Texas Governor Perry
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Contact Disabilities

  • Phone: (512) 463-5739
  • Email: GCPD@governor.state.tx.us
  • Fax: (512) 463-5745
  • For relay services dial 711 or your relay provider of choice
  • Address: 1100 San Jacinto
    Austin, Texas 78701

Texas Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities Awards Programs

The Texas Governor's Committee has a long history of honoring the achievements of Texans with disabilities by presenting awards for best practices and exemplary endeavors of employers and media professionals.  As part of our mission to further opportunities for Texans with disabilities to enjoy full and equal access to lives of independence, productivity, and self-determination, we proudly sponsor two annual awards programs.

  • Barbara Jordan Media Awards
  • Employment Awards

About the Barbara Jordan Awards

In 1982, the Texas Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities created the media relations program which includes a series of prestigious annual awards recognizing outstanding contributions by individuals and organizations of the communications media. In 1998, the Committee added a high school student subcategory to the Barbara Jordan Awards competition in an effort to encourage and educate a new generation of journalists.  Contributions are recognized for eliminating attitudinal, social, and physical barriers and encouraging accurate and progressive portrayals of people with disabilities.

The Barbara Jordan Awards recognize representatives of the communications media in the fields of print, radio, television, advertising, photojournalism, public relations, audio visual, and special contributions for increasing public understanding of the abilities and potential of people with disabilities.

About the Employment Awards

Since 1979, the Governor's Committee has highlighted the efforts of employers to hire and retain employees with disabilities.  Employers whose philosophy is to support employment opportunities for all Texans, including people with disabilities, is viewed as a strength for the Employment awards.  Promotion of business opportunities for people with disabilities is also an important element.  Awards are given in the following categories:  The Governor's Trophy, the Entrepreneurship Award, Public and Private Employer Awards, and the Martha Arbuckle Award.