INDEPENDENT
LIVING
AND
ADVOCACY
BY,
AND
FOR,
PEOPLE
WITH
DISABILITIES
|
The Bridge News from the
Arizona Bridge to Independent Living Volume XVI,
Number 2 February 2005 ABIL offers and
promotes programs designed to empower people with disabilities to take
personal responsibility so they may achieve or continue independent
lifestyles within the community. ABIL is a member of the National
Council on Independent Living (NCIL). "Not just responding to
change, but leading it!" SPECIAL INSERT:
LEGISLATOR LISTINGS AT THE END OF THE DOCUMENT Drive the Train - Don’t just
ride on it!
By Donna Kruck
By the time you get this, the AZ Legislature is running at full tilt and
ABIL wants to help you get informed. If you have email and want to get
legislative alerts email me at donnak@abil.org to get on our Empower! listserve.
You can get weekly updates on disability related issues by signing up to
receive the Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities weekly
Bill Tracking Chart or go to www.azgcdd.org and click on the
button that says Public Policy Updates (See phone number below).
You can go to the AZ State Legislature website to find information on
your legislators, bills, how a bill becomes law, committee assignments
and schedules, listen to committee meetings, email testimony and even
use ALIS to track specific bills and get bill updates. www.azleg.state.az.us
2005
Disability Legislation
The Arizona Disability Advocacy Coalition (AzDAC) has selected to
support the following five pieces of legislation in the upcoming Arizona
Legislature for 2005. The bill numbers were not available at press time.
To find bill numbers, sponsors and fact sheets on these issues
and other important advocacy information and links, go to www.azdisabilityadvocacy.org.
AzDAC will provide a legislative training session the morning of
the Legislative Awareness Day sponsored by the Governor’s Council On
Developmental Disabilities March 9th.
Ø ASDB Board Membership
- Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing (ACDHH)
is seeking a permanent position on the board for the Arizona
Schools for the Deaf and Blind. Ø Newborn Hearing Screening – Requires that all newborns be screened for
hearing disabilities. If you, or
anyone you know, would be affected by this bill or you would like to
help pass this bill, please contact the contact Marian 602-364-1579 or marian.kaanon@ACDHH.STATE.AZ.US. Ø Voting Access/Limited
Guardianship -
The Governor’s Council of Developmental Disabilities and the AZ
Center for Disability Law are working with the AZ Attorney Generals
office to pass legislation that would make it possible for persons with
limited guardianships to vote. Under the AZ constitution, anyone who has
any kind of guardianship is unable to vote. Though some consumers need financial management assistance,
they may be capable and want to vote. This is a civil rights issue and
is not in alignment with the intent of the federal Help America Vote
Act. The new legislation will make a statutory change to the
guardianship language from “incapacitated” to “diminished
capacity.” If you, or anyone you know, would be affected by this
bill or you would like to help pass this bill, please contact the
contact Jami at the GCDD at 602-542-4049 or jsnyder@azdes.gov ! Ø School Appeals - Arizona Center for Disability Law is seeking to
change the school appeals process for families from the current two-tier
system to a one-tier system. This
will be less confusing and issues to go directly to the Department of
Education to an administrative judge. If you, or anyone you know, would be affected by this
bill or you would like to help pass this bill, please contact the
contact Peri at 800-922-1447 or pradecic@acdl.com
! Ø Mental Health
Insurance Parity – A bill will be introduced again this session.
The only difference this year will be that all employers that
provide mental health insurance to their employees would be required to
provide mental health insurance coverage with benefits equal to the
other kinds of healthcare covered. The Attorney General’s office
supports this bill because t is a civil rights issue.
If you, or anyone you know, would be affected by this
bill or you would like to help pass this bill, please contact the
contact Sherri at the Mental Health Association of Arizona 602-418-3753
or sherriw88@aol.com
! -------------------------------- MLK Day
Street Fight Welcome’s
Back the State Legislature Phil
Pangrazio, ABIL Executive Director I could not
believe my eyes. What was
happening? Why was it
happening? If not for color
television coverage, I would have mistaken it for the riots of the
1960’s. After all, it was MLK day.
It could have been a retrospective on the civil rights movement,
right? No, not exactly! This was downtown Phoenix, Arizona along Central Avenue.
