| June 2010 |
Volume 2 Issue 11 |
Disability Capitol Action Day and The 20th Aniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
On May 26 over a thousand advocates and individuals with disabilities traveled to Sacramento to let our elected officials know that we can not sustain any further cuts and increased out-of-pocket costs for services that allow us to be members of our community. It was a day filled with rousing speeches and really great musical performances. I think this was the best Capitol Action Day ever! It was so good to see old friends, make new ones and visit legislative offices to let them know that we are not a small, quiet group that will simply accept being the budget deficit solution. The event was just charged with positive energy – people working together towards a common goal. Bridgett Brown was filled with passion as she spoke about the impact of budget cuts, Jessie Lorenz in getting us all to sign on to the It’s Normal Campaign, another way to make our voices heard loud and clear. Videos of these two speeches by my friends, and a video made of the Disability Capitol Action Day original song are available on YouTube and the links are below:
Bridgett Brown, ILRCSF’s Eligibility Specialist, rocks the house at DCAD:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jipdXfK1zHM
Jessie Lorenz, Associate Director at ILRCSF gets people involved with the It’s Normal Campaign in celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the ADA:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j13aSMLoBD8&feature=related
Liz Pope, from CFILC, wrote this song for Disability Capitol Action Day 2010:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5rqaviSbZI&feature=player_embedded
This year is the 20th Anniversary of the ADA. A lot has changed, so much hasn’t. Lots of sidewalks have curb cuts, software talks and listens, instant messaging has opened a whole new world of communication. So much hasn’t changed, the employment rate of people with significant disabilities remains about the same as it was 20 years ago and too many people are still locked away in institutions for no reason except they have a disability and need some assistance with daily life activities. The ADA was a promise and we have watched laws and regulations change, seen court decisions acknowledging our civil rights, but the hearts and minds of society still have not made the shift from “these are people that need to be taken care of” to “these are people, period.” ILRCSF’s It’s Normal campaign is about changing the way we all think about people with disabilities. We’re people. We’re normal. We’re all part of the same world. Please sign on to the value statement and let people know that you recognize that people with disabilities are are a normal part of society.
CONTENTS
A NOTE FROM THE ILRCSF STAFF:
CALIFORNIA PRIMARY ELECTION
GET OUT AND VOTE
TUESDAY JUNE 8, 2010
ADA 20TH ANNIVERSARY
MONDAY, JULY 26, 2010
Welcome to our newsletter DELA that includes a compilation of resources, announcements and events that have proven to be of interest to our consumers, supporters and friends. Our updated newsletter is part of our plan to reach out to additional members of our community. Dela now has a Facebook page under the name Dela Francisco O’Day – everyone is welcome to become Dela’s friend! DELA is published the first week of each month and sent to our distribution lists. You can also pick up copies of DELA at our office. If you have resources, announcements, events or articles you would like to share, would like to give us feedback, or want to be added to the DELA distribution list, please send an email to data@ilrcsf.org. We are also in the process of updating our website, www.ilrcsf.org , with new content and features.
CONSUMER INFORMATION
Statewide Hotline for Voters with Disabilities
Disability Rights California is operating a hotline for Californians with disabilities who are voting in the statewide primary election on June 8. Staff with experience in voting issues will answer phone calls from voters with disabilities who have difficulty accessing polling places, casting ballots or have questions about voting. The hotline will be operated from 7:00am – 8:00pm on June 8. It is equipped to receive voice and TTY calls. The toll free numbers are: Voice – 1-888-569-7955; TTY 1-800-719-5798. Callers who wish to use the California Relay Service, Speech to Speech Service or Video Relay can dial 711.
Individualized Education Program (IEP) Checklist
The Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC) announced the development of an IEP Checklist iPhone or iPod Touch application. The IEP is an individualized program designed to support the educational needs of school aged students with disabilities. This new IEP app helps parents of students with special needs become better informed advocates by making IEP information easier to access. The IEP app is offered free of charge. Both the download and a demonstration are available at: http://www.peatc.org/peatc.cgim?template=IEPChecklistiPhone
Investigation of Complaints Against AC Transit
The Legal Aid Society – Employment Law Center is investigating complaints against AC Transit by persons with mobility disabilities who have experienced problems accessing the lifts on buses. If you have experienced any problems with AC Transit due to your mobility disability please contact Jinny Kim at 864-8848 ext. 269.
