The Bridge
News from the Arizona Bridge to
Independent Living
Volume XIV, Number 3
March 2003
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 Bridge Insert at the end of
document)
Leaner,
Meaner Government By Donna Kruck
Do you know what your government is doing? As you know, our state is in a budget
crisis. The 2004 budget faces over $1
billion shortfall. The Governor and the
Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC) have proposed very different budgets
to address this problem. Representative
Russell Pearce (District 18, Mesa) is the Chair of the House Appropriations
Committee. Senator Bob Burns (District 9, Peoria) is the Chair of the Senate
Appropriations Committee. The Pearce/Burns 2004 legislative budget proposal
gives a whole new meaning to leaner and meaner government. They propose the
following funding cuts related to disability issues:
· Healthcare
to 60,000 children and 20,000 of their parents
· Emergency
dental care for 19,200 people (pulling rotten teeth)
· Independent
living services and non-medical home care to 15,361 persons who are seniors
and/or disabled adapting to their disability
(including glasses and eye exams)
· Vaccinations
for 24,000 children (risking polio, rubella etc.)
· High
risk perinatal and prenatal care for 16,300
· Eliminate
funding to Community Health Centers that serve 47,800 (mostly) rural Arizonans
· Kidney
dialysis for 800 people who need it to live
· Mental
health medication to 5,400 people with mental illness that helps them function
· Services
to 400 people with serious mental illness
· Lifesaving
medication for 1,000 men, women and children with HIV/AIDS
· Healthcare
Group providing healthcare to 13,000 working for small businesses with less
than 50 employees (participants pay the full cost of the premium)
· Necessary
healthcare and in-home support for 1,620 severely disabled children
· Healthcare
to 228 people with disabilities who are working, but can’t work without the
Ticket to Work healthcare program!
Additionally, the Pearce/Burns budget contains more cuts to
agencies like AHCCCS, Department of Health Services, Division of Developmental
Disabilities and Vocational Rehabilitation who will lose vital staff that
provides services to you and your family. Oversight and quality control will not
be funded. The state will lose matching
federal funds 2 to 3 times more than we spend and once again AZ will be behind
most other states.
If these
programs do get cut, lives will be lost, employers will lose good employees,
hospitals could collapse under the strain of serving the uninsured. Do your
legislators know how you want them to vote on this budget?
The
Governor’s budget preserves most of these programs. Before Justin Dart (father of the Americans with Disabilities Act
and founder of Justice for All!) died, he admonished us to “Vote and advocate
as if our lives depend on it!” Well,
now is the time. Legislators pay
attention to the voters in their districts more than any lobbyists like myself
even when we work for non-profits.
Contact
your legislators today. Call, email, write or make an appointment to meet with them
face-to-face. Tell them what services and programs are important to you. Your voice will make the difference. In fact, it is the only thing that
will. The reality is that there is a
battle going on between the Republicans that want to reduce government to
prisons and roads (a few in leadership roles) and those that want to preserve
health and human service programs. If
the later group partners with the Democrats our programs can be saved. They need your stories and support. To
contact your legislator go to vote-smart.com and put in your 9 digit zip code,
or go to www.azleg.sate.az.us, or refer to the Legislative roster in the
January Bridge. Need help? Contact
Donna Jones at 602-296-0510.
Board of
Directors Award Outstanding Efforts
Phil
Pangrazio, ABIL Executive Director
On January
28th, the ABIL Board of Director’s
convened for their monthly meeting, and additionally, hosted an awards
presentation that honored four key individuals deserving of high praise for
accomplishments related to independent living.
The meeting and awards reception took place at the China Doll restaurant
in Phoenix where awardees and their guests were treated to dinner, special
presentations and recognition.
The event
was especially notable since it marked the first ever presentation of the
“Spirit of ABIL” award. This award was
created to honor and recognize a consumer or advocate for actions that promote
and exemplify the independent living philosophy of consumer control,
self-advocacy, and peer support.