In the midst of what was supposed to be a celebration of the
civil rights movement and the legacy of its’ great leader, Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr., there broke loose a street fight between a group of
teenagers…almost exclusively African American…and even more
shocking… predominantly young girls. In what
should have been a celebration of our civil rights heritage, we saw a
street brawl that matched any I’d seen since the Hell’s Angel’s
ransacked the beer tent of my hometown county fair.
Although I’m sure this event will be dismissed as just, “out
of control” teenagers, it will surely be remembered as an
embarrassment to our City, the events’ coordinators, and the parents
of those kids. Maybe more
importantly, however, we should ask ourselves, “why did this really
happen?” What are the
underlying factors that caused this group of teenagers to behave this
way? Is it as Bill Cosby
claims, “that low-income Black parents are spending too much on Nikes
and too little on Hooked on Phonics, and that they are failing to
instill proper discipline in their “knucklehead” children, who by
their speech and behavior, are dooming themselves to economic
failure.” I’m sure
to some extent Cosby is correct. Black
parents do need to take responsibility for their children. However, his thesis fails to recognize the disparate
challenges facing people from low-income and disadvantaged
socio-economic backgrounds. I
do not present this as an excuse for this kind of conduct.
Nothing could excuse it! But
I do believe it is a symptom of more significant problems in our state
and our nation. Ironically,
the MLK street-fight coincided with the opening weeks of the 2005
legislative session and the unveiling of Governor Napolitano’s 2006
State budget. Once again,
the legislature is faced with difficult decisions on many social issues.
Included in the Governor’s proposed budget are some important
issues that are sure to be hotly contested such as the funding of
all-day kindergarten, child day-care subsidies for low income families,
and growth related increases in funding for AHCCCS and public education. The outcome
of this year’s budget debate will once again impact the future of our
State. It is more important
than ever to get involved in your local community to influence change. Some of these changes just might provide the opportunities
and hope for a group of teenagers to see the possibility of a future
that includes them. With
the State legislature now back in session, now is the time to get
involved! If you would like to help, come join us at Legislative
Awareness Day on Wednesday March 9th from 11am to 2pm at Wesley Bolin
Park across from the State Capital.
Hope to see you there! The
Protecting Arizona’s Family Coalition (PAFCO), of which ABIL is a
member, will also be advocating throughout the session for a sensible
and responsible state budget in 2006.
To learn more about PAFCO and their weekly advocacy activities,
go to www.pafcoalition.org.
-------------------------------- The Bridge
newsletter is a free monthly publication of Arizona Bridge to
Independent Living (ABIL). To add or remove your name from our mailing
list, or to place a disability related personal or business classified
ad, call or write to us at: The Bridge c/o ABIL Attention: Editor 1229 E. Washington Street,
Phoenix, AZ 85034-1101 602-256-2245
602-296-0591 TTY
1-800-280-2245
(outside the 602, 623, 480, calling
areas) FAX: 602-254-6407
ABIL-Thomas office
(behind the flower shop) 2345 E. Thomas, Phoenix, AZ 85016
ABIL Advocacy Unit, Suite 290 602-443- 0720
FAX 602-443-0721 602-433-0737 TTY ABIL Employment Services, Suite
310-A 602-667-0277
FAX 602-667-0318 ABIL - Metro Center office 10000 N. 31st Avenue, Suite D-405 Phoenix, AZ 85051
602-424-4100
FAX 602-424-4118 ABIL-East office 2150 S. Country Club, Ste. 10,
Mesa, AZ 85210 (Located in the Fiesta Tech Office
Complex) 480-655-9750
FAX 480-655-9751 Voice/TDD 602-256-2245 E-mail: azbridge@abil.org Website:
www.abil.org Staff email:
First name, initial of last name, @abil.org To Receive “The Bridge” by
e-mail
automatically each month, send your request including phone number, to: pennyf@abil.org or Penny c/o ABIL, 1229 E. Washington Street, Phoenix,
AZ 85034-1101, or call
602-296-0518. Please also
indicate if you would like to discontinue receiving the hard copy by
mail. ---------------------------------------- ABIL Board of Directors Tom Ringhofer ....................…….……….........
