AccessAbility in Action Award
This award is presented to one organization, family or individual who makes it a focus to help people with disabilities in San Antonio and the surrounding are in work, in life and in play. This award is given with gratitude by Texas Public Radio and disABILITYsa.org
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Deadline: September 5, 2015
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2014 Legislative Category Award Recipient:
Representative John Zerwas Rep. Zerwas has served in the Texas House of Representatives and over his years has continued to promote regulatory changes to improve services and programs for people with disabilities, their families and the health care professionals that support us. Rep. Zerwas has authored and supported legislation that many of us with disabilities and our families count on to live independently in the community of our choice. Rep. Zerwas and his staff’s work to improve the lives of Texans with disabilities. 
2014 Individual Category Award Recipient:
Dr. Dianne Robinson Dr. Robinson has voluntarily served the San Antonio mental health wellness and recovery effort nonstop since 2006. She has been a guest speaker and facilitator for a cross section of groups, schools, churches, companies, and professional organizations over one hundred times. As a champion for others, she has changed lives by bringing a focused awareness about mental health issues to educators, administrators, pastors, business leaders, librarians, police officers, parishioners, and clinicians, among others. Her professional and volunteer efforts have significantly helped others become more aware of mental health, mental illness and wellness and recovery. 
2014 Organization Category Award Recipient: Guide Dogs of Texas
GDTx endeavors to understand the challenges and circumstances of the visually impaired they serve and strive to enhance their mobility and independence. They provide an excellent quality of life for puppies and dogs in training, using modern, humane techniques. They teach clients to handle and care for their dogs in the same manner. GDTx honors all commitments to clients, volunteers, employees and our community. GDTx use innovative solutions to promote the inclusion of visually impaired individuals in the workplace, in life, and at play. They continually offer ongoing support for GDTx graduates that will enhance client confidence and ensures successful, long-term graduate team outcomes. |
Criteria for Consideration:
Individual/Family:
An individual who contributes a significant amount of time, talent or resources to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities at work, in life and at play. Two or more individuals in the same family unit contribute a significant amount of time, talent or resources to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities at work, in life and at play. Organization/Business: Must meet one or more of the criteria listed below 1) Make special efforts to find and recruit qualified people with disabilities for available jobs or work with service providers, job coaches, and educational programs to make sure that teachers and trainers know what skills are necessary for available jobs 2) Give 25% of more of their philanthropic support to support services and programs for individuals with disabilities. 3) Provide exceptional quality of service or an inclusive environment to meet the needs of consumers with disabilities. 4) Use innovative solutions to promote inclusion for individuals with disabilities at work, in life and at play. Legislator: 1) Resides in Texas 2) Promoted regulatory changes to improve services and programs for individuals with disabilities to improve quality of life either through workforce, education or housing 2) Provided economic incentives to improve services and programs for individuals with disabilities to improve quality of life either through workforce, education or housing. |
2013 Award Recipient
Heather Miller was the first Therapeutic Recreation specialist working with wounded soldiers at the Center for the Intrepid at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio. In her more than five years at the Center for the Intrepid, Heather continuously has shown her commitment to our military heroes by working on rehabilitating them physically as well as emotionally. With a master’s degree in Sports Management from Texas State University, she inspires her soldiers to try anything and everything. She takes them snow skiing, wakeboarding, surfing, kayaking and sky diving. She helps them to learn all types of adaptive sports and compete in wheelchair basketball, sit volleyball, wheelchair tennis, swimming, air guns, triathlons and more. She takes the soldiers to volunteer at the Children’s Hospital so they can help others heal. And she prepares future Therapeutic Recreation professionals by taking interns from Texas State. She is an exceptional mentor for them.
Heather Miller was the first Therapeutic Recreation specialist working with wounded soldiers at the Center for the Intrepid at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio. In her more than five years at the Center for the Intrepid, Heather continuously has shown her commitment to our military heroes by working on rehabilitating them physically as well as emotionally. With a master’s degree in Sports Management from Texas State University, she inspires her soldiers to try anything and everything. She takes them snow skiing, wakeboarding, surfing, kayaking and sky diving. She helps them to learn all types of adaptive sports and compete in wheelchair basketball, sit volleyball, wheelchair tennis, swimming, air guns, triathlons and more. She takes the soldiers to volunteer at the Children’s Hospital so they can help others heal. And she prepares future Therapeutic Recreation professionals by taking interns from Texas State. She is an exceptional mentor for them.
