|
|
|
|
JUNE 2009
Click here
to view previous months of the Signs of Independence Newsletter
Mention of any product, service, or event in this newsletter does
not
constitute any endorsement or recommendation by OSCIL.
If you wish to advertise in the OSCIL newsletter, please contact Susan Eleoff at 738-1013 ext. 13.
New OSCIL E-Mail: Please note our new e-mail address: info@oscil.org.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
21st Annual Meeting Reviews an Active Year
OSCIL Updates
Election of Board of Directors
OSCIL Volunteers
OSCIL Scholarship Winners
Scholarship Winner Update
Essential Skills Program
Brain Injury Fund
Donations Wanted
Online Housing Resource
Recreation Guide
Discount Medical Equipment
Section 504 Loan Program
FYI
Looking Ahead
Aid and Attendance Pension from Veterans Affairs
21st Annual Meeting Reviews an Active Year
OSCIL’s 21st annual meeting was held on April 28th at the Coastway Credit Union in Warwick. Board President Henry Tarlian summarized highlights of OSCIL’s last fiscal year from October 1, 2007, through September 30, 2008.
Fortunately, OSCIL’s services were not affected by any significant loss of funding. Continued federal and state funding as well as support from Ocean State Charities Trust and the RI Department of Elderly Affairs to operate a store-front for the Point allowed OSCIL to offer key services and address barriers to independence in consumers’ homes and in the community.
This was a busy year for advocacy. OSCIL had a strong presence at the RI State House giving testimony for the continuance of existing RIPTA bus routes and supporting legislation for accessible taxicabs. OSCIL advocated for the continuance of existing Medicaid waiver programs and expressed concerns regarding proposed changes to the current system. Testimony was given to support nursing home transition and the community living option. We opposed budget cuts to programs that would affect low-income residents, and OSCIL rallied with other advocates to support the need for more affordable housing in our state.
OSCIL provided assistance to over 6,000 individuals through direct service, outreach, information and referral. Of the 357 persons who received direct services, 53% were new intakes. We attribute this high number to our outreach efforts and increased interest in our services from other agencies, the Point, service providers and consumer referrals. Over 113,364 people visited our Web site as well.
OSCIL received an increase in requests for independent living assessments, conducting 82 assessments for home modifications and adaptive equipment. Another 128 consumers were given assistance with the purchase of assistive technology to achieve goals for independence and 11 more received Shake-Awake smoke detectors.
Our housing advocate assisted 81 consumers to secure affordable, accessible housing. In addition, OSCIL worked with 25 individuals on goals to transition out of nursing homes. As a result of our home access program, 152 people are living in homes that have been made more accessible.
There were two noteworthy events in the past fiscal year. In October 2007, OSCIL hosted the Road to Freedom Bus Tour at the RI State House, bringing together 150 advocates to show support for the passage of the ADA Restoration Act. OSCIL’s 20th anniversary celebration and fundraiser was a well-attended, fun-filled evening that raised $23,000 for our agency.
New employee: OSCIL welcomes Melissa Rosenberg as our new Independent Living Assistant Technology Specialist. Melissa is a graduate of New England Institute of Technology’s Occupational Therapy Assistant Program.
Smoke Detector Program: OSCIL recently received a grant of $2,800 from the RI Foundation in support of our Shake-Awake Smoke Detector Program. This grant will enable us to continue providing these life-saving devices in the homes of Rhode Islanders who are deaf or hard of hearing and unable to hear a traditional smoke detector. We appreciate this generous funding to support our program and mission to assist people with disabilities to maintain their independence.
Home Modification Program Expansion:
The Tufts Health Plan Foundation awarded OSCIL a $50,000 grant for our
Home Sweet Accessible Home Project. The focus of this project will be to increase safety and access in the homes of seniors age 60 and over through the acquisition of assistive technology and low-cost home modifications. More details about Home Sweet Accessible Home will be in our September newsletter; however, you may contact our office now if you would like more information about this program.
OSCIL anticipates additional funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to expand our existing home modification program. Increased funding would allow us to address our waiting list for home modifications and serve new consumers. This program removes barriers to independence in the home environment. Participants must meet economic need guidelines, be self-directed and reside in their own homes or relative-owned homes. For additional details visit www.oscil.org or call OSCIL at 738-1013 ext. 13.