President Edward L. Myers, III ...............................……
Vice President F. Lee Jacquette,
..............................................Treasurer Susan Scott ........................................……
Secretary Joseph Mikitish ...................….....................
Past President Pamela Allan ........................….......…..........
Member Nola Baker-Jones ...........................................
Member Marjann Fletcher ……………………………… Member William Harper ................................……....…
Member Lynn C. Houston ................................……….
Member Nikki Jeffords
..............................……………..Member Max McQueen .....................................……....
Member Nicholas L.
Perry.....................................…….. Member All Area Codes 602 unless noted
otherwise ABIL Administrative Staff Phil Pangrazio, 296-0513 .......……............. Executive
Director Ann Pasco,
296-0514 ………….…………Operations Director Louise Downey, 296-0523....….…..... Full Charge
Bookkeeper Penny Fore, 296-0518 .........….….……... Executive
Assistant Jay Murrillo, 296-0517..........…..... Van
Driver/Facilities Maint. DeMarQues Thomas, 296-0538 .... Van Driver/Facilities Maint. Advocacy Donna Kruck, 443-0722 ............…................Unit
Director Lynn Bejnar, 443-0729 .........….... “This is My Life”
Prg. Mgr. David Carey, 443-0723 ............…….... Advocacy
Specialist Peter Clute, 443-0703 .................... Work Incentives
Specialist Yvonne Cisneros, 443-0720 …………. Program
Aide/Receptionist Erik Jensen, 443-0727 ...........…. Work Incentives
Specialist Donna Lorti, 424-4105 ............... Work Incentives
Specialist Marilon Cox, 443-0725 ...........,,,,,,......Volunteer
Coordinator Carolan Quenneville, 443-0724 ..Graphic Specialist/Newsletter April Reed, 443-0730 ……………………... Advocacy
Intern Rhonda Webb, 443-0728 ......... Work Incentives Coordinator Employment Services Susan Webb, 443-0711.........…...................Unit
Director Marisa Colon, ………. TANF/ndependent Living Specialist Lynda Connors, 443-0712 ......... Employment Coordinator Joe Connors, 443-0709 ............... Employment Coordinator Rosalie Perry, 443-0707 .... Independent Living Specialist Maggie Zamora, 443-0714 .......... Employment Coordinator Community Integration Darrel Christenson, 296-0530 ................Unit Director Judy Benshoof, 296-0532 ....... ILA/Home Mod. Coord (Mesa) Fernando Cruz 443-0708 ................... Reintegration
Coord. Jon DeWinter, 296-0537 .. Home Mod.Coord.(Glendale/Peoria) Paula Grodecki, 480-222-4212 .......... Reintegration Coord. Leanne Jones, 296-0535...….. Soc/Rec, Youth Outreach/ILA Don Price, 443-0726 ................ Early Intervention Coord. Andrea Reinoso-Punch, 480-222-4211...Community Living Options
Coord. Lisa Racz, 296-0536 ......................... IL Skills
Coordinator Joanna
Savidan, 296-0531....... Home Mod. Coord. (Phx) Heather Urick 296-0533 ........ Information & Referral
Coord. Personal Assistant Services Gwen Dean, 296-0541.............……............Unit
Director Mary Avila, 296-0528 ............................... PAS
Feild Rep. Pam Burdette, 480-222-4204 .....…......... PAS Field Rep. Jerry Chee, 424-4107 ..................... Program Manager Maria Deleon, 480-222-4203 ................... PAS Field Rep. Lyndora Hall, 296-0529............…............ PAS Field
Rep. Judy Ludlow, 296-0542 .......................... PAS Field
Rep. Teodoro Marquez, 424-4102 .................. PAS Field Rep. Sheri Mecca, 296-0547..................... Program Manager Diane Patton, 480-222-4206 .............… Program Manager Colleen Podmore, 424-4108 ......…........ PAS Field Rep. Christina Velasquez, 424-4104 ............. PAS Field Rep. Grace Walstad, 296-0540
....................... PAS Field Rep. Roxanna Williams, 424-4106 .................. PAS Field Rep. Melanie Woods, 480-222-4205 ................ PAS Field Rep. Bonnie Zanardi, 480-222-4202 ................ PAS Feild Rep. ----------------------------------- Speak
Up: Public Speaking at
Legislative Events By
April Reed Your hands
are sweaty; your breath is short, your knees shake, and your voice
crakes. What are you doing?
