ILCNSCA FY’03 ANNUAL REPORT

ILCNSCA ‘03 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Gregg Murray, President

Judith Rodgers, Vice President

Janet Foley, Secretary/Clerk

John Litchman, Treasurer

Pat Barry, Strategic Plan Committee

Harvey Cohen, Funds Development Committee

Jean Deschene, Strategic Plan Committee

Lori Fonseca, Funds Development Committee

Debbie Wilde, Funds Development Committee

Gregg Levis, Ex-officio Board Member

ILCNSCA ’03 Staff

Mary Margaret Moore, Executive Director

Kathy O’Brien, Associate Director

Shawn McDuff, Director of Access &Advocacy

Elaine O’Donnell, Director of Services

Jeanne Lyons, VR-IL Coordinator and Peer Advocate

Jamie Flavin, Peer Advocate

Zoyla Galice, Peer Advocate

Andrew Rowley, Peer Advocate

Kerry-Lynne Jacobs, Peer Advocate

Elizabeth Havens, Fiscal Data

Lori Chase, Fiscal Data

Pam Correnti, Volunteer

Paul Campbell, Volunteer

Donna Garber, Volunteer

Joyce Greer, Volunteer

Robert Hatch, Volunteer

Sara MacIsaac, Volunteer

Andrew Martensson, Volunteer

Meghan Scire, Volunteer

Linda Riley, Volunteer

Fiscal Year 2003 saw continued growth of the Center. The staff of ILCNSCA have worked very hard with the support of the Board to insure that the Center follow the federal standards and assurances for all independent living centers. The staff provided services at the main office in Salem as well as the Cape Ann branch office in Gloucester. Staff also went to 7 different nursing/rehabilitation/ assisted living institutions to work with persons residing there to move to the community and more independence. ILCNSCA worked with persons with disabilities in their homes (when they were unable to come to the Center) as well as in the community with independent living skills training.

Financially:

We received a total of $442,984 for our operation. Of this amount $435,414 was received from federal, state, and municipal contracts. $6,420 was received from contributions and donations. $6,717 was received from mini-grants. $980 was earned in interest from the North Shore Self-Help Group endowment given to us in fiscal year 2002.

Services Statistics:

The Independent Living Center of the North Shore and Cape Ann, Inc. during FY’03 provided individual independent living services to 312 persons with disabilities. In addition to working on a one to one basis with 312 persons with disabilities, the Center also provided 660 hours of Information and Referral services to over 900 different callers.

ILCSNCA served comprehensively individuals from all but one of the twenty cities and towns in our service area. ILCNSCA served 13 persons from outside of our service area. 106 individuals were from Salem, the location of our main office. No persons from Wenham were served, perhaps due to lack of public transportation in Wenham.

Of the 312 persons served individually and comprehensively the majority, 39%, stated they had physical disabilities. The next highest category was 24%, mental/emotional disabilities. The third highest category was 20%, folks who stated they had multiple disabilities.

The majority of individuals served were between the ages of 41 and 60 years of age, 56%. The next age group, 21-40 was 31%, and the age group of 61+ was 8% of individuals served. ILCNSCA served 53% females and 47% males.

As part of the ILCNSCA commitment to independent living and consumer control of the goals selected and achieved, the category chosen the most during FY’03 for goal setting and achieving was Housing. There were 421 housing goals set, and 314 housing goals met.

Community services were provided to over 450 persons receiving Community advocacy services, 251 persons receiving Outreach services and 83 persons receiving Community education services.

ILCNSCA worked rigorously on its Community Services Goals. These goals included efforts to increase access to Educational/Vocational opportunities, expand access to Affordable, Accessible, and Available housing, and to decrease physical as well as attitudinal barriers to the community.

ILCNSCA provided 85 persons with Social Recreation opportunities, including lunch and brunch around the North Shore and Cape Ann, Red Sox, Celtics and Bruins games, our Annual BBQ held in August 2002 at Winter Island. The ILCNSCA Annual Legislative Breakfast was held on May 9, 2003 at the Hawthorne Hotel, Salem and was attended by 120 persons. This event was co-hosted by Sen. Berry and Rep. Hill along with major support from Sen. Tarr, Rep. Spiliotis, and Rep. Grant.

Other Collaborations and Improvements:

During FY’03 ILCNSCA improved its consumer database system, installed a hands-free faucet, expanded our video library, improved its Internet connection, expanded its web page, as well as expanded the Community Access Advocacy Team activities. The Restaurant Accessibility Survey Project continued to visit North Shore and Cape Ann restaurants and the Community Access Advocacy Team provided needed follow up on certain issues.

The North Shore Self Help Group Fund for persons with mobility disabilities who are returning to employment or vocational training assisted two persons in FY’03.

ILCNSCA worked closely in FY’03 with the North Shore Career Centers to insure that wrap-around-services for their customers with disabilities were provided as part of the Federal Department of Labor (DOL) Accessibility Grant to the North Shore Career Center.

Again working with the City of Salem, ILCNSCA provided Housing Education Services to Salem residents under a City of Salem Department of Planning and Community Development grant.

As part of our Access Advocacy ILCNSCA met with and offered technical assistance to each of the 20 municipalities in our service area regarding their ADA Transition Plans. Sixteen of the 20 Municipalities issued ADA Proclamations for ADA Day on July 26, 2002, proclaiming support for fulfillment of the Americans with Disabilities Act and a commitment to independent living.

Legislative Advocacy:

ILCNSCA visited at least once during FY’03 with each state legislator and sent many letters and emails to our state and federal legislators as well as petitions. Of prime concern during ’03 was the effect the revenue deficits of the Commonwealth would have on services for persons with disabilities. Of particular concern for the second half of ’03 and the development of the ’04 budget were the following service areas: MassHealth; Prescription Advantage; Affordable, Available, and Accessible subsidized housing; CommonHealth; Home Modification Loan Program; Assistive Technology Funds; Turning 22 programs; Olmstead Plan as well as Independent Living Center funding.

The North Shore and Cape Ann legislators worked rigorously with their colleagues to minimize as much as possible cuts that would eliminate necessary supports and services for independent living. Increases in co-pays and premiums for MassHealth and CommonHealth, limits on enrollment period for Prescription Advantage, reorganization of state services agencies including early retirement for state workers were some of the mechanisms used by the legislature and Governor to minimize the impact of the revenue deficits on persons with disabilities in the ’04 budget. ILCNSCA did not experience any cuts in its state funding during ’03 and is fully funded in the ’04 budget.

Conclusion:

Overall, in the midst of dramatic reorganization at the state level, during a time of war with Iraq and rebuilding in Afghanistan, high unemployment and federal tax cuts, state agency early retirement and decreasing state revenues and a new state administration for the second half of ’03, ILCNSCA saw fundamental services for persons with disabilities retained albeit with increased financial contributions from persons with disabilities. Overall, ILCNSCA again saw that through communication, dialogue, inclusion of its supporters and members, the mission of ILCNSCA is heard and supported by elected officials and the American people.

We at ILCNSCA look forward to continuing our advocacy for improved access to the resources and services and supports that insure persons with disabilities who choose to live independently can do such. As a non-profit agency that meets the federal standards and assurances of an independent living center we will continue to be an organization run by and for people with disabilities. ILCNSCA renews its commitment to self-determination, autonomy and independence. We invite you to work with us in FY’04.

Mary Margaret Moore

Executive Director

October 15, 2003