The Board
was most pleased to present and announce Carolan Quenneville as the first ever
recipient of the Spirit of ABIL award. Ms. Quenneville, a part-time ABIL
employee, has to her credit numerous accomplishments including: being an ABIL
volunteer peer mentor, a founding member of the Improbable Theater, and
disability awareness speaker and advocate. Quenneville is also the editor and
design specialist for the ABIL newsletter, The Bridge.
“Carolan
truly exemplifies the independent living philosophy,” said Joe Mikitish, board
president. “She volunteers her time and energy on a consistent basis to foster
the empowerment of people with disabilities in the Valley.” We are all pleased to congratulate Carolan
on this well deserved recognition!
Also
recognized at the dinner was Anita Culver, a long-time ABIL employee who
received the “Personal Assistant of the Year” award. Ms. Culver has been employed by ABIL since 1990. She is one of 950 ABIL personal assistant
employees, and was chosen to receive this award for her exceptional service and
dedication to her consumers. Anita goes
beyond the call of duty by recognizing when her consumers and families are experiencing
difficulties that are out of their control, then acts by offering a helping
hand to make their lives more manageable and less stressful. “ABIL is honored to have Anita as an
employee,” said Gwen Dean, Director of PAS.
Others
receiving recognition and presented awards were personal assistant services
employees Roseann Hurt and Patricia Trouts. Both were honored for outstanding
dedication and service to ABIL consumers receiving home and community based
services through the PAS program.
In behalf
of the Board of Directors and myself, I would like to personally congratulate
all of this year’s awardees and offer my sincerest thanks for their dedication
to ABIL and independent living philosophy. ABIL would not be successful without
people like you!
The Bridge available by
e-mail!
To receive The Bridge by
email automatically each month, send your request to: azbridge@abil.org or by
mail to Penny c/o ABIL, 1229 E. Washington Street, Phoenix, AZ 85034-1101, or call (602) 296-0518. Please indicate if you would like to be
removed from the list of those receiving hard copy by mail. The Bridge
newsletter is a monthly publication of Arizona Bridge to Independent Living
(ABIL). The Bridge is a free
publication. 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
(602)
256-2245
1-800-280-2245 (outside the 602, 623, 480, calling areas)
E-mail:
azbridge@abil.org
Website: www.abil.org
(602) 667-0277
ABIL Metro Center office
10000 E 31st Ave,
Ste # D-405
Phoenix, AZ 85051
(602) 424-4100
FAX 602-424-4118
(480)
655-9750
1-800-280-ABIL
(outside the 602, 623,480
calling areas)
e-mail: azbridge@abil.org
Staff email: First name,
initial of last name @abil.org
Questions about the ADA?
The Pacific Disability
and Business Technical Assistance Center (DBTAC) can answer questions about 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
Joseph Mikitish, President
Tom Ringhofer, Vice
President
Lynn Houston, Treasurer
Jim Brahaney, Secretary
Marjann Fletcher, Past
President
Pamela Allan, Member
Sharon Atwood,
Member
William Harper, Member
Ken Heard, Member
Edith Kilany, Member
Edward L. Myers, III, Member
Nicholas L. Perry, Member
Scott Turner, Member
ABIL Administrative Staff
Phil Pangrazio, 296-0513, Executive Director
Feng Chiou, 296-0511, Director of Finance
Maribel Diaz, 296-0515, Receptionist
Maria Deleon, 480-222-4201, Mesa Receptionist/Program
Aide
Louise Downey, 296-0519, Accounting Assistant
Nancy Fleming, 296-0512, Accounting Clerk
Penny Fore, 296-0518, Executive Assistant
Sandy Guinn, 296-0514, Director of Operations
Tina Hedges, 296-0516, Billing Clerk
Donna Jones, 296-0510, Program Aide
Grace Landas, 296-0516
Jason Miller, Billing Assistant
Jay Murrillo, 296-0517, Van Driver
Advocacy Unit
Donna Redford Kruck, 296-0520, Unit Director
Lynn Bejnar, 667-0277, Ext 16, “This is My Life”
Program Manager
David Carey, 296-0523, Advocacy Specialist
Erik Jensen, 296-0527, Work Incentives Specialist
Donna Lorti, 424-4105, Work Incentives Specialist
Ann Pasco, 667-0277, Ext 14, Volunteer Coordinator
Carolan Quenneville, 296-0524, Graphic
Specialist/Newsletter
Rhonda Webb, 296-0509, Work Incentives Specialist
Employment Services
Susan Webb, 667-0277, Ext 11, Unit Director
Lynda Connors, 667-0277, Ext. 12, Employment
Coordinator
Buffy McDonald, 667-0277, Ext 18, Employment
Coordinator
Dan Siegler, 667-0277, Ext 10, Employment Technician
Jennifer Stetson 667-0277, Ext 17, Employment Program
Aide
Community Integration Unit
Darrel Christenson , 296-0530, Unit Director
Judy Benshoof, 296-0532, ILA/Home Mod. Coord
(Mesa/Tempe)
Jon DeWinter, 296-0537, Home
Mod.Coord.(Glendale/Peoria)
Tony DiRienzi, 296-0534, Early Intervention Coord.
