INDEPENDENT TIMES VOLUME XIII ISSUE 2 SPRING 2004
FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
As we enter Spring I am hopeful that the economy is improving. Massachusetts revenues were higher than anticipated in January and February. Despite record high unemployment in the Commonwealth, the national economy seems to be expanding a bit and replenishing a little of the jobs lost over the past few years. The Governor’s budget, House One, recommended no cuts in the line item which covers funding in ‘05 for independent living centers. Division of Medical Assistance has delayed implementing an Assest test for Commonhealth and the cap on Commonhealth has not been reached. Nationally a Medicare prescription coverage package has been passes, albeit most seniors and persons with disabilities being dissatisfied with the amount of coverage and the privatization aspect. There is much discussion in Washington of putting in place a LIFE Account which will allow persons on Medicaid, MassHealth here, to increase the assets they can accumulate.
These are positive signs as we enter the Spring of 2004. ILCNSCA along with the other ten independent living centers across Massachusetts are hopefull that there will be an increase in the line item, the 4000 account, in the MRC budget for independent living centers in the ‘05 budget. In Federal Fiscal Years 02 through 04 Massachusetts State Plan for Independent Living, filed with the federal government (Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration) and signed by the Commonwealth (Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission and the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind) and the Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) it states that all independent living centers in Massachusetts will receive a level of funding. The current level of funding by Massachusetts still needs to be increased by $610,000 to reach the agreed upon necessary funding. With the support for at least level funding from the Governor’s budget the eleven centers and the SILC are asking our legislators to approve an additional $610,000 for ‘05. Your support for this will be appreciated. At our 17th Legislative Breakfast, to be held on April 30, 2004 at the Hawthorne Hotel, we urge you to attend and speak with your legislators about this issue.
We also urge you to speak to your legislators about the need for them to pass the Home Modifications Loan Bond bill, as the Home Loan program is just about out of funds. The ability of landlords and homeowners to make the necessary accessibility modifications to their property is severely curtailed without this loan program. The Bond bill will not cost the Commonwealth funding, it will allow citizens to borrow the funds needed and enchance the property for future usage as a accessible residential resource.
Lastly, ILCNSCA is excited to have Senator Thomas McGee and Representative Theodore Speliotis host our Legislative Breakfast this year. Happy Spring and see you on April 30 if not before!
ILCNSCA INDIVIDUAL SERVICES FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
Information and Referral (I&R) – Accurate and relevant information regarding procedures, agencies, providers, community activities and events that will assist persons with disabilities to live as independently in the community as the consumer chooses.
Independent Living Skills Training (skill development) – Information, including referrals and resources, and training on various life activities to facilitate their development of skills to enable them to achieve and/or maintain their independent living goal (s). Skills training focuses on the acquisition of specific knowledge and ability in goal areas defined by the consumer in his/her Independent Living Service Plan (ILSP). Skills training can occur in group or in individual sessions; the consumer determines the end, when he/she achieves the desired goal or chooses to re-evaluate and redefine the ILSP with the staff. Some examples of goals in skills training include: acquiring personal care attendant services; learning how to obtain and use public transportation services; and career and vocational assistance.
Individual Advocacy - Individual advocacy has the consumer as the focal point of all communication and information sharing, and is always done in the consumer’s presence. This process emphasizes consumer control and self-reliance, utilizing an array of approaches aimed at assisting individuals with disabilities to take charge of their life choices, act on their own behalf, and overcome situations that reduce their potential for independence.
Peer Counseling – Sharing of experiences between two people with disabilities, an IL Peer Guide and a customer of ILCNSCA, where the IL Peer Guide listens non-judgmentally, offers validation of feelings, support for reframing, and encouragement for planning and action by consumer. This is the method by which all IL Skills Training and Individual Advocacy as well as Information and Referral are given by staff to customers. Peer Counseling is also offered in a group format as part of ILCNSCA Peer Support Group.
