INDEPENDENT
LIVING
AND
ADVOCACY
BY,
AND
FOR,
PEOPLE
WITH
DISABILITIES
|
The Bridge News from the Arizona Bridge to Independent Living Volume XV, Number 10 OCTOBER 2004 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!" Medicare
Rx Benefit – Help Get the Word Out! By Eddie Sissons and Donna Kruck A largely hidden feature of the new Medicare reform bill is
just NOW being publicized and outreach efforts launched.
A savings of $600 in 2004 and again in 2005 can be received by a
single Medicare beneficiary with an income no greater than $12,569
($1,047 or less per month) or by a couple with income below $16,862
($1,405 per month). Yes, if someone gets Qualified Medicare Beneficiary
(QMB) or Service Limited Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB) services they 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. There are an
estimated 53,000 Medicare beneficiaries in Maricopa County and only
about 8,000 currently taking advantage of this benefit! ABIL wants to
make sure qualified beneficiaries with disabilities under 65 know about
this benefit. It only takes about 30 minutes to determine if someone 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 Medicare 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 $600 credit in
2004, Medicare beneficiaries need to submit a completed application by
November 30, 2004. The good news is that any unused 2004 credit rolls
over into 2005, plus another $600 credit will be given for 2005. In 2005
the rules change a little, and if the beneficiary waits until 2005 to
apply for this program, they will only get a credit based on the months
left in 2005. For instance,
if they apply in January 2005 they will get the full $600 prescription
credit if they qualify, but if they wait until June 2005, they will only
get a $300 credit. Persons eligible for the Medicare transition
assistance program will not have to pay the annual enrollment fee. 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. Important things to remember: 1.
Individuals must be enrolled in Medicare. 2.
Individuals must be enrolled in a Medicare-approved card program. 3.
Individuals may be eligible if enrolled in a Medigap or Medicare
Advantage plan. 4.
Individuals must not be enrolled in AHCCCS, ALTCS, TRICARE
for Life, Federal Employee Health Benefits, employer health insurance or
a private health insurance program that provides prescription coverage. Sounds easy, but unfortunately many people are missing the
boat. Local agencies are available to provide assistance. Help us get
the word out! Contact: l
Foundation for Senior Living, 602-285-0505 ext. 186 or TTY at
602-222-1063, www.fslaz.org l Area Agency on Aging, HELPLINE, 602-264-4357
or 1-888-264-2258 l
Arizona’s State Health Insurance Program, 602-542-4446, 1-800-432-4040, or
TTY at 602-542-6366 l
BenefitsCheckUp, www.benefitscheckup.org, call 1-800-633-4227
or TTY at 1-877-486-2048 See advocacy Presentation section for information on an ABIL
workshop on the Medicare Rx Benefit -------------------------- Voting
is Not a Right, It’s a Responsibility! Phil Pangrazio, ABIL Executive Director For many Americans, voting in a U.S. Presidential election is
a constitutional right that is looked upon with great passion and
conviction. Whether you are
a Democrat, Republican or Independent, opinions about the current state
of American politics, foreign affairs, or the economy are as emotionally
charged and varied as the two candidates running for president. I’ve always looked forward to our presidential elections.
It’s really a special time!
It’s a time when we examine where we’ve been and where we
want to go as a nation. It’s a time when we sit around our kitchen tables, office
water coolers, or local pubs and debate world affairs and national
politics. It’s a time
when “we” get to exercise our right to vote and decide who leads
this country. This is a right, however, that should not be taken for
granted! In fact, it’s a
right that comes with a responsibility to be informed.
Getting informed is not too difficult.
For nearly a year, we get bombarded with information about each
candidate. Television
brings party politics into our living rooms with the national party
conventions and months of intense news coverage.
Party platforms are developed.
The media’s attention to hot current events becomes the driving
force that shapes each political campaign.
Sound-bites weigh heavy in influencing the electorate.
It’s really an interesting and exciting process, but more
importantly, it’s a process that we as citizens have an obligation to
participate in by voting. On November 2nd, 2004, American voters will go to the polls
to elect the person who will serve as president for the next four years.
Sadly, only about 60 percent of eligible American voters will
show up to the polls for this incredibly important election.