Skydiving?
Bungee jumping? No,
you are making a speech in public.
For many of
us, public speaking is scary and overwhelming.
So, why should we put ourselves through it? Why go through the anxiety and stress? Even if we find public speaking challenging, our voices need
to be heard. Our
perspective and opinions matter; if we don’t speak up for our issues
and needs, positive changes will never happen.
The Arizona
State Legislative session has already begun.
Local committees and City Governments are conducting public
meeting regularly throughout the year. Many issues will be decided that
affect individuals with disabilities, our families and friends.
Don’t let your fear hold you back! It is important that we
participate, even if we get a little nervous.
The speech does not have to be long, just honest and heartfelt. So, if your
hands get sweaty, that’s ok. If
your chest feels tight during a speech, take a few deep breaths. If your knees shake, then make the speech from a chair.
If your voice crakes, take a sip of water.
Your, just in unfamiliar territory.
Learn the lay of the land and let your voice be heard.
Here are
some more suggestions for anyone speaking to a local or legislative
body: 1. Have a script or a
list of the most important points you want to say.
Some people can speak easily without preparation, but most people
2. Be educated on your
topic. Always
tell the truth, even if it is to say, “I don’t know, but I will find
out and get back to you.” Use
the correct titles and pronunciations of names.
Making an incorrect statement is distracting from the goal of
your speech. If you are using statistics, dates, or quotes make sure
they are accurate. 3.
Be courteous. Address
the members respectfully, using their appropriate titles (usually there
are name tags in front of them). 4. Be passionate, not
nasty. Don’t shout no matter how upset you are, name
call, or use curse words. It’s hard to hear what someone has to say if
they are yelling at you. 5. Don’t repeat
yourself. This
issue could be eliminated if you make an outline and stick to it. 6. Be personal. If
you have a personal story or stake in your position, then briefly
describe this in your statement. This
will help them understand your viewpoint. 7. Be Brief. Keep in mind that meeting time is limited and they
have several issues to deal with. 8. Keep track of the time
limit. It
is rude to take time from others wishing to speak, and it is irritating
to the policy makers who have to a listen to many speeches.
9. Remember
to thank the members for the opportunity to speak. They really like
that! ---------------------------------------------- Legislative
Awareness Day - March 9, 2005 Wesley Bolin Plaza - 11:00AM-2:00PM Mark your
calendars! The Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities is
hosting its annual Legislative Awareness Day across from the Capitol at
Wesley Bolin Plaza. The event will include a luncheon and presentations
by a number of individuals with disabilities and family members on
public policy issues of particular importance to Arizonans with
disabilities. AZ
Disability Advocacy Coalition (AzDAC) will have a workshop on upcoming
legislative issues and how the legislature works earlier that morning.
Spend the whole day and attend legislative committee meetings later in
the afternoon. For more information or to RSVP please call 602-542-2029. Legislator
Rosters Available It is this
time of year that ABIL publishes an updated list of our state
legislators. Due to space limitations and postal contract restrictions,
we will not be publishing these rosters in the paper publication of the
Bridge. These will however be added to our website text version and
email issues. If you do not have computer access and wish to have a
printed copy of the rosters
mailed to you please call Yvonne at 602-443-0720.
------------------------------------ People First of Arizona Self-Advocates that make things happen! People First
of Arizona (PFAz) is a non-profit organization and movement run by/for
people with disabilities and offers experience through participation.
PFAz promotes Self Advocacy, Community and Self Determination: Self-Advocacy: · Speaking for myself · History
of Self-advocacy · Using
People First Language · My
Voice, My Choice Trainings Community: · Real
choices and Real decisions · Success on a job that I chose · Knowing my rights and voting · Having
the life I want after high school · Family
and Friends · Live
where I want and with who I want Self Determination: Participate
with the: · Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities
Statewide
Self Advocacy Coalition ·
DDD
Self Determination Council · Arizona Disability Advocacy coalition (AzDAC) · Self
Advocates Becoming Empowered, National Board Join a self-advocacy
movement and make a difference! To find out
more about PFAz contact, Tyger Johnson, President. Call
480-733-5271 or email
pfirstofarizona4@msn.com ------------------------------------------------- Medicare Beneficiaries - Act Now for Rx Relief By Donna Kruck Low income
Medicare beneficiaries must act now in order be eligible for the $600
Medicare 2005 prescription drug benefit.
