INDEPENDENT
LIVING
AND
ADVOCACY
BY,
AND
FOR,
PEOPLE
WITH
DISABILITIES
|
The
Bridge News
from the Arizona Bridge to Independent Living Volume
XVI, Number 1 JANUARY
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!" ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- REINTEGRATION, It’s not only a privilege, it’s a RIGHT! By Paula Grodecki and Fernando Cruz ABIL’s Reintegration from Nursing Homes Program is celebrating five years of growing success. Since the beginning of the program in July, 1999, through November 30, 2004, 284 consumers have moved from nursing homes into the community. This translates to one person leaving a nursing home every single week since the beginning of ABIL’s reintegration effort. Seven
consumers left nursing homes in November of this year.
They will be spending the up-coming holidays in their own
private apartments. Recent
consumer success may be attributed to newly noted trends. Undaunted by
the lack of affordable, accessible housing, consumers become roommates
and make do in apartments that offer open floor plans.
Widened doorways, grab bars and use of assistive equipment make
such apartments workable, if not totally accessible.
Consumers agree that living in their own private home is worth
some effort and inconvenience One couple, who met and married in an East Valley nursing home, where they resided for more than 3 years, recently moved into their own apartment in Mesa. They now buy their own groceries and create menus that beat institutional dinners any day! They, like many consumers who are Arizona Long Term Care (ALTC) members, specifically requested and receive services through ABIL’s Personal Assistant Services Program. A Phoenix consumer who left a nursing home in November, looked forward not only to cooking her own meals, but also to sleeping in a queen-size bed! Eating our favorite food, sleeping in our own comfortable bed, things taken for granted by most, are savored freedoms for people with disabilities who break away from institutional living. ABIL’s Reintegration Program will be sharing its success in July when Fernando Cruz and Paula Grodecki make their presentation at the National Council for Independent Living (NCIL), Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. NCIL’s 2005 conference theme is “Advocacy Is a Service”. Fernando Cruz capped ABIL’s presentation proposal with a winning title, “Advocacy + Information = Reintegration”. This marks the second year in a row that Darrel Christenson, ABIL’s Director of Community Integration Unit, has seen his staff and programs selected for presentation at NCIL’s annual national conference. Tyronne Harrington gave a presentation on ABIL’s Community Living Options Program at the NCIL 2004 conference. Are
you or a friend or family member a person with a disability living in
a nursing home? Please
call Paula Grodecki, East Valley Program Coordinator at (480) 222-4212
or Fernando Cruz, West Valley/Phoenix, (602) 442-0708, for information
on living independently in your community. ------------------------------------- ABIL BRINGS IN NEW YEAR WITH MUCH SUCCESS IN 2004 By Phil Pangrazio Happy New Year!
As we celebrate the New Year, I’d like to share some of the
many accomplishments that ABIL had during this past year.
As an organization, we worked very hard to fulfill our mission,
continue the success of existing programs, and implement some new ones
to meet the needs and expectations of our consumers.