Survey on Accessibility and Usability of Wireless Technology
The Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) for Wireless Technologies is conducting a survey on the use and usability of wireless technology by people of all abilities. The data collected is used to inform the wireless industry and government regulators of the needs of people with disabilities so that wireless devices and services are made more accessible. You can take the survey online at: http://www.wirelessrerc.org/for-consumers/survey-of-user-needs.html. If you prefer to take the survey over the phone you can call John Morris toll-free at 1-800-582-6360.
EVENTS, GROUPS, & ANNOUNCEMENTS
SUPERFEST 2010 – International Disability Film Festival
Dates and Times: Friday and Saturday, June 4 and 5, 2010
Location: Gaia Arts Center, 2120 Allston, Berkeley, CA (one block from downtown Berkeley BART station)
Cost: $5 - $20/day on a sliding scale and will only be sold at the door
Reception: “Meet the Makers” Saturday, June 5 from 6:00 – 7:00pm;
Awards ceremony from 7:00 – 9:00pm
Information: Access information/screening schedule:
www.culturedisabilitytalent.org/superfest/index.html;
email: info@culturedisabilitytalent.org; voice mail: 510-845-5576
Planning For a Loved One with Special Needs
Free Seminars
Dates, Times and Locations: Thursday, June 10 from 5:30 – 7:30pm in Los Altos
Topics: Setting up lifetime plans, maximizing government benefits, using Special Needs Trusts And Memorandums of Intent, and Limited Conservatorships
Information: RSVP required, seating is limited. For more information contact Ryan Garwin at 415-593-9944
Connecting People to Resources
Autism Exposition and Information Fair
Date: September 11, 2010
Information: Senator Leno will be speaking, connect with service providers, books, workshops
Questions: email: karensupportsu@comcast.net, phone 415-497-3751
2010 Secondary Transition Symposium
Dates: November 14 – 16, 2010
Location: Westin Los Angeles Airport
Information: Symposium to share professional activities for students with disabilities 16-22
Questions: Jill Larson at jlarson@cde.ca.gov or 1-916-323-0866
Karen Nichols knichols@cde.ca.gov or 1-916-323-2538
Dan Boomer dboomer@cde.ca.gov or 1-916-322-1852
Notable Dates in June:
Monthly Observances:
Asphasia Awareness Month
Audiobook Month
Scleroderma Awareness Month
Vision Research Month
Weekly Observances:
First Week:
Headache Awareness Week
Second Week:
Men’s Health Week
Fourth Week:
Helen Keller Dear-Blind Awareness Week
Daily Observances:
6/5 World Environment Day
6/6 National Cancer Survivor’s Day
6/8 California Primary Election Day
6/19 Juneteenth
6/20 Father’s Day
6/21 Summer Solstice
6/25 UN Charter adopted in the San Francisco Opera House in 1945
6/28 Stonewall Rebellion Day
ILRCSF Workshops, Resource Room, Online Purchases
ILRCSF Regular Office hours:
Monday to Thursday 9:00 am to 4:30 pm
Friday's 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
ILRCSF is wheelchair accessible and provides reasonable accommodations on request, including ASL interpreters and print information in alternative formats. ILRCSF is a scent-free office in order to be fully accessible to all people with disabilities. Please do not wear any scented products including perfumes, aftershave, hairspray, etc. to any meetings, groups, or workshops held at or by ILRCSF. If you are wearing scents, you will not be able to remain in the office.
WORKSHOPS
Drop-In Basic Benefits/Work Incentives Workshop
Every Thursday at 9:30 a.m.
