Welcome to the 62nd 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 Announcements, Updates and Calendar
• Spotlight News - Discounted TV Converter Boxes; Medicare Competitive Bidding
• Advocate’s Corner - Disability Capitol Action Day Postcard - Come Into Our Office to Sign One!
• Events
• Announcements

ILRCSF RECOGNIZES NOTABLE DATES IN MAY

Monthly Observances:
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
Better Hearing and Speech Month
Huntington's Disease Awareness Month
Mental Health Awareness Month
Neurofibromatosis Awareness Month
Trauma Awareness Month

Weekly Observances:
1st Week: Be Kind to Animals Week
                  Suicide Awareness Week
                  Volunteer Week
2nd Week:Stuttering Awareness Week

Daily Observances:
May 4:      World Laughter Day
May 5:      Cinco de Mayo
May 6:      World Asthma Day
                 Childhood Depression Awareness Day
May 26:    Memorial 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.

IF YOU RECEIVED “SSA MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG ASSISTANCE NOTICE OF TERMINATION

Social Security Administration (SSA) mailed letters to some beneficiaries who are currently receiving the low-income subsidy. A small group of beneficiaries received this mailing beginning the week of March 2. Beneficiaries will no longer receive the Extra Help effective April 1, 2008 because they did not provide information about their continuing eligibility.

It is important to know three key things:

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

ATTENTION SAN FRANCISCO PEDESTRIANS: We need your help!!

Please let us know what you think about the City’s Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS). Have you used them? Did they work properly? Have you encountered any problems? Have they helped you in your travels? Please use the contact information at the end of this announcement to give us your feedback!

A list of San Francisco intersections currently equipped with APS can be found on the website of the San Francisco LightHouse at http://www.lighthouse-sf.org/AccessiblePedestrianSignals.php

On that same page you will find information about how the APS work and links to information about the settlement agreement between the blind community and San Francisco about APS. To request an APS, call the City’s Customer Service Line at 311 (if you are in San Francisco) or 415-701-2311 (outside of San Francisco).

The APS in San Francisco are being installed as a result of an agreement between the City and the LightHouse, the California Council of the Blind, and the Independent Living Resource Center. Community feedback is crucial as we implement the agreement over the next two years. We hope we will hear from you soon.

Please send feedback to: info@lighthouse-sf.org or, if email is not available, please leave a message, toll free, at 888.400.8933

Thanks in advance, Jessie Lorenz, SF LightHouse, Linda Porelle, CCB, Diane Rovai, ILRCSF

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

Benefits Coordinator

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 $33,000 - $40,000 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 Associate Director, Programs, the Benefits Coordinator is responsible for conducting a comprehensive SSI/SSDI work incentive education, outreach and individual assistance program. Services provided within the context of Independent Living Philosophy. Training provided.

Specific Responsibilities:

1. Provide in depth benefits management education and assistance for individuals, including comprehensive self-sufficiency assessment (status of housing, healthcare, income, education and employment history, employment goals, etc. ), assistance and education about work incentives such as PASS, Impairment Related Work Expenses, "Ticket to Work", etc., follow-up. Must be or become proficient in:
   • SSDI and SSI disability programs;
   • Public benefits programs, including operations and inter- relationships;
   • Translating technical information for lay individuals
2. Maintain and develop resource materials for consumers
3. Through outreach, establish relationships with community groups to identify venues for community education and conduct workshops to community agency staff, individuals with disabilities and their families re: SSI/SSDI work incentives, etc.
4. Coordination of a outreach effort to SSI and SSDI recipients, including youth with disabilities (ages 14-18), and other under-represented groups of people with disabilities
5. Establish referral relationships with One Stop Career System, Department of Rehabilitation and community organizations, especially those providing employment services for people with disabilities.
6. Develop and maintain knowledge of SSA field office structure and how to work with various work incentives coordinators (e.g. PASS specialists, employment support representatives)
7. Develop and maintain knowledge of the structure and design of public and private benefits systems and local community services
8. Ability to interpret Federal laws, regulations, and administrative code about public benefits;
9. Represent ILRCSF on community task forces and committees
10. Appropriate documentation in all required reports and CSR ’s
11. Participate in Office of the Day and Peer counseling duties as assigned

Qualifications

1. 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 effects some daily activity or activities)
2. Successfully complete benefits Certification and Recertification trainings
3. BA or equivalent education and experience - Social Services experience preferred
4. Good verbal and written communication skills, including ability to conduct workshops
5. Good interpersonal skills
6. Knowledge of ethics (e.g. confidentiality, conflict of interests)
7. Good math and computer skills
8. Ability to think analytically and engage in creative problem solving
9. Ability to come to work scent free.

Send résumé and cover letter to Alice Ordover, 649 Mission Street , 3rd Floor, San Francisco , CA 94105 . NO e-mail please

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.