Paula Grodecki, 480-222-4212, Reintegration Coord.
Tyrone Harrington, 424-4103, Com. Liv. Options Coord.
Leanne Jones, 296-0535, Soc/Rec, Youth Outreach/ILA
Rosalie Manuel, 296-0536, Independent Living Skills
Advocate
Joanna Savidan, 296-0531, I&R, Home Mod. Coord.
(Phx)
Leonard Smith, 296-0533, ILA/Reintegration Prg.
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.
Kathy Carlisle, 480-222-4203, PAS Field Rep.
Jerry Chee, 602-424-4107, PAS Field Rep.
Lyndora Hall, 296-0546, Payroll Clerk
Judy Ludlow, 296-0542, PAS Field Rep.
Teodoro Marquez, 424-4102, PAS Field Rep.
Kelli Martin, 296-0544, Program Aide
Sheri Mecca, 296-0547, PAS Field Rep.
Diane Patton, 480-222-4206, Program Manager
Christine Pinedo, 296-0506, Payroll Clerk
Colleen Podmore, 296-0552, Program Aide
Grace Walstad, 602-424-4106, PAS Field Rep.
Roxanna Williams, 424-4106, PAS Field Rep.
Melanie Woods, 480-222-4205, PAS Field Rep.
Christina Velasquez, 602-424-4104, PAS Field Rep.
Bonnie Zanardi, 480-222-4202, PAS Field Rep.
Warning: Transit could be cut!
By Mary
Hartle-Smith
Transit
services could be cut in some cities due to low revenue and budget shortfalls!
Many cities are having to cut back services in areas determined to be
“non-essential,” which may likely include transit. Cities such as Tempe,
Phoenix, and Glendale, which have passed a dedicated sales tax for
transportation, will not be in as much danger of losing transit services,
unless sales tax revenues decrease significantly. However, cities without
dedicated sales tax for transit like Mesa, Scottsdale, Chandler and Gilbert
could see a decline in already insufficient bus and dial-a-ride services. You
can make a difference by contacting your Mayor and City Council member/s and
tell them why public transit services are important to you. Your calls DO make
a big difference. Elected officials DO listen to voters. Action is needed now
because City Councils will consider budgets soon.
State
Legislators also need to be contacted. Ask them to pass HB 2292, “enabling
legislation” to allow Maricopa County to hold an election in 2004 permitting
the voters to decide whether to extend the current half-cent sales tax
dedicated to transportation. The original 20-year tax was used to build the
freeway system. Maricopa Association of (city) Governments’ Transportation
Policy Committee (TCP) is developing the 20-year Transportation Plan that you
will get to vote for. Your legislators, Mayor and City Council members all need
to know how important public transit is to you. You can ask them to support HB
2292 and a Transportation Plan that includes all modes of transportation
including public transit like buses and dial-a-ride.
