit sector. I believe it is important to focus on organizations that make communities a better place.” After graduating, she hopes to work toward her Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) or Certified Financial Planner (CFP) certification.
Sharif McNeill
Sharif McNeill joins our team at disABILITYsa as a program intern this summer. Sharif is a sophomore at San Antonio College, pursuing an associate degree in Social Work and a Level 2 Case Management Certification. “I am excited to work with this organization because I am passionate about people living with disabilities and I love being able to connect people with outside resources that are available to the community.”Sharif aspires to be a case manager and help low-income families, people living with disabilities, and elderly individuals manage their daily living and connect them with resources in the community.
Madeline Smith
Madeline Smith is a senior history major at Trinity University who brings a creative mindset and an eye for detail to her work as a development and communications intern at disABILITYsa this summer. “disABILITYsa is an incredible organization to work with this summer and has already provided me with the opportunity to gain experience in a variety of tasks such as social media content development, fundraising, marketing, and website maintenance & development.”
Madeline looks forward to learning transferable skills and applying her passion for diversity and inclusion to the museum field. She is glad to join disABILITYsa for the next several weeks and will continue to follow their work in the community after the completion of her internship.
Mary Jlay
Mary Jlay joins the team at disABILITYsa as a program and fundraising intern for the summer. Mary is a sophomore at Northwest Vista College working towards a degree in education. “I am excited to have the opportunity to intern and assist with disABILITYsa this summer. This opportunity gives me a chance to meet some new faces and to even learn some new skills myself.” Mary hopes to become a mathematics or English Language Arts (ELA) teacher and help students learn efficiently and with a greater depth of understanding.
Glorious Asantewaa
Glorious Asantewaa is an enlisted U.S. Navy service member and sophomore at San Antonio College pursuing a degree in biology. Glorious comes on board as a program and fundraising intern at disABILITYsa this summer. “What really excites me the most about working for this organization is that there are a lot of great opportunities for me to experience different kinds of communication. Also, I have the pleasure of working on the fundraising committee which is a really great opportunity.”
Glorious would eventually like to transfer to UTSA to continue her degree in biology. Her goal is to become an officer in the Navy as a general physician in the medical service corps to serve both her country and her community.
Miriam Rodriguez
Miriam Rodriguez, a sophomore at Northwest Vista College, has joined our team at disABILITYsa as a communications assistant. She is a biology and pre-nursing major in the process of transferring to earn her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). “I am extremely eager to be a part of the team that makes up disABILITYsa and educate myself as well as others around me. I am excited to venture into the communications and social media marketing aspect of this organization and expand my networking for future endeavors.”Upon receiving her BSN, Miriam plans to continue her education by working toward her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) with the goal of working in pediatrics.
by Madeline Smith | July 2020
July 26th marks the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a groundbreaking piece of civil rights legislation which protects Americans living with physical and mental disabilities and illnesses from acts of discrimination, promoting inclusion and accessibility. The ADA was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush on July 26th, 1990 and was later amended in 2008 to provide greater inclusivity and protection.
The ADA protects people with disabilities against discrimination in employment, transportation, communications, public accommodations, housing and access to state and local government programs and services. Among the many requirements mandated by the ADA are closed captioning of federally funded public service announcements, reasonable accommodations for employees, wheelchair accessible buildings and restrooms, and other directives which afford disabled people equal rights and opportunities. Please take a moment this month the appreciate the great strides made against ableism and contemplate the progress which is still needed.
July 26th marks the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a groundbreaking piece of civil rights legislation which protects Americans living with physical and mental disabilities and illnesses from acts of discrimination, promoting inclusion and accessibility. The ADA was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush on July 26th, 1990 and was later amended in 2008 to provide greater inclusivity and protection.
The ADA protects people with disabilities against discrimination in employment, transportation, communications, public accommodations, housing and access to state and local government programs and services. Among the many requirements mandated by the ADA are closed captioning of federally funded public service announcements, reasonable accommodations for employees, wheelchair accessible buildings and restrooms, and other directives which afford disabled people equal rights and opportunities. Please take a moment this month the appreciate the great strides made against ableism and contemplate the progress which is still needed.