INDEPENDENT
LIVING
AND
ADVOCACY
BY,
AND
FOR,
PEOPLE
WITH
DISABILITIES
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The
Bridge News
from the Arizona Bridge to Independent Living Volume
XIV, Number 11 NOVEMBER
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!" Community
Living Options - End Dependence
for
Persons with a Developmental Disability By
Tyrone Harrington There
are thousands of adults and children in the state of Arizona who are
classified as having a Developmental Disability, many of whom are in the
state DDD (Division of Developmental Disability) system. Having DD is
classified as having 1 of 4 qualifying disabilities i.e. epilepsy,
autism, cerebral palsy or mental retardation. These 4 areas must be
determined by a physician prior to age 18 to become eligible for state
services. Once you have qualified for DD services, you will be placed in
1 of 3 categories to determine what type of services you qualify for.
Those categories are Title 19, Targeted or DD only. The
C.L.O. program is designed to work with adults who have an IQ level of
70 or better. These individuals are usually deemed as Targeted or DD
only, do not receive the same amount of services as those who are Title
19 eligible, usually live at home with family members or a guardian and
are not very independent. The C.L.O. program provides various types of
services such as Independent Living Skills instruction in the areas of
transportation, household management, cooking skills, literacy training
& money management. The C.L.O. Program Coordinator, Tyrone
Harrington, also assists consumers with employment and educational
opportunities, anger management, hygiene programs, filling out various
applications, etc. Whatever services are needed, the C.L.O. program will
either provide it or place consumers in contact with someone who can
assist. Last
year the C.L.O. program provided services for 192 consumers but was in
contact with over 250. There were 14 consumers who became employed, 125
participated in various recreational opportunities, 171 received IL
skills training, 11 received roommates and 63 other housing options.
Various other services were provided as well. Tyrone
works with Support Coordinators from the various DDD offices as well as
family members to assist consumers in maintaining or having an
independent lifestyle. He also works with other community organizations
in providing these services. Student interns, Peer Mentors and other
community volunteers have contributed valuable time to the C.L.O.
program. The Valley of the Sun United Way is the primary funder of the
C.L.O. program. If
you would like to become a volunteer, or participate, or want more
information on the C.L.O. program, please feel free to contact Tyrone
Harrington at 602-424-4103 or email at tyroneh@abil.org County
Hospital District Makes Good Sense! Phil
Pangrazio, ABIL Executive Director On
November 4th, voters will once again be asked to participate in their local
political process and determine the fate of the County Heath System and
its proposed proposition 414. If
approved, Proposition 414 would create a new taxing district designed to
save the financially strapped Maricopa Integrated Health System that
includes Maricopa Medical Center, Maricopa Managed Care Plans, and 11
outpatient clinics. The
hospital district would be funded by a county-wide property tax
estimated at about $22 annually for a home assessed at $150,000.
The added cash will allow the system to stay in operation and
allow it to begin replacing outmoded buildings with modern medical
facilities. For
good or bad, many, many people with disabilities have been served by
MIHS throughout the years. For
some, it was the only option for receiving the vital medical care we
often depend upon to successfully manage our disabilities.
For this reason, voters with disabilities should exercise their
power and show-up at the polls. Since
voter turnout is typically lower for initiatives such as Proposition
414, it is all the more important that people with disabilities exercise
their right to vote and be heard on this important initiative.
Our votes could decide the fate of Proposition 414. You
may be asking, “Why should we support this initiative?”
Is this a good idea? What
will be the long-term benefits? First,
the idea of creating a hospital district with taxing authority is
nothing new. It has been
discussed here locally for more than ten years and probably longer.
In fact, District Hospitals have been created and operated quite
successfully in other states such as Texas.
Second,
Maricopa Medical Center serves as the only safety net hospital for the
poor and indigent. Although
local private hospitals do indeed provide some charity care, it pales in
comparison to the $89 million in uncompensated care provided annually by
MIHS. It is unlikely that
private hospitals would be willing to shoulder this burden alone. Third,
MIHS operates one of only four Level 1 trauma centers in the state and
the only neo-natal Level 1 trauma center in Arizona.
MMC’s emergency room sees 75,000 people a year, many with few
alternatives for medical services.