In 2005, the value of the drug benefit is reduced by $150 in
April 1, July 1 and October 1. To get the full $600 – those who are
eligible must apply before April 1, 2005.
If you haven’t already signed up for a Medicare-Approved
Prescription Drug Discount Card then you will want to do it right
away. Who is eligible? Medicare
beneficiaries with an individual income no greater than $12,569 ($1,047
or less per month) or a couple with income below $16,862 ($1,405 per
month) are eligible. Yes,
if you get QMB or SLMB you can qualify. ABIL is a
member of the Arizona Access to Benefits Coalition (AZ’s ABC)
established by the Foundation for Senior Living to help community
agencies enroll Medicare beneficiaries who are eligible to participate
in this prescription drug benefit.
ABIL wants to make sure qualified beneficiaries with disabilities under 65
and seniors know about this benefit.
It only
takes about 30 minutes to determine if you or your family member is
eligible for the prescription drug card with a $600 credit – like a
debit card. The individual
will be asked 25 basic information questions - without having to
identify their name or Social Security number - to determine his or her
eligibility for the transition benefit program, They will be asked to
list medications being taken. If
the applicant is eligible for the $600 credit, the program then makes
recommendations specific to that person. If the
individual is eligible, they will need to choose which prescription
discount card they want to enroll in, after reviewing recommendations
and they are asked to complete and submit the application.
By the next month, a Medicare-approved
prescription card will be mailed to them representing the $600 credit.
Once they receive the Medicare-approved
card, they’ll be able to use their $600 credit towards the cost of
their medication at the pharmacies associated with that particular
discount card. Don’t miss the boat! To be
eligible for the entire $600 credit in 2005, Medicare beneficiaries need
to submit a completed application by March 30, 2005. In addition
to the Medicare-approved
prescription credit card, many companies are providing discounts on
their prescription drugs and Arizona’s CoppeRx card can be used
along with this Medicare-approved
discount card. For
assistance, contact: Foundation
for Senior Living, 602-285-0505 ext. 186 (V) or 602-222-1063 (TTY), www.fslaz.org Area
Agency on Aging, HELPLINE, 602-264-4357 (V) 602 241-6110 (TTY) or
1-888-264-2258 (V) Arizona’s
State Health Insurance Program, 602-542-4446 (V), 1-800-432-4040 (V), or
602-542-6366 (TTY) BenefitsCheckUp,
www.benefitscheckup.org, call 1-800-633-4227 (V) or at
1-877-486-2048 (TTY) ------------------------------------ ShowUp.com
is a project of the Alliance for Audience, a new resource for what is
happening in theaters, museums and outdoor venues throughout the Greater
Phoenix area. The website
offers a comprehensive calendar of events bringing together into a
single convenient online site. Go
to www.ShowUp.com to click or browse to find performances and
exhibitions, classes and workshops, venues and artists. It even provides
you with information about discount tickets (last minute and otherwise.)
It provides date, time and even maps – all you have to do is
show up! Phoenix
area arts organizations interested in listing their events should
contact 602-971-2223 or info@allianceforaudience.org. (Taken from the Arizona Commission the Arts Fall
2004 Bulletin) --------------------------- Advocacy Presentations/Workshops All Advocacy presentations are free
– Participants must RSVP
with David Carey, 602-443-0723. Presentations/Workshops without a minimum of 4 participants
are subject to cancellation. For accommodations or alternative format please call in
advance. For ABIL van transportation please call as soon as possible.
ABIL requests a $1+ donation (each way) for ABIL van transportation.
Consumers must be 18 years+ or their own legal guardian. Social Security Work Incentives On Social Security Benefits? Do you want to work?