Election of Board of Directors
Henry Tarlian, James Bateman, Stephanie Clang, Kristen Connors, Laurie Johnson, Jose Lobaton, Pat McCrone, Anne McDonald, Dr. Raymond Mis, John Nakowicz, Rep. Eileen Naughton, Donald Perna, Marie Perna, and Susan Shapiro were elected to OSCIL’s Board of Directors at our annual meeting.
OSCIL wishes to recognize and thank the following dedicated volunteers for sharing their time and talents with us: Jean Bradley, Ruth Clark, Stan Davies, Pat McCrone, Marie Perna, Tony Ricci, Tina Silvestro, Marty Szuch, Dylan Turner, and Sami Turner.
OSCIL congratulates the three 2009 winners of the $1,000 Catherine T. Murray Memorial Scholarship awards.
· Chelsea Haynes is a senior honors student at Scituate High School who plans to pursue a career in dentistry. She will study biology and chemistry as part of a pre-dental program at Brown University. Chelsea has participated in many school and community service activities and did an internship with a local dentist for her senior project.
· Nicole Hammerle completed her Associates degree in elementary education from CCRI and is currently enrolled at Rhode Island College in the elementary education program with a concentration in special education. Her goal is to teach in a school for the Deaf. Nicole is fluent in sign language and hopes to inspire students to love learning.
· Richard Costa is studying human development at the University of Rhode Island and hopes to become a rehabilitation counselor, working with people with disabilities. Richard is an active volunteer for various organizations such as the RI Statewide Independent Living Council and the National Federation of the Blind of RI. He was a recipient of the Mary Brennan Fellowship for the Governor’s Commission on Disabilities.
OSCIL wishes to acknowledge the following members of the scholarship committee for their conscientious work: Caldy Shire, Jack Welch, Pat McCrone, John Howell, Dr. Raymond Mis, Anne McDonald, and Lorna Ricci.
Former 2001 Catherine T. Murray Scholarship winner Nikki Batsford of Smithfield received a first-place award for business and economic reporting at the New England Press Association’s annual awards banquet in February. Nikki earned a bachelor’s degree in baking and pastry from Johnson and Wales in 2008 and is currently working as a free-lance writer. You may see her articles on the food pages of Beacon Communications publications or in Edible Rhody magazine.
INSIGHT offers an on-going, two-week essential skills program for persons who are visually impaired, legally blind or totally blind. The program includes a diagnostic assessment and basic instruction in essential skills such as boiling water, getting around safely, or tips for identifying cans in the cupboard.
Whether you have recently lost your vision or have had vision loss for many years, this small group program will help you build your independence. Call Rick Andrade or Jeff Schneider at 941-3322 for details.
OSCIL’s FYI Email List: If you wish to add your email address to OSCIL’s FYI email list for timely information on upcoming events and programs, please send your email to email.list@oscil.org. Please include your first and last name and email address. This list will be sent as an undisclosed recipient list to protect consumer confidentiality.
The Brain Injury Fund offers an opportunity for individuals to obtain services and supports to enhance their participation in community life that would be otherwise unattainable due to financial limitations. The need for the service or item must be directly related to the deficits caused by the brain injury.
The fund can be used for items and services such as adaptive equipment to increase independence, minor home modifications, recreational/wellness programs, life skills trainings, or transportation services. There is a spending limit of up to $1,500 per person.
The application deadline is June 30th. For further information or an application, contact Heather Sprague at PARI at 725-1966 ext. 16 or email hsprague@pari-ilc.org.
OSCIL’s Community Living and Housing programs assist individuals transitioning from nursing facilities and relatives’ homes into their own apartments. Often consumers are on fixed incomes and do not have resources to set up a household. Gift cards to area grocery or discount stores would be greatly appreciated. Also needed are pots and pans, silverware, small kitchen table and chairs, cooking utensils, tea kettles, and new in the packaging twin-size sheets, blankets, and towel sets. Please contact Lezlee Shaffer at 738-1013 ext. 28.
Mention of any product, service or event in this newsletter does not constitute any endorsement or recommendation by OSCIL.
HomeLocatorRI.net is a free online service giving information about available rentals and homes for sale. Specializing in, but not limited to, homes that receive government funding and meet state and federal affordability criteria, property listings are described in great detail, and may include photos, maps, and information about nearby amenities, schools, parks, and hospitals.
The site includes resources for tenants such as a rental affordability calculator, a useful checklist of things to look for when searching for a home, and information on calculating moving costs. Additionally, there are links to other community resources such as the Housing Network of Rhode Island.
