Livin Newsletter Official Newsletter of the Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living Inc. Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living, Inc. 435 Allentown Drive Allentown, PA 18109 "Providing services to persons with all types of disabilities" A member of the PA Council on Independent Living (PCIL), a consumer controlled state association of Centers for Independent Living (CIL's) LIVIN' is a quarterly publication of the Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living, Inc. LVCIL provides information and services to people with disabilities, and other service organizations in Lehigh and Northampton Counties. Businesses or Individuals may sponsor issues of LIVIN'. December 2007-February 2008 Edition, Volume 43 Phone: (610) 770-9781 Fax: (610) 770-9801 TTY: (610) 770-9789 Email: info@lvcil.org Web Site www.lvcil.org Editor: Corrina Passaro corrinapassaro@lvcil.org Graphic Design: Bob Amelio bamelio@lvcil.org Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living 435 Allentown Drive, Allentown, PA 18109 610-770-9781 www.lvcil.org Yes, enclosed is my tax-deductible donation to LVCIL's Carl F. Odhner Fund in the amount of $ Yes, enclosed is my tax-deductible donation to LVCIL's Claire E. Michaels Fund in the amount of $ Yes, enclosed is my tax-deductible gift to LVCIL in honor/memory of in the amount of $ Yes, I am enclosing a tax-deductible donation to LVCIL, in the amount of $ Please use it wherever you have the greatest need. Name Address Phone ?I would like to be contacted for more information about LVCIL. Things May Not Be As They Appear Years ago my Dad was at the mall doing shopping in the height of the holiday rush. All his shopping was almost complete. He had cleverly recruited my sister to make those final purchases for Mom, and he was sitting down for a short break. He was shocked when another man, a stranger, came up to him and offered to buy him coffee and a doughnut, since Dad was down on his luck! Little did the well meaning man know he was offering a hand out to a man who had successfully founded two equipment businesses, had a patent on a product design, was a decorated World War II veteran, a happily married spouse, and the father of five children. What the stranger saw was a 50 something man, in old work clothes, with a large hole in his shoe; surely a man who needed a handout. What we saw was the President and CEO of his own business, who had hung up his business suits for good, so he could slip into the manufacturing area and get under pieces of specialty equipment he had designed. We saw a man who had a closet full of new work clothes and shoes that he was "saving for good." We saw a man who proudly wore his working man clothes in his President's office everyday, often confusing a new customers and sales people who thought he was a welder. Things may definitely not be as they appear! People who see my wheelchair first, and not the human being inside, feel pity for me. I've been asked who does the cooking at my house (I do!), and who applies my makeup (I do!). At social events new acquaintances never ask me what I do for a living, then are shocked to hear I manage LVCIL! Servers in restaurants have asked my husband if they should bring me milk to drink (No thank you, I am not 5 years old - and I can speak for myself.) And of course, there's the classic assumption that I have some hearing loss or learning disability when a stranger talks loudly in simple words to me. People with disabilities are often not as we appear at first glance. We are focused on our Abilities, Achievements and Accomplishments. Sure my life may be outwardly different than the life of a person who does not have a disability, but it is a full and rich life nonetheless. My life is more hampered by the pity, stigmas and stereotypes my non-disabled counterparts impose on me, than any inconvenience caused by my disability or wheelchair. Take a second glance at a person with a disability, and we may just surprise you! Amy C. Beck LVCIL Executive Director Online shopping Holiday shopping has received a makeover in recent years thanks to the Internet. Goodbye to the loud blast of car horns in an overcrowded parking lot, screaming children whose mothers have kept them in the mall four hours past their naptime, and merchandise that lacks the dazzle of originality. Instead, say hello to the shiny world of on-line shopping, a place where you can order that limited-edition autographed Underdog lithograph for your third cousin of your husband's without ever leaving the home. All you need is a computer, a credit card and access to the Internet. Quirky relatives and some creativity help, but are not required. On-line shopping, or E-commerce, has steadily increased in the United States by at least 25% annually since 2001. With the proper technology, millions of consumers can make purchases electronically. Retailers have created new ways for