Livin’ March – May 2009 Economic Times and Your LVCIL Wow, this is going to be a tough year for all of us. The economy is in a recession. Car dealers are offering to buy back your new car if you lose your job. Banking giants are tumbling, and we have all added the term Ponzi Scheme to our dinner conversation. I fear one of the great tragedies of the economic climate will be small, worthwhile non-profit organizations. At LVCIL we have had several programmatic budget cuts, and we are tightening our belts! Our fundraising efforts are more important than ever. After 19 years, LVCIL will not allow ourselves to reduce services. Our consumers have been hit very hard by the economic downswing, and we will not turn our backs on our consumers. I am not too bashful to say, we truly need you, our friends and consumers, to support our efforts in some way shape or form. Even the smallest contribution or show of volunteerism makes a world of difference. Here are some ways to support LVCIL and the persons with disabilities who operate and are served by this agency. Be Part of LVCIL’s Team in the Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community! Walk the 1 mile or 5K course, volunteer at the event, or sponsor a walker. The event will be held on June 13, 2009. HighMark Blue Shield underwrites the cost of the walk so 100% of the money raised will go directly to LVCIL. The course, located in Historic Downtown Bethlehem, is fully accessible and is available to wheelchairs, strollers and even pets! Visit www.walkforahealthycommunity.org for more information and to register! Donate to the LVCIL Annual Fund! See the back of this newsletter for a clip out reply form. Even the smallest gift makes a huge difference to us. Every donation helps make sure LVCIL can continue to provide quality disability services to proud individuals with disabilities in the Lehigh Valley, who seek to live independent lives. Volunteer at LVCIL! We need people who can bring a willing heart to help with volunteering at the CIL. Volunteers are needed behind our front desk to answer phones and greet visitors. We also are looking for volunteers to provide light office work. Support and Donate to the Independent Living Celebration! This year’s Independent Living Celebration will take place on Saturday, July 25, 2009 at Coca Cola Park, home of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. The event will begin at 6 p.m. and will include our silent auction, dinner and awards ceremony. You may gladly support the Independent Living Celebration by attending the event or you may support the event with a donation. For more information on any of the information listed, please contact Corrina Passaro, Development Coordinator at (610) 770-9781 ext. 20. We are Americans and we are resilient. We will survive this economic storm. And with your help, LVCIL will continue to be there to serve the persons with disabilities who turn to us. Upcoming LVCIL Events SWING FOR SWINE EVENT AT COCA COLA PARK Through the generosity of both the IronPigs Charities and LSI, the Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living has received 30 tickets to the May 6, 2009 baseball game between the Lehigh Valley IronPigs and the Buffalo Bisons. These tickets will be available for LVCIL consumers only on a first-come, first-served basis. The game begins at 7:05 p.m. and consumers are required to make their own transportation arrangements. Please call Corrina Passaro at (610) 770-9781 ext. 20 to reserve your tickets. When you call please let Corrina know if you need an accessible seat and if you will be using Easton Coach. Tickets can either be picked up at LVCIL or mailed to consumers. The deadline for ticket requests is Monday, April 6, 2009. HIGHMARK BLUE SHIELD WALK FOR A HEALTHY COMMUNITY On Saturday, June 13, 2009, at 9 a.m., the Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living will participate in the HighMark Blue Shield Walk for a Healthy Community in Historic Downtown Bethlehem. Highmark Blue Shield underwrites the cost of the walk so that 100 percent of the money raised by walkers goes directly to the 18 participating organizations. The Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living is looking for participants to walk with us. The course is fully accessible to persons with disabilities. For more information or to register, please visit www.walkforahealthycommunity.org. You may also call Corrina Passaro at (610) 770-9781 ext. 20 for more information. FIRST MONDAY SPRING PROGRAMS The First Monday program meets at LVCIL on the first Monday of each month and provides educational topics, crafts and other activities for persons with disabilities. On Monday, April 4, 2009, the First Monday program will present “Taking Control of Your Hospital Stay.” Melissa Reese from Eldercare Assessment and Resources will teach us how