Livin' September 2009 - November 2009 Such A Good Man By Amy Beck When I was in college, early into my life with a muscle disease, people would frequently express their shock that my then boyfriend had not dumped me when I was diagnosed with the condition. Inevitably, they would say something to the effect that he must really be a good guy. A few said bluntly, You mean he actually stayed with you after he found out? I remember that wave of shame and depression as I realized their implication; a boyfriend would really have to be a saint to want a girlfriend who had a disability. Was I somehow unworthy of the basic college dating relationship because I had, against my will, acquired a muscle disease? (Ouch!) A few years after I married that boyfriend, we were expecting a baby. I had a severe fracture of my ankle halfway through the pregnancy. After eights week of bed rest, it was a herculean undertaking to get up with a walker and start taking some steps. I was seven months pregnant and getting bigger every day, while wearing a cast and hobbling around with a walker. And on those few outings to the OB office or a store, people with good intentions smiled and nodded, and remarked how lucky I was to have such a good husband. The same wave of depression washed over me. I’m stinking seven months pregnant, with a cast and walker, and doing my best to stay upright – but my husband is a good man? (Ouch - again!) Our marriage has been sprinkled with such remarks from others. This year my good man and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary with a trip. Repeatedly on the trip others felt compelled to tell me how lucky I was that my husband was such a good man. My idea to write this article was solidified after the 5th time someone made the remark during the trip. (Ouch to the 5th degree.) He is a good man, but not for the reason they think. He is a good man because he is a fun and faithful partner, a man of conviction, a hard worker. He has always treated me with respect and as an equal partner in the marriage. He has had the wisdom to always see me, not the disability, as his wife. He treats the ups and downs (both literal and figurative) of my life with a disability as just something we deal with together, as a couple. The way a couple might deal with a broken dishwasher, stubborn child or overdue bill; my good man has always just accepted the unexpected adventures with my disability as a routine and unremarkable part of life. He has never allowed my disability to become a negative in our relationship, even on days when I am almost beaten by it. Ok, Ok, before I deify him - he’s not perfect. He has been known to sneak all of the chocolate covered almonds, and he can get carried away in sharing railroad trivia. But if you still think he is a good man only because he chose to stay in a relationship with the girlfriend with a disability, look in the mirror and face your own prejudice against people with disabilities. We are strong, beautiful, vibrant souls who seek from life exactly what you seek. We are your equals. My husband… he likes to tell others how lucky he is to have married such a good woman. For Your Information Lanta Announcement This change is effective July 1, 2009: All individuals in possession of a valid Medicare Card, or valid PA issued Reduced Fare Card are entitled to ride LANTA/Metro ANYTIME with the $1.00 all-day pass. These individuals may also purchase these $1.00 all-day passes ANYTIME on LANTA/Metro. The previous time restrictions pertaining to these individuals/passes have been eliminated. Handmade Jewelry for sale Monica Kuzman is selling jewelry made from sea glass, glass and other types of beading. Earrings, necklaces and bracelets are available. For more information, please contact her by e-mail at mlk198@yahoo.com. First Monday Programs The First Monday program has been on hiatus this summer but will resume in September with lots of great new speakers and activities. Remember, all programs are free for consumers unless otherwise noted, so come join us! On Monday, October 5, 2009, the First Monday program will welcome Scott Jenco, Attendant Care Supervisor from Community Resources for Independence from 1:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Scott will talk about a new attendant care provider available in the Lehigh Valley. Refreshments will be served. LANTA/Metro Plus vouchers will be provided to attending participants who use the service so it is mandatory to RSVP your attendance. To RSVP for the event, please call Annette at (610) 770-9781 ext. 27 no later than September 28, 2009. On Monday, November 2, 2009, the First Monday program will be having a Halloween Costume Party from 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. There will be music, food and a costume contest! Cost is free for members and $5 for non-members. Costumes are only required if you would like to participate in the contest. Please RSVP for the event by calling Annette at (610) 770-9781 ext. 27 no later than Monday, October 26, 2009. To check for additional information on the programs, please visit the Current Events page of our website at www.lvcil.org/currentevents.aspx. Landlords for All Workshop On, Thursday, October 8, 2009, LVCIL will hold its second Landlords for All workshop at its offices in Allentown. The workshop is open to landlords who rent to people in the Lehigh Valley and who would like additional