Contact
your legislators at the House of Representatives Information Office at:
602-542-4221 and give them your address so they can find your district or go to
www.vote-smart.com and search by your 9-digit zip code.
Contact
your Mayor and city council members by calling the phone number for your city
hall and ask to speak to your Council member or Mayor. If you don’t know your
council members, you can ask the operator to help you. You can also ask for the
City website and send them emails. Or, better yet, ask for an appointment to
meet with them briefly. One live person with a disability is worth a thousand
words to help them understand your need for transit.
The TPC
meetings are open to the public and we need a good showing by persons with
disabilities. They meet on the third Wednesday of each month at 302 North First
Avenue on the Second Floor. This is in the Compass Bank Building. They usually
convene from 5 to 7 or 8 p.m., but call to confirm. They offer bus passes and
parking reimbursement. They take 3-minute each public testimony at the
beginning where you can tell them what you want included in the plan. Elected
officials and business representatives sit on this Committee and they are
generally supportive of transit. You can get the minutes of their meetings sent
to you by email or snail mail. If you don’t want to speak, send the committee a
letter. Call MAG at 602-254-6300 or go to www.mag.maricopa.gov .
To get
involved with local transit advocacy, attend the Transit Regional Improvement
Project (TRIP) meetings on the 2nd Monday of each month from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00
p.m. The meetings are held at the ABIL East office, 225 East First Street,
Suite 206 in Mesa. For more information, contact Mary at 480-733-5266. The best
way to make a difference is to take an action. Any one of these will do!
Legislative
Awareness Day Photos –
#1 Consumers search out
their legislative district representatives during the January Legislative
Awareness Day at the capitol.
#2 ABIL Executive Director,
Phil Pangrazio, discusses issues and concerns with Representative Eddie Farnsworth
(R-District 22).
Social
Security
Work
Incentives Q&A
Q:
I’m going to a community college this spring to get training for a
future job. How is my financial aid going to affect my Social Security
benefits?
A:
Financial aid for college is considered unearned income, since you
didn’t do any work to get it. If you
are receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), unearned income does
not matter.
If you are
receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), then it’s a little more
complicated. Certain grants and scholarships, such as the Pell grant or Work
Study programs, are not counted as income. Some other types of scholarships
will be considered income, although Social Security will only count the portion
of the money that is set aside for personal use, such as food, clothing, or
shelter.
If you
want to know more about how your financial aid package may affect your
benefits, call one of ABIL’s Work Incentive Specialists at (602) 256-2245.
Achieving & Sustaining Accessible Programs:
Strategies for State and Local Governments
NOTICE
OF CLASS ACTION: A
class action lawsuit is currently pending involving disability access issues at
certain Love’s Travel Stops and Country Stores, located throughout the southern
and southwest United States. The parties to the lawsuit have negotiated a
proposed settlement which resolves claims relating to those businesses, and
ensuring accessibility for the disabled at all Love’s Travel Stops and Country
Stores. If you are a person with a mobility disability who has visited a
covered Love’s Travel Stop and/or Country Store anytime since April 19, 2000,
and you have experienced any problems with disability access, or if you have
wanted to patronize an covered Love’s Travel Stop and/or Country Store since
April 19, 2000 but were deterred because of your knowledge of access you are a
member of the Proposed Settlement Class. A hearing will be held on March 31,
2003. For more information contact:
The Center
for Disability Access, LLP,
1-800-383-7027
www.cda4access.com
P.O. Box
34606,
San Diego,
CA 92163
ATTN:
Love’s Travel Stops and Country Stores Consent Decree
Mr. Bullard
says, “One day I just said I’m leaving.
ABIL and Paula Grodecki got me going in the right direction.” He independently does many of his activities
for daily living, (ADLs). William says,
“I manipulate my hands to suit my needs,” describing how he brushes his teeth.
William now budgets his income, accesses resources, and directs his personal
and medical care. He utilizes accessible transportation to independently run
personal errands and go to the doctor.