INTRODUCING IAN, IL PEER GUIDE
Hello, my name is Ian Milgram. My job title is IL Peer Guide. I began my employment at ILCNSCA on September 22, 2003. I am strongly interested in housing, transportation, and employment advocacy and rights, particularly for persons with disabilities. I have experience in working in the following fields: Life Insurance, Publishing, Advertising/Marketing, and a small amount in Banking, Health Insurance. I worked as a volunteer with the Cape Ann Food Pantry. My educational experience includes a B.A. in History from University of Cincinnati. I speak Italian as a second language, and a little bit of Spanish.
As an IL Peer Guide I am continuously learning new things about my job, as well as about the disability community. I’ve met an increasing number of ILCNSCA consumers, and provided them with Information and Referral, IL Skills Training, Peer Counseling, Individual Advocacy, and Service Coordination. I also have been working on Community Advocacy issues as well as providing Community Education regarding ILCNSCA to a variety of agencies on the North Shore and Cape Ann. I work at the Main Office of ILCNSCA and the Cape Ann Branch Office.
I enjoy sharing my story and experiences as a person coping with a disability with other people having disabilities, in the hope that it might be useful to my peers who might be in similar situations. I look forward to insuring that the 20 cities and towns in the North Shore and Cape Ann service area improve their inclusion of people with disabilities as an integral part of their municipal growth and development. Working here has been challenging and personally rewarding. My professional goal is to support persons with disabilities to better advocate for themselves so that they can more fully access the benefits of society.
NEW WEB RESOURCE FOR FINDING PCA STAFF
There are many good people out there who want to provide support directly to individuals and families. The difficulty is finding them. As a person with a disability or a family member, you may have struggled with the process of hiring people to provide support in the home and community. RewardingWork.org will give you new tools to help you in your search for the right employee.
RewardingWork.org provides a searchable database with the names, contact information, and work preferences of hundreds of people interested in this field. In the future, other pages in this site will provide tips on interviewing, hiring, and supervising the people who support you.
These workers have NOT been screened in any way, and their backgrounds have NOT been checked. That is still your responsibility. If you have questions about using this site, call us at ILCNSCA, toll-free at 888-751-0077.
UMASS Medical School Health Care Policy and Research Center with technical assistance from ILCNSCA have worked on this resource. If you have ideas on how to improve this site email eleanor.lisney@umassmed.edu.
YOUR INVITATION TO THE 17TH ILCNSCA APRIL 30, 2003 LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST
Dear Supporter of ILCNSCA:
You are cordially invited to the 17th Annual Legislative Breakfast of the Independent Living Center of the North Shore and Cape Ann, Inc. (ILCNSCA). The theme this year is “Will Persons with disabilities in Massachusetts be able to access necessary IL services and supports in ‘05?“ The breakfast will be held on Friday, April 30, 2004 at the Hawthorne Hotel, 18 Washington Square West in Salem from 8:30 - 11:00 a.m. Coffee, juice and breakfast pastry will be served.
This annual event enables you to meet and speak directly with your legislator, giving you an opportunity to convey your priorities for state funding for the next fiscal year and to express your service needs to your elected officials. There will also be guest speakers from the legislative and disability communities and presentations of annual awards.
This year the Breakfast will be co-hosted by Senator Thomas McGee and Rep. Theodore Speliotis. U.S. Congressman John Tierney will attend if Congress is not in session. Other key speakers will include Sen. Fred Berry, ILCNSCA Board President Gregg Murray, myself, and Executive Directors of the Boston Center for Independent Living, Bill Henning, Northeast Independent Living Program, Charles Carr, and the Statewide Independent Living Council Coordinator Joe Bellil. We have invited Governor Mitt Romney and Lt. Governor Kerry Healey to speak as well and they are unable to attend. We also invited U.S. Senators Kennedy and Kerry yet they will be unable to attend as well.