information about renting to persons with disabilities. For more information, or to register for the program, please contact Francisco Sainz de la Peña at (610) 770-9781 ext. 22. Landlords for All Meet and Greet On Thursday, November 5, 2009, LVCIL will hold its second Landlords for All Meet and Greet. This event allows for landlords to meet with potential renters. For more information about the program, or to register please contact Francisco Sainz de la Peña at (610) 770-9781 ext. 22. FALL American Sign Language Courses LVCIL will offer American Sign Language courses starting Wednesday, September 30, 2009 from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. The cost is $120 for classes and the textbook or $90 for classes and without the textbook. To register for the classes please contact Jodi Jones at (610) 770-9781 ext. 16. Alternate Version of Livin’ Livin’ is available in alternate formats. If you or someone you know would be interested in receiving a text-only or electronic version of the newsletter please contact Corrina Passaro at corrinapassaro@lvcil.org. Alternate formats are also available on the LVCIL website, www.lvcil.org. Video Phones Now Used to Scam By Michele Marks As soon as new technology is developed, it seems the scammers are right there to abuse it. Now people are using video phones to call Deaf people and tell them they have won money or that President Obama is giving away money to the Deaf. All you have to do, they say, is give the caller personal information, such as Social Security numbers, bank account information, PIN numbers, passwords, and anything else they can get from you. Why? So they can steal your identity. Also, I met a person who showed me an official-looking e-mail, supposedly from the IRS. The email address looked like this: info@irs.gov That means the first address (irs.gov) is not real, but the second one is real. But the real address is NOT a government address. It is a scam! This e-mail asked for all kinds of personal information, such as Social Security number and a PIN number. The IRS NEVER asks for this information in an e-mail, especially a PIN number. Many e-mails, instant messages, phone calls, and letters seem real, but it is easy for scammers to make something look official. They hide behind titles of FBI, IRS, and so many others. But they are scammers. If you receive any communication like those above, please DO NOT give out any information. It is best to disconnect the VP call or ignore the e-mail. If you wonder if a business or government e-mail is real, you might check the State Attorney General’s office or Better Business Bureau. Or you may call anyone here at LVCIL and they can help you determine whether it is real or false. We are always happy to serve you, especially to prevent you from being scammed! What You Should Know About Swine Flu By Annette Drobil Why is there such a fuss about swine flu, also known as the H1N1 virus? How is this different from any other flu? This virus first appeared in the US in April 2009 and is unusual because people started getting sick during the time of year when the flu is normally not active in the US. It is called “swine flu” because some of the genes in the virus are very similar to those found in pigs. (You cannot get H1N1 from eating pork!) People in the US are still getting sick from this virus so a vaccine has been developed to prevent infection. It is likely that this vaccine will be given separately from the other flu vaccines. Most people who get H1N1 recover without any medical treatment. Some people with other medical issues like diabetes, asthma or who are pregnant may be hospitalized if it is determined that they have H1N1. The good news is that about one third of people over 60 years of age have immunity to this virus although it is still not known how likely it is that older people will get sick from H1N1. Anti-viral drugs are available that shorten the duration of the symptoms by reducing the replication of the viruses in your body. For H1N1, these prescription medicines are being given only to people who have the flu and other medical conditions or who are hospitalized. It’s important to know that if you are infected with H1N1 you can infect other people one day prior to feeling sick and up to 5 to 7 days, maybe longer, after feeling better. The symptoms of swine flu are fever, headache, body aches, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. The virus can live on a surface and infect a person for 2 to 8 hours after a person with the virus touches, sneezes or coughs on the surface. To avoid spread of the virus in your home, it is recommended that household cleaners be used according to the label directions, especially on bedside tables, bathroom surfaces and children’s toys. Bed linens and other laundry can be made virus free by washing as usual in the washing machine then drying on high heat. Eating utensils do not have to be cleaned separately from those of uninfected people but should not be shared prior to a thorough washing. It’s important that everyone take the following precautions to avoid spread of H1N1 and other viruses that lead to the cold or flu: • When you sneeze or cough, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue and discard the tissue in the trash after use. • Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol based hand sanitizers are also effective if it is not practical