The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation is conducting a needs assessment survey to determine vocational rehabilitation needs in the state. Findings will shape service delivery and program priorities for the next three years. To participate in the survey, click on the following link:
If you have questions or need more information about the survey, contact Joyce White by email at jwhite@mdrs.ms.gov or by phone at (800) 443-1000 or (601) 853-5312.
For the second year in a row, LEGO Jackson, a miniature city built with LEGO bricks, will appear at the Mississippi Arts Center, 201 East Pascagoula Street, right underneath the Davis Planetarium. This year will be much BIGGER and BETTER. See a spot-on replica of Jackson City Hall, complete with real solar panels! There will be a new Convention Complex featuring a “UFO Expo”, many new buildings, and THREE trains! This is all done in LEGO. The theme is inspiring civic pride and a cleanliness ethic amongst our citizens. Come see Jackson the way it can and will be, all done by Dr. Scott M. Crawford, who has multiple sclerosis and uses a wheelchair for mobility. It is a FREE exhibit, just in time for the Holidays!
Ya’ll come!
All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.
Walt Disney
Imagination is more important than knowledge.
Albert Einstein
LEGO Jackson started as just a fun distraction and hobby, one way to cope with my progressing disability caused by Multiple Sclerosis. The display was originally intended to brighten my house for Christmas, but it soon became more.
I wanted to imagine what Jackson can and will be. Before something can happen in reality, though, we must be able to visualize it, to conceptualize it happening, and finally, to WORK at it. LEGO Jackson is just one vision of our Capital City, as a clean, safe, pedestrian friendly community that welcomes everyone. It has well-kept houses, bike lanes, sustainable energy sources, accessible streets and sidewalks, public transit, and most important of all, civic pride. People in LEGO Jackson don’t litter, but pick up trash. They get to know their neighbors, confront crime and injustice, care about each other, and respect themselves and their city.
Imagine it, and it can happen. It will take hard work though, and each of us has our part to play. Keep our streets clean. Take a stand against crime. Respect your neighbors, seek cleaner forms of energy, reduce reuse and recycle like our Earth depends upon it.
Be the change you want to see in the world.
Mohandas Gandhi
VisualEYES is a bi-monthly newsletter sponsored by the Jackson Chapter, Mississippi Council of the Blind.
Mike Smitherman President
1412 Wilhurst Street
Jackson, MS 39211
Phone: 601-366-5523
Email: amduo@bellsouth.net
Ralph Smitherman editor
514 Edgewood Lane,
Brandon, MS 39042
Phone: 601-825-8076
Email: redbird26@bellsouth.net
Call The Message Link
601-949-9272
On the first and the fifteenth of each month information relating to the Jackson Chapter is posted. You may call this number at any time. The message may last up to 90 seconds. I encourage you to utilize this service. Thank you!
Mr. Frank from the Olive Garden restaurant has once again invited us to his restaurant for a Behind the Scenes Tour and will treat us to a lovely meal.
I will need to know a headcount by Sunday, please. I promise you do not want to miss this!
ALL AGES are invited to our Christmas Karaoke Night! Tuesday, December 6th from 6:00pm-8:00pm
Pizza will be served, so please RSVP by Dec. 5th.
ALL AGES are invited to A Christmas Party
Hosted by Jr. Auxiliary of Madison Ridgeland Sunday, December 11th from 1:30pm-5:30pm
We encourage you to take this time to visit Reunion’s Christmas Tour of Homes, but I am sure you could probably squeeze in a little shopping, too!
Reservations required. PLEASE RSVP soon so the Jr. Aux will have an idea of how many to crafts, games and snacks to provide.
LIFE will be hosting an Open House at Jackson office on Vine Street on Friday, December 2, 2011 from 1:00 – 6:00 PM.
For more information and directions, call 601-969-4009.
Join DRMS as we celebrate the holiday season on the MS Gulf Coast
Tuesday December 6, 2011
2:30 pm – 5:30 pm
The Knight Non-profit Center
1st Floor Banquet Room
11975 Seaway Road
Gulfport, MS 39503
Party will include silent auction items, cookbooks for sale, and delicious hors d’oeuvres.
Hosted by Disability Rights Mississippi
For questions or directions please contact Amelia Puffer at the coast office number, 228-604-4455.
Hope to see you there!