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

1. Provide service coordination to the cross disability community, including needs assessment, identification of relevant community resources, advocacy, and interpreting.
2. Provide independent living skills training so consumers may actively participate in obtaining community services.
3. Provide information and referral services.
4. Provide assistance in the areas including IHSS, disability benefits, work incentives, housing and assistive technology, health care access and ADA related issues.
5. Provide peer counseling and assist consumers to develop peer and family support systems.
6. Conduct community workshops and other community education activities.
7. 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.
8. Maintain and develop resource materials for Chinese speaking community.
9. Represent ILRCSF on community task forces and committees.
10. Participate in Officer of the Day duties.
11. Complete necessary reporting duties in a timely manner.

Qualifications

1. Bilingual-bicultural Chinese speaking persons preferred.
2. 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).
3. BA or equivalent education and experience.
4. At least 2 years experience in social services delivery.
5. Good personal and written communication skills.
6. Ability to present information in a workshop/group setting.
7. Ability to work as a generalist - absorb detailed information in an array of service areas.
8. 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 - Discounted TV Converter Boxes and Medicare Competitive Bidding

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).

MEDICARE COMPETITIVE BIDDING

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is currently implementing a new competitive bidding program for medical equipment and supplies. This means that retailers of DME sent in bids (lowest reimbursement price they will accept for equipment). Only certain retailers who will agree to the new lower reimbursement rates will be able to sell to Medicare recipients. Implementation of this program which will limit vendors/consumer options is scheduled to begin in San Francisco in 2009, but there are some important things you need to know now.

What items are included in the Competitive Bidding Program:

Oxygen supplies and equipment, power wheelchairs and accessories, walkers and accessories, as well as hospital beds and accessories are among the items that would be affected by competitive bidding/lower reimbursement rates. To see if an item you use will be included in the program, call 1-800-MEDICARE or use TTY 1-877-486-2048 .

So what’s the reality concerning your next power wheelchair? What changes has CMS made this past year and a half? It all began Jan 2007, when all power wheelchair reimbursement payments made by Medicare were reduced by 27%.

Now with competitive bidding, the same power wheelchairs will be reduced again by 19%.

Here’s an example of what this might look like. If a consumer received a power wheelchair back before the first rate cut, a supplier would have been paid $8,000.00. For a consumer to be given that same power wheelchair today the dealer will receive $5,840.00. Now, after competitive bidding, the amount will go down to $4,730.40.

So the BIG question is ... Will a consumer get the same quality power wheelchair as your last one?

There is a bill currently in the House of Representatives (HR 2231) that would exempt items dubbed “complex durable medical equipment” – including many power chairs - from the competitive bidding process. Letters and phone calls are needed to Speaker Pelosi to show her there is support for this bill. Speaker Pelosi can be reached at (415) 556-4862 or sf.nancy@mail.house.gov

To learn more about this bill or the competitive bidding program please contact Kevin Jefferson at the Independent Living Resource Center .

Thanks to Mark Johnson for help with this article

3. ADVOCATE'S CORNER - Disability Capitol Action Day Postcard –     Come into our office to sign one!

TEXT OF POSTCARD WE WILL DELIVER TO THE GOVERNOR AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH, SPANISH AND CHINESE

PLEASE DROP BY OUR OFFICE TO SIGN ONE !

Governor Schwarzenegger:

We are a part of every segment of society. We are approximately 20% of the population.

We are voters. With every purchase we make or job we do we are taxpayers. We are part of every community. We patronize local businesses. We are part of workforces in every corner of California.

Our community has members across the economic spectrum but we are concerned with the impact of the budget cuts on those that depend on state programs to maintain their health and independence.

We will no longer accept being the segment of society that absorbs repeated budget cuts that place the lives of many of us on the line every time California has a budget crisis.

We are making our voices heard. We are people with disabilities.

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

Children and Adolescents with Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities Conference
Dates: May 9 and 10, 2008
Location: Holiday Inn – Mediterranean Room, 1740 N. 1 st St. , San Jose Information and Registration: Francisco Valenzuela at savalenz@sarc.org. To register online visit www.sarc.org

International Conference on Self-Determination
Dates: May 27 through 29
Location: Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center
Information: Visit www.self-determination.com

5.  ANNOUNCEMENT

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!

Who hasn't uttered the words, "I wish there was something I could do to help"? Now you can. Start shopping! At iGive.com®, you can buy the items you've always wanted - like that DVD box set, designer bag,or big-screen TV you've had your eyes on - only without the guilt. iGive.com is FREE for you and free for our organization. Find everything you need at 650+ participating online stores, including; Staples.com, Barnes & Noble, drugstore.com, and Lands'End.

Up to 26% of each purchase is donated to Independent Living Resource Center San Francisco. GET A $5 BONUS DONATION with your 1st purchase at any iGive.com store!

* 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.