The high quality birthing services at MMC deliver 5,000 babies
annually, many of which are low birth-weight babies requiring intensive
services. MMC also
operates the internationally renowned and only burn center in the
Southwest between San Diego and Dallas. Fourth,
Maricopa Medical Center is the second-largest teaching hospital in the
state. Approximately half the doctors who train there remain in the
Valley, which is experiencing a severe shortage of doctors and other
health specialists. Fewer doctors would create even more pressure on the
existing and already overloaded provider networks. Fifth,
the proposed property tax will be going down every year because the
total amount of funds raised is capped at $40 million a year and every
year, as Maricopa County grows, the tax per-homeowner will lessen as
more homeowners move into Maricopa County. As
you can see, MIHS is an extremely valuable community resource that we
cannot afford to see shut down. I
encourage all people with disabilities to vote YES on Proposition 414. ABIL Board of Directors Joseph Mikitish ....................…….………......... President Tom Ringhofer ...............................…………... Vice President Edward L. Myers, III ...............................................Treasurer Jim Brahaney ...............................………………... Secretary Marjann Fletcher ...................…..................... Past President Pamela Allan ........................….......…............…...…. Member Sharon Atwood .....................................……....…….. Member William Harper ................................……....…….... Member Lynn Houston ................................………………. Member Nicholas L. Perry .....................................……....…….. Member Scott
Turner .....................................……....…….. Member 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 1-800-280-2245*
(*outside the
602, 623, 480, calling areas) FAX: (602) 254-6407
e-mail: azbridge@abil.org Website: www.abil.org ABIL-Thomas
office 2345 E.
Thomas, Suite 310-A Phoenix, AZ
85016 (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 225
E. First Street, Suite 206 Mesa,
AZ 85201 (480)
655-9750 FAX (480)
655-9751 Voice/TDD
(602) 256-2245 1-800-280-ABIL
(outside 602, 623, 480 calling areas) FAX (602)
254-6407 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 Administrative Staff Phil Pangrazio, 296-0513 .........…........…............. Executive Director Stacey Budge, 296-0511 ................................... Director of Finance Maribel Diaz, 296-0515 ......................…….................... Receptionist Louise Downey, 296-0519..........……......... Accounting Assistant Nancy Fleming, 296-0512 ..............….................... Billing Clerk Penny Fore, 296-0518 ..............……….......... Executive Assistant Sandy Guinn, 296-0514 ........…...…...........Director of Operations Tina Hedges, 296-0522 ...................……............... Billing Clerk Vacant, 296-0510 ....................................... Program Aide Cathy Lacy, 296-0551 ............................................ Payroll Clerk Jason Miller, 296-0539 ..................................... Billing Assistant Jay Murrillo, 296-0517.................... Van Driver/Facilities Maint. DeMarQues Thomas, 296-0538 ........ Van Driver/Facilities Maint. Advocacy Donna Kruck, 296-0520 ............…..........................Unit Director Lynn Bejnar, 667-0277, Ext 16 …..... “This is My Life” Prg. Mgr. 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 Joe Connors, 667-0277, Ext. ................ Employment Coordinator Marilon Cox, 667-0277, Ext. 17 ..... Program Support/Billing Coord Dan Siegler, 667-0277, Ext 10 ……….......... Employment Technician Community Integration Darrel Christenson , 296-0530 ...........………...........Unit Director Judy Benshoof, 296-0532 ............ ILA/Home Mod. Coord (Mesa) Peter Clute, 296-0525 ......................... Information & Referral Fernando Cruz 296-0526 ............................ Reintegration Coord. 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 Perry, 296-0536 .... Independent Living Skills Advocate Joanna Savidan, 296-0531.......…..... Home Mod. Coord. (Phx) Leonard Smith, 296-0533 ......…...... Reintegration Prg. 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 Gerry Davis, 296-0546 .....………………………. Payroll Clerk Maria Deleon, 480-222-4203 ................................. PAS Field Rep. Pamela Geans, 480-222-4201 .... Mesa Receptionist/Program Aide Lyndora Hall, 296-0529............…........................ PAS Field Rep. Judy Ludlow, 296-0542 ...............................…..... PAS Field Rep. Teodoro Marquez, 424-4102 ............................... PAS Field Rep. Kelli Martin, 296-0544……………………………. Program Aide Sheri Mecca, 296-0547...............................…. Program Manager Diane Patton, 480-222-4206 .............……......... Program Manager Christine Pinedo, 296-0552 …………………..…. Program Aide Colleen Podmore, 424-4108 ......…...................... PAS Field Rep. Shannon Rose, 424-4101.......... Metro Receptionist/Program/Aide Pat Trouts, 296-0506 ............................................. Payroll Clerk 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. Get
Active! Help Us Get Rid of a Bad ‘I.D.E.A.’ Jami
Snyder, Arizona Center for Disability Law The
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the country’s
primary law protecting the rights of children with disabilities who
receive special education services, is under attack. We need your help
to ensure that the United State Congress, in an attempt to reauthorize
the bill originally passed in 1975, doesn’t water down those
protections that are so vital to ensuring that children with
disabilities receive a quality education in the most integrated setting
possible. The
first bill aimed at reauthorizing IDEA, HR 1350, was passed by the U.S.