to wash with soap and water. • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth; viruses enter your body this way. • Avoid close contact with sick people! • Except to get medical care, stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone and you feel well. • ALWAYS follow advice to the public about outbreaks. For example, adhering to advisories about staying away from crowds during a certain period when many people are sick with the flu. If you live with someone who has the flu and you are feeling well, it’s ok to go to work and other places as long as you continue to feel well. It’s important for you to monitor how you feel every day and take all precautions to avoid becoming ill. If you do feel sick – Stay Home! Future Advocates Now Updates By Robbie Graves The Future Advocates Now (FAN) group has had a very busy summer! We bowled at Parkway in July and then attended an ADA Accessibility Site Survey training where we went to Musikfest to look at their accessibility. Now it’s time for some fall activities. All meetings are on the second Saturday of the month unless noted. The meetings at Lehigh Carbon Community College(LCCC), Schnecksville Campus, will be in Room SH 131, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Saturday, October 10, 2009 is Movie Day at a local theater. Call for more information. Saturday, November 14, 2009 will be a regular meeting at LCCC from 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Saturday, December 12, 2009, will be a Holiday Party and 2010 planning meeting at LCCC from 10:30 a.m - 12:00 p.m. Please try to let me know if you will be attending any of the planned events by calling (610) 770-9781 ext. 29. This is a tentative schedule which is subject to change. FAN events are listed on our Current Events page on the LVCIL website (www.lvcil.org/currenevents.aspx) In the event of bad weather, if an event is cancelled or rescheduled I will change the outgoing message on my voicemail. You can hear the message by calling 610-770-9781 ext. 29. This information will be available by 8:00 a.m. the day of the event. Lehigh Valley Action Team Updates By Debbie Rozear Summer is winding down and it is once again time to start up the Lehigh Valley Action Team. Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Prior to the meeting, Jean Feldman will lead a craft class from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The list of meetings is as follows; October 14, Susan Jennings will be coming in to speak on Shamans. Shamans is an ancient Indian spiritual healing. November 11, speaker Robin Rosenau will provide information about Benefits Check-up. Before her arrival we will discuss what topics we would like to have for next year and group peer support, if possible. December 9, holiday social. Come interact with the group, something we don’t get to do quite enough because of the topics that are provided each month. Music, snacks, and fellowship for all. This group is very relaxed. All are invited to join our “Lunch and Learn.” Bring a snack or lunch to munch on while the meeting is going on. Friends are also welcome to attend. Please call Debbie at 610-770-9781 ext. 24 or email me at debbierozear@lvcil.org. In case of inclement weather, please call the main line at LVCIL at (610) 770-9781 to hear if there are any cancellations or delays. See you there!!! Ask Robbie By Robbie Graves Dear Robbie: I have a wheelchair that I no longer need. It is in excellent condition. I am willing to donate it to someone who really needs it. Can I bring it to your office? Sincerely, Willing to Donate in Easton Dear Willing to Donate: Thank you so much for your letter. Here at LVCIL, we get calls almost weekly from people like you willing to donate used equipment. We really appreciate your willingness to do this. As you know, wheelchairs are very expensive and many people simply cannot afford the equipment they need. Unfortunately, we cannot take donations of equipment, be it wheelchairs, toilet chairs, walkers or canes. We really just do not have the storage space anymore. If you have been to our office recently, you will see that our staff is really making the most of every inch of office space! However, please do call us and we will do a couple things for you. First, we can post an ad on our website. Second, and most importantly, the person you talk to will e-mail a notice to our staff to see if anyone is working with or knows any consumers that are in need of the equipment you have to donate. Often, someone here knows someone who is in need and is looking for just what you have to donate. We will never give out your phone number or address without your permission, but we can help facilitate the donation by helping to connect you with the other person. If you are interested in selling a piece of equipment, I suggest you check out www.dadealer.com This is the local website for Disabled Dealer Magazine, a publication that advertises used equipment. You can also check out their paper version, which we have at our office. You can also let us know what you are selling and we can let people know who might be looking to buy. Sometimes churches and other religious and civic organizations will take donated equipment to distribute to people in need or to have available for visitors to their building. You may want to call around to see if some local organizations might be interested. Also, many churches have flea markets