Event History
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This event is a result of an unprecedented collaboration of non-profit organizations in San Antonio serving individuals with disabilities. This collaboration has created the momentum and passion driving AccessAbility Fest.
October is Texas Disability Awareness Month and several non-profits have attempted to individually make a splash for awareness in San Antonio. Each of these efforts were not making a widespread impact, so in 2007, a small group of non-profits decided to come together to collectively “get the word out”. After several meetings, the group of collaborators involved grew and partnered with Texas Public Radio. The collaboration put on the first AccessAbility Fest in 2007, and are proud to bring the twelfth annual fest to you in 2018. According to several people involved who worked on past awareness events in San Antonio, they have never seen such collaboration, momentum and passion for disability awareness in San Antonio. The event brings together over 140 organizations and businesses to:
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AccessAbility Fest Milestones
2018 - disABILITYsa partnered with the City of San Antonio Head Start and City of San Antonio Disability Access Office to bring San Antonio the first annual abilitySTRONG Parade...a disability pride celebration! 2017 - disABILITYsa became the provider of AccessAbility fest for the San Antonio Community. The festival was hosted by the Autism Uncovered "Largest Blanket Fort" event. 2016 - Reaching Maximum Independence, Inc. became the fiscal sponsor for AccessAbility fest as TPR took a less active role. 2014 - AccessAbility fest relocated to Market Square. 2013 - AccessAbility fest located to Hemisfair Park to engage the general public in a broader awareness of disabilities and services available in the community. 2011 - Awarded the PRSADel Oro La Plata Award of Excellence for achievement in our public relations campaign. 2010 - Added Food Trucks to the event who donate 10% of sales back to AccessAbility Fest. 2010 - Moved event to Morgan's Wonderland 2009 - We got rained out, but still had over 500 in attendance. It was wet. It was cold. 2007 - The first AccessAbility Fest was established, taking place on the grounds of the Institute of Texan Cultures. |
2007
Venue: Institute of Texan Cultures
Date/Time: Sunday, October 28th from 12:00 noon to 5:00pm
Exhibitors: 70
Fun Zone Participants: 18, plus 4 mascots
Attendees: 1,000
Sponsors: Texas Public Radio, Valero, SeaWorld, VIA Metropolitan Transit
Planning Team: AACOG - Area Agencies on Aging * Arc of San Antonio * Archdiocese of San Antonio * Brighton School * Carrizales Skevington PR, Inc. * CHCS * City of San Antonio Disability Access Office * COIL * FamilyStrong * Gordon Hartman Family Foundation * Joni and Friends * KineticKids * Mission Road Ministries * Respite Care * River City Christian School * SAILS * San Antonio Fighting Back Inc. * Special Olympics * TeamAbility * Texas Advocates / S.A.L.S.A * Texas Burn Survivor Society * Texas Public Radio * Unicorn Centers * VIA Metropolitan Transit
Venue: Institute of Texan Cultures
Date/Time: Sunday, October 28th from 12:00 noon to 5:00pm
Exhibitors: 70
Fun Zone Participants: 18, plus 4 mascots
Attendees: 1,000
Sponsors: Texas Public Radio, Valero, SeaWorld, VIA Metropolitan Transit
Planning Team: AACOG - Area Agencies on Aging * Arc of San Antonio * Archdiocese of San Antonio * Brighton School * Carrizales Skevington PR, Inc. * CHCS * City of San Antonio Disability Access Office * COIL * FamilyStrong * Gordon Hartman Family Foundation * Joni and Friends * KineticKids * Mission Road Ministries * Respite Care * River City Christian School * SAILS * San Antonio Fighting Back Inc. * Special Olympics * TeamAbility * Texas Advocates / S.A.L.S.A * Texas Burn Survivor Society * Texas Public Radio * Unicorn Centers * VIA Metropolitan Transit
2008
Venue: Institute of Texan Cultures
Date/Time: Sunday, October 12th from 1:00pm to 5:00pm
Exhibitors: 65
Fun Zone Participants: 16, plus 3 mascots
Attendees: 1,500
Sponsors: Texas Public Radio, Valero, SeaWorld, Aetna, VIA Metropolitan Transit
Zone Sponsors: The Gordon Hartman Family Foundation
Planning Team: Event & Sponsorship Task Force: Melanie Cawthon with Mission Road Ministries, Janet Grojean with Texas Public Radio, Shana Avery with Texas Public Radio, Chad Dismukes with COIL, Albert Salazar with Texas Public Radio, Entertainment Zone Task Force: Kitty Brietzke with SAILS , Gloria Banik with SAILS Fun Zone Task Force: Kim Jefferies with Brighton, Jerri Ann Jones with VIA Metropolitan Transit, Leslie Walter with Sunshine Cottage Information Zone Task Force: Carol Ann Villarreal with AMERIGROUP Community Care, Susie Breckons with S.A.L.S.A., Sue Dodson with Texas Burn Survivors, Cynthia Hamilton with Arc of San Antonio, Judith Laufer with S.A.L.S.A., Mary McNaughton with SAFB, Lourdes Stevens with San Antonio Fighting Back, Mark Stoeltje with Our House San Antonio Public Relations Task Force: Kate Edwards with Mission Road Ministries, Mari Garza with TEAMability, Inc., Barbara Goldman with TeamAbility, George Losoya with Joni & Friends, Suzanne Reily with Children's Association for Maximum Potential, Nelda Skevington with Carrizales Skevington PR, Inc. Volunteer Recruitment Task Force: Sherry Mosier with Hartman Family Foundation