Never before in human history has more been at stake.
With the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the continuing concerns
about domestic terrorism, the next president will oversee a U.S. foreign
policy that must respond to unprecedented instability in the Middle
East, as well as, burgeoning nuclear threats from countries such as
North Korea, Iran, and Pakistan. Never
has voting been so important! The following facts and survey data was collected by the U.S.
Census Bureau and the General Accounting Office. I hope you find this
information useful as you ponder your decision to go to the polls on
November 2nd. l Nationally,
60 percent of eligible voters cast their ballots in the November 2000
presidential election, slightly higher than the 58 percent who voted in
1996. l 61 percent of eligible women
voters voted in the 2000 presidential election. That is higher than the
58 percent of men who voted. l 72
percent of citizens ages 65 to 74 voted in the 2000 presidential
election. This age group has the highest voting participation of any age
group. l Among
people who said they were registered to vote in 2000 but did not
actually vote, 21 percent gave as a reason that they were too busy or
had conflicting work or school schedules.
This was the most common reason given for not voting. l People
with disabilities were on average about 12 percentage points less likely
than those without disabilities to vote. l If
people with disabilities voted at the same rate as those without
disabilities, there would have been 3.2 million additional voters in
2000, raising the overall turnout rate by 1.7 percentage points. 2000 Presidential Election Results Candidates
Party
Popular Votes
% Pop. Vote
Electoral Votes George
W. Bush
Republican
50,456,062
47.9%
271 Al
Gore
Democrat
50,996,582
48.4%
267 Ralph
Nader
Green
2,858,843
2.7%
0 Pat
Buchanan
Reform
438,760
0.4%
0 No matter who you support, please at least vote!
As Justin Dart would say, “Vote as if your life depended on it, because it does!” -------------------------------- 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 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. Ann
Pasco, 296-0514 ............ Operations/Special Projects 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 Pandy
Elliott, 443-0720 ......... Program Aide/Receptionist 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 Marisa
Colon, 443-0713 ....... Program Aide/Support Coord. Lynda
Connors, 443-0712 ......... Employment Coordinator Joe
Connors, 443-0709 ............... Employment Coordinator Vacant,
443-0701 ........... Program Support/ Billing Coord 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. Tyrone
Harrington, 424-4103 ......... 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
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. Roxanna
Williams, 424-4106 .................. PAS Field Rep. Melanie
Woods, 480-222-4205 ................ PAS Field Rep. Bonnie Zanardi, 480-222-4202 ................ PAS Feild Rep. ----------------------------------- Beautiful Minds & Beautiful People 7th Annual Mental Health Awareness Festival Saturday October 23rd Noon
- 7PM
Encanto Park (Clubhouse
and surrounding area) Candlelight Vigil at 6:30PM l
Mental
& General Health screenings l
Games,
Music, Bounce Houses l
Essays
& Art Displays l
Make
& Take Art l
Exhibitor
Resource Fair Donations welcome. Please write your tax deductible check and
mail it to: META Services, Attn: Melissa Doppler, 2701 N. 16th St., Ste. 316, Phoenix, AZ 85006 Who We Are: AZ Behavioral health Corporation, AZ Center for
Disability Law, AZ Dept of Behavioral Health Services, SOON, Teen
Lifeline, Southwest Behavioral Health Services, Southwest Network,
Triple R Behavioral Health, Value Options. Proceeds benefit College
Scholarship Fund and Adult-Youth Projects --------------------------- Mosquito Fogging Info Reminder By Donna Kruck Thanks to the Phoenix HEAL support group chapter that put
together helpful information on mosquito fogging found on their website:
http://www.geocities.com/phxheal/fogging.htm I took HEAL’s advice from the web page and called Maricopa
County Vector control in order to get on their Must Call phone
list to be notified about fogging in my neighborhood. I have chemical
sensitivities and my husband has asthma, so we are concerned. Vector
Control has called me three times so far; twice because they were
fogging a couple of miles from my home and wanted to notify me; once
because they were going to fog that night in my neighborhood.
They were very helpful. Warning! Being
on the list does not prevent them from fogging your house, it just warns
you so you can take your own precautions.