to make a hospital stay work for us. This event is free and will take place at LVCIL, 435 Allentown Drive in Allentown from 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. On Monday, May 4, 2009, the First Monday program will present “Getting Control of Your Money.” Denise Continenza from the Penn State Cooperative Extension, Lehigh Valley will discuss ways to save. The program is free and will run from 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. On Monday, June 1, 2009 the First Monday program will have a craft event. Corrina Passaro and Jodie Steiner will present “Scrapbooking 101,”a basic course in scrapbooking. The program is free, however due to the limited supplies that will be provided; a maximum of 15 participants can take part in the event. The event will run from 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Please RSVP for this event because space is limited! If you are planning to attend please bring with you two photos that fit the theme “summer” to use to create your page. All of the programs presented through First Monday require an RSVP. Please contact Annette Drobil at (610) 770-9781 ext. 27 or e-mail annettedrobil@lvcil.org. PENNSYLVANIANS WITH DISABILITIES DAY LUNCHEON The Pennsylvanians with Disabilities Day Luncheon will be held on Friday, April 17, 2009 at the Green Pond Country Club. Registration begins at 11 a.m. and the lunch will begin at noon. The event costs $18. This year’s event marks the 20th Anniversary! Awards will be presented to the Miracle League of the Lehigh Valley, a baseball organization for children with disabilities and to R. Stockton “Stocky” Taylor, the co-founder of the Pennsylvanians with Disabilities event. For more information about the event, please contact Corrina Passaro at (610) 770-9781 ext. 20 or by e-mail at corrinapassaro@lvcil.org. INCLEMENT WEATHER? If you are scheduled for a class, program, meeting or individual appointment at LVCIL and bad weather strikes, what should you do? Just call our main number 610-770-9781 and listen to the message. You can call as early as 7 a.m. If we are closed or are having a delayed opening, our automated greeting will provide you with the latest and greatest information! ALTERNATE VERSION OF LIVIN’ Livin’ is available in alternate formats. If you or someone you know would be interested in receiving a text-only version of the newsletter please contact Corrina Passaro at corrinapassaro@lvcil.org. Alternate formats are also available on the website, www.lvcil.org. Ask Robbie…About Ramps! By Robbie Graves Dear Robbie: Help! I will be in need of a ramp soon on my home. I don’t know where to turn for help with this. Thanks! Requiring Ramp in Macungie Dear Requiring Ramp in Macungie: Thanks for the great question; it is a topic that we see frequently at CIL. Unfortunately, many people find themselves in an inaccessible home. Just getting in and out of your home can sometimes be the biggest barrier! Depending on the length of the ramp, the desired building material and factors like; how much concrete may be needed, the cost to build a ramp will run into thousands of dollars. There is assistance out there. The Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation or PATF can provide low interest loans to help people with any type of technology they need to live independently in their home. This includes ramps as well as an abundance of other things including hearing aids, accessible vehicles and bathroom modifications. To contact the PATF call 1-888-744-1938 or visit their website: www.patf.us Another source of assistance is the Self Determination Housing Project or SDHP. Through the PA Accessible Housing Program, grants may be available for people in our area for access ramps. You can reach the SDHP at 1-877-550-7347 or at their website: www.sdhp.org. Since you live in Lehigh County, you may qualify for assistance through a program through the Lehigh County Office of Aging and Adult Services. Call 610-782-3200 for more information, and remember this is only for residents of Lehigh County. If you happen to be a veteran with a significant disability, there are programs such as the Specially Adapted Housing Grant and the Special Home Adaptations Grant which may help. Contact your Veterans Administration Regional Office at 1-800-827-1000 for more information and to see if you qualify. There might be other sources of assistance, such as the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, and one of Pennsylvania’s Medicaid Waivers if you are eligible. Local churches and sometimes Boy Scout Troops may also offer assistance. Start spreading the word that you are looking for this kind of project and someone may be willing to volunteer their time and even contribute towards the cost of materials. If you are just looking for a contractor that has experience building wheelchair