We can help you understand the Social Security rules, new work incentives,
and how to work your way off poverty. Workshops for Service
Providers
Learn about ABIL’s Benefits Planning, Assistance and
Outreach program. Monday, February 7th
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
2345 E. Thomas Rd. Ste.
290 Phoenix AZ Workshops
for SSI/SSDI Consumers Consumers come and learn how employment will affect your cash
and medical benefits. Please
sign up for the workshop that matches the kind of Social Security you
receive. If you are unsure which kind you receive, David can help you
figure that out when you call the number above to RSVP.
We are holding separate workshops for each type of benefit:
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security
Income (SSI) because each program has different rules and different work
incentives. If you receive
both, let David know and he will help you get an appointment with a Work
Incentive Specialist. Family members and/or support person are welcome. Work Incentives & SSDI
Tuesday, February 8th
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
735 N. Gilbert Rd., Ste. 134, Gilbert, AZ Monday, February 14th
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
ABIL Metro Center, 10000 N. 31st Ave. #D405, Phx Tuesday, February 22nd
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
2345 E. Thomas Rd. Ste.
290, Phoenix AZ Work Incentives & SSI
Monday, February 28th
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
2345 E. Thomas Rd. Ste.
290 Phoenix AZ -------------------------------------- The
Arizona Center for Disability Law - How to
Make AHCCCS Plan Work for You Do you
receive some or all of your healthcare benefits through the Arizona
Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS)?
Do you receive services from the AHCCCS Arizona Long Term Care
System (ALTCS)? The Arizona Center for Disability Law is offering a free
workshop on how to make your health insurance work for you.
Center staff will cover the basics on how to obtain medically
necessary services, such as prescription drugs, referrals to specialists
and assistive technology devices, from AHCCCS plans.
This basic workshop will be followed next month by a workshop on
“How to Represent Yourself at a Fair Hearing” when services have
been denied. Family
members, friends, ABIL staff, and others who assist AHCCCS consumers in
obtaining healthcare benefits are welcome to attend either or both
workshops. Guest Speaker:
Robin Murphy Thursday,
February 10
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 pm, Location: 2345 E. Thomas Road, Suite 290, Phoenix To register for this presentation only contact Ginette at the
Arizona Center for Disability Law (602) 274-6287 ADA
Teleconference February
15th Noon-1:30
ABIL/Phx “Ask
DOJ” Speaker:
John Wodatch, Chief, Disability Rights Section, US Department of Justice
(DOJ) Back
by popular demand! Join us for an open discussion with a representative
from the US Department of Justice. We invite you to bring your tough
questions regarding a specific aspect of the Title II or Title III
provisions of the ADA or any of the enforcement activities they have
undertaken over the past several months. John will provide a brief
update on DOJ's ADA related activities prior to the Q&A session. RSVP to Darrel
Christenson, 602-296-0530. -------------------------------------------- Questions about the ADA? The Pacific
Disability and Business Technical Assistance Center (PDBTAC) can
answer questions on all aspects of the ADA and/or provide you with
literature in print or alternative formats. Call
1-800-949-4232 or log on to:
http://www.pacdbtac.org --------------------------------------- Dangers of Fabric Softeners/Dryer Sheets Edited
article written by Patty Avey from Smart Living News (http://livingbetter.smartlivingnews.com) “Some
chemicals found in fabric softeners/dryer sheets are known to damage the
central nervous system and some cause cancer, some others are
narcotics.” - Hoosier Environmental Council, July 1999 According to
the United States EPA article, “Identification of Polar Volatile
Organic Compounds in Consumer Products and Common Microenvironments”,
1991, some fabric softeners and dryer sheets contain chemicals have been
found to cause various health problems including central nervous system
disorders, irritation to mucous membranes, pancreatic cancer, irritation
to upper respiratory tract, headaches, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and
the list goes on and on. (i.e., Alpha-Terpineol, Benzyl Acetate, Benzyl
Alcohol, Camphor, Chloroform, Ethyl Acetate and others.) Fabric
softeners may leave your clothing feeling soft and smelling
“springtime fresh,” but there is a huge price to pay for these
benefits. Fabric softeners contain oily residues that cut down on static
cling but these residues remain in your clothing, touching your skin,
and become absorbed into your bloodstream. The fragrances and scents of
fabric softeners are created by using complex blends of chemicals that
can have negative health effects.