William says, “Here I’m not told what to do; I’m asked.” Assisted living
provides personal assistant services, meals, laundry, housekeeping services and
recreational events. Mr. Bullard also
receives weekly visits from a registered nurse. Perhaps the best part of
William’s new lifestyle is the privacy he enjoys in his own apartment having a
living room, separate bedroom, kitchen area, bath and lots of closet
space. He keeps his favorite soda, (which
he can purchase on sale at less than half the cost of using vending machines),
in his own refrigerator. And he can
invite his old and new friends over to his place.
Mr. Bullard
has proven to everyone that his abilities negate his need for 24-hour skilled
nursing care. He encourages others to
seek the greatest possible freedom and independence. Call ABIL Reintegration
Program Coordinators, Leonard Smith, (602) 296-0533, Phoenix and West Valley,
or Paula Grodecki, (480) 222-4212, East Valley for information.
Note: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services, (CMMS), reports that in 2000 there were 1,173,934 people with ZERO/NO
ADL IMPAIRMENTS living in nursing homes in the United States. We wonder WHY? In Arizona 41.6% of nursing home residents had no ADL impairments
while 49% had ZERO/NO cognitive impairment and/ or only a “very mild cognitive
impairment.”
Wheelchair Basketball Benefit Game
Brophy
High School, 4701 N. Central
Thursday,
March 20, 2003
Game
Time 7:00 pm
The Phoenix
Suns and Banner Wheelchair Suns have teamed up with The Centers for
Habilitation to bring back Wheelchair Basketball. The event will be held March 20th at Brophy High School (4701 N.
Central Avenue). The Suns Professional
Wheelchair (NWBA) team will split into two teams joining alumni Suns to compete
against each other...not only for bragging rights, but also to raise money to
support programs and services for Arizonans with disabilities.
The event
will host popular alumni Suns and a current Sun will do the coaching. Additionally, everyone’s favorite Gorilla,
the Suns Dance Team and Zoo Crew will entertain the crowd. Tickets are $10 each. For tickets or
additional information contact David, 602-296-0523.
HOOVES
& HEROES Celebration
March
22nd, 11:00 - 3:00, Scottsdale
Camelot
Therapeutic Horsemanship, a nonprofit organization that teaches horsemanship to
children and adults with disabilities, is celebrating 20 years of dreams come
true! There will be a silent auction & raffle, food, singing, 4H clogging
performance and lots of family fun! Free admission! So kick off your spurs and
hop on the wagon, come celebrate with us at the ranch! Camelot is located at
6250 East Jomax Road, 1.5 miles west of Scottsdale Road, in Scottsdale. If you
have any questions, please call Michelle Harrison at (480) 515-1543.
Triple R WarmLine 602-347-1100
New
Hours: 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm 7 days a
week
A
friendly voice - Peer support - Confidential - Trained listeners!!!
If
you need assistance before or after hours please call
Value
Options Crisis Line at 602-222-9444 or 1-800-631-1314
Advocacy Presentations/Workshops
All Advocacy
presentations are free.
Participants must RSVP with David Carey, 602-296-0523.
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 own legal guardian.
Social Security Work
Incentives Workshops
for
Professionals
Learn how
ABIL’s Benefits Planning, Assistance and Outreach program, granted through the
Social Security administration, can help people on SSI and/or SSDI understand
how employment affects their cash and medical benefits. Over the last few
years, several new work incentives have been created through Social Security
and other pubic programs. Our trained
and certified Work Incentive Specialists are also happy to provide
presentations at your agency location.
Guest
Speakers: Erik Jensen, Rhonda Webb,
& Donna Lorti - Work Incentives Specialists
Monday, March 19 1:00
p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Location: ABIL East - 225 East 1st Street. Mesa, AZ
SSDI & SSI Work
Incentives Workshops
for
Beneficiaries Only
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 to RSVP. From now on, we will be having 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
Guest
Speakers: Erik Jensen, Rhonda Webb,
& Donna Lorti - Work Incentives Specialists
Wednesday, March 12
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Location: Metro Center Office
(10000
N. 31st Ave, Ste. D-405), Phoenix
Thursday,
March 27 1 :00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Location: ABIL East - 225 East 1st Street. Mesa, AZ
Work
Incentives &
SSI
Thursday,
March 13 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Location: 1229 E. Washington St., Phoenix
Medicare
Focus Group
LET YOUR
VOICE BE HEARD
Attention
persons with disabilities under 65 on Medicare. We need you to participate in a
focus group (8-10 people) sponsored by the Benefits Assistance Program at the
Area Agency on Aging (AAA). AAA trains volunteer benefits counselors to help
people on Medicare understand the program and make choices that fit for them.
