Shaudell, her mother, and Georgia Jones.jpg

L to R: Georgia Jones, LaSean Mims, and Shaudell Brooks pose for a photo Saturday evening at the Hilton Garden Inn in Pascagoula. Jones presented Brooks and her mother with a plaque on behalf of their church's Sunday School Department congratulating Brooks on starting her nonprofit organization, D.R.E.A.M.S. (JT Nicholson)

(JT Nicholson)

PASCAGOULA, Miss.-- Over 100 people showed up Saturday night to bear witness to the culmination of hard work by Shaudell Brooks to officially launch her nonprofit organization, D.R.E.A.M.S at the Hilton Garden Inn in Pascagoula.

D.R.E.A.M.S. stands for Disability Rights Equalizing Access and Motivating Success, and was created based on the obstacles Brooks encountered stemming from the fact she has a form of muscular dystrophy. What's most important to Brooks is to extend disability awareness across the Mississippi Gulf Coast, as well as to make things as equal as possible.

"Our most important goal is to unify and advocate," Brooks said. "We would like to speak with colleges to educate and make sure everything is equal in regards to services related to not only students without disabilities, but students with them as well. Like I was telling someone earlier, we are all equal and we all have a dream we would like to accomplish whether big or small and it is like a domino effect. You can't change the world by yourself, you can start to, but it takes a group effort."

After being introduced by Pastor Larry Hawkins of Union Baptist Church, Brooks sheepishly spoke about how nervous she was and the experience that led to the creation of D.R.E.A.M.S.

"I want to tell you all the story about a girl who simply wanted to enjoy the rights and privileges other students were able to experience, but I couldn't being that I am disabled. That year, we were playing one of the biggest football games of my college career against Mississippi State and I wanted to attend the game. I remember going to athletics before the game took place to take precautions on if I decided to go to the game, where would I sit and how would everything go? I was told that I would be able to sit near the student section, but not in it. Initially, everything seemed to be cool, but when I got to the entrance, things changed. I was told that I could not enter through that specific gate because I was in a wheelchair. I went to another entrance where I was allowed inside with no issues, but when I got to the next entrance to sit near the student section, the police officer told me I could not go through. The officer looked around and allowed me and my friends through. Later, another officer came and told me and my friends we could not sit there while I already received clearance to be seated where I was. The disgruntled officer told me 'no' and says, 'either you're going to have to leave or your friends are going to have to leave and you will have to sit here by yourself.'"

"After crying for a while, I decided I wanted to do something about the way people with disabilities were treated on our campus, so I decided to do something about it and here we are today," Brooks said.

Saturday evening's program consisted of catered food, tunes from a saxophonist, and fellowship amongst guests. Slated to attend the launching of Brooks nonprofit organization was Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver and former Auburn Tiger, Sammie Coates. Coates was scheduled as the keynote speaker, but due to contractual obligations with Steelers minicamp beginning June 14, he could not attend. In his absence, Coates sent along an inspirational video to encourage everyone in attendance to follow and to chase their dreams.

According to www.bestcolleges.com, in 2013, the National Center for Education Statistics reported that roughly 2,563,000 undergraduate students in the U.S., approximately 11.1% of all undergraduates enrolled, had a disability in the 2011-2012 school year. In addition to campus-based resources, students with disabilities are also protected by state, federal, and local laws prohibiting discrimination and requiring equal levels of access to academic services, environments, and resources.

"In starting this organization and going forward, I am hoping to provide the entire Gulf Coast school district with information to make their communities more disability friendly and we hope to raise $10,000 in order to provide a disability scholarship to a high school senior," Brooks said. "Everyone deserves the opportunity to be treated fairly and equally and that's what we are striving to show people. This is how I plan to give back to the world."