Owners and managers whose properties meet state and federal guidelines and who accept government-sponsored housing vouchers – including housing authorities, real estate agents and private landlords –are encouraged to use this service to advertise their listings, free of charge.
The service is supported by a toll-free, bilingual call center at 1-877-428-8844 Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Someone without access to a computer may call to have information mailed or read over the telephone.
HomeLocatorRI.net is sponsored by the Housing Network of RI, the Public Housing Association of RI, Rhodes to Independence, and Rhode Island Housing.
Accessible Rhode Island’s 7th edition is now available. This year’s guide features a new section on state beaches, parks and campgrounds as well as updated sections on restaurants, theatres, galleries, libraries and recreation venues that meet the requirements for basic accessibility under the ADA. Over 350 assessments have been conducted by people with disabilities since 2001. Copies are available at the OSCIL office or by calling Marie Perna at 944-4949. Accessible Rhode Island is on the Web at www.accessiblerhodeisland.org.
OSCIL salutes the Perna family, members of the Dare to Dream support group, and dedicated volunteers for their efforts to make this guide a reality.
For individuals without insurance coverage and resources, the expense of durable medical equipment may be beyond their means. Independence HomeHealthWares in Providence offers an option that makes new medical equipment more affordable.
The company’s scratch and dent stock is available on a sliding scale of fees. New, slightly blemished equipment with the manufacturer’s warranty is sold at significant discounts. Examples of imperfect equipment to increase independence include tub transfer benches, walkers, light-weight transport chairs, and cardiac chairs. Company owner Richard Westlake recommends calling in advance to discuss your needs as quantities are very limited. The telephone numbers are 273-8888 or (800) 994-7771.
The USDA (United States Dept. of Agriculture) Section 504 loan program helps very low income occupants of modest single family homes (including mobile or manufactured homes) in rural areas repair those homes. Funds may be used to remove health or safety hazards or to remodel dwellings to make them accessible to household members with disabilities.
Eligible rural housing communities include Burrillville, Charlestown, parts of Coventry, Cranston west of 295, Cumberland north of 295, Exeter, Foster, Glocester, Hopkinton, Jamestown, Johnston west of 295, Lincoln north of 295, Narragansett, parts of North Kingstown, North Smithfield, Portsmouth, Richmond, Scituate, Smithfield west of 295, South Kingstown, Tiverton, parts of Westerly, and West Greenwich, Little Compton, and Block Island.
The assistance may be made available through a low interest rate loan, or in some cases, a grant, depending on the applicant’s ability to repay a loan. Loan funds are currently available; however, there is a waiting list for applicants who cannot obtain a loan but qualify for a grant. For income eligibility and additional information, please call the Warwick office at 826-0842.
Dental Clinic: The Samuels Sinclair Dental Center at RI Hospital offers dental services to children, adults with disabilities, and patients referred from community agencies. The clinic accepts all types of insurances and has payment options for those without coverage. The clinic, located at 593 Eddy Street in Providence, is wheelchair accessible. To make an appointment, call 444-5284.
Health Information: DeafMD is an innovative Web site that provides concise health information in American Sign Language to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing population. Created by the Centers for Disease Control and the National Institutes of Health, a team of healthcare providers and educators translates this information into ASL.
Visit www.deafmd.org.
Shriners Hospitals: Shriners Hospitals for Children is a one-of-a-kind health care system consisting of 22 hospitals, including one in Boston and one in Springfield, Massachusetts. Children up to 18 years old with orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, cleft lip and palate are eligible for care and receive all services at no charge. For information on clinic screening appointments or other services for children provided by the RI Shriners, call 467-7100 or visit www.shrinershq.org.
Email Notification List: The Hearing Loss Association of Rhode Island has an online, informative quarterly newsletter on topics of interest to persons with hearing loss as well as announcements of future meetings and activities. If you wish to be added to the email list, send an email to Tina at cthom27062@aol.com.
Bathtub Access: J. DelBonis Construction Inc. offers customized tub cut modifications to your existing bathtub. A tub cut opening is made with strong polymer panels that are shaped right on the job-site for a custom-fit. The tub cut bath modification may be reversed by replacing the removed cut-out to restore the tub to the original condition. For details, call John at 392-3111 or visit www.thetubcutter.com.
Social Security Work Incentives: Social Security encourages people who receive disability benefits (SSI or SSDI) to try to work or return to work by offering work incentives to become self-sufficient. Free informational sessions are sponsored by the Work Incentives Planning and Assistance Project. For details on dates and locations, call Jeanne Fay at 421-7005 ext. 405.
