DISABILITYSA NEWSLETTERS

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Our vision is to make San Antonio the #1 community where people with disabilities want to live, work, and play. Cannot view the email properly? View it online

13-July-2020 Fulfilling our mission to educate, advance, and engage individuals with disabilities by sharing information, creating opportunities, and strengthening the organizations that serve them.

Congratulations Graduates!   Despite these strange times, disABILITYsa is celebrating the graduations of many in our community. Graduating is always an accomplishment, but it is especially admirable in the current situation. Yata the Pinata, wearing her mask, made socially distant house visits to many of our graduating seniors.   Our 2020 graduates include Raquel Whitmire of Samuel Clemens High School, Jordan Allen of Madison High School, Alex Rojas of Holmes High School, and Emma Barron of The Clowvazar Academy.   Read More   The Royal Spotlight: Royal Court Members in the Community   Leadership is incredibly important for those with disabilities. They must learn to boldly take initiative and showcase their capabilities and talents in a society that often makes unfair assumptions about their abilities. At disABILITYsa we encourage our community members to proudly utilize their talents to address needs in the community.    Many of our Fiesta Especial Royal Court members and alumni are utilizing the skills they learned as Royal Court members to ease the strain during these difficult times. This month we are highlighting four outstanding Royal Court members and alumni: Raj Mulwani, Carla Starks, Emma Barron, and Raquel Whitmire.   Read More      Royal Court Zoom Hangouts: A Safe Space for Fun During COVID-19   Since social distancing orders due to COVID-19, disABILITYsa has offered weekly Zoom meetings to current Royal Court members and alumni. After the first meeting, we realized that structure and common activities are important to cultivating a sense of togetherness and normalcy. On Wednesdays, our Director of Operations, Anna Wimberley, sends out invitations and announces that week's challenge or activity.   Several of our court members and alumni have thought of creative group activities that can be done in quarantine. We encourage our Royal Court members and alumni to lead activities with the aim of keeping them active and engaged.   To learn more about Royal Court Zoom Hangouts visit the full article online by clicking "Read More" below. If you or your child wishes to participate please contact Anna Wimberley at anna@disabilitysa.org or 210-704-7262.   Read More New Faces at disABILITYsa! disABILITYsa is so fortunate to have several new faces joining us this summer. We welcome five talented interns to our organization. Our summer team members include Stephanie Serrato, 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 community, interns! Read More   Your Voice Matters in City Planning The City of San Antonio, Office of Emergency Management is updating its Hazard Mitigation Action Plan and is looking for information from the community. Input will help the project team to identify and analyze potential natural hazards affecting San Antonio and recommend possible actions to reduce their impact. Hazards can include floods, tornadoes, wildfires, winter storms, and other major natural disasters.   A Public Participation survey is available by clicking the following hyperlink: https://h2o.surveysparrow.com/s/City-of-San-Antonio-Hazard-Mitigation-Plan-Public-Survey/tt-53fe80   Your participation and help with distributing this to the community is very much appreciated.   Take the Survey   Transportation Advocacy Public transportation is a critical resource for many in the San Antonio community, particularly for disabled individuals. The San Antonio public transportation system has been critically under-funded for many decades now due to the decision to allocate only half of the available funds from sales tax to public transportation. The budgetary shortfall facing VIA has only become more dire with the effects of COVID-19.   As a result, in 2021 VIA may have to reduce or cut services for thousands of riders, many of whom are disabled. Lack of public transportation puts the most vulnerable of San Antonio citizens at an even greater disadvantage.   In November, San Antonio residents will have the opportunity to vote in favor of allocating an additional 1/8-cent-per-dollar sales tax to public transportation. However, this will not happen unless those who rely on public transportation speak out about their experiences and register to vote in November. Learn More Fiesta Especial Royal Court Gives Back   Our 2020 Royal Court did not let a pandemic stop them from celebrating Fiesta and carrying out their royal duties! Several of our court members conducted check presentations to their chosen organizations over Zoom. disABILITYsa also held a socially distanced parade for Fiesta Especial Celebration Day to recognize the more than $38,000 raised by our amazing Royal Court this season.   Read More     In This Issue:   Congratulations Graduates! The Royal Spotlight Royal Court Zoom Hangouts Shop with AmazonSmile New Faces at disABILITYsa! COSA Emergency Mgt Survey Transportation Advocacy #CripTheVote Back to School with Hemisfair ADA 30th Anniversary Royal Court Gives Back Register: AccessAbility fest  Royal Court Enrollment!   Program Links   disABILITYsa.org Fiesta Especial  AccessAbility Fest Conversation 360° abilitySTRONG Parade Food for Thought Creative Services Membership Special Events Shop with AmazonSmile   AmazonSmile is an amazing program through the online retailer Amazon which allows customers to support charitable organizations. disABILITYsa can benefit from your online purchases at Amazon when you use AmazonSmile! Learn more about how 0.5% of your purchase can be donated to disABILITYsa at no cost to you.    Learn More   Back to School with Hemisfair   Despite the strangeness of the times, some traditions remain the same. Hemisfair will be hosting its annual Back to School Bash, featuring their Inclusion Matters pack! Please register now for your FREE backpack of goodies and pick up your Inclusion Matters pack on August 1st.   Learn More   Happy Birthday ADA!   July 26th marks the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a groundbreaking piece of civil rights legislation which protects physically and mentally disabled Americans 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. Read More   #CripTheVote   This week, July 13th - 17th, is National Disability Voter Registration Week. There are an estimated 35 million people with disabilities eligible to vote in 2020. Imagine the impact our community can have if everyone exercises their right to vote. Get registered to vote and let your voice be heard!   Learn More Enroll Now!   Enrollment for the 2020-2021 Fiesta Especial Royal Court is currently open! Fiesta Especial by disABILITYsa is a unique leadership and life skills development program for children and adults ages 10 and up with all types of cognitive, physical and sensory disabilities. Royal Court membership provides individuals with opportunities for personal growth, new friendships, and giving back to the San Antonio community. The enrollment deadline for the 2020-2021 Fiesta Especial Royal Court is Friday, August 14th by 5:00pm.   Learn More     REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN Saturday, October 3rd, 2020 Exhibitor Registration is now open for the 2020 AccessAbility fest for Saturday, October 3rd in a new virtual format!  **NEW** Individual enrollment will open soon. **NEW**     Here are all the ways you can participate! Sponsor Serve on a Planning Team Parade Registration abilityMarch Participation Exhibitor Registration Volunteer   How You Can Help  as Make A Donation Become A Member Take The Pledge Shop with Giving Assistant Visit our Community Calendar Become A Mentor Use Amazon Smile Register for a Workshop Join Our Advocacy Program Like Us On Facebook

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2021 NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE