Brazos Valley Center for Independent Living

Connecting people to the power of independence

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Vehicle Operator

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BVCIL is seeking a PRN driver to join our team supporting persons with disabilities in the community. The vehicle operator is responsible for operating a lift-equipped 10-passenger bus and minivan with a rear-entry ramp to transport individuals with disabilities throughout our six-county coverage area. Operators conduct pre-trip inspections; observe safety regulations and policies, and log and track vehicle usage. An excellent part-time opportunity for someone who enjoys helping others.


The Vehicle Operator will be expected to:
· Provide courteous service to passengers and the community which includes being friendly, patient, and flexible with the ability to relate well to others under all circumstances;
· Maintain accurate, legible, and complete reports;
· Attend to the transport-related needs of passengers including operation of mobility device restraints and all types of mobility device lifts including hydraulic platforms, ramps, and restraints;
· Ensure vehicle cleanliness; and
· Other duties as assigned.


The requirements of the position are:
· Valid Texas Driver’s License;
· Minimum three years of verifiable driving experience with a good driving record;
· High School Diploma or GED preferred;
· Minimum one year of experience working with people with disabilities preferred;
· Have excellent interpersonal skills;
· Possess strong organizational skills;
· Willing to promote the Independent Living Philosophy;
· Willingness to travel;
· Ability to walk, stand, push, stoop, bend, stretch and lift 50 pounds routinely; and
· Personal experience with a disability preferred.

To apply for this position, contact Mack Marsh at the BVCIL office (979)776-5505.

Join Our Team- Vehicle Operator

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BVCIL is seeking a driver to join our team supporting persons with disabilities in the community. Vehicle operator is responsible for operating a lift-equipped 10 passenger bus and minivan with a rear-entry ramp to transport individuals with disabilities throughout our six county coverage area. Operators conduct pre-trip inspections; observe safety regulations and policies; and log and track vehicle usage.
Vehicle Operator will be expected to:
· Maintain a working knowledge of streets and businesses within the Bryan and College Station areas;
· Provide courteous service to passengers and community which includes being friendly, patient and flexible with the ability to relate well to others under all circumstances;
· Maintain accurate, legible and complete reports;
· Attend to the transport related needs of passengers including operation of mobility device restraints and all types of mobility device lifts including hydraulic platforms, ramps, and restraints;
· Ensure vehicle cleanliness; and
· Other duties as assigned.
Requirements of the position are:
· Valid Texas Driver’s License;
· Minimum three years verifiable driving experience with a good driving record;
· High School Diploma or GED, preferred;
· Minimum one year experience working with people with disabilities preferred;
· Have excellent interpersonal skills;
· Possess strong organizational skills;
· Willing to promote the Independent Living Philosophy;
· Willingness to travel;
· Ability to walk, stand, push, stoop, bend, stretch and lift 50 pounds routinely; and
· Personal experience with a disability preferred.
Part-time, Full-time, and Volunteer positions available.
To apply for this position, contact Mack Marsh at Mack@bvcil.org or 979-776-5505 Ex 1002.

How to help support Brazos Valley Gives this year

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By: Brittany Defran KRHD

BRYAN, Texas — The season of giving is right around the corner and one Brazos valley non-profit is gathering community support for those most in need.

The pandemic has taken away big fundraising events from non-profit organizations like the Brazos Valley Center for Independent Living. However, with Brazos Valley Gives, the community can still come together to support one another.

BVCIL provides individuals with disabilities peer support, soft skills training, and other services to assist them with independent living.

“That’s very important to people in the disability community to get that independence,” said Shelby Catron, office and communications manager for BVCIL.

And with the community’s help, BVCIL can continue to accomplish that goal.

“Brazos Valley Gives is a one-day event, it’s all online, it’s for all non-profits in the Brazos Valley area,” said Kathryn Pacha, independent living facilitator for BVCIL

Early donations are now open to the public ahead of the big day of giving.

But each organization is also doing a big push.

“We have our art tile project which is, for a 20-dollar donation, you can come get an art tile, take it home and decorate it however you want, bring it back and we will put it on display,” Pacha added.

BVCIL says it’s here to help all people, no matter their age or disability.

“Whatever the need, we stay fully integrated into the community whether that’s helping with job skills, helping to find a job,” Catron shared.

Many have new employment thanks to their services.

But one of their most sought-after assistance is transportation.

“Transportation, we run nights weekends, and holidays you know if there’s no other option in the area, we’ll help people get to the grocery store, get to family gatherings,” said Catron.

Giving those with disabilities the confidence to accomplish their goals.

“We recognize the importance that people are still integrated in their day to day lives,” shared Catron.

Every Friday, BVCIL will spotlight one of their many different services, so you can learn more about all the things they do to positively impact the community.

KRHD News wants to tell your stories from the Brazos Valley.

Watch the recording here

The Eagle: Ramping Up Efforts

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http://theeagle.com/news/local/nonprofit-s-bryan-college-station-chapter-helps-make-homes-more-wheelchair-accessible/article_cc849c8c-32bb-11eb-b3bb-c7459f3ce7d6.html#tracking-source=home-top-story-1

Nonprofit’s Bryan-College Station chapter helps make homes more wheelchair-accessible

By CHELSEA KATZ

Astatewide nonprofit group dedicated to helping people with disabilities is marking a milestone — the construction of 100 miles of wheelchair ramps.

To celebrate, Texas Ramp Project volunteers throughout the state are building even more ramps in an effort dubbed 100 Miles of Freedom.

All together, ramps built throughout the state by the organization would stretch from College Station to Houston.

“It’s just one foot at a time,” said Jerry Gritter, regional coordinator for the Bryan-College Station chapter of the Texas Ramp Project. “You stay at it long enough, you get to it. … We didn’t get in it to get 100 miles of ramp. We got in it to try to help people that really need it, but it just adds up and adds up and adds up.”

The Bryan-College Station chapter of the organization spent Nov. 21 building a ramp for Bryan resident Carmen Rivera.

Rivera, a bilateral amputee, uses a wheelchair and had to rely on help from her neighbors or family members to move in and out of the house.

“They have to lift her up over three steps three times a week to go to dialysis,” chapter organizers said in a news release.

Ramp recipients are typically elderly or disabled and cannot otherwise afford to build a ramp, Gritter said. The chapter, which covers the seven-county Brazos Valley region, gets its project referrals from health care professionals and clinics, rehab centers, the Area Agency on Aging and the Brazos Valley Center for Independent Living.

“They all need a way to get in and out of their house,” he said. “We build ramps for people who haven’t been out of the house in months, and that’s the only way they can get out.”

In addition to helping the ramp recipient, Gritter said, the ramp also helps his or her caregivers and families by alleviating some of the stress. In Rivera’s case, he said, the ramp gives her the ability to get in and out of her house without assistance.

Gritter said the local chapter is on track to build about 88 ramps this year, which is close to what it did last year. The group lost about two months of build time due to the coronavirus pandemic, but it started building again in mid-May with mask and social distancing protocols.

Each ramp is built by volunteers that include retirees, church members and students. The Young Men’s Service League took on Rivera’s project.

Gritter said the local chapter has built more than 800 ramps since it was founded in 2008 — two years after the state organization. Across the state, the Texas Ramp Project has helped build nearly 20,000 ramps since 2006.

Locally, Gritter said, the organization puts a ramp together for about 90% of the referrals it gets, but the goal is to help every referral.

“Some people really don’t need a ramp; some, there’s no way to put one in there, and it’s just space,” he said. “But our goal is to build a ramp for everyone that needs one and can’t afford them.”

Gritter said it is satisfying to put a ramp together because it’s easy to see how the work is helping.

“We go in there, and two or three hours, we built a ramp, and we’ve changed someone’s life,” he said.

The organization receives funding from grants, the United Way of the Brazos Valley, the Area Agency on Aging, the Brazos Valley Center for Independent Living and donations.

Anyone interested in volunteering or donating can do so at www.texasramps.org.

Rev Up! – Vote

I VOTE EARLY

Send questions to revuptx@gmail.com or visit www.revuptexas.org.

The November 3 election will have a dramatic effect on disability rights and services at the local, state, and national levels for the next decade. 

The DISABILITY VOTE can influence the outcome of this election.  It is in our interest to support candidates – regardless of which party they represent – that support policies and funding that promote our ability to be included in our communities like every other Texan!

The COVID 19 pandemic poses unique challenges to the DISABILITY COMMUNITY.  Do we go to the polls and possibly confront long lines? Or do we use the mail-in ballot process (for the first time for many of us)?  The controversy about mail-in ballots adds another level of confusion.

REV UP Texas’ I VOTE EARLY campaign encourages eligible voters to use the mail-in ballot. But if you want to go to the polls, vote during the EARLY VOTING period. (See In-Person Voting below.)

>>REGISTER TO VOTE

If you have not already registered to vote, you MUST register by October 5 to be able to vote on November 3. Click here to register.

>>VOTING BY MAIL

  • To request a mail-in ballot, click here.
  • To be sure that your mail-in ballot WILL BE COUNTED, you must fill it out and mail it the day you get it – or the next day at the very latest. If you can hand-deliver your ballot, that’s even better. But you MUST deliver it by October 12.

>>IN-PERSON VOTING

Early Voting Dates: October 13 – October 30

General Election: November 3

  • Because of COVID-19, many counties are having a hard time finding poll workers.  This may cause counties to consolidate or eliminate polling locations.
  • If you find long lines when you go to vote in person, there are laws that may allow you to get preference.
  • Contact your county for voting locations. Click here to find contact information for your county election official.