accessible ramps but don’t know where to turn, give us a call. We can give you contact information on contractors who have built ramps and have satisfied customers. We will not recommend any one contractor over another, but we will give you several names for you to call, ask questions to and make your own, independent decision. You will also need to decide if you want to go with a metal ramp or wood ramp. Each has their distinct advantages and disadvantages. We can give you contact information for both. Please e-mail and send in questions for future columns. I look forward to answering your questions. Robbie can be reached at (610) 770-9781 ext. 29 or by e-mail at robgraves@lvcil.org. I Can Not Sleep! By Annette Drobil Do you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep? Do you feel tired during the day and have trouble paying attention? You may have insomnia. This can be a short-term problem caused by something specific like stress. Or it can last for months and may be caused by an inactive lifestyle, use of caffeine or alcohol, medical problems like restless leg syndrome or sleep apnea, anxiety or relationship problems. Many people wisely seek the help of their physician to treat insomnia. Sleeping pills are frequently prescribed and can be a great relief. While sleeping pills may solve the problem, they may not be the best option for the long run. Sometimes people who use sleeping pills have side effects or cannot take other medicines with the sleeping pills. There’s another way to treat insomnia called Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT). This treatment is aimed at changing sleep habits with the help of a therapist or other physician trained to use CBT. This treatment has been proven effective. In fact, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association reported that CBT worked better long term than use of medicines to help you fall asleep or to stay asleep. CBT is hard work. It takes several weeks, maybe months, requires visits to the doctor and keeping a diary of your sleep habits. The first step, Sleep Restriction Therapy, requires you to stop napping and to go to bed at a set time. This can result in getting less sleep than before treatment, but is temporary and necessary to get results. The next step is Stimulus Control Instructions. Your doctor will look at your sleep habits and what you do around the time you go to bed, and make changes to your behaviors. For example, not going into your bedroom until you are ready to sleep and if you wake up, leaving the bedroom and not returning until you are ready to sleep. Next is Sleep Hygiene Education where your doctor lists things you should/should not do. This may include sleeping in a cool, dark room. There are many other things the doctor may recognize with a patient’s behavior that should be changed in order to get a good night sleep. For example, some people are “clock watchers”-they look at the clock every time they wake up and get more and more frustrated. The solution? Cover or move your clock so you can’t see it. So why use CBT? It gives long term treatment for insomnia without using medicines. Maybe you’d like to try to make some changes in your life to help you sleep better. Here are a few things you can do: • Keep a regular schedule with a consistent bedtime. • Use your bedroom mainly for sleep. • Exercise regularly, but try to finish exercise at least 3-4 hours before going to bed. • Avoid caffeine for at least 6 hours before going to bed. • Avoid large meals close to bedtime. • If you nap during the day, try to do so at the same time each day, and limit napping to an hour or less. Hope that reading this article didn’t put you to sleep! References: sleepfoundation.org; The Journal of the American Medical Association Lehigh Valley Action Team Updates By Debbie Rozear The LVAT group is meeting the second Wednesday of each month from 11:30 to 1:30 at LVCIL. The core group that meets each month has agreed to have speakers come in and discuss health issues that are relevant to people with disabilities, and how to enhance their quality of life. For the next few months this is what we have lined up: April 8 we will have Donna coming in from the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ABVI). She will be speaking about eye care and all of the disabilities that actually affect the eyes. May 13 to Be Announced. There is a possibility of 2 different speakers that have not gotten back to me yet. If there is no speaker coming in we will reserve this day to have a group peer support session. When the time draws near or if you have any questions, you may contact me at 610-770-9781 extension 24. Don’t forget that Jean is here at 10:30 a.m., before the meeting to have a craft class with anyone who would like to participate. Future Advocates Now Meeting Schedule All meetings are on the second