This site is wheelchair accessible. Please specify reasonable accommodation requests on the enclosed RSVP. It is also important that you refrain from wearing scented products to the Legislative Breakfast as a reasonable accommodation to people with multiple chemical sensitivities.
Please RSVP by April 16, 2004. ILCNSCA is requesting your donation to help defray the cost of the event; $5 for each person, more if you can, less if you cannot. Please send a check payable to ILCNSCA with your RSVP.
We hope you will be able to join us on this occasion. If you have questions regarding this event, please contact Shawn McDuff at 978-741-0077 v or 978-741-1735 TTY or by email at Smcduff@ilcnsca.org.
Sincerely,
Mary Margaret Moore , Executive Director
RASP UPDATE ILCNSCA
ILCNSCA continues to coordinate volunteer surveyors to conduct surveys of restaurants in the ILCNSCA service area. This is accomplished through the Restaurant Accessibility Survey Project (RASP) funded by the North Shore Self-Help Association. The restaurants listed below were surveyed recently and are rated for accessibility in the following categories: parking, external access, entry/ exit, internal access, rest-rooms, service, and alternate communication means. Restaurant survey ratings range from a score 1 to 6 with 6 being the highest. We use the symbol to identify the rating.
Bennigan’s 71 Newbury St. Peabody, MA 01960
Parking: Accessible parking was very good. There were 3 accessible spots directly in front of the main entrance with proper curb cuts and signage. There was no “Van Accessible” marked spot. Entrance: The exterior entrance opened directly into the restaurant. The door was wide enough and opened easily allowing good access. Seating: There was about a 50-50 split between accessible tables and booths. Knee space under the tables would accommodate a wheelchair user. The restaurant was all on one level with no stairs with the exception of 3 steps leading into the bar area. There was however another entrance into the bar that was accessible. Seating in the bar area was comfortable for a wheelchair user.
Restrooms: On route to the restrooms there was a slight ramp/aisle that was maneuverable. The accessible stall was very spacious with grab bars mounted correctly and no obstacles in the path of travel. The faucets were easily pulled on and pushed off with a closed fist. The soap dispensers and trash barrels were mounted on the wall and within easy reach for a wheelchair user. Communication: Menus were not available in Braille, large print or on cassette but the manager was going to look into it. There were no ASL interpreters on staff. Service: The staff was respectful, communicated directly with me and met my disability related needs. Comments: The service and food were excellent and I was very comfortable dining there. The prices were also very reasonable. Rating: 5
Red Rock Bistro 141 Humphrey St. Swampscott, MA 01907
Parking: Parking was limited to on street parking since they do not have a parking lot. There are 2 on street H.P. spots near the restaurant one of which was across the street. Entrance: The entrance door was wide enough and easy to open allowing easy access. Seating: There was an adequate amount of accessible seating and maneuverability between tables was good. Knee space under the tables would accommodate a wheelchair user. Restrooms: The bathrooms were accessible and met all requirements. Adequate room and grab bars were provided. Faucets were easily operated with a closed fist and soap and paper towel dispensers were within reach for a wheelchair user. Communication: Menus were not available in Braille, large print or on cassette. There were no ASL interpreters on staff. Service: The staff was respectful, communicated directly with me and met my disability related needs. Comments: The food was delicious and they have Jazz during their Sunday Brunch. Rating: 5
Tequilla’s, 80 Newbury St. Danvers, MA
Parking: Accessible parking was very good, It was closest to the entrance, wide enough and had the proper access aisle. There was no “Van Accessible” marked spot. Entrance: The door was wide enough but difficult to open. There was a threshold but less than ½ inch high. The ramp had a gradual slope with level landings at the top and bottom. There were top and bottom railings, which were smooth and continuous. Seating: There was an adequate amount of accessible seating, about 60% fixed seating and 40% non-fixed seating, and maneuverability between tables was good. Knee space under the tables would accommodate a wheelchair user. Restrooms: The bathrooms were accessible and met all requirements. Adequate room and grab bars were provided. Faucets were easily operated with a closed fist and soap and paper towel dispensers were within reach for a wheelchair user. Communication: Menus were not available in Braille, large print or on cassette. There were no ASL interpreters on staff. Service: The staff was respectful, communicated directly with me and met my disability related needs. Rating: 5
