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Ocean
State Center for Independent Living
Signs
of Independence Mention of any product, service, or event in this newsletter does not constitute any endorsement or recommendation by OSCIL. Signs of Independence is made possible by the generosity of our advertisers. OSCIL wishes to thank Freedom Lifts and the National MS Society Rhode Island Chapter for sponsoring this edition of our newsletter.
18th Annual
Meeting Highlights A Busy Year
18th Annual Meeting Highlights A Busy Year OSCIL’s 18th annual meeting and awards ceremony was held on April 27th at the Warwick Public Library. Board President Henry Tarlian summarized some of our Center’s accomplishments of the last fiscal year, noting that over 6,000 individuals were served by OSCIL. Mr. Tarlian reported that 509 persons received direct, one-to-one services. Another 1,178 called our agency for information and referral. Six consumers transitioned out of area nursing homes, and 149 people are now living in homes that have been made more accessible by our home modification and adaptive equipment program. Sixty consumers worked on housing goals. OSCIL’s Benefits Specialist assisted 181 consumers to understand their benefit options regarding employment. Lastly, there were 102,464 visits to our Web site. Noteworthy highlights of 2005 include
John Howell, Warwick Beacon Editor, awarded three $1,000 Catherine T. Murray Memorial Scholarships and one $500 New Pathways Scholarship to the following students: Christina Battista has an Associate’s Degree from CCRI and is currently a psychology major at Rhode Island College. Her goal is to obtain a Master’s degree and work with individuals with disabilities. Charlene DeMello is a busy mother raising three children while working as a CNA in a nursing facility and attending CCRI in pursuit of a social work career. Carlos Garcia plans to attend Rhode Island College to prepare for a career in mathematics or accounting. James Pimental is the recipient of the New Pathways Award. This award recognizes an individual who experienced the sudden onset of a severe disability in midlife. Instead of dwelling on the disability and abandoning work because he could no longer continue in his job, James chose to redirect his life and prepare for a new career in education. Lorna Ricci recognized the following two staff members for their dedicated service to OSCIL: Housing Advocate Hal Fayerweather for fifteen years and Program Director Lezlee Shaffer for ten years. On behalf of the entire staff, Carol McKenna thanked the following volunteers for their loyal service to OSCIL: Jean Bradley, Lauren Chicoine, Ruth Clark, Scott Fayerweather, Lillian Freeman, Pat McCrone, Tony Ricci, Linda Souza, and Samantha Turner. Stephanie Booth, Kristen Connors, Richard DeGregorio, Jose Lobaton, Pat McCrone, and Susan Shapiro were elected to the OSCIL Board of Directors, joining Henry Tarlian, James Bateman, Mary Leeman, Lydia LeFebvre, Anne McDonald, John Nakowicz, Rep. Eileen Naughton, and David Smith. Keratoconus (KC) is a visual impairment in which the normally round dome-shaped cornea progressively thins, causing a cone-like bulge to develop. In the earliest stages keratoconus causes slight blurring and increased sensitivity to glare and light. The symptoms first appear in the late teens and early twenties. It may progress for 10 to 20 years and then slow its progression. Eyeglasses or contact lenses may be used in the early stages of the disease. As the disorder progresses and the cornea continues to thin and change shape, rigid gas permeable contact lenses can be prescribed to correct vision. In severe cases, a corneal transplant may be needed. It is estimated that one out of every 2,000 persons in the general population is affected by keratoconus, but most persons have never met another person with this condition. Persons may feel isolated and alone with no one to talk to. The National Keratoconus Foundation has developed two successful programs to help. KC-Link is an e-mail forum for people with keratoconus, linking subscribers all over the world. To subscribe to this link, visit the Web site www.nkcf.org and click on KC Link. The Outreach and Transplant Buddy Program allows participants to converse via telephone. Outreach volunteers with keratoconus provide peer support via telephone. Call (800) 521-2524 or send e-mail to info@nkcf.org. Note: One-to-one peer support for keratoconus is available at OSCIL. Many persons with environmental illness feel isolated from others and from society. Dori R. Blacker is trying to help by creating a new organization, The Voice of the Canary – TWEET – that