House of Representatives earlier this year. This bill threatens to
eliminate many elements of IDEA that have been in place for over two
decades, including the establishment of short-term objectives in the
Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Under HR 1350, schools would only
be required to set three-year goals for children receiving special
education services. In addition, the bill threatens to send children who
cannot conform their conduct to school rules because of their disability
to segregated, long-term placements. Following
the passage of HR 1350, the U.S. Senate proposed a different
reauthorization bill, S 1248. This bill, while much better than the
House bill, still has issues of significant concern to families and
children with disabilities. S 1248 also threatens to remove measurable
short-term objectives from a child’s IEP and weaken some of the
discipline measures in IDEA. Furthermore, it is anticipated that
amendments will be offered to the Senate bill that do additional damage
to IDEA as it currently stands. We
need your help. It
is critical that individuals with disabilities, families and advocates
call Arizona’s Congressional delegation over the next month and let
them know that HR 1350 and S 1248 are both bad IDEAs. In particular, it
is important to tell them that, while it is much better than HR 1350, S
1248 will still result in a set-back for children with disabilities.
Also, don’t forget to remind them to reject any harmful amendments
that may be attached to S 1248. As
this goes to press, it is uncertain as to exactly when S 1248 will be
heard. It may be brought to the Senate floor before they adjourn in the
next few weeks. That is why it is important that you call your United
States Senator and Representative today. For their contact information,
log on to www.house.gov and www.senate.gov. If
you would like more information on IDEA or either of the bills being
proposed, please do not hesitate to contact Jerri Katzerman or Jami
Snyder at 602-274-6287 (voice/TTY). Thank
you for your help!!! New
Health & Human Services Web Site America’s
On-Line SafetyNet Directory iSafetyNet.US
is the first and only comprehensive directory of web links and on-line
services for all sectors of the public and private health and human
services field. A few examples: older Americans, children and
families, medical and health services, mental health and substance abuse
services, disaster relief, minority services and more! There
is no charge, no membership or registration requirements, no
advertisements or annoying pop-up advertisements. So take a look,
http://www.isafetynet.org/ is one web site that you will visit
over and over again. Source: Email from SafetyNet Advocates Street
Cards = Street Repairs Street Cards are blue postcards for indicating disability related street repairs. The cards are pre-addressed to the person who directs repairs. Some of the repairs include: installation and/or repair of curb cuts, asphalt roll ups on streets and/or sidewalks, sidewalks in need of repair, potholes, crosswalk repair, pedestrian push pads in need of installation and/or lowering or relocation - anything that will make travel on streets and sidewalks easier. To obtain Street Cards contact: Donna M Powers, Transportation Coordinator Easter
Seals Arizona, 2075
S Cottonwood, Tempe, 85282 480-222-4134
FAX 480-222-4123 E-mail:
dpowers@azseals.org Accessible
IT Email Series: Accessibility Tips
- First Edition By
Stewart Hersey, Accessible IT Coordinator, Pacific ADA & IT Center
(Pacific DBTAC) Pacific
ADA and IT Center (Pacific DBTAC) has produced an Accessible IT quick
tip series to benefit educators by enhancing the learning experience of
students in all schools. Twelve articles will be published on a monthly
basis, distributed by post and email, and archived on the PDBTAC web
site: http://www.pacdbtac.org/
Q.