2012 Award Recipient
Larry Forbrich provides exceptional quality of service and an inclusive environment to meet the needs of consumers with disabilities. Larry received nominations from four members of our community attesting to the fact that he has made helping people with mental health disabilities in the San Antonio community his daily mission. One thing people come to discover is that he lives to help others. And, lives are better because of him.
For people needing help, advice or just somebody to talk to he is available 24 hours a day. Raising his daughter in a home filled with confusion and unexpected mood swings of living with a loved one with a bipolar disorder, Larry has a passion and compassion for individuals faced with challenges of mental health disabilities. He understands that all disabilities can completely permeate a person's life, work, personal and social activities - he seeks to help them cope and change with all of these aspects of life.
Larry runs a support group that he took over and turned into a nonprofit organization in 2010 when the former leader was struggling in his life. He hasn't stopped since...he continues to save lives, lending a hand whenever possible, making an impact where people live, work and play.
Larry Forbrich provides exceptional quality of service and an inclusive environment to meet the needs of consumers with disabilities. Larry received nominations from four members of our community attesting to the fact that he has made helping people with mental health disabilities in the San Antonio community his daily mission. One thing people come to discover is that he lives to help others. And, lives are better because of him.
For people needing help, advice or just somebody to talk to he is available 24 hours a day. Raising his daughter in a home filled with confusion and unexpected mood swings of living with a loved one with a bipolar disorder, Larry has a passion and compassion for individuals faced with challenges of mental health disabilities. He understands that all disabilities can completely permeate a person's life, work, personal and social activities - he seeks to help them cope and change with all of these aspects of life.
Larry runs a support group that he took over and turned into a nonprofit organization in 2010 when the former leader was struggling in his life. He hasn't stopped since...he continues to save lives, lending a hand whenever possible, making an impact where people live, work and play.
2011 Award Recipient
Henry, Shari, Sarah and Lauren Chu and Special Care Dentistry
Henry, Shari, Sarah and Lauren Chu have made helping people with disabilities in San Antonio and the surrounding area a family affair. Dr. Henry Chu's dental practice, Special Care Dentistry, serves children and adults who cannot be treated in a traditional dental office because of medical complications or intellectual or physical disabilities.
Shari Chu has volunteered with several organizations that serve people with disabilities including Achievers' Center for Education, Becky's Hope, and Monarch Academy. Shari is a co-founder of the Achievers' Center for Education and the entire family for many years has volunteered and supported this organization. She also works with individuals with Dyslexia and other learning disabilities in private practice as well as helping her husband, Henry with the Special Care Dental Practice.
Sarah, a student at Texas A&M, has enjoyed teaching Sunday School to individuals with special needs at University United Methodist Church.
At the age of 16, Lauren Chu is organizing Hand in Hand, A Night on the Runway which is a fashion show fundraiser that will pair runway models with and without disabilities to raise money for Morgan's Wonderland.
Henry, Shari, Sarah and Lauren Chu have made helping people with disabilities in San Antonio and the surrounding area a family affair. Dr. Henry Chu's dental practice, Special Care Dentistry, serves children and adults who cannot be treated in a traditional dental office because of medical complications or intellectual or physical disabilities.
Shari Chu has volunteered with several organizations that serve people with disabilities including Achievers' Center for Education, Becky's Hope, and Monarch Academy. Shari is a co-founder of the Achievers' Center for Education and the entire family for many years has volunteered and supported this organization. She also works with individuals with Dyslexia and other learning disabilities in private practice as well as helping her husband, Henry with the Special Care Dental Practice.
Sarah, a student at Texas A&M, has enjoyed teaching Sunday School to individuals with special needs at University United Methodist Church.
At the age of 16, Lauren Chu is organizing Hand in Hand, A Night on the Runway which is a fashion show fundraiser that will pair runway models with and without disabilities to raise money for Morgan's Wonderland.