where donated items are accepted to be sold for the benefit of the church. I personally have seen many wheelchairs being sold at local flea markets and church bazaars. Thank you again for the great question. This is a very important topic that I hope will help many people by getting good, used equipment out there in the hands of people who really need it, instead of collecting dust in a garage or taking space in a landfill. It's All About the F Word By Debbie Rozear Well, now that I got your attention, let’s talk about the “f” word. With today’s economy, there are many people facing foreclosure. You think, oh well, I am renting, it can’t happen to me. Think again! Don’t be fooled. Forty percent of foreclosures are due to landlords who are collecting your rent and defaulting on the mortgage. Tenants are being evicted at no fault of their own. Trusting tenants are paying their rent unaware that anything is wrong until a knock comes on the door and they are handed an eviction notice. Or worse yet, they come home and there is a foreclosure notice posted on their door. Either way there is a lock out date and the person or family is left homeless. What can be done? By this time it is too late. Be proactive. Do your homework. Before moving anywhere, the best thing that you can do is know all there is about renting. LVCIL presents a class about twice a year called “The Right Stuff about Renting.” You can also call the Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley (CACLV) where this program originated. You will be taught all about the rights and responsibilities of both landlords and tenants. When looking for a new place, check with your potential new neighbors, they may know the landlord and be able to fill you in on him/her. You could also contact the Landlord Association in your area for information. Be aware of absentee landlords. Many times these landlords are from out of state. They are just collecting rent and are not present for anything, like doing any repairs. Know the slumlords in the town. These landlords do not have to be from out of the area. There are several right in the city that are well known to the locals. The mayor in the city of Allentown has created the “Landlord Hall of Shame”. You can find out about the slumlord that is being spotlighted in the newspaper, on his/her dilapidated building(s) and on the local news. When being evicted, there is a process that you go through. Essentially it takes 30 days until the final lock out date. Even after you are locked out you have another 30 days to arrange to pick up all of your belongings. Once there is a foreclosure on a property, the lock out day is it. There is, however, some good news for renters. As of May 20, 2009 there has been a new law that went into effect called The Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act. This is only a temporary act good until 2012. Renters are protected by this new act in the following way: when a new owner purchases the property, the renter may stay in the dwelling until the lease runs out. The only way that an owner can have the tenant leave before the lease is fulfilled, is if the owner is planning to move into the property as his main residence. If the owner is going to occupy the house, he has to give the tenant at least 90 days in order to find a new residence. S2L: The 311 By Seth Hoderewski Wow, where did the summer go? S2L’s summer program, The Real World Lehigh Valley was better than I could have ever dreamed! That was because of the inquisitive participants, the wonderful staff and very supportive parents! We really accomplished a lot: from all of the independent living seminars to working on skills like filling out applications and mock interviews to trips to Musikfest and LCCC. All of the activities made it quite an experience for everyone! Jacob said it best during the picnic in front of almost 60 people, “I had a great time this summer. You are all my family now.” What’s next for S2L? We will be focusing on finding each participant a Mentor, providing them each with a person centered plan, and having monthly seminars and/or other meetings. If anyone is interested in being a mentor, please call Seth at 610-770-9781 ext. 19 for more information. I am very proud of how the program has grown and look forward to where we will be going. Thank you for everyone’s support. Upcoming S2L dates for participants: September 26th – Seminar and activity “Fitness and Healthy Living,” 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. October 24th – Mentor Meet and Greet, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. November 7th – S2Lers attending an all day conference in Ft. Washington November 21st – Family meeting and seminar (any suggestions), 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. December 19th – Seminar, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. December 29th and 30th – Real World Lehigh Valley, Winter Program, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. The 2010 Census By Francisco Sainz de la Peña A census always attracts public attention because it is an event that occurs once every 10 years. Some people think that the information the census collects violates their privacy and can be used against their interests and personal property. That is not true. The main objective of the census is to count everyone who lives in the United States. The first census was completed