The following are some of these accomplishments. ·
We hosted the 2nd
annual Spirit of ABIL Award’s where we honored a consumer for their
dedicated advocacy and more that twenty personal assistant employees
for their many years of service to ABIL. ·
The Advocacy Unit completed it’s first-year of
operation at the new 24th
street and Thomas office. ·
We relocated and opened ABIL’s new Mesa Office at 2150
S. Country Club, Ste. 10 in Mesa. ·
We pursued and secured funding from DES/RSA to implement
an employment services program for TANF beneficiaries with
disabilities who otherwise were not being served. ·
ABIL’s Advocacy Director, Donna Kruck was recognized
by the National Council on Independent Living and awarded as their
Advocate of the Year. ·
ABIL’s Social Security Work Incentives Benefits
Counseling program continued to offer monthly workshops on work
incentives for service providers and consumers on SSDI and SSI. ·
We continued offering programs that emphasize the
importance of peer support such as Healer Within and Women with
Disabilities & Self-Esteem Workshop. ·
Our Socialization through Recreation program offered a
variety of monthly activities for consumers including Arts &
Crafts, baseball games, the Heard Museum, the Dolly Steamboat,
cooking, and Zoo Lights, just to name a few. ·
Our Empowering Youth in Transition to Adulthood program
conducted numerous independent living skills workshops and worked with
teachers in several school districts. ·
We conducted numerous advocacy presentations and
workshops. ·
We conducted numerous Peer Mentor Volunteer trainings
throughout the year that included sessions on disability awareness,
adaptation to disability, communication, goal planning, crisis
intervention, the independent living philosophy and much more. ·
ABIL’s Mesa Home Accessibility Program received the
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) project award from the City
of Mesa at the 2004 Statewide CDBG Week celebration. ·
We successfully advocated for a 2004-2005 State Budget
that did not cut programs and empowers individuals with disabilities
and their families! ·
ABIL, the Arizona Disability Advocacy Coalition (AzDAC),
and other disability advocates were successful in getting several
disability bills signed into law by Governor Napolitano including: 1) The Accessible Information Technology law that requires the state of Arizona to purchase accessible information technology that follows the guidelines of Section 508. 2)
The White Cane law reinstates a civil penalty (2nd class
misdemeanor - $750 fine and/or 4 months in jail) for drivers who fail
to yield the right of way to blind/sight impaired pedestrians using a
white cane, guide dog or sighted guide in a public crosswalk. 3)
The Accessible Textbook law requires that when public schools
bid for textbooks, the publisher must have an accessible version of
the textbook available (i.e., tape, disc, large print or Braille) 4) The Interpreter Training law allows the Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing to develop training programs in conjunction with universities and colleges. ·
ABIL and the TRIP coalition hosted a Transit Summit where over
100 advocates turned out to learn about Proposition 400 and the
regional transportation plan.
·
ABIL and many disability advocates helped get Proposition 400
passed. The regional
multi-modal transportation plan was approved in the November 2nd
election by Maricopa County voters.
· Our Personal Assistance Services program continues to make community based independent living a reality for over 1,100 ALTCS consumers in Maricopa County. As you can see, ABIL had a very successful 2004. I would like to thank all of ABIL’s staff for the important role they play in supporting the independent living goals and choices made by those we serve. Programs that promote personal responsibility and choice are what enable people with disabilities to fully realize independent living and achieve positive adjustment to disability ------------------------------- 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, 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 602-433-0737
TTY FAX
602-443-0721 ABIL
Employment Services, Suite 310-A 602-667-0277
FAX 602-667-0318
ABIL
