Disability Connection (DC) is dedicated to “creating a connected community to inform, assist, and participate in collaborations that engage people with disabilities to fully participate in their communities—eliminating barriers, and fostering cooperation and understanding.” Disability Connection accomplishes this mission through the Community Resource Education Program. A minimum of four large, educational and recreational events. The Arbor Day 5k- 1 Mile/ ¼ Mile Run/Walk/Roll for Disability Awareness is a day-long event promoting healthy lifestyles to individuals of all ages, with and without disabilities. The event is brought in partnership with the Gulf Coast Running Club, the most respected running club in South Mississippi. The race includes a 1/4 mile challenge so that everyone, including those in wheelchairs, can participate in the healthful benefits of a run with awards following. The Art Ability Fair is a free day of professional art classes for those with disabilities age 8-adult. Pottery, music, photography, art, painting, glamour make-over, dance and more are shared by the Walter Anderson Museum, Lynn Meadows Discovery Center, the Mary C O’Keefe Cultural Center and others to include nonprofit agencies, businesses, artists, art teachers, and community volunteers. The Fair also includes three art shows, depicting art created by individuals at the Fair. Over 1,500 individuals participate. The Mayor’s Disability Awareness Health Fair is a free day of health screenings, immunizations, resource information from over 40 health and disability organizations, disability awareness games, arts and crafts, and inclusive stage entertainment provided by both children’s groups and groups with members who have disabilities. Over 1,000 individuals participate including some schools and senior centers. The People with Disabilities/Disabled Veterans Job Fair, an employment fair that targets at-risk populations and offers employment resources specifically for individuals with disabilities and veterans. More than 50 organizations attend. Over 800 participate.
2. Smaller recreational events for individuals with disabilities to include basketball clinics, as well as deep-sea fishing trips for individuals with mobility impairments. Over 150 will participate in these smaller events throughout the year. Volunteers and coaches for these events are mostly veterans, active military, and local businesses.
3. The Connection, an online resource directory featuring over 2,000 businesses and organizations that serve individuals with disabilities across the state of Mississippi and nationwide. The Connection will also feature the Disability Connection Employment Center, a special section devoted to employment resources for individuals with disabilities, veterans, seniors, and other special populations. More than 25,000 individuals across the state of Mississippi will utilize this resource in 2014.
4. The MS Gulf Coast Community Resource Guide, a resource guide available in print and digital forms that showcases Coast resources available to unemployed and underemployed individuals. DC will print 1,000 copies and burn 100 digital copies to CD and distribute this resource throughout the community. Other organizations are encouraged to copy this resource and provide it to their clients. DC will also maintain a digital, interactive, downloadable version on www.disabilityconnection.org. Over 1,000 individuals and numerous organizations will utilize and benefit from this resource in 2014.
5. DC daily provides resource referrals using trained Resource Specialists to connect individuals with the appropriate service providers and organizations to meet their needs. Over 150 individuals will receive assistance from the DC Resource Specialists. The Community Education program and all events include resource information and provision, as well as educational aspects, and all are designed to engage and support individuals with disabilities and other under-served populations in the Gulf Coast Community. Because DC believes that everyone deserves to reap the benefits that community-living has to offer. DC offers all of its programs and projects for free, and therefore can operate only because of the generous community in-kind donation and volunteer service provision. DC primarily serves at-risk and under-served individuals and families in the southern six counties of Mississippi, including: Jackson, Harrison, Hancock, Stone, Pearl River, and George counties. Through The Connection, the online resource center, Disability Connection serves individuals with disabilities and their families and friends across the entire state of Mississippi and the nation. Over 4,500 individuals on the Gulf Coast benefit from the Community Resource Education Program, and more than 25,000 utilize The Connection each year.
