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September 2007
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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.
Signs of Independence is made possible by the generosity of our advertisers. OSCIL wishes to thank Lift & Care Systems, Inc. and Ride-Away Equipment Corporation for sponsoring this edition of our newsletter. To advertise your agency or services in the OSCIL newsletter, call Susan at OSCIL.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Legislative Highlights of 2007
Below are some highlights of new Rhode Island laws that are noteworthy for persons with disabilities.
Employment Security Benefits: A new law eliminates Social Security benefits from being considered as disqualifying income in the determination of individual eligibility for unemployment benefits.
Disability Parking Privileges: Disabled veterans will automatically receive a disability parking privilege placard if they qualify for a disabled veteran’s license plate.
Captioning: Candidates who elect to receive state matching campaign funding must include captions for persons who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing in all their television political advertisements and provide upon request a written text format of radio political advertisements.
Open Meetings: This law authorizes the use of electronic communication or telephone communications as a reasonable accommodation for a member of a public body who has a disability and would not otherwise be able to participate.
Prosthetics and Orthotics: Individual or group health insurance policies in RI are required to provide orthotic and prosthetic devices at a reimbursement rate equal to those provided under federal laws for aged and disabled persons. (Federal reimbursement rate is the current listed fee schedule from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.)
Emergency Management: The executive director of the RI Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing is added to the membership of the Emergency Management Advisory Council.
Accessible Taxicabs: On January 1, 2008, the sales tax credit for accessibility adaptation of privately owned motor vehicles has been extended to wheelchair accessible taxicabs and wheelchair accessible public motor vehicles to encourage the purchase of accessible taxicabs and other vehicles for hire.
Property Tax Exemptions: Some cities and towns have changed property tax exemptions for taxpayers; some of these exemptions are beneficial to taxpayers with disabilities. Check with your local tax assessor’s office.
Department of Advocacy: The General Assembly requires the governor to submit as part of the FY 2009 budget necessary legislation to create a Department of Advocacy between July 1, 2008, and January 1, 2009. The department shall include the Child Advocate, Mental Health Advocate, Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Developmental Disabilities Council, and the Governor’s Commission on Disabilities.
Brian Dennis is our new AT/Community Living Specialist. Brian is a certified occupational therapy assistant (COTA/L) with experience in school and home care settings. His primary focus is working with consumers to identify and use assistive technology for daily living skills and to assist consumers in transitioning from nursing homes into the community.
In July, OSCIL’s Executive Director Lorna Ricci attended the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) Conference that was celebrating NCIL’s 25th anniversary. The conference, Celebrating Accomplishments and Forging New Leaders, was designed to advance the Independent Living and Disability Rights Movement and focus dialogue on lessons from the past and strategies for the future.
One conference highlight was a luncheon that addressed collaboration between Centers for Independent Living and Aging and Disability Resource Centers. Bob Kafka, a leader in the Disability Rights Movement, discussed the common ground and differences between the two groups, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and working together.
Many OSCIL consumers are moving into efficiency and one-bedroom apartments. Household items such as small microwaves and kitchen appliances, bedding sets for twin and double beds, blankets, towels, sets of dishes, pots and pans, cooking and eating utensils, and lamps are needed for these new households. If you have any of these items in good to excellent condition, please call Lezlee at the OSCIL office. Again, we thank all of you who have made previous donations.
Macintosh Estates is a new senior apartment building for individuals age 62 or older whose gross annual income does not exceed $25,600 for one person and $29,250 for two persons. The building has 45 one-bedroom apartments and is located in quiet residential area at 7 Church Street in Smithfield. Call Valley Affordable Housing Corp. at 334-2802 ext. 20. There is a waiting list.
On July 26, the 17th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), new legislation, the ADA Restoration Act of 2007, was introduced in Congress. This bill would restore the original intent and protections of the Americans with Disabilities of 1990.
The following background information is from ADA Watch (www.adawatch.org): “Seventeen years ago, Congress passed the ADA with overwhelming bipartisan support. However, in recent years, a number of Supreme Court decisions have significantly reduced the protections available to people with disabilities in employment settings.
Courts are quick to side with businesses and employers, deciding against people with disabilities who challenge employment discrimination 97% of the time, often before the person has even had a chance to show that the employer treated him/her unfairly.
Courts have created an absurd Catch-22 by allowing employers to say a person is “too disabled” to do the job but “not disabled enough” to be protected by the ADA. People with conditions such as epilepsy, diabetes, HIV, cancer, hearing loss, and mental illness that manage their disabilities with medication, prosthetics, hearing aids, etc or other mitigating measures are viewed as “too functional” to have a disability and are denied the ADA’s protection from employment discrimination.