Focus group participants will have the opportunity to tell an AAA counselor
what barriers you experience trying to find the information you need regarding
Medicare services. AAA needs this information to identify and remove those
barriers so that they can better help people with disabilities under 65 needing
Medicare services. The focus group will explore issues including how clients
receive Medicare information and difficulties they may encounter in the
process. You’re the expert, so please, let your voice be heard! Transportation
is available, so reserve your spot ASAP. Guest Speaker: Paulette Fraenkel
Monday,
March 17, 2003 – 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Location:
1229 E. Washington St., Phoenix
Emergency
Planning
for
People with Disabilities
People with disabilities need to be included in emergency planning. This 1 ½
hour workshop will focus on how to advocate for emergency plans that include
people with disabilities, as well as tips, tools and techniques for consumers
to help themselves during an emergency. Guest Speaker: Cindy Brown, Training and Program
Coordinator – Arizona Office For Americans With Disabilities
Arizona
Fair Housing Center
Understanding federal,
state, local fair housing laws and the rights and responsibilities of both home
seekers and housing providers.
Guest
Speaker: Dr. Ed Venezuela
Friday, March 28, 2003 – 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Portraying
“Actual Lives”
Beginning
April 7th
Location:
Phx (To Be Announced)
The
Improbable Theatre Company (ITC) invites you to join us in an exciting creative
workshop called “Actual Lives.” This writing/performance workshop was
conceived by and for people with disabilities and has proven successful with
groups comprised both of individuals with and without disabilities. Designed as
an intensive workshop followed by four weeks of rehearsals, this “from page to
stage” process will afford participants the opportunity to fully exercise self
expression as we collaborate in producing an exciting theatre piece from
autobiographical material. Actual Lives makes effective use of spoken
narrative, poetry, comic skits, song, and dance, video, and various other
performance modes.
The workshop
will begin Monday, April 7th and run through May. The final piece will be
performed as part of the Herberger Theater Center’s Lunch Time Theater Series,
May 20th through June 5th.
Workshop/Rehearsal
Schedule:
Mondays & Wednesdays 2:30- 5:00
Saturdays
1:00- 3:30
Come join
us! Bring your stories, talents & creativity! For more information, contact
Kathy Tweet at ABIL’s Artreach/ITC line, 602-296-0503.
Victim
Assistance Program
April
15, 1-3:00 pm,
ABIL/MetroCenter,
10000 N. 31st Ave, D-405
Empower yourself
and keep the people you care about safe! No matter what your disability, this
course will help you learn how to how to communicate effectively and how to
keep yourself safe. Hope to see you
there!
Leanne,
602-296-0535.
I&R Information & Referral
Q&A Question of the Month
Q: I’ve been out of work for some time
and would like to have a nice outfit to do interviews in. Are there any
resources?
A: The Fresh Start Women’s Resource
Center (1130 E. McDowell Rd) 602-252-8494 can provide you with a free voucher
for one outfit including shoes to the Clothes Silo at Bethel Methodist (7th St.
& Osborn). They are open Tues-Sat 10-2 and Thurs 4-6pm.