Danversport Yacht Club 161 Elliott St Danvers, MA
Parking: Accessible parking was very good. It was closest to the entrance, wide enough and had the proper access aisle. There was also a “Van Accessible” marked spot with proper access aisle. Entrance: The entrance was wide enough but it was a double door. The doors were easy to open, opened into a vestibule that would accommodate a wheelchair user and had a threshold of less than ½ inch. Seating: There was an adequate amount of accessible seating and maneuverability between tables was good. Knee space under the tables would accommodate a wheelchair user. Restrooms: The bathrooms were accessible and met all requirements. Adequate room and grab bars were provided. Faucets were easily operated with a closed fist and soap and paper towel dispensers were within reach for a wheelchair user. Communication: Menus were not available in Braille, large print or on cassette. There were no ASL interpreters on staff. Service: The staff was respectful, communicated directly with me and met my disability related needs. Comments: This was a wonderful restaurant. There was plenty of room, excellent service and the food was wonderful. The luncheon was also inexpensive. Rating: 5
RESOURCES THAT MAKE CENTS: SERVE NEW ENGLAND
Would you like to save up to 50% on top quality meats, produce and grocery items? To qualify all you need to do is volunteer 2 hours per month. Serve New England defines volunteer service as anything that you do for someone else, outside of your immediate family, without compensation. If you are already volunteering, then you already qualify.
Serve New England is a program designed to promote volunteer service by offering deep discounts on the highest quality grocery, meat and vegetable items to community-minded individuals willing to volunteer time to their communities each month. Serve’s suppliers include: Perdue, Dole, Kraft, Kayem Meats, DelMonte and many more!
Serve offers 4 food packages: The Family Meal (designed to feed four meals to a family of four) costs $18.00 + 2 hours of volunteer service; Produce Package costs $12.00 + 2 hours of Page volunteer service; Meat Only Package costs $11.00 + the purchase of a Family Meal or Produce Package (purchase as many meat only packages with no additional volunteer service hours required); and Monthly Meat Specials costs vary. The food in each package varies each month. Some chapters charge up to $1.00 extra per package to help cover the cost of trucking.
To find a local chapter and sign up call 1- 888-742-7363 or www.servenewengland.org. Locally, Serve has chapters in Beverly, Gloucester and Lynn. If you chose to register at a local chapter they will help you place your order and take you payment of either cash or EBT cards/foodstamps, personal checks are not accepted. Orders placed online will be charged to your MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Discover cards or E-check.
In summary you sign up either at a local chapter site or online. You chose the food package(s) that you want to purchase and pay for it on the order day. Sometime during the month you complete at least 2 hours of volunteer service in your community. Then you pickup your food order at your local chapter at the end of the month on distribution day. You leave with a box of food and that good feeling that comes from helping make your community a better place in which to live.
Text reproduced from Serve New England brochure and website. If you know of any Resources That Make Cents and would like to let ILCNSCA know about them please contact Kathy O’Brien at (978) 741- 0077 ext. 11 or email Kobrien@ilcnsca.org.
ON THE ADVOCACY FRONT
Disability Groups Sue California Officials Over Vote Access
Disability rights groups filed a suit in late March, 2004 against the California. Secretary of State Kevin Shelley and the counties of Los Angeles, SanFrancisco, Sacramento and Santa Barbara for violating the rights of voters with disabilities. The suit challenges Shelley’s November, 2003 directive requiring touchscreen voting machines to include voterverified paper audit trails, and demands that the counties named in the suit have accessible touchscreen voting machines for voters with disabilities for the November, 2004.
