| June 2008 |
RESOURCE RAG #63 |
Welcome to the 63rd issue of the ILRCSF Resource Rag. This compilation of resources, announcements, and events is designed as a community pipeline for things that may fall through the cracks of other newsletters or postings.
The Rag is published the first week of each month and sent to the ILRCSF Resource Rag distribution list and you can also pick up copies of the Rag at our office. If you have resources or articles you would like to share, would like to give us feedback, or want to be added to the Resource Rag distribution list, please send an email to data@ilrcsf.org
CONTENTS
ILRCSF RECOGNIZES NOTABLE DATES IN JUNE
Monthly Observances:
Aphasia Awareness
Month
Audiobook
Month
Candy
Month
Fresh Fruit and Vegetable
Month
Gay and Lesbian Pride
Month
Scleroderma Awareness
Month
Weekly Observances:
4th Week:
Eye Safety Awareness
Week
Helen Keller Deaf-Blind Awareness Week
Daily Observances:
June 1: National Cancer Survivors Day
June 5: World Environment Day
June 6: Hunger Awareness
Day
June 8: Race Unity Day
June 14: Flag Day
June 19: Juneteenth
June 21: Summer Solstice
June 27: HIV Testing Day
1. ILRCSF ANNOUNCEMENTS, UPDATES AND CALENDAR:
NEW ILRCSF OFFICES 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.
BENEFITS WORKSHOPS
Every Thursday at 9:30, we will hold a “drop-in” Basic Benefits/Work Incentives Workshop. Information about applying for Social Security, Medi-Cal or other benefits, as well as work incentive issues including the PASS program, and how Social Security benefits and healthcare are affected by returning to work are covered.
HOUSING WORKSHOPS - Low Income Housing
Registration is required. Call 543-6222 ext. 100. Monday’s in May 1:30-3:30.
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 info on a variety of subjects, such as benefits, ADA, assistive technology, 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 the resource, we’ll do our best to find the resource and referrals you are looking for. (Service providers are welcome to send us flyers and handouts to distribute.)
For further information on these and other ILRCSF services
you can stop by our office at 649 Mission Street, 3rd Floor
JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
Chinese Community Services Coordinator
Independent Living Resource Center San Francisco, located in the financial district (downtown SF very near to BART/MUNI) is looking for a CHINESE COMMUNITY SERVICES COORDINATOR . This position reports directly to the Community Outreach Supervisor.
Independent Living Resource Center San Francisco (ILRCSF) is a disability rights advocacy and support organization. ILRCSF’s mission is achieved by: systems change; community education; partnerships with business, community organizations and government; and consumer directed services.
Salary for this position is in the range of $34,500-$39,000 annually, and includes a benefits package: health, dental, vision, and life insurance and 403(b) employee contribution retirement plan, 2 weeks vacation. Flexible and diverse work place.
Job Description
Under the direction of the Community Outreach Supervisor, the Chinese Community Services Coordinator is responsible for establishing a relationship with community organizations which facilitates culturally appropriate services for Chinese speaking people with disabilities in San Francisco 's Chinatown (primarily). Additionally, this position provides an array of services in group and individual settings, including peer counseling, information & referral, and advocacy, in service areas including housing, benefits, work incentives, assistive technology, health care access, etc. Occasional translation/interpreting required. All services are delivered on a bilingual-bicultural and disability peer role model basis at ILRCSF and at community sites.
Specific Responsibilities
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Provide service coordination to the cross disability community, including needs assessment, identification of relevant community resources, advocacy, and interpreting.
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Provide independent living skills training so consumers may actively participate in obtaining community services.
- Provide information and referral services.
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Provide assistance in the areas including IHSS, disability benefits, work incentives, housing and assistive technology, health care access and ADA related issues.
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Provide peer counseling and assist consumers to develop peer and family support systems.
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Conduct community workshops and other community education activities.
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Through community outreach, establish culturally appropriate relationships with community groups to facilitate identification of people with disabilities; identify venues for community education; and work to increase both disability awareness and accessible service elivery in the community.
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Maintain and develop resource materials for Chinese speaking community.
- Represent ILRCSF on community task forces and committees.
- Participate in Officer of the Day duties.
- Complete necessary reporting duties in a timely manner.
Qualifications
- Bilingual-bicultural Chinese speaking persons preferred.
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Must identify as a person with a disability as part of independent living/role modeling approach. (Includes diabetes, asthma, heart disease, HIV, or other disabilities which significantly effect some daily activity or activities).
- BA or equivalent education and experience.
- At least 2 years experience in social services delivery.
- Good personal and written communication skills. Ability to present information in a workshop/group setting.
- Ability to work as a generalist - absorb detailed information in an array of service areas.
- Ability to come to work scent free.
Union representation by the Office & Professional Employees, International Union Local No. 3, AFL - CIO
Independent Living Resource Center San Francisco (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. EOE.
Send résumé and cover letter to Alice Ordover, 649 Mission Street, 3rd Floor, SF, CA 94105. NO e-mail please
2. SPOTLIGHT NEWS - Digital Converter Boxes
Converter Boxes Necessary For TV’s Using Antennas
Federal Government Providing Coupons to Assist with Purchase
(from an AP report)
Millions of $40 government coupons are available to help low-tech television owners buy special converter boxes for older TVs that might not work after the switch to digital broadcasting.
Beginning Feb. 18, 2009, anyone who does not own a digital set and still gets their programming via over-the-air antennas will no longer receive a picture. That's the day the television industry completes its transition from old-style analog broadcasting to digital.