stands for Those Who Experience Environmental Trauma. TWEET is a registry/advocacy organization working for the rights of the chemically injured in our state. Persons with environmental illness, family, friends, and supporters are welcome give their input and get involved. TWEET hopes anyone who has chemical sensitivity, whether a single sensitivity or multiple sensitivities, will contact them. Contact Dori R. Blacker at 934-0830 or e-mail to voiceofthecanary@cox.net. Fixing to Stay provides a range of support services that help persons remain independent in their homes. From simple repairs to major remodeling projects, this company offers solutions to aging-in-place and maintaining independence. Examples of projects include: hand rails and grab bar installation, handheld showers, wheelchair ramps, walk-in bathtubs, TubcutÔ(see www.tubcut.com), bathroom remodeling, and more. Contact Greg Murphy at 369-9133 or toll-free at (866) 584-5167. Fixing to Stay is based in Cumberland and is insured and licensed in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Mr. Murphy is a certified aging-in-place specialist. David M. Delisle, RI Area Director of USDA (United States Dept. of Agriculture) Rural Development, sent OSCIL updates about two programs for rural homeowners or individuals interested in becoming rural homeowners. Rural Development is accepting applications from persons interested in applying for assistance to purchase or build a single-family home or purchase a condominium in an eligible rural area. The Single-Family Direct Housing Loan Program (section 502) allows the opportunity to purchase or build a home with no down payment and financing of up to 100%. Eligible applicants must be unable to secure a conventional bank mortgage and be in need of a home that will be occupied as their primary residence. Applicants are expected to have a dependable source of income and a reasonably good history of paying past credit obligations. The program’s maximum household income varies according to family size and the town in which the property is located. Generally the income for a one-member household cannot exceed $46,100; a two-member household $51,900; and a three-member household $57,700. USDA Rural Development is an equal opportunity lender and an advocate of eliminating housing discrimination. Rural Development provides grants and one-percent loans for rural homeowners to make necessary repairs and improvements to their homes. Loans may be made for up to $20,000 at an interest rate of one percent. Grants for up to $7,500 are available to senior citizens who are 62 years of age or older and who cannot meet the expense of a loan. Funds may be used for such purposes as heating, storm windows, insulation, electrical and plumbing repairs, well and septic system repairs, or roof and chimney repairs. In addition, homeowners can use financing to install ramps or make other home improvements in order to maintain or improve an applicant’s independence. To qualify, an applicant must be the owner or occupant of a single-family home located in an eligible rural area. Generally, the annual income for a single member household cannot exceed $23,750; a two-member household $27,150; and a three-member household $30,550. Income limits are slightly higher for Hopkinton, New Shoreham, and Westerly. There are 28 eligible communities in Rhode Island. Information regarding eligible communities and applications may be obtained at the USDA Rural Development office located at 60 Quaker Lane, Ste. 44 in Warwick, or by calling 826-0842. You may send email to David.Delisle@ri.usda.gov. Students at URI’s Assistive Technology (AT) Lab develop innovative devices such as switches and environmental control units that enable persons with limited movement to better control their environments. The program operates with the support of URI and Eleanor Slater Hospital of the RI Dept. of MHRH. Its primary goal is to engage URI Biomedical Engineering students in developing AT devices for patients at Eleanor Slater and Zambarano Hospitals. URI students and faculty also reach out to the community by evaluating AT needs and providing customized devices for individuals with severe disabilities. If you need a customized assistive device or have questions, contact the AT lab. Call Yin Sun, PhD at 874-2515 or send an email to sun@ele.uri.edu. The Brain Injury Fund is an opportunity for people with traumatic or acquired brain injuries to obtain services and supports to enhance their participation in community life that would otherwise be unattainable due to financial limitations. There is a spending cap of $1500 per person; funding should be considered