Educators Brace for Changes to Testing for Disabled Students (WKYC News) Educators in Ohio are bracing for stricter federal rules this year fortesting children with severe cognitive disabilities. The federal government has limited the number of students who can take an alternate assessment rather than the standard version of this week’s state proficiency test. Ohio appealed, asking that more of the alternate testing be allowed. Last week, state Superintendent Susan Tave Zelman said she hadn’t received a reply to the appeal. Also, the state has made the alternative assessments more challenging and will take their grading out of the teacher’s hands. Some educators fear the shift could force some students to take grade-level tests they are not capable of passing and penalize schools for their scores.
Source: Kathy Gips, New England ADA & Accessible IT Center, ADA & Misc. March 18, 2004 News (Continued from page 10)
WHAT IT IS LIKE AS A ILCNSCA VOLUNTEER
My name is Donna Garber. I have been volunteering at the Center for approximately 7 years. I started volunteering when the ILCNSCA was in Lynn. I moved with the Center to Salem; however, I did not get a chance to talk with most of the consumers, I have come to know, until Mary Margaret became the Executive Director.
Before Mary Margaret, I rarely answered the phones or saw people because my desk was in the back of the office. Mary Margaret moved me to the front desk, where I greet and announce the people who come in to the Center. I answer the phones.
I keep track of any Public Service Announcements about the Center and collect them all in one notebook. I also do any advocating the Center is involved in along with many others. I call all the North Shore legislatures advocating for any piece of legislation that is a positive for People With Disabilities. I also am one of the people that write letters on advocacy issues.
As a member of RASP, the Restaurant Accessibility Survey Project, I also have visited many restaurants on the North Shore and have written up surveys regarding their accessibility. You probably have read some of the survey results written by me in the Independent Times.
I also do various other tasks; such as, help with large mailings and I organize the Weekly Staff Meeting minutes in a notebook and I help staff do things to make their job easier in providing you with IL services. I really enjoy the Center and hope that if I don’t already know you, I’ll meet you soon!
ILCNSCA RECIEVES GRANT FROM CITY OF SALEM
The Citiy of Salem has awarded for the fourth year in a row funds to the Independent Living Center of the North Shore and Cape Ann. These funds are being used to provide Housing Education Services to City of Salem residents. Two workshops are being held, one on available housing opportunities in Salem and the second on housing rights of Salem residents. The first workshop was held on March 23, 2004 at ILCNSCA. Carol McGowan, Director of Salem Housing Authority and Lisa Sloane, of Sloane Associates presented at that workshop.
The second workshop will be held on April 13, 2004 at 2:00 PM at ILCNSCA. Neighborhood Legal Services is providing two lawyers, Jen Hayden and Fairle Dalton, to present at this workshop.
In addition to the workshops, ILCNSCA has been providing call in times for Salem residents on housing concerns. These call in times have been since early January on Wednesday afternoons and will continue through mid-June.
ILCNSCA appreciates the support of the City of Salem and looks forward to working with other communities on the North Shore and Cape Ann to provide specialized outreach in the future. Since a lack of housing and difficulties with reasonable accommodations in housing are two major areas of concern by many ILCNSCA customers, ILCNSCA sees this type of colloration between municipalities and the Center as a natural and positive fit. If you have ideas on how ILCNSCA can work more closely with your municipality, please contact Mary Margaret Moore, Executive Director, at 978-741-0077 x 10.
MNIP-MASSACHUSETTS NETWORK OF INFORMATION PROVIDERS
A basic need of anyone looking for services is accurate and up-to-date information. For people with disabilities, this is particularly important—the service delivery system is fragmented, and a frequent complaint is the frustration felt when people reach dead ends instead of helpful service.