If you have a question that you would
like to see addressed here call Joanna Savidan at 602-296-0531
Abilities EXPO &
Stroll or Roll
March 29th, 9:00am - Noon, Phoenix
Announcing the second annual
Abilities EXPO and Stroll or Roll. This event, filled with informative
interactive booths, activities, balloons, and fun, will be held in the Phoenix,
AZ Steele Indian School Park, Circle of Life and east parking lots. The north
walkway in back of Memorial Hall will be the Stroll or Roll area where a
500-yard race on foot or wheels will be held. Participation ribbons will
awarded. Race Registration begins at 9am. Bathrooms are wheelchair accessible
and the activities are free to the public. Pack a picnic lunch and plan to stay
after the event! For further information contact Norma at 602-200-9494 Ext 223.
Sponsored
by ARIZONA MENTOR with the support of friends Easter Seals and Phoenix Heat
(world champion wheel chair rugby team).
Vision
Conference
Friday April 4th, 9:30am -3:30pm
AZ Center for the Blind
& Visually Impaired
3100
East Roosevelt, Phoenix
The AZ Chapter of the
Association for Education & Rehabilitation of the Blind & Visually
Impaired and the staff of the newly remodeled AZ Center for the Blind
& Visually Impaired (ACBVI) invite you to participate in a one-day
conference!
Featured presenter: Dr.
Velma Dobson, University of Arizona Department of Ophthalmology. Dr. Dobson
conducts research on methods of assessing vision in infants and young
children and was involved in the development of Teller Acuity Cards.
For more information call:
Rachel Jones, 602-347-3028 or log on to
http://www.ed.arizona.edu/azaer/
Empowering
Youth
Independent Living Skills
Workshop
Topic: Housing
Wednesday, March 5th
9:00-11:00 ABIL/Phx
The
Empowering Youth with Disabilities into Adulthood/Youth Transition Program
brings in community resources to teach independent living skills to young
adults ages 14-22. If you or your high school group would like to attend any of
these, please call Leanne Jones at 602-296-0535 to RSVP.
For
accommodations or alternative format please call Leanne in advance.
GET EMPOWERED! - ABIL’s EMPOWER! listserve is new and
improved to eliminate spam emails. Find out what is going on in AZ and around
the nation regarding advocacy, legislation, public policy, and YOUR civil
rights. Anyone who subscribes can post events and alerts on the list. It’s yours. Use it! Just send a email asking
to subscribe at listserv@abil.org
Empower Listserv members - If you have a change in email address please
forward it to: azbridge@abil.org
If we get your emails returned a few days in a row we automatically take you
off the listserv. You will need to
contact us to be added back on when your email is up and running again.
ABIL COMMUNITY CALENDAR – Please 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 transportation on the ABIL van. 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.
Mar 3 SR/Baseball Game, 1:00-4:00 pm. Phx Municipal
Stadium, 5999 E Van Buren. Spring Training Game: Oakland A’s vs AZ
Diamondbacks. Cost $10. Leanne, 602-296-0535
Mar 5 Youth Transition/Housing, 9:00-11:00 am. ABIL/Phx. Leanne, 602-296-0535.
Mar 6 COMPASS EAST, 4:00-6:00 pm. 202 South Gilbert Road, Gilbert Providing direction and networking to
persons with disabilities. Susan Denova 602-470-1802.
Mar 6 Healer Within, 1:30-4:00 pm. Thomas/classroom. Women’s Wellness
group: explore how body, mind and spirit work together towards wellness.
Relaxation practices and group discussion. Donna, 602-296-0520
Mar 10 EVDAG/TRIP Meeting 2:00-4:00 pm. Mesa/classroom.
Community & transportation advocacy meeting. Robert Payne, 480-642-8445 or
Mary 480-733-5266
Mar 12 SSDI/Social Security Work Incentives, 10:00 am- Noon. Metro
Center/classroom. Come and learn how employment will effect your SSDI cash and
medical benefits. See page 7. David, 602-296-0523
Mar 13 SSI/Social Security Work Incentives, 1:00-3:00 pm. Phx/kitchen. Come and
learn how employment will effect your SSI cash and medical benefits. See pg 7. David,
602-296-0523
Mar 13 SR/Arts & Crafts Group, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm. Metro
Center/classroom. Bring your own lunch or $3 for pizza. Cost for craft
materials $2. Leanne, 602-296-0535
Mar 13 V.O.I.C.E., 1:00-4:00 pm. 19055 N. 57th Ave, Glendale. A monthly support
and information group for individuals with disabilities, their families &
rehabilitation providers. Clayton Guffey, 602-789-9129
Mar 17 Medicare Focus Group, 1:00-3:00 pm
Phx/kitchen. Sponsor: Medicare Benefits Assistance Program at the Area
Agency on Aging. For people under the age of 65 with disabilities. See pg 7.