- Metro Center office 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 Don Daugherty, 296-0527 ....... Human Resource Specialist 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 Marilon Cox, 443-0725 ............... Volunteer Coordinator Erik Jensen, 443-0727 ...........…. Work Incentives Specialist Donna Lorti, 424-4105 ............... Work Incentives Specialist 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 Lynda Connors, 443-0712 ......... Employment Coordinator Joe Connors, 443-0709 ............... Employment Coordinator Larry Wanger,443-0710..................Program Manager Rosalie Perry, 443-0707 ...... 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. Andrea Reynoso, 480-222-4211 ....... Com. Liv. Options Coord. Leanne Jones, 296-0535...….. Soc/Rec/Youth Outreach/ILA Don Price, 443-0726 ................ Early Intervention Coord. Lisa Racz, 296-0536 ............IL Skills Advocate/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 Field 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. Melanie Woods, 480-222-4205 ................ PAS Field Rep. Bonnie Zanardi, 480-222-4202 ................ PAS Field Rep. Pat Trouts, 480-222-4209 ................ PAS Field Rep. Pamela Geans, 480-222-4205 ................ PAS Field Rep. Kelli Martin, 424-4117 ......................PAS Field Rep. Bonnie Zanardi, 480-222-4202 ................ PAS Field Rep. ----------------------------------- A Picture of Success By Larry Wanger Vince Bologna, a resident of Peoria and participant in ABIL’s Ticket to Work Program, moved to Arizona four years ago hoping to improve the impact his disability was having on his overall health and ability to function. The health improvement was enough that he decided to go back to work after retiring from over 20 years as a cross-country truck driver. Bologna came to ABIL in July of 2002 with a desire to go back to work and to provide for himself and his family. Not long after this Bologna was finding opportunities through use of the Ticket to Work and ABIL’s Employment Services Program. After exploring various work options, he tested for a position with the Transportation Security Administration, TSA, and was invited to attend the training program. In November 2002 he began working full-time as a security screener at Phoenix Sky Harbor. Bologna describes the job as being rewarding and challenging at the same time. He said the rewarding aspects of the job include meeting different people and the feeling that he’s making sure the public feels safe when flying. He also said that it is challenging and sometimes difficult when customers complain or are abusive while he and his colleagues are trying to do their job. Bologna says that TSA works hard to provide training and instruction to its staff regarding persons with disabilities and airport security. He said, “TSA provides staff with a Standard Operating Procedures guide which provides instruction and has specific direction on verbiage and wording that is appropriate to use.” He said that he and his colleagues work hard to treat everyone with dignity and respect while getting them through security as quickly as possible. Bologna says the Ticket to Work Program and ABIL Employment Services have been very beneficial to him. He said, “I was given insights as to what I could do and where to go in my job search.” He continued by saying, “I found hope, support and
people who were available to answer any questions I had.” He said
that he often has opportunity to speak with others who struggle with
the same things he did and that he encourages them to contact ABIL.
To learn more about the Ticket to Work Program, please call me directly at 602-443-0710. ------------------------------- Phoenix
Area Hotlines ·
ValueOptions Crisis Line: (602) 222-9444 / 1 (800)631-1314 ·
Urgent Care Walk-in: Maricopa Medical Center, Mental Health
Annex, ·
Urgent Care Walk-in: 11361 N. 99th Ave., # 402, (623) 972-8888 ·
WarmLine:
Non-crisis, friendly phone service sponsored by Triple-R. (602)
347-1100 Information, Referral &
Advocacy ·
ValueOptions Customer Services: 1 (800) 564-5465 ·
AMI
Mental Illness Information Center: 2210 N. 7th St., Phoenix, (602)
244-8166, 1 (800) 626-5022 ·
Mental
Health Association Of Arizona: (480) 994-4407 1(800) 642-9277 (Instate
only) ·
Mental
Health Advocates Coalition Of Arizona: 4040 East McDowel1 (602)
225-2440 ·
MlKID-Mentally Ill Kids In Distress: 755 E. Willetta, Phoenix,
(602) 253-1240 1 (800) 35-MIKID consumer
Groups & Networks: · SOON-Survivors On Our Own: Consumer Run, Self-Help, Drop-In
Center, Peer Counseling & Support - 2144 East Roosevelt, Phoenix,
(602) 231-0070 · Survivors United: Non-Profit Mental Health Agency 5225 N. 19th
Ave. #214, (602) 264-7600 · SELFF-Survivors Educating Loving Friends & Family: East
Valley Community-Based, Consumer-Operated Drop In Center- 340 W.