Saturday of the month unless noted. The meetings at Lehigh Carbon Community College, Schnecksville Campus, will be in Room SH 131, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. March 14: Lunch Out (location and time will be announced via email or contact Robbie) April 11: “Guitar Hero” party (and other games) at LVCIL, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. May 9: At LCCC, Craft Project, making shirts for fundraising walk in June. June 13: Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community in Bethlehem at 9 a.m. July 11: Bowling at Parkway Lanes in Allentown. Time to be announced. August 8: Dinner at Rascals, 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. September 12: Movie Day at LVCIL, 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. October 10: Movie Day at local theater. November 14: A fund raising event for our group. Details to come. December 12: At LCCC, Holiday Party and planning for next year! This is a tentative schedule which is subject to change, but we do plan on adding events as well. Trips to IronPigs baseball games, trips to the Mall, and other events are all possible, so stayed tuned! Some events do not have scheduled times yet, so we need to finalize some plans. In the event of bad weather, if an event is cancelled or rescheduled, Robbie will change the outgoing message on his voicemail. You can hear that by calling 610-770-9781 ext. 29. He will have this changed by 8:00 a.m. the day of the event. LVCIL FREEWHEELERS The LVCIL Freewheelers is an athletic organization for people with or without disabilities. Freewheelers’ tennis practice will be held at Lehigh University from 12-2 p.m. on Wednesdays. Basketball practice will be held at the Bethlehem YMCA 8-9:30 p.m. on Thursdays. Upcoming Basketball Game Schedule: March 21 Kutztown Students vs. LVCIL Freewheelers Game time: 6 p.m. at Kutztown University March 27 Freewheelers vs. Good Shepherd Game time: 7 p.m. at East Side Youth Center May 2 Freewheelers vs. Country Meadows Employees Game time: 7 p.m. at East Side Youth Center May 16 Freewheelers vs. Mobility Unlimited Employees Game time: 7 p.m. at East Side Youth Center Admission to games is $3, kids $1. Raffle tickets are $2 each or 3 for $5. Raffle to be drawn at half time; you need not be present to win. First Things First By Debbie Rozear Life is never easy; however, it is what you make of it. At this time of the year, with the wind howling outside, can you imagine being homeless? There are people losing their homes and apartments each and every week, because of the economy, low income and bad judgment. I get calls from people telling me stories of how they are being evicted and that there is no where for them to live. It’s not so easy being on the outside looking in. We all think - this will never happen to me. Think again. I have worked with people that are living in a shelter that have a Master’s Degree. There are several steps that someone could take in order to keep a roof over their head. When a person is disabled, it is very difficult living on a fixed income, especially with today’s economy being so bad. When one has a set amount of money coming in each month, however, there are different programs that are in place, in order to subsidize things like food, heat, etc. A person that is on SSI or disability payments will more than likely qualify. There are income criteria for most every program. If you don’t know where to turn, just call and ask one of the staff members at LVCIL. One of our services is Information and Referral and someone would be glad to help you locate the information that you are requesting. Another reason for receiving notices of eviction is just plain old bad judgment. First of all, remember when budgeting to make sure that you can balance your income with your expenses. It can be quite difficult in certain circumstances. I have not been the exception to this; I was raising four children on my own on disability while buying a home. You just learn to be very frugal with everything. Always remember the first bill that should always be paid every month is the rent or mortgage bill. When paying the bills start with the most important and work your way down. I would say the next importance is the utilities. The lowest on the totem pole are the bills that do not accumulate interest. If you keep up with your rent, there should be no reason for an eviction notice. If you have difficulty with money, there are ways to get help with your bills. You can get a rep payee, or give someone close to you power of attorney for your money management or have the most important bills taken directly out of your bank account each and every month. Why would someone with limited income want to have a credit card? Don’t forget that a credit card has a bill that appears in your mailbox every month...with interest. If