It is recommended that if you are worried about contamination
from the fogging chemicals, you want to stay indoors between 10 PM and
the next morning. If you
have animal food or water dishes outside, you want to take them in
overnight. In fact, make
sure the pets stay inside overnight too, if possible.
Several physicians who are opposed to the spraying because of
health concerns held a press conference in Phoenix to help the public
understand the dangers of the pesticide fogging. They believe the West Nile Virus only harms those with
vulnerable immune systems and those who are sensitive to the toxic
chemicals that are being used for fogging.
Although the County Health Department is keeping track of how
many people are infected or die from the virus, they are not keeping
track of how many people get ill from the fogging. Even worse, much of
the effects are built up over time, which makes the dangers harder to
track. You can call the Fogging
Hotline number every day to see what neighborhoods they are spraying.
For
more information, go to the web site above. Fogging Hotline- 602-372-3000 Maricopa County Environmental Services Vector Control --------------------------------- PDBTAC Teleconference October 19th 11:00AM-12:30PM ABIL/Phx Vote 2004: Will people with disabilities be
able to vote? What are the issues and where are we today? RSVP to Darrel Christenson, 602-296-0530. ---------------------------------- Voting
- No Way to Make it Simple!
By
Donna Kruck I wish I could make it easy, but it isn’t.
In the November General Election we will be asked to choose
Federal candidates (President, Congress, Senate) State (legislators-
House and Senate), City Council members, County Attorney and Sheriff,
judges, propositions that affect the state constitution, and ones that
affect the county, etc.! WOW!
Unfortunately, there is no one place to go to get
information about everything. Sample Ballot: You
should get a sample ballot by October 22.
If you don’t, call your County Elections Department - For
Maricopa County that is 602-506-1511.
You can also request an early ballot from them.
The County Elections Department handles the election, send out
ballots, trains poll workers and selects poll sites.
If you need a voting accommodation or alternate format for your
ballot, contact the number above for Maricopa County, or call
information for other counties. The Sample Ballot will have all the candidates and
issues listed that you will have the opportunity to vote on .
Take time to study it before you go vote.
You can find your voting district information on your voter
registration card or go to www.vote-smart.com . You have several
voting districts: federal, state, city etc. Where to vote: On the front of the Sample Ballot,
you will find the correct address for your polling site.
This is where you need to go to cast your vote on Election Day,
November 2nd.
Warning! The County Elections Department told us that the
Maricopa Community College bond booklets have polling site address, but
don’t rely on them because some of them are incorrect.
Voting Issues: You also should receive several
booklets in the mail describing to you different issues (propositions)
that will be on the Ballot, such as a Maricopa Community College bond
propositions, Proposition 400 - the transportation tax and several
others. Those booklets
explain the issues and contain letters for and against the proposition. Candidates: In the primary, you only had
choices within one party for candidates. In the upcoming General
Election you will be able to vote for any candidate on the
ballot, regardless of their party affiliation.
For state offices like legislators, you can get a candidate
booklet from the Clean Elections Commission at 602-364-3477 or go to www.azcleanelections.gov
. You can request it in
alternate formats, such as large print.
However, they will not have the County candidates listed, like
the race for Maricopa County Sheriff or Attorney. Confused yet?
Just remember, you do not have to vote on anything do not want to
or don’t feel knowledgeable enough to vote for.
It is better to only vote on those issues and candidates
important to you, than to avoid voting because you feel overwhelmed with
the choices. Who doesn’t?
You should get the Sample Ballot in enough time to look it
over and ask around if you need more information.
Recently moved? If
you haven’t had time to re-register, you can always go vote at the
closest polling site even if it is not the district you are registered
in by casting a “provisional ballot.”
If you forget to mail your Early Ballot you an also take it to
the closest polling site and cast a “provisional ballot.” Transportation issues: If you need a ride to the
polls, try to plan ahead. If you have no alternative, you can call the
political party headquarters of the candidates if your choice and ask
them to help you. Remember, you will have to live with the consequences of the
elected officials and propositions
that win – MAKE SURE TO PUT IN YOUR 2 CENTS WORTH. DON’T FORGET to take our Polling Site Survey
with you to the polls, fill it out and mail it in –see page 6.
