FDIC’s MONEYSMART
May 8, 2012 Leave a comment
The City of Jacksonville’s 1st Annual ADA Symposium
April 19, 2012 Leave a comment
The City of Jacksonville has announced the 1st Annual ADA Symposium will be held on Wednesday, May 30, 2012 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Speakers will include:
- Mr. Jeffery Gross, AIA
- Mr. Larry M. Schneider, AIA
- Mr. James R. Schock P.E., C.B.O.
Luncheon Presenter:
- Dana Jackson, Dept. of Justice
This is an Educational Opportunity and Continuing Educational Credits on ADA Accessibility.
Be sure to sign up quickly. The first 200 registered participants will get free parking.
Deadline to register is Friday, May 25. Please call 904.630.4940 for registration information/accommodation requests.
This event will greatly benefit architects, planners, contractors, design teams, facility managers, shop owners, and anyone else interested in learning how to make our community accessible to the disability community.
Click here to download ADA Symposium flyer
9th Annual Fun with the Suns
April 9, 2012 Leave a comment
The City of Jacksonville’s Military Affairs, Veterans and Disabled Services Division will host their 9th Annual Fun with the Suns on May 8, 2012. Registration is free for a Duval County resident with a disability and their guest. Admission includes entry into the park and food, drink and snack vouchers. First pitch is at 7:05 P.M.
Advanced registration is required! Call 904.630.CITY(2489) for registration and/or accommodation requests. 
Download 2012 Fun with Suns Flyer
ESE Students: Mark Roesser Scholarship
April 1, 2012 Leave a comment
Mark Roesser Scholarship
Deadline To Apply
June 1, 2011
Minimum Requirements (Please note: All five must be met)
Be a graduating senior in the current school year.
Currently being served by the Duval County Public Schools Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Department.
GPA 2.0 or above.
Resident of Jacksonville for at least six months.
Have been accepted to an accredited community college, university or vocational school located in Florida and scheduled to begin classes in the same calendar year as graduated from high school.
Information Needed To Apply (Very Important)
1. Send a letter of intent to:
Office of Disabled Services, City of Jacksonville
117 West Duval St., Suite #205,
Jacksonville, FL 32202.
Include name, address, daytime phone number, and a brief autobiography.
2. Letter of acceptance from school to be attended.
3. Verification of GPA.
4. Verification of participation in ESE Program.
5. Source and amount of other scholarships due or received.
6. A 500 word essay explaining your expected course of study, career goals, and why you think you should receive this scholarship, i.e. any extracurricular activities and how you have overcome difficulties to get to this point.
Purpose For Which Scholarship Can Be Used
Only tuition, books and necessary auxiliary aids will be funded while the student is attending a community college, university or vocational school located in and accredited by the State of Florida or its designated agent.
Full-time or part-time attendance is acceptable.
Just the Facts – Disability Myth Busters [Taxes]
March 26, 2012 Leave a comment
Take a look at this video from one of The ILRC’s tax partners, the National Disability Institute.
Myth #1: Persons with disabilities don’t have to file taxes because their income is too low.
Fact: If you worked in 2011, you could be eligible for a tax refund.
Myth #2: Tax refunds affect benefits for persons with disabilities.
Fact: Refunds do not count as income when determining of federally funded benefits.
Myth #3: Affordable tax prep is not available.
Fact: If you made less than $57,000 in 2011, free tax preparation is avialble to you via
File for free through NDI and Real$ense at a local tax site, such as The ILRC. For a full list of Jacksonville tax sites, click here.
Be sure to visit the Real Economic Impact website.
The ILRC is on Team Hayden!
March 20, 2012 1 Comment
Check out this awesome message from Hayden Chadwell’s family: 
“Team Hayden is hosting HAYDEN’s 1st Birthday Party and fundraiser at The Florida Theatre on May 2, 5-8pm, to help with medical costs and therapies. We will have live music from Grandpa’s Cough Medicine, March of Dimes – Northeast Florida, a raffle/silent auction, & free libations. If anyone is interested in donating goods/services, please let me know, OR simply come by and support and eat cake 
Greatly appreciated, ♥ Hayden.”