a fund of last resort. Examples of possible requests include transportation services, minor home modifications, recreational programs, assistive devices, and household items or security deposits needed to transition to a more independent living situation. Call Rosemarie Coffey at PARI at 725-1966. Kmart has entered into an agreement to settle a class action lawsuit. The lawsuit, Lucas V. Kmart Corporation, sought to make Kmart alter its stores with respect to access for people who use wheelchairs or scooters and sought damages in an amount specified by statute (statutory minimum damages) for individuals who use wheelchairs or scooters for mobility and who shopped or shop at Kmart stores in California, Colorado, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, or Texas (damaged states). Kmart denied liability, and the court did not decide which side was right. Under the settlement, Kmart will make alterations to its stores nationwide to increase their accessibility for individuals who use wheelchairs or scooters and pay $13 million ($8 million in cash and $5 million in gift cards). If an individual used or uses a wheelchair or scooter for mobility and shopped at a Kmart in a damaged state between May 6, 2003, and July 7, 2006, he/she may be eligible for monetary recovery. To qualify for payment, you must submit a claim by August 16, 2006. The above information is an incomplete summary of this settlement. For a full summary, please call the numbers below or visit the following Web site.
New PathFinders Brain Injury Program The PathFinders Program, which opened in March 2006, is a post-rehabilitation day program designed to improve the lives of people living with brain injury from trauma, tumor, or stroke who have had medically intensive services at a hospital or rehab center and are now back in their communities. PathFinders aims to have members and staff work together to plan and carry out a variety of jobs and tasks necessary to operate the Clubhouse Program. The program’s structure and staff-member relationships emphasize the importance of self-determination and self-sufficiency following brain injury. An informal atmosphere allows participants to select from a variety of structured activities designed for both enjoyment and improving life skills. Activities include a computer lab, cooking in a fully equipped kitchen, arts and crafts, discussion groups, peer support, a complete exercise gym, games, movie theater, and much more. Members may attend one to five days a week. Lunch is included in the day program, and transportation may be arranged. Staff members have had training in nursing and social work. Payment may be private, through Medicaid, or some waiver programs. The fee is forty dollars per day. PathFinders is located in the Generations Building (second floor) at 1073 Mineral Spring Avenue in North Providence. The building is wheelchair accessible. For further details or to arrange for a tour, contact Erin Finneran or Greg Andrade at 305-5300. Food Stamp Benefits: Persons who live in subsidized housing and pay any heating or air conditioning costs may be eligible for a larger Food Stamp benefit as a result of a 2005 change in the calculation of a standard utility allowance. Contact your DHS caseworker. Adaptive Devices Catalog: Active and Able offers a wide assortment of adaptive equipment in their catalog and on their Web site. Visit www.activeandable.com. Web links are organized into categories such as vision, hearing, dexterity, mobility, and memory. To request a catalog, call (877) 229-9993. Gamblers Anonymous: Addiction to gambling is an illness. For a list of local gamblers anonymous meetings or to talk to a volunteer, call 886-6850. Internet Health Web Site Ratings: Consumer Health WebWatch has released ratings of the most popular health information sites on the Internet. Visit www.healthratings.org. West Bay Community Action is now part of Serve New England, the region’s largest food buying cooperative. Participants are required to contribute two hours a month volunteering in the community and may save up to 40% on food packages. To join the West Bay site, call Kelly Chadronet at 732-4660 ext. 140. For Sale: Accessible Van. 1994 Ford Hightop. 120,000 miles. Good condition. No rust. Asking $6800. Call 737-6444. COASTWAY CARES 4TH ANNUAL CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT
PUBLIC FORUMS COMING WEEK OF JULY 24 – 28
20th RHODE ISLAND STATEWIDE INDEPENDENT LIVING CONFERENCE
OSCIL HALLOWEEN BREAKFAST FUNDRAISER
OSCIL 2006 MEMBERSHIP DRIVE
ACCESSIBLE SUMMER RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
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