Category Archives: Urban’s Corner

Making Your Vessel Accessible for the Disabled

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Making Your Vessel Accessible for the Disabled
By Urban Miyares, Co-Founder, Challenged America Program

“Urban – My wife now has MS and uses a wheelchair. How can I make our 30 foot sailboat more wheelchair friendly so she can continue to be active as crew and enjoy being on the water? Jim L.”

Over the years we’ve received many such requests, from both sail and power boat owners wanting to make their vessels more accessible and accommodating for themselves and others with disabilities. As a matter of fact, just in the past couple of weeks I’ve had 3 such requests – which prompted me to write this blog.

Making Your Vessel Accessible for the Disabled
If you have a physical, mobility or sensory challenge (whether permanent or temporary) or diagnosed with a hidden medical condition, you’ll immediately discover how unfriendly most boats are. Their design is not accommodating to the disabled. However you can make your sail or power boat more welcoming and comfortable to crew members and passengers with impairments.
Following is but a beginning outline to help guide you in making your vessel more accessible to those with physical challenges. Continue reading →

KPBS will be airing their interview with Disabled Businesspersons Association (DBA) president urban Miyares

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This Friday, February 17, 2012, KPBS will be airing their interview with Disabled Businesspersons Association (DBA) president urban Miyares on their Evening Interview Television Show, at 6:30 p.m., and again on their Saturday morning radio show.

If you miss either of these broadcasts, the interview with Urban will also be on the KBPS website at www.KPBS.org.

Filming of this interview will be conducted at Interwork Institute this Friday at 11 a.m.
Businesspersons Association (DBA) president urban Miyares on their Evening Interview Television Show, at 6:30 p.m., and again on their Saturday morning radio show.

If you miss either of these broadcasts, the interview with Urban will also be on the KBPS website at www.KPBS.org.

Filming of this interview will be conducted at Interwork Institute this Friday at 11 a.m.

Urban’s Corner

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It’s at this time each year where I sit back and reflect on the past, and how lucky I am. After all, I shouldn’t even be here today … believed to be dead in Vietnam, and then at Valley Forge Hospital being told that, at best, I had only 20 years of life remaining. That was 1968. I’m definitely one of the lucky ones, and so thankful for it, and thankful to the combat medic, Brian Leet, who found me still breathing and saved my life.

Even back then, I knew that my service to America and to society was just beginning, as I made a vow then to one day serve other veterans, kids and adults with disabilities. And today, the charitable Disabled Businesspersons Association (DBA), and its programs, like Challenged America, is the fulfillment of that promise of more than 40 years ago, as it is for my family, and the hundreds of volunteers who have been involved over the years.

In reflection, I want to thank everyone for their help. Joining together we have touched the lives of thousands, and continue to do so quietly today, and without fanfare. Our only reward being the smiles and “thank you” of those we serve.

Although there are many volunteers and participants who are no longer with us today (having moved away, started new careers and taken on new adventures, or have passed on), I’m comfortable in knowing that their adventures with Challenged America and the other DBA programs, even if only for a short time, was a valuable, life changing and enriching experience.

My only wish is that those who have supported us in other ways – ways such as making a charitable gift, a vessel or vehicle donation, introduction of our free programs and services to a family member or a parent with a child having a disability, telling a recently injured or disabled person and veteran about the DBA and its programs, or passing along a referral to someone just needing a person to talk to and help – were able to be with us when these services were performed, so they too could see the return on their investment, as those who volunteer witness daily.

With this, on behalf of the board of directors and all those involved with the charitable Disabled Businesspersons Association and its programs (e.g., Challenged America, National Disabled Veterans Business Center, Self-Employment of the Disabled, and Special Kids in Business), I want to thank you for your belief and trust in us, and wish you and yours a most joyous and peaceful Christmas and Holiday Season, and may the New Year be filled with good health, everlasting happiness in your continuing of service to others in need.

Urban Miyares, ()
DBA Volunteer President & Challenged America co-founder

Urban’s Corner

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It seems like most people don’t really pay attention to a disease or disability until it strikes them or someone they love. Yet, many who are not (yet) disabled dot suppor and donate to organizations and programs that support the disabled, for various reasons, but fully committing themselves and their resources to a cause tends not to appear the norm . . . until that dreaded illness or injury hits.

Believe me, everyone in the charitable sector appreciates all – and in any amount – that contributors provide, be it resources, talent, assets, time, and/or cash and regardless of their reason behind the gift – whether personal, tax mitigation, emotional, or another self-serving intention. Such gifts are (mostly) welcome and most needed by all trying to do a charitable good in the community and for society.

We’re now at that “Holiday Gift Giving Time” and we’re all getting bombarded with emotionally-driven appeals to support a charity or cause, and you’ll be getting such a message from us at Challenged America and the Disabled Businesspersons Association (DBA) as well. This is the time of year most make donations and gifts; and the time which most charities, like us, do rely on to support the coming months of operations and plan expanded services and programs.

So when you receive our request for financial and other support, along with the flood of other pleas for help, we hope our message hits your heartstrings and you will consider Challenged America and the DBA too.

We also hope you will investigate the organizations, programs and causes you plan to give to, making sure they are really using your generosity to fulfill their mission and serve those they are authorized by the IRS to help … and your generous gift is being spent or allocated where you want it to go.

I recently called a donor and asked why he and his wife decided to make a donation to the DBA? His response was:

“We want to make sure our gift goes for the right purpose, and we do this by first asking how much in salary and benefits the Executive Director, President, CEO and Chairman of the Board make.

“From the response, we can quickly narrow the field of those we will donate to, as it gives us a measurement of where funds are being prioritized and allocated. ”

It’s surprising how many charities don’t directly answer our question, and of those who do, the majority only refer us to their latest tax return, and how to get it online. At the DBA, your response was quick and to the point … and that’s why we sent you our check.”

Thank You,
Urban Miyares
Challenged America, co-founder
Disabled Businesspersons Association, volunteer president