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State Center for Independent Living DECEMBER 2007 OSCIL wishes to thank Lift & Care Systems, Inc., Phoenix Property Management, Inc., Michael Warner, and Ride-Away Equipment Corporation for supporting our newsletter in 2007. TABLE OF CONTENTS
The OSCIL office will be closed from Monday, December 24 through Friday, December 28. The office will reopen Monday, December 31 and be closed on New Year’s Day, January 1, 2008. OSCIL Hosts Road To Freedom Bus Tour Early in October, a representative from ADA Watch contacted OSCIL’s Executive Director, Lorna Ricci, and said the Road to Freedom campaign would like to visit Rhode Island. This cross-country tour is raising awareness of the people’s movement leading to the passage of the ADA in 1990 and the subsequent narrowing of the ADA in the courts in recent years. The goal is to call on Americans to advocate that Congress pass the ADA Restoration Act of 2007. Nine days later, on October 12, the Road to Freedom Bus Tour made a stop at the RI State House. Despite the short time frame to mobilize the disability community and the inclement weather, Ms. Ricci welcomed a large crowd of enthusiastic supporters and leaders of the local disability community. Here are highlights of some of their remarks: Representative Eileen S. Naughton stated that with the passage of the ADA, we’ve come a long way, but there is still a long way to go to achieve access to the American Dream and social justice. Ray Carroll from the Office of Rehabilitation Services noted that the unemployment rate of persons with disabilities is ten times greater than the national unemployment rate because employers often overlook persons with disabilities as a resource. Bob Cooper, Executive Secretary of the Governor’s Commission on Disabilities, explained that recent court decisions have weakened the Americans with Disabilities Act by ruling that people who manage their disabilities with medication or who use wheelchairs or hearing aids are too functional to be protected under the ADA. The ADA Restoration Act of 2007 would restore common sense to interpreting the ADA according to its original intent. Congressman James Langevin, one of the co-sponsors of the ADA Restoration Act of 2007, reflected on his life before the passage of the ADA in 1990. He was unable to attend the college of his choice because the college was not accessible, and he could not vote independently. He said that although the ADA has broken down barriers, it was never the intent of the ADA to have courts determine who is disabled. Advocate Jim Ward of ADA Watch gave a rousing talk about the disability rights movement and the ADA. The ADA is about more than just ramps; it includes all disabilities – hidden as well as visible. It’s not about charity, pity or sympathy, but about access and inclusion in society. The tour included a 24-panel exhibit and photographs of disability rights history for all to view. To learn more, visit www.roadtofreedom.org. OSCIL is holding an art contest in conjunction with our 20th anniversary celebration on June 26. Artists are invited to submit original works of art that reflect the celebration’s theme, Reaching New Heights. A panel of judges will select one work of art that will be featured on the cover of the celebration’s program book. The winning artist will be recognized with a cash prize and an award certificate. An art exhibit that will feature all works submitted is planned for early spring of 2008. In addition, other artists may be recognized and their work replicated in a calendar or card collection that will be used to raise funds for OSCIL. The contest deadline for submissions is March 15. For further information, please contact Susan Shapiro at 263-7876. Lorna Ricci is the 2007 recipient of the George F. Moore Memorial Award from the RI Rehabilitation Association. The award recognizes outstanding achievement on behalf of persons with disabilities. Additionally, Lorna received the 2007 Help and Hope Award from the Rhode Island State Independent Living Council for her contributions toward enhancing the lives of Rhode Islanders with disabilities. Presidential Primary Deadlines January 22, 2008: Deadline to apply for a Braille or tactile mail ballot February 2, 2008: Deadline to register to vote for the RI Presidential Primary February 12, 2008: Deadline to apply for a mail ballot March 3, 2008: Deadline to apply for emergency mail ballot March 4, 2008: RI Presidential Primary For further details, contact your local board of canvassers. Applications must be received by the deadline dates. The Rhode Island Food Stamp Outreach Project estimates thousands of Rhode Islanders are eligible for food stamps but have not applied for them. Persons eligible for the $10 monthly benefit may believe this amount is too low to bother to complete a lengthy application. At a workshop at the RI Statewide Independent Living Conference in September, Food Stamps Outreach Coordinator Maria Cimini discussed some of the benefits food stamps recipients receive and encouraged people to check out the program. Some key points of her presentation are listed below: Over 70% of seniors who live alone and 40% of SSI recipients get more than $10. If you pay for heating or cooling costs, including a summer air conditioner fee, a standard utility allowance may make you eligible for more than $10. Food stamp recipients are eligible for discounts on their electric and telephone bills, and get heating assistance. If you receive $10 a month in food stamps, you do not have to spend it right away. You have nine months to spend your benefits. You can shop when you have accumulated $50 or $80. The Food Stamp Program now uses EBT cards to