University Dr. #19, Mesa. Contact Trish-(480)-649-3642 · AzCEG-Arizona Coalition for Effective Government: Legal
information for prisoners. E-mail: AzCEG@cox.net
· Other Consumer
Support Groups: Mental Health Association Of Arizona (480) 994-4407 Source:
Mental Health Advocates Coalition of Arizona, www.MHACA.org
---------------------------------- Federal
Funding for IL Increases! By Donna Kruck In a time where domestic spending is being cut, Independent Living Advocates can take pride that federal funding for Centers for Independent Living actually increased $1,829,000 for 2005! The federal Independent Living Appropriations, Title VII Part C, will be a record high $75,392,000. ABIL is an authorized Center for Independent Living (CIL). CILs offer a variety of programs and all follow required standards in order to receive any federal funding: · The majority of our staff, management team, and Board of Directors are individuals with significant disabilities. · We provide services to persons with a variety disabilities. · We provide 4 core services: o Peer support o Advocacy – individual and systems o Information and referral o Independent Living skills instruction ABIL, like other Centers seek out a variety of funding. ABIL’s federal “Part C” funding helps support our monthly newsletter, salary for our Independent Living Advocate staff who provide peer support and independent living skills including social and recreational events, Peer Mentor volunteer coordination and advocacy. Part C also funds a portion of staff support for information and referral, our van drivers, and program overhead. Our efforts help hundreds of individuals with disabilities each year live on their own, adapt to life with a disability and cope with the changes they are experiencing. Our staff and volunteers act as role models, not just to participants in our programs, but for the larger non-disabled community. ABIL is a member of the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL). NCIL is our voice in Washington D.C. NCIL promotes legislation that reflects Independent Living philosophy rather than paternalism and advocates for increased federal funding for IL…along with you, individual advocates. ABIL encourages you to join NCIL. You will receive regular advocacy newsletters to keep you updated on NCIL’s activities and on federal legislation related to disability. The first increase in Title VII, Part B Appropriations in years brought more good news for IL advocates. This is funding that goes to states for Independent Living services. That money goes through Arizona’s Rehabilitation Services Administration. State IL grants were raised from $22,020,000 to $23 million. At a time when many popular programs are enduring substantial cuts, independent living is still gaining funding. This is something that we can all be proud of! NCIL credits your effective advocacy as a key reason for their success in increasing independent living funding. But we cannot rest on our accomplishments! Let us dedicate ourselves to overcoming the tough budgetary climate and ensure that funding for Title VII, Parts B and C continues to grow in the years to come. If you have any questions about this or any other disability related issues around the Omnibus Appropriations bill for 2005, please contact Gwen Gillenwater or Daniel Davis by phone at 703-525-3406 or by e-mail at gwen@ncil.org or daniel@ncil.org. Start out your year by supporting an organization that works to promote IndependentLiving philosophy nationally. To become a member of NCIL, go to www.ncil.org or call the number above! ----------------------------------- Independence
is priceless… Do you need assistive technology, but can’t afford the out-of-pocket expense? Arizona Loan$ for Assistive Technology (AzLAT) may be the answer for you! $ Affordable loans to persons with disabilities for the purchase of assistive and adaptive technology $ For information: www.azlat.org <http://www.azlat.org> or call 602-776-4670, 800-477-9921 (toll-free), 602-728-9536 (TTY) ------------------------------ SRC Needs Your Assistance! The
Governor’s State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) is requesting your
assistance in soliciting input from consumers, community
rehabilitation providers and the general public on the Arizona
Vocational Rehabilitation Program and the services it provides.
SRC wants to reach out to all individuals with disabilities
throughout Arizona and to accomplish this, we need your help! From November 10, 2004
through February 1, 2005 Please Go To:
www.AZDES.GOV/RSA/SRAC.ASP There Are Three Surveys To
Choose From: *
VR Consumer
* General Public *
Community Rehabilitation Provider
Complete
the survey that applies to you and submit it on the website.
You will be providing input that will help improve VR Services
and Arizona’s Vocational Rehabilitation Program! Contact
Carolyn Maciel at 602-542-6291or Stephanie Regis at 602-542-0273 to
obtain technical assistance. If
an accommodation is
needed contact Ms. Maciel at the above number or 602-542-6049 TTY. -------------------------------- Exercise
& Spinal Cord Injury Survey
Do
you have a spinal cord injury? Take part in our survey! The National Rehabilitation Hospital in Washington, DC. is seeking adults with spinal cord injuries to take part in a survey on exercise and physical exercise. The goal of the survey is to learn about the relationship between health and exercise/physical activity in people with such injuries. Survey participants must: • Have a spinal cord injury for at least 1 year • Be 18 years old and older • Be able to read and speak English • Live in the United States To participate please call
1-866-380-4344 and leave a message for Matt Kehn, or send an e-mail to
matthew.e.kehn@medstar.net. This
study is supported by grant H133B031114 from the US Department of
Education and the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation
Research (NIDRR). -------------------------------- Advocacy
Presentations/Workshops
All Advocacy presentations
are free - Participants must RSVP with David Carey,
602-443-0723 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 Workshops
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