501-362-7526 info@maysmission.org 604 Colonial Drive, Heber Springs, Arkansas 72543

Tag: Mays Mission

Warming Up

“Old Man Winter” is packing up his bags and heading out the door again.  For myself, and many other people with disabilities, the winter months make it difficult to get out and exercise.  Seeing the grass greening up, the bright blue skies and the temperatures getting warmer, thoughts of getting active again can brighten the day. Exercise is good for everyone.  We’ve heard for years that exercising on a regular basis not only leads to a healthier life, but possibly a longer life as well.  As with most everything, exercise should be done carefully and with moderation. And remember to… Read More

Planning Ahead

It’s always a good, no – make that a great idea – to plan ahead when doing most anything. My thought in this edition though is for building or buying a home when people with disabilities and the elderly are involved – especially with arthritis. What’s described below is not consistently true, but it’s a good rule to follow. In 1994 we decided to build a 1600 sq. ft. home. Being in a wheelchair for 23 years at that time, I knew very well what I wanted to include and what things to avoid. Obviously, stairs, steps and a wheelchair… Read More

Accomplishments

Our founder Ewing W. Mays accomplished many great things in his life as a disabled veteran. Initially he toured with a group of disabled veterans and sold war bonds and recruited employees for defense plants. Later he worked tireless hours with the Disabled American Veterans and toured overseas to bring hope to young men who had suffered similar losses. But the accomplishment he was most proud of was founding Mays Mission for the Handicapped in 1972. Mays always said, “The greatest satisfaction of my life has been the establishment of Mays Mission for the Handicapped which provides jobs and job… Read More

Your Faith in Action

Mays Mission for the Handicapped supports several programs which are all designed to help the disabled, frail or elderly.  One of our programs, the “Faith in Action Caregivers Alliance,” gets its name from the national program “Faith in Action” originated by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation of Princeton, New Jersey.  The concept of Faith in Action is simple: volunteers of many faiths, working together to care for their neighbors who have long-term health needs.  Through our program, as in hundreds of others throughout the nation, frail or elderly neighbors are given assistance by volunteers from their community.  This assistance will… Read More

Mission Goals for 2023

In sports such as football, basketball or tennis the object is to reach the goal and score. The football team tries to run over or pass over the opposing team to reach the goal line. In tennis the goal is to hit the ball over the net and past your opponent. Like these games, our goals at Mays Mission do not change. We will continue to work hard to provide the types of programs that serve the disabled. We will continue to offer meaningful jobs and job training to help those who might not otherwise be given such an opportunity…. Read More

Giving The Gift Of Hope

Giving gifts at Christmas is a tradition based of course, on the greatest gift ever given to mankind-the gift of a Son by his Father to a world in desperate need. The celebration of Christmas is a reminder to all of us how blessed we are to have been given such a precious gift of hope. Here at Mays Mission we are blessed over and over by the gifts we receive from our faithful and loyal supporters.  Gifts we pass on to those we serve each day.  One of those most precious gifts is hope.  Through our jobs and job-training… Read More

Interacting with the disabled

Public services and buildings are required to have in place facilities and policies to accommodate people with disabilities as required by the American’s with Disabilities Act. These regulations make it increasingly likely that people without specific disabilities will interact more frequently with the disabled.  We often get questions about interacting with the disabled. Here are a few simple rules to help smooth the way for an easy and pleasing interaction: When interacting with a person using a wheelchair: Maintain eye contact. Ask if assistance is needed, rather than assuming it is. Don’t lean on a wheelchair.  The chair is considered… Read More

Change and Attitude

We are all brought into this world with our own unique set of circumstances.  Some are born into wealth and prosperity while some are born into poverty; some short and some tall; some with a natural ability to excel in certain areas while others struggle to make the grade.  Whatever the situation might be, no two individuals are alike. As we meander through life’s intriguing journey, there usually comes a time when we all decide we are ready for a change.  Whatever it might be, more likely than not, the change will not be instantaneous or easy. Change usually takes… Read More

October Is National Disability Employee Awareness Month

This October is a time to recognize the contributions of Americans with disabilities and to encourage all citizens to ensure equal opportunity in the workforce. First declared in 1988 by Congress for the month of October to raise awareness of the needs and contributions of disabled individuals, National Disability Employee Awareness Month is a time to recognize that people with disabilities have equal or higher job retention, lower absenteeism, and that their job performance is equal to their non-disabled counterparts. It is a time to urge employers to hire persons with disabilities. How can you do this? Call at 888-503-7955… Read More

Seeking, but Not Finding

What is the first thought that comes to mind when someone utters the word “disabled?”  (Try it. It’s interesting.)  Is it homebound, a wheelchair, someone who is blind or maybe uses a cane or crutch?  Fact is, we all have our own interpretation. And, when it comes to disabilities, no two are alike.  Although no two disabled individuals are alike, two-thirds of the 54 million disabled individuals in the United States desire employment. I have stated this before but I feel that it deserves repeating; what would happen to our welfare, Medicare, unemployment, and the national debt if these people… Read More

Make Your Fourth of July Safe!

According to Prevent Blindness America, nearly 13,000 firework victims keep hospitals busy every ear. More than half of those injured are children. Fireworks not only injure users, data from the U.S. Eye Injury Registry shows that bystanders are more often injured by fireworks than operators. The three types of fireworks that keep hospital emergency rooms busy during this holiday period are bottle rockets, firecrackers, and sparklers. Bottle rockets and firecrackers can fly in any direction prior to exploding and sparklers burn at temperatures hot enough to melt gold. One of the reasons firework injuries continue to occur is because people… Read More

What Does Disability.gov Do?

Disability.gov is the federal government website for comprehensive information on disability programs and services in communities nationwide. The site links to more than 14,000 resources from federal, state and local government agencies; academic institutions; and nonprofit organizations. You can find answers to questions about everything from Social Security benefits to employment to affordable and accessible housing. New information is added daily across 10 main subject areas – Benefits, Civil Rights, Community Life, Education, Emergency Preparedness, Employment, Health, Housing, Technology and Transportation. Disability.gov is a web portal, which means every time you select a resource, you will be directed to another… Read More

Some kind words from our friends…

We often get little hand written notes from our donors and people we have helped letting us know how much they appreciate us and thanking us for our service. Sometimes they write the notes on the notepads we mail out to our donors that are printed and assembled by disabled workers here at Mays Mission. We thought we would share some of these kind words from our wonderful friends: To: Mays Mission, Thank you for helping us in our time of need! We appreciate all you have done. We are so impressed with the way Mays Mission has helped not… Read More

Reflection, Celebration and Resolution

A New Year always brings about a time of reflection, celebration and resolution. We think back on the good times and, too, some things we would rather forget and put behind us. One of the bright spots here at Mays Mission is the fact that over half of our production department is people with disabilities. It’s pleasing to see people attempting to make something of their lives when it may be just as easy to sit back in an “easy chair” and do nothing. These people have made the decision to work for a living. It always thrills me to… Read More

Religious freedom for all

Even though the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed and fully implemented in 1992, not all facilities were required to become “accessible.”  The ADA covered “public accommodations” but has no authority over private institutions and organizations. So let’s talk a bit about “places of worship.” Churches, synagogues, fellowships or whatever a place of worship chooses to be called do not fall under the auspices, rules and guidelines of the ADA.  Because these institutions are private religious organizations, they are not required to become compliant with Title III of the ADA regarding “public accommodations.” Now, I have been in many… Read More

Accessibility