Lead Hazard Assessments: Westbay Community Action’s Lead Program provides lead-related services to the City of Cranston, to Kent and Washington counties and Block Island. The program offers a free in-home lead hazard assessment to the property owner, landlord or tenant who is concerned about lead paint. Upon request, the visit includes a free dust and water sampling for laboratory analysis as well as a free rental of a HEPA vacuum for clean-up. For further information, call 732-4660 ext. 144 or email cmarchand@westbaycap.org.
Economic Recovery Payment: If you were eligible for the $250 Economic Recovery Payment and did not receive it by the end of May, contact your local Social Security office or call (800) 772-1213.
PUBLIC FORUMS SCHEDULED THE WEEK OF JULY 27-31
The RI Governor’s Commission on Disabilities and other community organizations are sponsoring a series of public forums during the week of July 27-31, following the 19th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act on July 26, 1990. These forums serve to identify the concerns of people with disabilities and their families. It is important for state policy makers to hear concerns about current services, suggestions for improvements, and needs that are not being addressed. Your voice can make a difference!
Scheduled forum dates are as follows: (Note: OSCIL is sponsoring the July 28 forum.)
July 27 1:30 to 3 p.m. Barrington Public Library Gallery Room, 281 County Rd.
July 27 4 to 6 p.m. RI Department of Administration, 2nd floor Conference Room A One Capitol Hill in Providence
July 28 3 to 5 p.m. Warwick Public Library Community Room, 600 Sandy Lane
July 29 4 to 6 p.m. Neighborhood Guild, 325 Columbia St. in Wakefield
July 30 10 a.m. to noon Cumberland Library Community Room, 1464 Diamond Hill Rd.
July 30 3 to 5 p.m. Middletown Public Library Community Room, 700 West Main Rd.
Comments may be made in person at one of the forums, faxed to 462-0106, emailed to disabilities@gcd.ri.gov, or mailed to the Governor’s Commission on Disabilities, 41 Cherry Dale Court, Cranston, RI 02920-3049, by August 9.
OSCIL’S COMMUNITY LIVING OPTION PROGRAM
If you have a family member or friend who no longer requires the care and services of a nursing home and who is capable of living a more independent life in the community, but who may need accessible or affordable housing, assistive technology or community support services, please call the OSCIL office at 738-1013 ext. 13. Candidates for this program must be medically stable and motivated to participate in the transition process.
OSCIL 2009 MEMBERSHIP DRIVE IS UNDERWAY
It is not too late to renew your membership or become a new member. Members receive our newsletter, an invitation to our annual business meeting, and occasional mailings about upcoming events. The suggested tax-deductible donations are as follows: $5 for persons who are unemployed and $25 for others. Membership is not necessary to participate in OSCIL’s services. To request a membership form, please email Carol at cmckenna@oscil.org or call 738-1013 ext. 10. OSCIL sincerely thanks those who have supported our programs and services through membership donations.
23rd ANNUAL RHODE ISLAND INDEPENDENT LIVING CONFERENCE
Friday, September 18 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Rhodes on the Pawtuxet
Aid and Attendance Pension from Veterans Affairs
The Veterans Affairs (VA) Aid and Attendance pension is a non-service connected disability pension, meaning that the veteran has become disabled due to chronic illness or physical limitations independent of active duty injuries. The benefit has often been unknown to veterans who need the aid and attendance of another person for basic personal functions such as bathing, eating, or dressing. Any war-time veteran with 90 days of active duty, one day beginning or ending during a period of war, is eligible to apply for this special pension. There are both medical and financial criteria that must be met. Surviving spouses of war-time veterans or veterans who are blind or bedridden are eligible to apply as well. Aid and Attendance can help pay for care in the home, in nursing homes, assisted living, or for adult day care. In 2009, a veteran with a dependent spouse could receive a monthly award of up to $1,948.
The pension application is long and requires supporting documentation. It is a violation of federal regulations to charge for assistance with a Veterans Administration Aid and Attendance Pension application. For further information, you may contact the VA at (800) 827-1000 (www.va.gov) or call Veterans Financial, Inc. at (800) 835-1541 (www.veteransfinancial.com). Veterans Financial, Inc. is a private financial services company and is not a government agency. It does not charge a fee for consultations and will offer help with the Aid and Attendance Pension application paperwork at no cost.