you cannot pay that amount in full the interest keeps accruing and it snowballs and becomes this enormous bill that is impossible to pay back. For people with high debt, think about debt relief or consumer credit counseling. You can be your own worst enemy. Use better judgment, not just for housing but in everything that you do. Helpful Housing Hints: Refinancing by Francisco Sainz de la Pena The interest rates are going down and you may start thinking about refinancing your current mortgage. Before you jump into this transaction you should consider a couple of things. First, if you are planning to sell your house in less than five years, it may not be to your advantage to refinance. Second, in order to consider this a good deal for you, it should be able to lower your interest rate at least one point. Remember that you have closing costs to pay with your refinancing. These are usually between $3,000 and $5,000. If you want a lower rate you may have to pay points, which are 1% of the loan amount, per point. Keep in mind that in order to refinance, your property must appraise the value that you are trying to refinance. If you do refinance you have to add other loans that you may have against the property, like an equity loan. Finally, try to do it with a bank or a reputable mortgage company to avoid surprises. Always look for a fixed rate, not an adjustable rate, which has been one of the leading reasons why many families have lost their houses recently. Another Scam Targets the Deaf Community If you receive an email or instant message (IM) that says: “Subject: OBAMA READY TO HELP DEAFS READ AND CHECK THE 2 WEBSTE AND SEE DEAFS THAT RECEIVED THERE CASH” DO NOT BELIEVE IT!!! The message asks you to read more about the winners on a fake website http://newhotlottoprogram.synthasite.com/winners-page.php (yes, there is a website, but all information is fake). The message also asks you to send very personal information, such as address, social security, birth date, etc. NEVER provide this information to an unknown person on line. If you do, the person can steal your identity, take your money, and ruin your credit very, very fast!!! Obviously, someone is targeting Deaf persons to take advantage of them and steal their identity. Don’t let it happen to you! If you think you have been a victim or if you have any questions, please contact the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General at 717-787-3391 or check their website at: http://www.attorneygeneral.gov. Northampton County Court Interpreting Debacle By Michele Marks There has been a widespread public response to a recent situation in which Deaf witness testimony was attempted by text message in a courtroom. The Morning Call reported that this approach was taken because a sign language interpreter was not available for the date(s) of the trial. Several readers weighed in on the court’s ill-advised decision; however, some of the reader responses indicated a lack of understanding as to how interpreters function in the world of the Pennsylvania Court System. Some may be under the impression that any sign language interpreter can be used to interpret in a legal setting, and that perhaps a volunteer who knows sign language can be used if no one else is readily available. I cannot possibly cover all of the reasons why these situations would not be appropriate, but make an attempt at a superficial explanation of an interpreter’s role in court. Please know that strict protocol also applies to foreign language interpreters used in Pennsylvania Courts. A court interpreter is considered an Officer of the Court and must be credentialed through the National Registry of Interpreters of the Deaf (RID) as well as through the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts (AOPC). Both sign language and foreign language court interpreters must be trained and tested by the AOPC. So, even an English/Spanish speaking court clerk cannot be used as an interpreter unless he or she is credentialed. Interpreters will work in teams in order to monitor the interpretation and maintain the highest possible level of accuracy, especially since testimony can affect the life and liberty of all parties. Teaming allows for appropriate and well-timed breaks for each interpreter in an attempt to compensate for the mental and physical fatigue inherent in the task of interpreting. In some cases, a Certified Deaf Interpreter (CDI) may be required to ensure accuracy of testimony, particularly in the case of a witness with limited language competence. As an Officer of the Court, interpreter must be sworn in prior to the proceedings. The interpreter must understand legal terms, court protocol, and must address the court accordingly. Court interpreters are entitled to view all case files (and are strongly urged to do so) in preparation for the case. They are also