in 1790. It is a requirement of our Constitution and has to be done every 10 years. The main goal is to determine representation in the U.S. Congress. Each decade, following the census, seats in the U.S. House of Representatives are reapportioned in the 50 states based on the new population numbers. These numbers are also used to estimate services and resources by the public and private sectors and for planning for future endeavors. The 2010 Census will be conducted on April 1, 2010. You will receive the census form by mail. You will need only ten minutes to complete the form. This time, the Census Bureau is using a short form. You will be asked to provide information about your household, such as if you rent or own your home, and six questions about each individual in the household, including name, sex, age, date of birth and race. You do not have to provide your social security number or driver license number. It is vitally important that all people with disabilities participate in the Census. The demographic expansion could provide more funding to several local government and community-based organizations. Please do not forget to participate; it is very important for you, your family and community as well as for our country. For more information, please visit the official website of the 2010 Census: http://2010.census.gov/2010census/ El Censo del 2010 Por Francisco Sainz de la Peña Un Censo siempre atrae la atención del público, porque es un evento que tenemos solamente cada diez años. Algunas personas creen que la información que el Censo colecta puede violar su privacidad y además, pudiera ser usada en su contra. Eso es totalmente falso. El objetivo real del Censo es el contar a toda persona que esté viviendo en los Estados Unidos. El primer Censo fue realizado en 1790. El Censo es un requisito de nuestra Constitución y debe ser implementado cada diez años. El objetivo principal es el determinar el número de representantes por estado en el Congreso de los Estados Unidos. Cada década (después que se ha hecho el Censo) los curules del Congreso son ajustados en los 50 estados, con los nuevos números de población que arroja el Censo. Los números del Censo también son usados para diferentes planeamientos por los sectores público y privado. El Censo del 2010 va a se llevará a cabo el primero de abril del 2010. Usted recibirá el formulario por correo. Para completar este formulario usted necesitará solamente diez minutos. Esta vez, la oficina del Censo está usando un formulario realmente corto. Le preguntarán información del grupo familiar, tales como si rentan o son dueños de la casa y seis preguntas sobre cada individuo del grupo familiar, incluyendo el nombre, sexo, edad, fecha de nacimiento y raza. Usted no tiene que dar su número de seguro social o de su licencia de conducir. La expansión demográfica significará más dinero para organizaciones locales de gobierno, así como también organizaciones comunitarias que favorecen a los miembros mas necesitados de la comunidad. Por favor no se olvide de participar; es muy importante para usted y para el país. Para mayor información, por favor visite la página de Internet del Censo del 2010: http://2010.census.gov/2010census/ 2009 Independent Living Celebration Thank you to our generous Independent Living Celebration Sponsors: ILC Home Run Lehigh Valley Health Network ILC MVP Around the Clock Nursing, Inc. David & Amy Beck Lehigh Valley IronPigs ILC Rookie of the Year Cynthia Davis Center for Independent Living of Central PA Mark & Gretchen Parseghian Daniel J. & Carol Shiner Wilson ILC Team Mascot Leonard & Beverly Bloch Foundation Katherine Boyle Thomas Burns Nicholas Butterfield Coca-Cola Company Margaret Graves Robert Graves Rita Gusinskaya Tom Harp Sally Hill Michael & Michele Marks Paul’s Barber Shop Mr. & Mrs. Michael Piedmonte Rosemary Rath Joan Schantz Bill & Jeanette Seaman Pam Stephens Kathy Vastyshak Thank you to our generous Silent Auction donors: AAA East Penn Allegiant Air Applebee’s Baker’s Florist Bayada Nurses Beck’s Yule Tree Farm Amy Beck David Beck Dorothy Beck BJs Bounce U Civic Theatre of Allentown Curious Goods at the Bake Oven Inn Dorney Park and Wild Water Kingdom Jean Feldman Robert Graves Green Pond Country Club Sally Hill Seth Hoderewski Lehigh Valley Zoo Lori Hetherington LVCIL Freewheelers Optimal Fitness at Good Shepherd Oreck Pennsylvania Playhouse Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival Philadelphia Eagles Philadelphia Flyers Philadelphia Phillies Photos by Duss Piano Doctor Pittsburgh Steelers Putt U Rodale Debbie Rozear Six Flags Great Adventure Ethelee Span Jodie Steiner Mary Lynn Thompson Two Rivers Landing Wilson Black Photography Alice Wright Zoellner Arts Center A special thank you goes out to the premier Independent Living Celebration Committee Members: Nick Butterfield Eladio Gonzalez Sally Hill Lori Hetherington Seth Hoderewski Gretchen Parseghian Francisco Sainz de la Peña Jodie Steiner AD on back page of newsletter: Attention Consumers! There's a new attendant care provider in the Lehigh Valley! 24-Hour On-Call Availability, Competitive Wages & Benefits! Community Resources for Independence 961 Marcon Boulevard Allentown, PA 18109 1-877-559-5853 (toll free) 610-266-5853 (voice) 610-266-5857 (fax) Contact Scott Jenco MA Waiver ACT 150 CSPPPD Aging Waiver CRI has provided Attendanct Care in PA since 1990 and currently serves 48 counties.