There is a state-wide resource network that can provide you with up-to-date information on a variety of topics and can help you locate services in your local area. This network, the Massachusetts Network of Information Providers (MNIP) for People with Disabilities is a collaborative effort of over fifty non-profit agencies in Massachusetts who disseminate disability-specific information and make referrals to the public all for FREE. By contacting any one of the member agencies, you will be able to tap the information of and have access to the expertise of the entire network. The MNIP’s trained Information Specialists can assist consumers locate a variety of information through the many databases they have access to such as the Resource, Consultant, Physicians and Dentists Databases. All of these databases can be searched directly by consumers via the Web at www.disabilityinfo.org.
The MNIP is here to help you get the specific information you need— as general as the basic programs that are available to people with disabilities or even as specific as, for example, finding an Oral Surgeon who Thomas J. Muxie Consultant/ Presenter Accessing the Future 5 Forest Street Peabody, MA 01960 Phone/ Fax: 978-532-5270 Email:tmuxie@yahoo.com with advocacy and education speaks Spanish, accepts Medicaid in the Springfield area, and is accessible to someone in a wheelchair. The MNIP is a network that was built so everyone could gain access to the information they need quickly and without having to make fifty phone calls. The network is coordinated by New England INDEX, a project of University of Massachusetts Medical School’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) at the Eunice Kennedy Shiver Center. INDEX organized and created the MNIP and collects and maintains the information on programs, agencies and providers in Massachusetts who have something to offer people with a disability. Funding is provided by the Departments of Mental Retardation and Education, the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, and the Boston Foundation.
The MNIP can assist you in finding the services you need in your area. ILCNSCA is a member of MNIP. Contact ILCNSCA for assistance. If you do not live or work on the North Shore or Cape Ann and would like assistance to locate an MNIP information specialist in your area contact them directly at (800)642- 0249.
ADVERTISEMENT
ACCESSING THE FUTURE
With advocacy and education
THOMAS J. MUXIE
CONSULTANT/PRESENTER
5 FOREST ST. PEABODY, MA 01960
PHONE/FAX: 978-532-5270
EMAIL: tmuxie@yahoo.com
INDEPENDENT TIMES VOLUME XIII ISSUE 2, SPRING 2004 PUBLISHER: Mary Margaret Moore CONTRIBUTORS: Shawn McDuff, Jeanne Lyons, Ian Milgram, Kathy O’Brien, Donna Garber The INDEPENDENT TIMES is a newsletter of the Independent Living Center of the North Shore and Cape Ann, Inc. (ILCNSCA), main office located at 27 Congress Street, Suite 107, Salem, MA 01970. Telephone: (978) 741-0077 V, (978) 745-1735 TTY, Toll Free Telephone: (888) 751- 0077 V, Fax: (978) 741-1133. EMAIL: Information@ilcnsca.org. Cape Ann branch office located at Addision-Gilbert Hospital, Room 4, 298 Washington Street, Gloucester, MA 01930. Telephone: (978)283-4000, ext. 366 V/TTY. INDEPENDENT TIMES welcomes the submission of articles, press releases, personal success stories that relate to independent living. Advertisements are also welcome. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit or reject material submitted to accommodate space or other concerns. Unsolicited material not accompanied by a self addressed stamped envelope will not be returned. ILCNSCA’s philosophy is based upon the belief that people with disabilities can lead more independent lives when given the opportunity. We also believe that such an opportunity is a human right. ILCNSCA is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. ILCNSCA serves any person of any age with any type of disability and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origen, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, family status or disability. ILCNSCA receives federal and state funds, private grants, donations, and memberships. ILCNSCA is funded in part by the City of Salem Department of Planning & Community Development, U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development. ILCNSCA has 501 (C) (3) federal and state tax exempt status as a charitable non-profit corporation. ILCNSCA meets the federal standards and assurances of independent living centers. This newsletter is partially funded by a grant from the New England ADA & Accessible IT Technical Assistance Center. This publication is also available at our BOBBY approved web site: www.ilcnsca.org. Por mas informacion calle 978-741-0077.
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