ILRCSF offers two types of workshop on benefits:
1. Basic Benefits Overview
2. How Employment Affects your Benefits - for those on SSDI &/or SSI
All workshops are on Thursdays at 9:30am. However, only one topic – basic benefits or employment -- is covered each Thursday. Please attend the workshop that best suits you; for example, if you need information about applying for SSDI, SSI, Medi-Cal or other benefits, come to the Basic Benefits Overview workshop. If, on the other hand, you already receive SSDI or SSI and are considering going to work, come to the workshop entitled How Employment Affects Your Benefits. At this Employment Workshop you will learn how to use work incentives to keep some of your benefits as you transition into a job, as well as how to use the PASS program, and Ticket to Work. To hear the schedule of upcoming workshops, call 415-543-6222 ext. 155.
Upcoming Workshops:
June Workshops:
6/3 How Work Affects Your Benefits – for those on SSI &/or SSDI
6/10 How Work Affects Your Benefits – for those on SSI &/or SSDI
6/17 Basic Benefits Overview
6/24 How Work Affects Your Benefits – for those on SSI &/or SSDI
July Workshops:
7/1 Basic Benefits Overview
7/8 How Work Affects Your Benefits – for those on SSI &/or SSDI
7/15 Basic Benefits Overview
7/22 How Work Affects Your Benefits – for those on SSI &/or SSDI
7/29 Basic Benefits Overview
People who arrive after 10:00am will not be admitted and will need to come to another workshop
Low-Income Housing Search Workshop
REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Held on Mondays from 1:30 - 3:30
Call 543-6222 ext. 100 to register
People who arrive late (after 1:30pm) will not be admitted and will need to reschedule
No workshop on Monday, May 31 Memorial Day
ILRCSF RESOURCE ROOM
ILRCSF has a FREE, accessible Resource Room, with information in Chinese, English and Spanish. We also have a bulletin board with information for Deaf consumers, and information is available in alternative formats upon request.
The Resource Room provides information on a variety of subjects, such as benefits, ADA, assistive technology (helpful gadgets), returning to work, free food-shelter-medical care resources, health care access, legal resources, housing (including a place for those who want to post ads for apartments for rent or shared housing rentals; an updated rental list from Craig’s Lists, etc.), etc, If we don’t have the resource, we’ll do our best to find referrals for you. Service providers are welcome to send us flyers and handouts to distribute.
DONATE TO ILRCSF THROUGH OUR WEBSITE
Donations from the public help ILRCSF work towards ensuring that people with disabilities are full social and economic partners, both within their families and in a fully accessible community. All donations to ILRCSF are tax deductible, and there are a variety of ways you can donate or raise funds for ILRCSF.
Send Donations by Check to:
Independent Living Resource Center San Francisco
649 Mission Street, 3rd Floor
San Francisco, CA 94105
Please note that ILRCSF does not accept credit card donations by mail.
Online:
www.ilrcsf.org: We’ve partnered with Network for Good to securely process your online donation via the Network for Good Donor Advised Fund. Just click on the DONATE button, and make a donation using your credit or debit card.
Facebook: If you’re a Facebook user, you can donate via ILRCSF’s Causes page, which is also administered by Network For Good. Check us out on Facebook at http://tinyurl.com/yc34yoe
Shopping Online: Did you know that you can raise money for ILRCSF when you shop online? Direct your web browser to www.IGive.com/ILRCSF and join IGive.com for free. Hundreds of popular online shopping sites are IGive members. Every time you shop with them, these retailers will donate a portion of their profits to ILRCSF. This means that while you’re shopping online, buying things you’d normally buy anyway, you can raise money for ILRCSF without spending anymore than you normally would. Some of the 600+ retailers who donate through IGive are Lands End, Staples, Orbitz, Apple, iTunes, TurboTax, Eddie Bauer, Overstock … the list goes on and on!
ILRCSF respects your privacy: if you would prefer you donation be kept confidential, let us know, and we will list your donation as “Anonymous” in our next Annual Report.
When making a donation in honor or in memory of, please provide us with the name and address of anyone you’d like us to inform of your gift.
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