Disability Connection Midsouth

ACCESS AWARDS

2026 Date and Location TBA

Celebrating 40 Years!

This year’s Access Awards carries a special significance as we celebrate 40 years of advancing access, inclusion, and opportunity for people with disabilities across our region. Our theme—“40 Years of Advocacy, Education, and Unity”—honors the decades of collective work to create communities where individuals with disabilities can live, work, and play alongside their neighbors. We encourage guests to attend in their best 1980's attire! This is optional, but it is a fun opportunity to celebrate the 1980's as part of our 40th anniversary banquet.

Purpose

Disability Connection Midsouth, Memphis's Center for Independent Living, continues our work of advocating, educating, and uniting communities. Access will always be a cornerstone of what we do. However, eliminating barriers to access cannot be done by one individual or organization alone, but instead it takes the hard work of many to break down barriers. Disability Connection Midsouth celebrates the accomplishments of advocates from across our community during our annual Access Awards Banquet. There will be a live auction, dinner, and plenty of good fun and fellowship.

Tickets

The Access Awards is our annual fundraising event. To help further our mission of providing services to all people with disabilities and their families, we hope you can extend your support in these difficult times. Individual tickets are $60 each. They can be purchased online by following this link: https://bit.ly/AccessAB2025If you require payment via check or money order, you can send them payable to the Memphis Center for Independent Living with Access Awards in the memo. They should be mailed to the following:Attention Christina CliftDisability Connection Midsouth1000 S. Cooper StreetMemphis, TN 38104If you cannot attend the Access Awards and want to support our center, please consider making a donation of your choosing to Disability Connection Midsouth. As we celebrate 40 years, your support will directly fund our mission of advocating, educating, and uniting communities. To make a donation, follow this link: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=YB5YVJ74DDQP6

Become a Sponsor!

Your support of the Access Award Benefit will allow Disability Connection Midsouth to present awards to outstanding advocates and to advertise the event. Additionally, sponsorships will pay for the venue, entertainment, event programs, and to offset dinner costs for special guests. This event offers an opportunity for people with and without disabilities to join together to honor the difference our organization and 2025 honorees have made in our community.

Sponsorship Level and Benefits

We offer several sponsorship levels to recognize your organization’s commitment to access and inclusion:Platinum Sponsor – $5,000+

Prominent recognition in the event program booklet
Logo and recognition on Disability Connection Midsouth’s website and social media
Verbal recognition and featured highlight during the awards program
Complimentary event tickets

Gold Sponsor – $2,500

Recognition in the event program booklet
Logo and recognition on DCM’s website and social media
Highlight during the awards program
Complimentary event tickets

Silver Sponsor – $1,500

Recognition in the event program booklet
Recognition on DCM’s website and social media

Bronze Sponsor – $750

Recognition in the event program booklet
Recognition on DCM’s website and social media

Access Sponsor – $500

Recognition in the event program booklet, on the DCM website, and through social media

All sponsors will be acknowledged in the program booklet, across social media platforms, and on the Disability Connection Midsouth website, demonstrating your support for accessibility, equity, and community inclusion.Click here to become a sponsor

2025 Access Award Recipients

Troy Allen, SRVS