The converter boxes are expected to cost between $50 and $70 and will be available at most major electronics retail stores. Viewers who have satellite or cable service will not need a box.
To request a coupon, consumers can apply online at http://www.dtv2009.gov starting Tuesday. The government also has set up a 24-hour hotline to take requests, 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009).
3. ADVOCATE'S CORNER - Disability Capitol Action Day a Success!
On Thursday, May 15, 2008, our staff, consumers and partner organizations took our annual trip to Sacramento to speak to our elected officials and rally for the rights and the needs of our community.
We had 58 people sign up to attend the event. It was a day filled with speeches and educational opportunities. But most important – it was a day to bring together disability advocates and consumers from across the State.
ILRCSF had appointments to see the four legislators who represent San Francisco – Carole Migden, Leland Yee, Mark Leno and Fiona Ma. We visited each of their offices and provided them with our positions on the budget deficit, the impact of the proposed budget cuts in the Health and Human Services Department, access, community living, universal healthcare, voting and housing. The night before the event, we analyzed the Governor’s May Revise so that we were able to speak with our legislators about the most current proposed budget numbers, and the impact those cuts would have on people with disabilities.
Over the past few months we had postcards signed by 940 people with disabilities/allies. We had an appointment with the Governor’s office to deliver these cards and also provided Mr. Schwarzenegger’s staff with the same packet of information that we brought to our legislative visits. We received a phone call the next day that our information was being disseminated to the appropriate people on the Governor’s staff.
We also were one of four organizations that staffed the California Association of Voting Advocates booth. The purpose of this booth was to register voters with disabilities and hand out “Feel the Power of the Disability Vote” t-shirts.
Thank you to everyone who joined us on this trip and everyone that signed a postcard!
4. EVENTS
Support Group for People with Schizophrenia or Schizoaffective Disorder
Date and Time: Third Wednesday of each month from 5:30 to 6:45pm
Location: 1380 Howard St. Room 537
Information: Drop in or call Susanne Killing at 415-558-5900. Dinner is provided at meetings
Superfest XXVIII International Disability Film Festival
Dates and Times: June 20 and 21 from Noon to 5:00pm , and June 22 from 2:00 to 7:00pm
Location: Gaia Arts Center , 2120 Allston Way , Berkeley
Tickets: $5 to $20 on a sliding scale will be sold at the door
TaxAid – Free Self-Employment Tax Workshops
Locations, Dates and Times:
June 7 – 10:00 am - Noon – Jones United Methodist Church ,1975 Post St., San Francisco
June 14 – 10:00 am - Noon – Salvation Army, 1450 Powell St. , San Francisco (IN CHINESE)
June 21 – 10:00 am - Noon – Canal Welcome Center , 141 Alto St. , San Rafael (Handouts available in Spanish)
June 21 – 10:00 am - Noon – Fair Oaks Community Center, 2600 Middlefield Rd., Redwood City
5. ANNOUNCEMENTS
PAI ELECTION DAY HOTLINE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Californians with disabilities who plan to vote in the upcoming election on June 3, 2008 have an ally in assuring full and equal access to the voting process. With funding from the Help America Vote Act ( HAVA ), Protection and Advocacy, Inc. (PAI) is sponsoring a toll-free hotline for voters with disabilities who have difficulty accessing polling places, casting ballots or have general questions about the voting process. This is the 4th year PAI has operated the hotline.
The purpose of the hotline is to fix problems on Election Day that are causing disenfranchisement of individuals with disabilities. We know there are many barriers affecting a person's ability to vote such as, limited access to registration materials; wrong information from providers, conservators, relatives, and facility staff about the person's right to vote; judges who take away a person's right to vote when they should not; transportation problems getting to and from the polls; poll access problems for people living in nursing homes and other facilities; poll access barriers such as very limited or no accessible parking or curb ramps; doorways and aisles that are too narrow; voting equipment placed on inaccessible tables or stages; poor disability access trainings for poll workers; and, poll sites said to be "accessible" when they are not.
PAI's hotline is equipped to receive voice and TDD calls. The toll-free number for voice calls is: 800-776-5746 . The toll-free number for TDD calls is: 800-781-4546. Individuals who speak languages other than English should state their language and an interpreter will be connected to the call. Callers who wish to use the California Relay Service, Speech to Speech Service or Video Relay can dial 711.
Survey – How People with Disabilities Use the Internet
The California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF) is gathering information on how people with disabilities use the Internet, and most importantly, what barriers they face online. CETF plans to use this information to fund projects that will create awareness of accessibility barriers on the Internet.
The survey takes only 5-10 minutes to complete, and Californians who complete the survey are eligible for a cash prize.
To take the survey, or to read more about it, go to http://www.cforat.org/main_page/Survey.htm
Disabled Women Video Online
In 1996 Suzanne Levine and Pat Chadwick produced a video documenting an international group of women with disabilities journey to the United Nations Fourth World Conference & NGO Forum on Women in Beijing, China. This 13 minute video is now available online at http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4833198064580117217
YOUR ONLINE PURCHASES CAN BENEFIT
Independent Living Resource Center San Francisco!
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* Join for free at: www.iGive.com/ILRCSF
* 1st purchase must be made through iGive.com, within 45 days of joining. eBay bids are not considered for this purpose. Causes listed at iGive.com have been listed by iGive members for their own and other members' use. Information listed here is subject to change. Visit www.iGive.com for the most current information.
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.
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