How can the use of Accessible Information Technology (Accessible IT) be
beneficial in an educational setting? -
Accessible web pages allow students with disabilities, including those
who have sensory impairments, to access information; share their work;
communicate with peers, teachers, and mentors; and take advantage of
distance learning options. -
Accessible instructional software on disks, CDs, or other media, enables
students with disabilities to participate side-by-side with their peers
in computer labs and classrooms as they complete assignments;
collaborate with peers; create and view presentations, documents, and
spreadsheets; and actively participate in simulations and all other
academic activities. -
Accessible telecommunications and office equipment including faxes,
copiers and TTY, make communication and educational administrative
functions accessible to everyone, including those with mobility, visual,
and hearing impairments.
City
Ordinance Re-named
for Liz Carabine On
October 8, 2003 the Phoenix City Council officially re-named Ordinance
G-4509 to the Liz Carabine Ordinance. This is the ordinance that
increases the accessible multi-housing standard from 2% to 6% within 1/4
mile of a Light Rail station. Liz, a strong advocate for accessible
housing, as well as numerous other causes, was instrumental in passage
of the ordinance. John Carabine, Liz’s husband was in attendance to
witness the honor. ADA
Teleconference: Over
The Hills & Through the Woods: Accessibility of Trails in the
Outdoors November
18th 11:00
am- 12:30 pm ABIL/Phx Speaker:
Representative from the National Center on Accessibility, Indiana
University. RSVP to Darrel, 602-296-0530. Sponsored
by Pacific Disability and Business Technical Assistance Center (PDBTAC)
http://www.pacdbtac.org New
Co-Pays Required of AHCCCS Members Edited
from email received by The Morrison Institute by
Donna Kruck As
of October 1, 2003, AHCCCS has imposed increased co-payments for
low-income clients. The two groups impacted are Medical Expense
Deduction Program consumers, single adults and childless couples with
incomes between 34% and 100% of Federal Poverty Level. That means
individuals with income between $255 and $749 per month will now be
required by law to pay co-pays for their medical services! The new
required co-pays are: $4
- for each generic
prescription medication $10 - for each
brand name prescription medication $5 -
for each office visit $30 - for each
non-emergency use of the Hospital Emergency Room For the
first time, care can be denied or medications not distributed by the
pharmacies if the co-payment is not made. That
will be up to the provider because they will be reimbursed through
AHCCCS at a lower rate. The
Medicaid rules will allow this denial of services. Our understanding is
that many service providers, including pharmacies may go ahead and
provide the services needed even if the member can not afford the
co-pay. These changes will have an impact on 100,000 AHCCCS
members! Editor’s
note: ABIL
encourages you to contact your legislator to let them know how this new
co-pay requirement affects you or those you serve. With the ongoing
budget deficits, we believe there will be more legislation next session
regarding co-pays. You can locate your legislator at www.azleg.state.az.us
or by calling 602-542-4221, the AZ House of representatives. Molloy
Awarded for Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Activism Susan
Molloy was chosen by the Chemical Injury Information Network to receive
the 2003 “Theron Randolph Award” for Courage in MCS Activism. Susan
set the stage for her activism starting in the mid-70’s. Since then
she’s received a Master of Arts in Disability Policy, taken classes in
paralegal training, Americans
with Disabilities Act Network Phase I and II Trainings and “Principles
and Practices of Family Support, Self Determination, and Disability”. In
the mid-eighties, she worked at an Independent Living Center in
California doing intake interviews and service needs assessments with
people who have chemical and electrical sensitivity disabilities, and
did in-service trainings at other centers around California in order to
begin integration of people with sensitivities into the Independent
Living Center system. Since 1994, except for 22 months, she has worked
for the Independent Living Center in Prescott Valley, Arizona, providing
information, training and peer counseling particularly to those disabled
by sensitivities.
Adapted from a speech by Lawrence A. Plumlee, MD
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