THANKS AND HAPPY VOTING! --------------------------------------- Important
Electoral Deadlines: October 4 ............ Last day to register for General Election October 22 ......... You should receive sample ballots November 2 ........
General Election (Early ballots must be mailed in time to arrive by 7:00 PM on
Election Day November 2nd) --------------------------------------- “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed
citizens can change the word; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever
does” – Margaret Mead Polling
Place Accessibility Project Polling
Place Evaluation Form LOCAL INFORMATION County
_______________________________________Municipality
________________________ Polling
Place Number and Address:
____________________________________________________ Your
Name: _________________________________________ Phone:
______________________ PARKING: 1)
Is accessible parking available?
Yes ?
No ? 2)
Is the accessible parking as close as possible to the entrance? Yes ? No ?
3)
Is the accessible parking clearly marked?
Yes ? No ? RAMPS AND CURB CUTS: 4)
Do the sidewalks leading to the polling place have curb cuts? Yes ? No ? 5)
Does the polling place have ramps or is access barrier free?
Yes ?
No ? 6)
Are there handrails on both sides of the ramp?
Yes ? No ? ENTRANCE: 7)
Is at least one entrance to the building wheelchair accessible?
Yes ?
No ? 8)
If the main entrance is not accessible, does a sign direct
Yes ? No ? people
to the accessible entrance? 9)
Are doors to the polling place wide enough so people using
Yes ? No ? wheelchairs
or other assistive devices (walkers, canes, etc.) can
enter? INTERIOR ACCESS: 11) Is there a clear path from the entrance to the voting
area?
Yes ?
No ? 12) Are there any doors on the path to the voting area?
Yes ? No ? 13) Do all of the doors have a lever-type handle or
push-plates so
Yes ?
No ? that
twisting a door knob is not required? VOTING ASSISTANCE: 14) Is there one voting booth for persons with physical
disabilities?
Yes ?
No ? 15)
Are ballots available in large print or Braille?
Yes ? No ? 16) Was there help available to assist you in voting?
Yes ? No ? Please
indicate any other barriers to voting you identified. If you need more
room, use the back of this sheet. ________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Please
return the completed form to the Arizona
Center for Disability Law, 100 North Stone Avenue, Suite 305, Tucson, AZ
85701. ---------------------------------------------- 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 l On Social Security Benefits? l Do you want to work? l 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. Thursday,
October 21
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 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 & SSI
Thursday, October 7
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. 2345 E. Thomas Rd. Ste.
290, Phoenix, AZ Work
Incentives & SSDI
Tuesday, October 12
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. 2345 E. Thomas Rd. Ste.
290, Phoenix, AZ Monday, October 25
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. 735 N. Gilbert Rd., Ste. 134, Gilbert, AZ Wednesday, October 27
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. ABIL Metro Center, 10000 N. 31st Ave. #D405, Phx -------------------------------------- Prop. 400 Information Sessions
Your vote can make the difference!
Be Informed! There is much controversy and
misinformation about Proposition 400, the county transportation
half-cent sales tax. Learn
more about Prop. 400 by attending one of the information sessions listed
below. Knowledgeable speakers will explain how Prop. 400 benefits
persons with disabilities. Sponsored by TRIP and ABIL. Learn about: l
How the tax works l
The Regional County Transportation Plan it will fund l
Planned improvements to public transit (bus, Dial-A-Ride, Light Rail) l
Planned improvements to roads and freeways Phoenix
Saturday, October 9th
10 a.m. - Noon
ASU Downtown, First Floor Building
C 502 East Monroe, Parking Lot at
Monroe (South Side) Between 7 St.& 5 St. Mesa
Monday, October 11th
1-3:30 p.m.
2150 S. Country Club, #10 Snacks provided. You must RSVP by
October 7th to reserve space, to request materials in alternate formats,
a sign language interpreter or transportation assistance. Contact April
at aprilr@abil.org, 602-443-0730 and leave a message.
April can also get you copies of information sheets on Prop. 400.
-------------------------------------- New Medicare Rx Benefit – Act Now and Save! |