>>LINKS TO FIND MORE INFORMATION

Secretary of State General Information on Disability – Voting  

Disability Rights Texas – Voting

Updates on BVCIL Response to COVID-19

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As of 4/30/2020 – BVCIL staff will continue working remotely through May 15th. As of this time, the plan is for staff to return to working in the offices again on May 18th. With the end of the shelter-in-place order, we will also begin opening our transportation program back up to include all who need above and beyond transportation, not just those with medical appointments and supply trip needs. We hope everyone is in good health and continuing to stay safe during this time.

As of 4/6/2020 – BVCIL closure has been extended to align with the shelter in place order for Texas. All staff are continuing to work remotely and we are still providing essential transportation trips.

Notice sent on 3/23/2020 – This has been an interesting month as our nation handles COVID-19. We’ve continued to monitor the news by health officials and kept at the forefront of our minds the needs of those we work with. These needs also include the health and safety of those we serve, our community partners, and our staff. These things include closing our doors to the public and asking staff to continue to work remotely.

As you may be aware, the mayors of Bryan and College Station announced the afternoon of March 23rd that a new shelter in place policy would be going into effect. This policy starts on March 24th at 9:00 p.m. and requires citizens to stay at home when not needing to leave for essential services such as grocery stores, pharmacies, and medical appointments.

What does this look like for BVCIL?
The staff at BVCIL have put into place a few measures to allow them to work from home and provide assistance to those we work with. Staff are monitoring our main phone lines as well as transportation phone line during regular business hours. While we are limited in this time of social distancing, there are resources we can provide depending on your needs. Our transportation program is still running and will continue to provide trips to those going to and from medical appointments only. Our drivers are taking great care in disinfecting or vehicles after every trip to ensure our rider’s protection.

While we are not currently able to provide our usual face-to-face services, there may be other ways our staff may assist you. Please feel free to call us and see what we can do for you.

How long will BVCIL be closed?
BVCIL is now on the same timeline as the Brazos County shelter in place policies which are currently set to end on April 7th. If these orders are extended, BVCIL will continue to follow the timeline of closures required.

What about classes?
We appreciate the patience and understanding of our community during this difficult and confusing time. To ensure the continued safety and health of those we work with as well as our staff, BVCIL will be suspending all classes, group events, and activities until further notice. You can check for any updates or changes to this by calling, emailing, checking our website or social media.

We will continue monitoring guidance from health officials and any new updates about the Center will be sent out as updates occur. For now, we hope that you will continue to contact us for any needs, questions, concerns, or information.

Our current business hours are Monday – Thursday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., and Friday 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. You may contact us through our main phone line at (979) 776-5505, through our email at info@bvcil.org, through Facebook at www.facebook.com/bvcil, or you can watch for updates on our website at www.bvcil.org/updates-on-bvcil-response-to-covide-19.

Please stay safe and wash your hands!

As of 3/23/2020 – BVCIL is following the shelter in place rules and will continue to be closed through April 7th. Staff are able to work remotely to assist anyone looking for resources or information. Our transportation is now providing trips for people going to medical appointments only.

As of 3/20/2020 – BVCIL has extended the closure date through April 3rd. Transportation services will still be provided for medical appointments, grocery store visits, and getting to/from work.

Notice sent on 3/15/2020 – As we continue to monitor the information provided by health officials regarding COVID-19, we have discussed what ways we can maintain a safe work environment and public space to those who walk through our front door. Our goal is to protect the health and well-being of all visiting individuals, our staff, and our community. With this in mind, we have decided to close down our offices to the public until March 31st. This will allow for proper sanitation efforts as well as for our staff to help our community in other ways. While our doors will remain open, our goal is to limit the amount of people entering our facilities. If you need information or assistance, please choose to call us at our main line, (979) 776-5505, or email, info@bvcil.org, and we will work with you in making sure your needs are met.

Effective Monday, March 16th:

  • All classes, group events, and activities are cancelled through the end of March.
  • Let us know if you need assistance with supplies, appointments, or other services that may become harder to receive.
  • While we are closed to the public, our staff will still be working to provide services – so please contact through phone or email for any information or service needs.

We will continue to monitor guidance from health officials over the next few weeks. Any new updates regarding our Center will be sent out. You can also keep an eye on our website (http://bvcil.org/updates-on-bvcil-response-to-covid-19/) or our Facebook (www.facebook.com/bvcil) for updates on our classes, programs, and events.

If you have any questions about the BVCIL responses to COVID-19 and/or services we may be able to provide, please contact our office at (979) 776-5505 or by email at info@bvcil.org.

As of 3/15/2020 – BVCIL facilities will be closed to the public until March 31st. All classes, activities, group events, and other events are cancelled until further notice. Please call or email for service or information requests.