People denied a job or fired because an employer mistakenly believes they cannot perform the job or because the employer does not want people with disabilities in the workplace are also denied the ADA’s protection from employment discrimination.”
This legislation is endorsed by a broad coalition of disability organizations. In our state, Representatives Patrick Kennedy and James Langevin are co-sponsors of this bill.
If someone has cancer and does not know where to turn, the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Resource Network is here to help - 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Network can answer questions and give information about where to turn for help, including connecting callers to local community resources.
The Network may be able to help with finding transportation or lodging and offers various types of emotional support programs such as Reach to Recovery, I Can Cope classes, and Look Good---Feel Better. Products such as wigs and special accessories may be provided at no cost. Information about clinical trials is available as well. Cancer Resource Network staff and volunteers work in area hospitals in Rhode Island, ready to meet with patients and families who are newly diagnosed.
Help is only a phone call or click away.
Call (800) 227-2345, (866) 228-4327 TTY, or visit www.cancer.org. The 800 number has Spanish-speaking staff and access to a language line to assist callers of all languages.
Rhode Island’s Assistive Technology Access Partnership (ATAP) recently unveiled a new web-based clearinghouse for affordable assistive technology, daily living and accessibility devices located throughout the New England region. This site is the result of collaboration among the assistive technology programs in six New England states.
This new site, www.getatstuff.com, offers New England residents the opportunity to buy, sell or donate used items ranging from communication devices to mobility equipment, computers, daily living aids, and much more. Because this site is new, there are currently a limited number of items listed on the exchange; however, it is anticipated listings will increase in time.
To check out available items or make a posting, visit www.getatstuff.com. For more information, call the Rhode Island ATAP number at 421-7005 ext. 373.
The Kent Center has moved to new headquarters. The administrative offices, youth/family services, and community support programs are now at 2756 Post Road in Warwick. The phone number is 691-6000. Central intake, mental health and substance abuse outpatient counseling have relocated to the satellite facility at 50 Heath Lane in Warwick.
The telephone number is 732-5656. For a list of programs, locations, and contact information, visit www.thekentcenter.org.
The emergency services number remains the same: 738-4300.
Lakeview Ocean State provides supported community residential programs in Charlestown and supports for adults with brain injury who live in their own residences. (The residential program has a waiting list, but plans to expand in the near future.)
Lakeview’s person-centered approach supports an individual’s ability to live at the highest level of independence in the least restrictive environment. For details, call the Lakeview NeuroRehabilitation Center Admissions Department (located in New Hampshire) at (800) 473-4221.
Full and part-time employment opportunities are available at Lakeview Ocean State for residential and community support staff (community integration specialists). Contact Rosemarie Coffey, Program Director, at 364-8719.
The Habilitation Waiver program is designed to provide high levels of community support to people who would otherwise have to be in an institution or acute care hospital. Most people in this program have brain injuries. Persons with skilled nursing needs, such as someone with a G-tube or using a ventilator, might be appropriate for this program. Participants must be 18 years of age or older and meet income and asset requirements. The number of slots has been increased from 25 to 40, and there are openings at this time. For more information, call Heather Sprague at PARI at 725-1966 ext. 16.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a neurological disorder characterized by progressive degeneration of motor cells in the spinal cord and brain. The RI Chapter’s mission is to provide comprehensive services and support to persons with ALS and their families and to support research for a cure.
Comprehensive client services include support groups, equipment loans and daily living aids, patient advocacy, information and referrals, transportation, home visits, respite care, and medical care at a local ALS clinic. In May, the Chapter relocated to larger quarters at 2915 Post Road in Warwick. The telephone number is 732-1609. Visit www.alsri.org.
In June, United Way announced the launch of 2-1-1 in Rhode Island. Every day Rhode Island residents need to locate essential community services - everything from finding after school programs to locating a food pantry to securing care for an aging parent. Most of us don’t always know where to turn for the answers we need.
Providing those answers is the purpose of United Way 2-1-1 in Rhode Island, a 24-hour statewide information and referral system. OSCIL is receiving calls for disability-related information from 2-1-1 referrals. The 2-1-1 call center is currently housed at Crossroads and later will move to the new United Way facility.
The Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) Program provides individualized benefits counseling services to individuals who receive SSI and/or SSDI and are working or ready to work.
In addition, WIPA conducts general informational presentations on the SSI and SSDI work incentives throughout the state. These sessions are open to all who receive SSI and/or SSDI and are considering employment. Family members and service providers are also welcome. Some presentations are conducted in English and translated into Spanish.
For information on upcoming sessions, please contact Jeanne Fay, Community Work Incentives Coordinator, at 421-7005 ext. 405. If you reach voice mail, please let your name and mailing address on the voice mail.