On November 14, the H.R. 2112 Conference Committee issued its negotiated agreement on the minibus spending bill that includes the FY12 T-HUD and Agriculture appropriations bills. The House of Representatives passed the bill today, Thursday, November 17. A Senate vote is anticipated at any time.
With few exceptions, the FY12 bill would dramatically cut funding for HUD programs below FY11 levels. Many of these programs were already cut in FY11 compared to FY10 levels.
When the bill passes, HUD’s FY12 budget will be $37.4 billion, a $3.7 billion cut below FY11 funding.
To see NLIHC’s HUD budget chart, click here.
Below are the funding levels and impacts related to select programs that would be underfunded if the bill is enacted.
Tenant Based Rental Assistance Contract Renewals
$17.242 billion
The bill would provide $130 million less than HUD’s estimated cost for renewing all vouchers. This could result in 12,000 to 18,000 vouchers being lost if public housing authorities cannot cover shortfalls with voucher reserves. The bill also includes a rescission of $650 million from voucher reserves.
Public Housing Capital Fund
$1.875 billion
The bill would provide 22% less than the President’s FY12 request and 8% below FY11 funding levels. This could result in thousands of units lost and would put thousands of current residents at risk of living in substandard housing. HUD estimates that there is a backlog of over $25 billion in public housing capital needs.
Homeless Assistance Grants
$1.902 billion
The bill provides no increase over the FY11 level and is 20% below the President’s FY12 request. Not providing the President’s requested funding level would prohibit the full enactment of the HEARTH Act. As a result, 482,000 people experiencing homelessness would not be housed.
HOME Investment Partnership
$1 billion
The bill would cut HOME 38% below the FY11 funding level and by 39% below the President’s FY12 request. A cut of this depth would result in tens of thousands of affordable housing units not being created. This would include thousands of rental units that would not be created and thousands of rental subsidies that would not be provided.
Section 202 Housing for the Elderly
$374 million
The bill would cut the program by 51% below the President’s FY12 request and 6% below FY11 funding. The bill’s funding level would result in 2,500 to 3,000 units not being created for people who are elderly.
Section 521 Rural Rental Assistance
$904 million
The bill would provide just below the President’s FY12 requested funding level, which is a cut of 5% below FY11.
Section 515 Rural Rental Housing
$64.5 million
The bill would provide 32% less than the President’s FY12 request but a 7% cut below FY11 funding.
Good News
There is some good news in H.R. 2112.
Please contact outreach@nlihc.org with any questions
Please circulate to those who may be interested in applying for a White House internship. To learn more, read the full blog post here.
Apply Today for the White House Internship Program
Posted by Christian Peele, Director of the White House Internship Program
So, what’s a typical day like for a White House Intern?
It’s a question I’m often asked, and the honest answer is that there’s no such thing. The mission of the White House Internship Programis to make the “People’s House” accessible to future leaders from around the nation, and to cultivate and prepare those devoted to public service for future leadership opportunities. To this end, the programs and opportunities of the Internship Program make for days filled with unique learning experiences, thought-provoking conversation, and unforgettable events.
White House Interns work in one of sixteen White House departments where they conduct research, manage incoming inquiries, attend meetings, write memos and staff events. Some of the offices where they work include the Office of the First Lady, the Office of Scheduling and Advance, the Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs, the Office of the White House Counsel, the National Economic Council, the Office of Communications, the Domestic Policy Council and the Office of Digital Strategy.
In addition to their regular duties, each week, White House Interns hear from senior members of the Administration including the First Lady, the Chief of Staff and the White House Counsel. They meet in small groups to discuss policy issues and take off-site field trips to learn more about Washington, D.C. They participate in service projects at non-profits and schools. Not to mention, they spend three months alongside other Interns who are devoted to public service and with whom they build long-lasting friendships.
Today we open the application for the Summer 2012 White House Internship Program. The summer program runs from May 29, 2012 through August 10, 2012, and the application deadline is January 22, 2012.
If you are interested in public service – apply.
Tell other young leaders who are interested in public service to apply.
Be part of a program where there’s no typical day, and where young people from across the country dedicate their time, talents, and energy to better the White House, the community, and the nation.
Christian Peele is the Director of the White House Internship Program.
There will be a Community Network Meeting this Thursday, November 17th 3:30-5:00 in the Knight Nonprofit Center Banquet Room. Danny with Brandi’s Hope is the guest speaker to talk about a new program for individuals with disabilities coming to Biloxi/Gulfport area