A little more about Hayden (aka mini dude): Hayden was born 4.28.11 at 35 weeks gestation, with great surprise, via c-section and was only 4.0lbs. He had the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck two times and unable to breathe through his nose. He had some unbelievable challenges while in the NICU at St. Vincents Hospital and his early days at Wolfson Children’s Hospital. Hayden has multiple exceptionalities. He is surrounded by an awesome network of friends, family and agencies.
The ILRC is on Team Hayden. If you’re able to show your support for this awesome kid, email Hayden’s mom (Toni) at toni@floridatheatre.com or come by to celebrate life at The Florida Theatre on May 2nd!
ILRC Mentee Meets Vikings Wide Receiver Percy Harvin
March 16, 2012 Leave a comment
This past Friday, ILRC mentor and Employment Specialist Aaron Lewis took his mentee, Devante Smith, as a part of his ongoing transition into independent living, to get a haircut for future job interviews.
However, what Devante didn’t expect was the special surprise Aaron and Arick Kirkland, owner of Highlife Barbershop, had arranged for him. While Devante was getting his hair cut, he was given a surprise visit from Percy Harvin, Wide Receiver for the Minnesota Vikings.
“He didn’t believe it was actually Percy Harvin,” laughed Lewis, “He thought I was pulling his leg.”
After being convinced he was the real deal, Devante was stunned.
Percy Harvin, who is now Wide Receiver for the Minnesota Vikings, once played for the University of Florida, Devante’s favorite team. As a regular at Highlife Barbershop, he was more than happy to spend some time encouraging Devonte.
“I really do have to thank Arick,” said Lewis. “Without his help, none of this could have happened.”
Devante has been an active member at The ILRC. He spends time at The ILRC gaining skills that will greatly benefit him in his quest of independent living.
“Devante is a great kid,” says Margarita Purvis, Director of Programs. “We love watching our mentees grow as time passes.”
After getting his new haircut and meeting Percy Harvin, Devonte has this to say: “Aaron is the greatest mentor I could ever ask for. What can I say, he is the best.”
Highlife Barbershop is located at 115 Woodside Drive,Orange Park,FL32073.
If you are interested in becoming an ILRC mentor, call us at 904.399.8484.
We Vote Rally: Community Meetings
March 7, 2012 Leave a comment
It’s hard to believe that four years ago we were watching candidates vie to become the next President of the United States. As with the past several elections, a group of community agencies are working together to plan the next We Vote Rally.
The We Vote Rally is a community collaborative demonstrating the voting voice of the disability community.
The We Vote Rally was created to:
- increase voter awareness
- demonstrate accessible voting
- recruit unregistered voters
- and provide a forum for political parties to express their stance on disability
It is IMPERATIVE that our community is represented. I hope you find time in your schedule to attend any of the meetings below:
Meeting information:
Dates: April 13, May 11, June 8, July 13, August 17
Time: 9:30A-10:30A
Location: Robert’s Room, City Hall, 117 West Duval Street, Jacksonville, Florida 32202
** meetings scheduled courtesy of COJ’s Disabled Services Office
For more information contact Tyler Morris at TylerM@cilj.com.
News that affects you: Legislation moves disabled parking enforcement
March 7, 2012 Leave a comment
In an article written by David Chapman from the Daily Record (3/2/2012):
“Seventy percent [of disabled parking fines] went toward the trust fund and provided wheelchair ramps and smoke detectors to disabled people who could not afford them. The other 30 percent went toward the pension fund to offset City contributions.
Since the reassignment of duties, advocates in the disabled community and the parking posse have urged Council to return the duties to the Disabled Services Department, now part of the Military Affairs Department.
Many said the change led to a lack of leadership and fewer tickets.”
For the full article on the Daily Record click here.
Family Fun Day Announced
March 1, 2012 Leave a comment
2012 Family Fun Day Flyer
The ILRC has announced that April 14th will hold the first annual Family Fun Day – a continuation of what was once the ILRC Open House.
What you can expect
The inside of The ILRC will be filled with information, such as ILRC services, programs, departments, community partners, etc.
Outside will be packed with fun family activities including:
- ILRC’s Got Talent
- Carnival Games
- Make-Your-Own Shirts
- Bounce House
- Dunk Tank
Family Fun Day will also provide free food to all who join us in this celebration of another year at The ILRC. Hope to see you there!
Stay tuned for updated information.