Your natural gas service cannot be shut off without written approval from the RI Division of Public Utilities and Carriers if all adult residents of your household are 62 or older; or, if any resident of your household is handicapped or seriously ill and you and your doctor have properly notified National Grid. RI customers seeking protected statues must certify their status each year. You should have received forms in the mail. If you do not have the required forms, call National Grid Customer Service at 831-8800.
Portable Ramps: Independence Home Health Wares in Providence rents portable ramps up to ten feet in length. The monthly rental fee includes pick-up and delivery. For details, call customer service at 273-8888 or (800) 944-7771.
Dental News: Dr. Neil Leahey, a dentist who is Deaf and who communicates through American Sign Language, is employed at CCAP Family Health Services at 226 Buttonwoods Ave. in Warwick. The dental office accepts all insurance plans and offers a sliding fee scale for persons without insurance. Patients are seen by appointment only. The telephone number is 732-9090.
Brain Injury Guide: The updated RI Brain Injury Resource Guide is a comprehensive resource packet of information available free of charge to persons with brain injury, family members, and service providers. Contact the Brian Injury Resource Center at 461-6599.
Described as a “Craig’s List” for people with disabilities, www.skipslist.org, has blogs, personals, used equipment and adapted vehicles for sale, discussion groups, and much more.
Publication: The Matilda Ziegler Magazine for the Blind is a general interest monthly that is free of charge to any legally blind person. It is published in Braille, on four-track/half-speed cassettes, and online at www.matildaziegler.org. The telephone number is (212) 242-0263.
DEA Protective Services Program
The RI Department of Elderly Affairs (DEA) operates a Protective Services Unit for seniors covering abuse and self-neglect. This Unit investigates complaints of abuse of Rhode Islanders 60 and older by a family member or caregiver. Abuse may be physical, verbal, sexual, or psychological; it may involve neglect, financial exploitation or abandonment. Rhode Island law requires any person who has reasonable cause to believe that a senior has been abused to report it to the DEA. Failure to report abuse of a person 60 or older can result in a fine of up to $1,000. Self-neglect occurs when a person is no longer able or unwilling to care for him/herself. When a report of self-neglect is received, Protective Services contacts local case management agencies to investigate the report and develop a care plan that DEA monitors.
To file an abuse or self-neglect complaint, call the DEA Protective Services Unit at 462-0555. The After Hours Emergency Response Program for Elders in Crisis is in effect Monday through Friday from 4 p.m. to 8:30 a.m. and on weekends and holidays. Under RI law, DEA records pertaining to a person reported to be abused, neglected, exploited, or abandoned are confidential and are not deemed to be public records. In cases where a senior’s personal safety is in question or the senior expresses suicidal thoughts, call the local police department or 9-1-1 immediately.
21st ANNUAL RHODE ISLAND INDEPENDENT LIVING CONFERENCE
Friday, September 21 8:00 a.m.- 3:30 p.m. Providence Marriott
Theme: People First! Strategies for Overcoming Barriers
Call PARI at 725-1966 for registration information.
PROJECT HOMELESS CONNECT EVENT IN PROVIDENCE
Wednesday, September 26 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 300 Weybosset Street
A one-stop shop for housing, health services, social services, and hospitality for people experiencing homelessness. For details, call Darlene Price at 222-4892.
RI ASSOCIATION OF THE DEAF 15th BIENNIAL CONVENTION
October 12 and 13 Deafhood: Your Journey
For a schedule of events and registration details, visit www.riadeaf.org.
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND 37TH ANNUAL CONVENTION
Saturday, October 27 9:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Radisson Airport Hotel
For further information, call 433-2606 or email info@nfbri.org.
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE: IMPROVING LIVES DAILY
Tuesday, November 27 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Crowne Plaza in Warwick
Guest Speaker: Dr. Raymond Mis. The conference features workshops and exhibitors offering product information and demonstrations on assistive technology, including hearing technology and cochlear implants. Call 463-0202 for a registration brochure.
NEW UPDATES ON OSCIL’S 20th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
Please note the revised date: June 26, 2008 West Valley Inn West Warwick
The evening celebration, Reaching New Heights, will feature Dr. Timothy Warren, chiropractor and renowned mountain climber, who successfully climbed Mt. Everest.
There will be a silent auction and raffle. More details to follow.
SIGN LANGUAGE COURSE AT KENT HOUSE, INC.
The eight-week course starts September 18 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and runs for eight weeks. Classes are held at Spring Green Memorial Church in Warwick. The $100 tax- deductible fee supports Deaf services at Kent House. Call 781-2700 to register.
SUPPORT OSCIL THROUGH THE UNITED WAY CAMPAIGN
You can support OSCIL’s programs and services through your company’s United Way
Workplace campaign by designating the Ocean State Center for Independent Living.