guarantee privacy. These cards look like credit cards, so no one will know the difference. When you swipe the card, your receipt tells you the remaining balance left on the card. If you are unable to complete the paperwork, the Food Stamp Outreach Project will help you with the application process. Call (866) 306-0270. New MS Group: A new MS self-help group has formed in Hope Valley. The group meets the last Monday of each month at the Hopkington Police Station on 406 Woodville Road from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Call Rhonda at 491-9270. Tinnitus Group: A tinnitus support group is meeting once every three months at West Bay Manor in Warwick. Meetings are on Monday at 7 p.m. For a meeting schedule, call Cynthia at 789-6592. New Beginnings: New Beginnings is a support group for persons with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) or fibromyalgia (FM). Persons with these conditions often feel isolated and lack support managing their physical and emotional symptoms. Two years ago, Christine Uttaro from Smithfield was diagnosed with CFS and had to make many lifestyle changes and start her life anew. When she could not find an area support group, she started a group called New Beginnings. The focus is on sharing information, resources, and hope to anyone with chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia. Monthly meetings are held in Smithfield on Saturday mornings. For information, call Christine Uttaro at 339-2193 or email uttaro1.@cox.net. The following information is from the Rhode Island Disability Law Center: If you are a person who is Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing and you need to visit your local Social Security office to conduct business, you have the right to ask that the Social Security Administration (SSA) provide you with a sign language interpreter at no cost to you. Federal laws and Social Security policies require that SSA staff arrange for interpreter services for you. The Rhode Island Disability Law Center has a pamphlet (Your Right to a Sign Language Interpreter at the Social Security Administration) that you can bring with you to a Social Security office if you have difficulty requesting a sign language interpreter. If your request for an interpreter is denied or if you wish to obtain this pamphlet, contact the Disability Law Center at 831-5335 TTY or toll-free voice at (800) 733-5332. The law firm is located at 349 Eddy Street in Providence. If you receive SSDI or SSI benefits because you are blind or disabled, you are allowed to work and still receive benefits. You must always report your earnings to your local SSA office as soon as possible. However, there are limits to what you are allowed to earn, and the amount you earn in wages will affect the amount of benefits to which you are entitled each month. If you are working and receive a notice from Social Security stating that you have been overpaid, you need to respond immediately. A work-related overpayment occurs when you earned so much in gross wages that you are no longer entitled to receive benefits, and SSA has paid you too much in benefits. The overpayment amount in the notice may not be correct because it may not have all of your earnings and deductible Impairment-Related Work Expenses information. If you disagree with the overpayment decisions, you should request an appeal, called a Request for Reconsideration, of Social Security’s decision. If you wish to receive benefits while your appeal is decided, you must request an appeal within 10 days from the date on the notice. Remember to keep copies of all documents about your work and make copies of all documents before giving them to your local Social Security office. Understandably, this may seem very complicated, and you may need help with your appeal. The Rhode Island Disability Law Center can assist you free of charge. You may also request a pamphlet entitled A Guide for Social Security and SSI Disability Beneficiaries in Rhode Island Who Work from the Disability Law Center. In addition, if you have questions about your work and Social Security benefits, you may meet with a community work incentives coordinator to review your situation. Call 421-7005 ext. 405 or ext. 443 to make an appointment. Are you concerned about getting the help you need in an emergency? The RI Department of Health and Emergency Management Agency have partnered to create the RI Special Needs Emergency Registry – a system to better serve residents with disabilities, chronic conditions, and special healthcare needs. The registry was created in order to help emergency responders better plan and prepare for emergency evacuations. In addition, emergency responders can use individual data when they are called to a specific location. Rhode Island residents can provide critical information about special needs, such as: Life Support Systems: For example, use of oxygen, respirator/ventilator, dialysis, pacemaker, defibrillator, insulin-dependent etc. Mobility: For example, use of wheelchair or mobility vehicle, walker, cane, prosthesis, crutches, assistive animal etc. Disability Information: For example, visually impaired, blind, deaf, hard of hearing, speech impaired, non-verbal, cognitively impaired, etc. To be included in this voluntary registry or to update old information, you or a family member or caregiver must complete the registry form. You may enroll online at www.health.ri.gov/emregistry. Forms are available at various agencies or you may contact Dr. Kate McCarthy-Barnett at the Dept. of Health at 222-4616. RI Transitions and College Link are informative publications of the Paul Sherlock Center on Disabilities at Rhode Island College. Both have excellent information for students with