required to disclose any prior knowledge of the party for whom they are interpreting and state whether this knowledge will impact their ability to interpret impartially and fairly. All of the foregoing barely explains the complexity of legal interpreting, especially in the courtroom; but hopefully this will open some eyes as to why Pennsylvania appears to have a shortage of qualified and credentialed interpreters for its courts, and why it is vital that those responsible for hiring interpreters for court must begin scheduling the interpreters as soon as they know the court date(s). Interpreters also need that time to prepare well for each interpreting situation. And the hiring party must be prepared to hire more than one interpreter for a court case. The scenario mentioned at the outset should not have happened; with adequate planning and better understanding of the needs of Deaf trial participants, this should not happen again. Further information on Pennsylvania Court Certification can be found at http://www.pacourts.us/T/AOPC/CourtInterpreterProg/Certification.htm. New LVCIL Staff Spotlights Seth Hoderewski, Independent Life Coach Hello! My Name is Seth Hoderewski. I am one of the newest members here at LVCIL. I started on November 19, 2008 as the Independent Life Coach for the new program, “S2L” Transition: School to Life. It is a new project, funded by the Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council, that works with students with any type of disability as they transition from school to the real world. The project provides the participant with support and guidance to help them reach their ultimate goal of community or supported living. Along the way the program provides a stakeholders team that is comprised of people close to the participant who can help support them on their journey. It also provides mentors, peer support, a person-centered transition goal plan, family support, and an intensive seminar series which will include a summer workshop, “ The Real World Lehigh Valley.” The summer series will be a 6-week learning fest which will promote independent living skills through comprehensive learning and practical application with a focus on community involvement. Feel free to check out more program specifics at LVCIL.org on the services tab. The response to the program has been incredible so far! There is such a need for this kind of program. I was thrilled to see something like this come along and I am very excited to be a part of its creation. I also feel fortunate to be a small part of the great things that go on here at LVCIL. Everyone has been great and very supportive! I look forward to building the program and really sinking my teeth into anything that needs to be done to make the “S2L” program a success and to help LVCIL shine even brighter! I will rely on my 15 years of experience in the field working with all kinds of people with all kinds of disabilities with all age groups. Pretty much I’ve seen it or done it. I graduated from PSU w/a BA in Psychology. I’ve also done some Special Education Masters coursework at East Stroudsburg. I have 3 kids at home: 2 boys, ages 7 and 1 and a 15 year old daughter. We love sports in my house. We love watching the Yankees win and going to Iron Pigs games. I also help to coach my sons’ baseball and basketball teams. We are always on the go! I look forward to my future here at LVCIL. It has been a great experience so far. If you have questions about “S2L,” are interested in mentoring, have ideas about seminars or the program in general, please feel free to get in touch with me at (610)-770-9781 ext. 19 or by e-mail at sethhoderewski@lvcil.org. Eli Gonzalez, Bilingual Community Support Coordinator Hello everyone, I’m Eladio Gonzalez, aka Eli. I am the newest team member of LVCIL. I serve the organization in the capacity of Bilingual Community Support Coordinator. My main responsibility is housing, however, I am able to assist in many areas, including information and referral, peer support, mediation and advocacy. I received an Associate’s Degree in Business specializing in Criminal Justice in 2005 and have been involved within the Social Services field since graduating. Before coming to LVCIL, I was a team member at the Casa Guadalupe Center where I served as Satellite Site Case Manager for Lehigh Valley Hospital. This was a sub-contracted position aimed at assisting those who are medically uninsured. I am very excited to be working with all of you at LVCIL and am grateful to have been given the opportunity to serve those with disabilities to find temporary or permanent housing. I enjoy serving the Lehigh Valley community and am certain my experience at LVCIL will provide many opportunities to continue to expand my knowledge. Please feel free to contact me at (610) 770-9781 ext. 18 or by e-mail at eladiogonzalez@lvcil.org.