RSVP a Must!!! David, 602-296-0523
Mar 18 PDBTAC/ADA Teleconference, 12:00-1:30 pm. Phx/kitchen. “Achieving & sustaining
accessible programs: Strategies for state & local governments.” Darrel,
602-296-0530 or Joanna 602-296-0531
Mar 19 SSDI/Social Security Work Incentives, 1:00-3:00 pm Phx/Kitchen. Come and learn how employment will effect your SSDI
cash and medical benefits. See page 7. David, 602-296-0523
Mar 20 Healer Within, 1:30-4:00. Thomas/classroom. Women’s Wellness group:
explore how body, mind and spirit work together towards wellness. Relaxation
practices and group discussion. Donna, 602-296-0520
Mar 21 COMPASS, 2:00-4:30pm. 7375 E.2nd St., Scottsdale. Providing
direction and networking to persons with disabilities. Susan Denova,
602-470-1802
Mar 21 Emergency Planning for People with Disabilities, 1-3:00pm. Phx/kitchen. See pg. 7.
David, 602-296-0523
Mar 24 SR/Newsletter Party, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm. Phx/kitchen & classroom.
Leanne, 602-296-0535
Mar 27 SSDI/Social Security Work Incentives, 1:00-3:00 pm. Phx/kitchen. Come and
learn how employment will effect your SSDI cash and medical benefits. See page 7. David,
602-296-0523
Mar 28 AZ Fair Housing Center, 1:00-3:00 pm.
Phx/kitchen. Understanding federal, state, local fair housing laws and
the rights and responsibilities of all parties. See page 7. David, 602-296-0523
Apr 8 Arizona Loans for Assistive Technology(AzLAT), 10:00am-Noon. Phx/kitchen.
“Independence is Priceless, We make it Affordable.” Speaker, Tony DiRienzi.
Details in April Bridge. David, 602-296-0523
Apr 9 Tips When Flying with a Disability, 2:00-3:30 pm. Phx/kitchen. America West
Airlines. Details in April Bridge. David, 602-296-0523
ABIL Soc/Rec Events - April – May 2003
Contact Leanne, 602-296-0535
Transportation
is limited. Please RSVP at your earliest possible convenience. Consumers must be 18 years+ or own legal guardian for
transportation. ABIL requests a $1+ donation (each way) for transportation
provided on the ABIL van.
Thursday,
April 10, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Cooking
Group – Picnic and Nature Trail at Encanto Park.
2615
N 15th Ave. Phx. Cost:
Consumers assist by bringing ingredients for lunch.
Tuesday,
April 15, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Victim
Assistance Program – Presented by Bobbi Christensen - Learn advocacy skills
needed to assist you from becoming a victim. 10000 N 31st Ave., Suite D-405 Phx. Cost: None.
Monday,
April 21, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Newsletter Party (lunch
provided) - Join the fun of meeting new
people, sharing experiences and working towards a goal of sharing the Bridge
with others throughout the states. 1229 E Washington, Phx. Cost: None.
Friday,
May 9, - 8:30 am – 5:00 pm. All consumers need to meet at ABIL
at 8:30 am for trip out to the lake. The Dolly Steamboat. Join us in our
annual trip to Canyon Lake & Arizona’s world class 90 minute narrated
nature cruise. Apache Junction. Cost:
$14.00 per person. Bring your own lunch for trip or money for lunch
at the lake, no food allowed on the boat.
Wednesday, May 14, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm (Bring $3.00 for pizza or your own lunch) Arts & Crafts Group. Come be creative with Arts and Crafts projects