disabilities and their families about transitioning to adult life and post-secondary educational issues. The publications are available in various formats and may be downloaded from the web site at www.sherlockcenter.org. To request a paper copy, call Beth at 456-8072 Voice or 456-8073 TTY. Mark Gunning, Statewide Transition Coordinator at the Sherlock Center and editor of these publications, welcomes your comments and suggestions. Contact him at the above numbers or via email at mgunning@ric.edu. Check out the Web site which has links to other disability resources and programs. Open enrollment for Medicare Part D is from November 15 through December 31. If you have already joined a plan and are satisfied with it, then you do not have to do anything; your coverage will continue although your monthly premium may change for 2008. You should receive a benefits package for 2008 from your plan. If you have not joined a plan and wish to do so, you must join during the open enrollment period. For further information, contact your local senior center or call The Point at 462-4444. DOORS (Disability Outreach Offering Resources through Service) is a new program in Rhode Island designed to train people with disabilities of all ages to serve as volunteers. Volunteering has many benefits, including learning or developing valuable skills that may lead to employment, resume-building, meeting new people, and gaining personal satisfaction by helping others. To learn more about various volunteer opportunities, call Linda Graimm at 421-7472 or email linda@capitolregionrsvp.org. Linda is with Americorps VISTA (Volunteer in Service to America). The Meals on Wheels Chelo’s Senior Dining Program began in September. Under this program, persons 60 or older fill out an application at the Meals on Wheels office on 70 Bath Street in Providence and are then able to purchase five-dollar vouchers to dine at Chelo’s restaurant at 550 Silver Spring Street in Providence. The voucher can be used to purchase one of five menu selections Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sample choices might include poached haddock, chicken parmesan, or a roast beef sandwich. (Dessert and gratuity are not included.) For further details, contact Meals on Wheels at 351-6700. LOOKING AHEAD SUPPORT OSCIL THROUGH THE UNITED WAY CAMPAIGN You can support OSCIL’s programs and services through your company’s United Way campaign. If you wish to direct your pledge to OSCIL, just write in Ocean State Center for Independent Living. Thank you. OSCIL SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE IN FEBRUARY In April 2008, OSCIL will award two $1,000 educational scholarships. Applicants must be Rhode Island residents with significant disabilities currently enrolled or planning to enroll in a post-secondary education program. This may include an academic, trade, or vocational program. Preference will be given to merit, economic need, and career goals. Scholarship applications will be mailed out in February and will be on the OSCIL web site, www.oscil.org. For details, call Carol McKenna at the OSCIL office. VSA ARTS OF RHODE ISLAND FUNDRAISER: MARDI GRAS BALL
Saturday, February 23 The 16th annual Cajun & Zydeco Mardi Gras Ball features Louisiana bands, cash bar and food for purchase, dancing, and a costume contest. Tickets: $30 in advance; $35 at the door. For further information call 783-3926 or visit www.mardigrasri.com BRAIN INJURY ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE
Friday, March 28 Learning through Living: Being Well with Traumatic Brain Injury. Call 461-6599 for registration information or email info@biaofri.org
SAVE THE DATE:
June 26, 2008 The evening celebration, Reaching New Heights, will feature Dr. Timothy Warren, chiropractor and renowned mountain climber, who successfully climbed Mt. Everest. See page 2 for details about OSCIL’s Anniversary Celebration Art Contest. High school juniors and seniors with disabilities who have demonstrated leadership capabilities in their communities and schools are invited to apply for the 2008 Youth Leadership Forum. This four-day forum will be held at Camp Canonicus in Exeter in August. To request an application packet, contact Carol McKenna at OSCIL. Serve New England Food Cooperative Are you looking for a way to stretch your food dollars and have top-quality meats and produce every month? Serve New England is a nonprofit food cooperative that has been bringing high-quality, low cost food items to residents of New England since 1991. Serve buys directly from wholesalers and local farmers in large quantities. Overhead costs are low since volunteers do most of the work. This allows the co-op to pass on savings to its members. There are almost 300 Serve host sites throughout New England; most are at churches or public facilities. Offered monthly are family meal packages, meat packages, and specialty items at 30 to 50% discounts. Food orders are due and payable the first week of the month, and delivery is on the third or fourth Saturday of each month. Orders may be placed by phone, in person, or online and are payable by cash, credit or EBT. Participants also receive a free monthly newsletter with recipes, nutrition tips, and information about fun promotional items such as calendars, mugs, T-shirts that are for sale to benefit Serve’s educational scholarships. Serve is for everyone! There are no eligibility requirements other than two hours of volunteer service each month. If you volunteer at your church, school, senior center, or help an elderly neighbor, you already qualify. To find a chapter near you, call toll-free (888) 742-7363 or visit the Web site at www.servenewengland.org. |
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