According to
Dr. Ron Harper, of the UCLA Medical School Brain Research Institute, he
believes that an anaphylactic reaction (hypersensitivity to a foreign
substance) is responsible for some SIDS cases. He further states that
fabric softeners with their array of chemical components could not be
ruled out as possible causative agents. With this information, it may
be a wise decision to begin using more natural and safe fabric softeners
for the health of your family. A few
healthy tips for you to consider as you keep your home a “healthy
home.” AVOID: l
Fabric softeners that contain benzyl acetate, formaldehyde, camphor,
chloroform, ethyl acetate, pentane, linalool and limonene. LOOK FOR: l
Fabric softeners made with natural ingredients not chemicals. HEALTHY TIPS: l Add
baking soda to your rinse cycle. l
Vinegar is a natural fabric softener - add ½ cup to your wash cycle. l Wash
and dry cottons and synthetic fabrics separately. l
Synthetic fabrics contribute to static cling so consider not using your
dryer for nylon, rayon and other synthetic fabrics. ADDITIONAL LINKS: http://members.aol.com/enviroknow/perfume/fabric.htm http://www.coastalpost.com/99/5/4.htm http://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/200209/hidden_printable.asp -------------------------------- Name
Change for ET in Mesa ET (Enabling
Transportation) for Mesa reimbursement and coupons for cabs programs
will now be called Mesa RIDE
Choice (MRC), for our Mesa residents. Someone calling or coming in may
refer to the name Mesa RIDE
Choice at Mesa Senior Services -for reimbursement or coupons in Mesa.
This is our new name for the Mesa program only. Program procedures will
remain the same. Marty
Hadley, Transportation Coordinator, Mesa Senior
Services, Mesa Senior Center East, 7550 E.
Adobe St., Mesa, AZ 85207 (480)
218-2221, ext 12 -------------------------------- GET EMPOWERED! Join one of ABIL’s advocacy e-groups and keep informed on
what is going on in AZ and around the nation regarding issues of
importance to people with disabilities. Advocacy e-groups include
Empower (general alerts) and topical alert lists: transit, healthcare/Rx
drugs, Independent Living, Employment. Anyone who subscribes can post
events and alerts on the list. It’s yours. Use it! Just send a note
asking to subscribe at listserv@abil.org Please help us get the word out by
including this notice in your organization’s publication. ----------------------------------------- ABIL Community Calendar – RSVP for All Events Funding for Social and Recreational activities is provided
(in part) by the Area Agency on Aging, Region I, Inc. and the Arizona
Department of Economic Security. ABIL requests a $1+ donation (each way)
for transportation provided on the ABIL van. Consumers must be 18 years+
or own legal guardian for ABIL van transportation.
Please do not wear scented products or smoke when attending
events. Reasonable Accommodations, including Sign Language Interpreters
and Personal Assistants, will be provided at ABIL events upon request. Feb
03
Healer Within,
1:30-3:30PM. Thomas Ste 290. Women’s wellness group: Body, mind and
spirit - Make an appointment with yourself. Donna Kruck, 602-443-0722 Feb
07
Work Incentives/Providers,
10:00AM-2:00PM. Thomas Ste 290. Details on page 7. David Carey,
602-443-0723 Feb
08
Work Incentives/SSDI,
10:00AM-2:00PM. Details on
page 7. David Carey, 602-443-0723 Feb
09
SR/Phoenix Zoo, 1:00AM-2:00PM.
Home to more than 1,300 animals. 455 N Galvin Parkway. Phx. Cost: $12.00
adults, $9.00 seniors. Leanne Jones, 602-296-0535 Feb
10
Arizona Center for Disability Law, 2:00-4:00PM. Thomas Ste 290. Details on page 7. David Carey,
602-443-0723 Feb
10
V.O.I.C.E.,
1:00-4:00PM. A monthly support and information group for individuals
with disabilities, their families & rehabilitation providers. 19055
N. 57th Ave, Glendale. Clayton Guffey, 602-789-9129 Feb 14 Work Incentives/SSDI, 1:00-3:00PM. Metro Classroom. Details on page 7. David Carey, 602-443-0723 |