Venue: Institute of Texan Cultures
Date/Time: Sunday, October 12th from 1:00pm to 5:00pm
Exhibitors: 65
Fun Zone Participants: 16, plus 3 mascots
Attendees: 1,500
Sponsors: Texas Public Radio, Valero, SeaWorld, Aetna, VIA Metropolitan Transit
Zone Sponsors: The Gordon Hartman Family Foundation
Planning Team: Event & Sponsorship Task Force: Melanie Cawthon with Mission Road Ministries, Janet Grojean with Texas Public Radio, Shana Avery with Texas Public Radio, Chad Dismukes with COIL, Albert Salazar with Texas Public Radio, Entertainment Zone Task Force: Kitty Brietzke with SAILS , Gloria Banik with SAILS Fun Zone Task Force: Kim Jefferies with Brighton, Jerri Ann Jones with VIA Metropolitan Transit, Leslie Walter with Sunshine Cottage Information Zone Task Force: Carol Ann Villarreal with AMERIGROUP Community Care, Susie Breckons with S.A.L.S.A., Sue Dodson with Texas Burn Survivors, Cynthia Hamilton with Arc of San Antonio, Judith Laufer with S.A.L.S.A., Mary McNaughton with SAFB, Lourdes Stevens with San Antonio Fighting Back, Mark Stoeltje with Our House San Antonio Public Relations Task Force: Kate Edwards with Mission Road Ministries, Mari Garza with TEAMability, Inc., Barbara Goldman with TeamAbility, George Losoya with Joni & Friends, Suzanne Reily with Children's Association for Maximum Potential, Nelda Skevington with Carrizales Skevington PR, Inc. Volunteer Recruitment Task Force: Sherry Mosier with Hartman Family Foundation
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2009
Venue: Institute of Texan Cultures Date/Time: Sunday, October 11, 2009 Program: Click here to download the 2009 Program PDF Exhibitors: 82 Activity Booths: 19, plus 13 mascots Attendees: 500 (due to rain-out) Sponsors: Valero Energy and Aetna Zone Sponsors: Planning Team |
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2010
Venue: Morgan's Wonderland
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Venue: Morgan's Wonderland
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2011
Venue: Morgan's Wonderland
Date/Time: Sunday, October 30th, 2011 from 12:00pm to 5:00pm
Program: Click here to download the 2011 Program PDF
AccessAbility at Work Award Recipient: Henry, Shari, Sarah and Lauren Chu
Exhibitors: 102
Fun Zone Participants: 23, plus 11 mascots
Attendees: 3,000
Sponsors: Wave Healthcare, HEB, VIA Metropolitan Transit, City Council District 7, San Antonio Mayor's Office and Valero Energy Foundation
Zone Sponsors: Harland Clarke, Heard & Smith, LLP, Methodist Healthcare
Planning Team: Melanie Cawthon with Reaching Maximum Independence, Inc.; Janet Grojean with Texas Public Radio; Cynthia Hamilton with Reaching Maximum Independence, Inc.; Cindy Alleman with Acadian on Call; Lizette Davis with AccessAbility Home Modifications; Kate Edwards with Mission Road Ministries; Rebecca Gray with Multiple Sclerosis Society; Jerri Ann Jones with VIA Metropolitan Transit; Heather Long with The Arc of San Antonio; Dr. Lyn Litchke with Texas State University; Ann Marie Morrow with The Arc of San Antonio; Shana Neel with Texas Public Radio; Michelle Richard with iTAC, Inc; John and Marilyn Weber with Deaf Interpreter Services, Inc.; Bethany Chambers, and JT Davis & Hannah Harrison with River City Christian School.
Venue: Morgan's Wonderland
Date/Time: Sunday, October 30th, 2011 from 12:00pm to 5:00pm
Program: Click here to download the 2011 Program PDF
AccessAbility at Work Award Recipient: Henry, Shari, Sarah and Lauren Chu
Exhibitors: 102
Fun Zone Participants: 23, plus 11 mascots
Attendees: 3,000
Sponsors: Wave Healthcare, HEB, VIA Metropolitan Transit, City Council District 7, San Antonio Mayor's Office and Valero Energy Foundation
Zone Sponsors: Harland Clarke, Heard & Smith, LLP, Methodist Healthcare
Planning Team: Melanie Cawthon with Reaching Maximum Independence, Inc.; Janet Grojean with Texas Public Radio; Cynthia Hamilton with Reaching Maximum Independence, Inc.; Cindy Alleman with Acadian on Call; Lizette Davis with AccessAbility Home Modifications; Kate Edwards with Mission Road Ministries; Rebecca Gray with Multiple Sclerosis Society; Jerri Ann Jones with VIA Metropolitan Transit; Heather Long with The Arc of San Antonio; Dr. Lyn Litchke with Texas State University; Ann Marie Morrow with The Arc of San Antonio; Shana Neel with Texas Public Radio; Michelle Richard with iTAC, Inc; John and Marilyn Weber with Deaf Interpreter Services, Inc.; Bethany Chambers, and JT Davis & Hannah Harrison with River City Christian School.
2012
Venue: HemisFair Park
Date/Time: Sunday, October 28th, 2012 from 12:00pm to 5:00pm
Program: Click here to download the
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