consumers to save time and conveniently shop with an easily expanded selection of products. For example, many stores found at the Lehigh Valley Mall or the Promenade Shops also have websites for on-line shoppers. Even many independent retailers have a website for consumers. And after a recent California court decision, all e-commerce websites that "enhance the services it offers at a physical location" are required to be compliant under the Americans with Disabilities Act. One website, IGive.com uses on-line shopping as a way to give back to the Community. Created in 1997 by Robert Grosshandler, the website automatically gives a percentage of purchase totals to a selected non-profit organization. The Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living is one organization associated with IGive.com. Using the IGive.com website is fairly simple. It is also completely free! For first time users, creating an account is necessary. The first page of the screen will ask you to select your preferred organization by state and cause type. For example, if you choose Pennsylvania and Community Service Organization before clicking Find Clauses a list will be generated of numerous organizations. If there is an organization or non-profit you are specifically looking for, you can type the name of the organization into the Keyword Search and it will pop up if the organization is in the database. Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living will always come up in that search. Once you have selected the non-profit you would like to support (hopefully LVCIL), you will be asked to create a username and password. After that, you will be ready to shop! Remember, when you shop you need to start at IGive.com. Log in and then click on any of the stores available. The donation will automatically be applied to your selected cause. On-line shopping continues to be a growing trend. It reduces holiday stress and saves time. With the help of a site like IGive.com, it also allows people to donate money to their favorite organizations. If anyone has any questions about using the IGive.com website call Corrina Passaro, Development Coordinator, at 610.770.9781 or e-mail corrinapassaro@lvcil.org. She is tech savy and a fan of shopping through the website. There are over 680 retailers that participate in the IGive.com program including: • 1-800-Flowers.com • The Apple Store • Barnes and Noble.com • Boscovs.com • Kohls.com • Kmart.com • JCPenney.com • OldNavy.com • QVC.com • Toys R Us.com Understanding Your Legal Rights a Success! By Michele Marks On October 3, Denise Brown of the Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Allentown put on a powerful and empowering presentation regarding how the Americans with Disabilities Act can be a protection to Deaf people. She also spoke about the limitations of the ADA. Ms. Brown presented information on the ADA as it applies to doctor appointments and legal situations. Also, she emphasized the right of all Deaf people to request a PA registered/certified interpreter, under Pennsylvania Act 57, but that a non-registered interpreter can be requested under certain circumstances. If you're not sure the doctor will pay for the interpreter: Check with your health insurance carrier to see if they might pay for an interpreter for your doctor's visit. Call the customer service phone number on your card. Ask the customer service person if they provide interpreters for Deaf patients. If they don't know what you're talking about, or if they say "no," ask for someone in the "Special Needs" department. If you have no success, you may need to switch doctors or switch to a large clinic. If you are on Medical Assistance, you can check this website for more information: http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/ServicesPrograms/MedicalAssistance/003673518.htm If all else fails, you may wish to email robgraves@lvcil.org or michelemarks@lvcil.org to see if filing a complaint with the Department of Justice would help you. Many thanks to Denise Brown, and to interpreters Tara Potterveld and Susan Hughes, for helping to make the presentation a success! Get Out & Get Exercise Join a Team at Your Intensity Level BASKETBALL PRACTICE AT THE BETHLEHEM YMCA Practices are Thursdays 7:45 to 9:10 pm Bethlehem YMCA, Broad St. Bethlehem, PA. Games held at Eastside Youth Center, Allentown. BOWLING ON A SATURDAY AFTERNOON Two times a month on Saturdays. Call for dates or watch website for more information. TENNIS PRACTICE AT LEHIGH UNIVERSITY Wednesdays from 12-2:00 pm at Lehigh University's Lewis Tennis Center. Call Bob for info. LEHIGH VALLEY TENNIS CLASSIC A Nationally Sanctioned wheelchair tennis tournament will be held June 27-29, 2008 at Lehigh University. UPCOMING BASKET BINGO Basket Bingo will happen on March 29, July 19 and October 11, 2008. For more information, please call Bob. MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS: First Thursday of the month at Bennigan's in Bethlehem, PA. All are welcome to attend and play whether you have a disability or not. Call Bob Amelio for more info or directions to any of our events at 610-770-9781 ext. 11 Happy Holidays & Best Wishes for 2008 From All of US at LVCIL! Busy Year for Regional Action Team The past several months have seen many exciting changes here at the Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living and particularly changes affecting the Lehigh Valley Action Team, our consumer advocacy/peer support group. We are launching a new initiative affectionately known as the "Fest Grant," but its official name is the "Building Inclusive Recreational Opportunities" grant. We will be training people to conduct accessibility surveys at temporary recreation events, such as fairs and festivals, and presenting our findings to the event organizers to help them make their events more accessible to people with disabilities. Training, transportation, admission, meals and any attendant care expenses will be paid for by LVCIL. Please call me at extension 29 or Joe Krycia at extension 26 for more information or if you are interested in participating. This brings me to another exciting change, and that is the addition of Joe Krycia to our staff here at the CIL. Joe is working part-time as a Community Support Coordinator for Advocacy and will be taking over the facilitation of the Lehigh Valley Action Team sometime early next year. He will also be the Project Coordinator of the "Fest Grant." You'll hear more from Joe later in this article. Another piece of exciting news is the addition of Annette Drobil to our staff. She is working part-time as a Community Support Coordinator focusing on Housing Needs. Annette is working closely with Debbie Rozear to best serve people who call on us for assistance with housing needs. As many of you know, I have been adjusting to my new position as Assistant Director and I would like to personally thank everyone from our Board, to our volunteers and our consumers who have helped me along the way as I make the adjustment and learn new tasks. One of the great things about the CIL is the support everyone in this Family gives one another. It is one of the truly magnificent aspects of working here and I believe, clearly translates to the service we provide to people who call on us for assistance. Bob, Annette, Joe, and Debbie are a great Team working hard everyday to serve people with disabilities in the Lehigh Valley. As 2007 closes and we prepare for 2008, stay tuned for more exciting changes from the Operations Team. Lastly, if you live in a rural area of Lehigh or Northampton County, you may now be eligible for discounted Metro Plus service through the PwD (People with Disabilities) Shared Ride program. Applications are available through LANTA and we also have them here at the CIL and we would be more than happy to help you complete the application. Contact either Robbie or Joe at 610-770-9781. Meet Our New Community Support Coordinators Greetings! I'd like to take this opportunity to introduce myself. I am Joe Krycia, Community Support Coordinator for Advocacy. First let me say that I am very excited and thankful to be here at the LVCIL. I'd like to thank those of you who I have met already and my co-workers for a warm welcome and a comfortable transition into my new position. I was already affiliated with the LVCIL as the Vice President of the LVCIL Freewheelers Athletic Organization. Besides sports, I have interests in movies, animals, computers, music, and I play the guitar. I began working at the LVCIL in September as a Community Support Coordinator with a focus on advocacy. I'm looking forward to bringing awareness to both individuals and organizations through advocacy. In addition to assisting consumers with issues ranging anywhere from information to advocacy efforts, I will be working closely with the Lehigh Action Team and the Building Inclusive Recreational Opportunities grant project. Please feel free to contact me if you need any assistance or even just to say hello. You can usually find me in the office Wednesday through Friday at extension 26. I look forward to all that lies ahead! Annette is delighted to be part of the CIL staff as Community Support Coordinator focusing on housing needs. She graduated with a biology degree from Widener University and remains interested in science. Annette enjoys spending time outdoors biking, hiking, running and gardening and she loves the opportunity to cook for family and friends. Annette can be reached at the CIL at extension 27. Preparing Your Home for Winter By Debbie Rozear The long, cold days of winter are coming upon us. It is that time of year when we begin sealing out the cold and keeping our selves warm and cozy on those long winter nights. Whether you rent or own your property, there are certain things that must be done in order to keep your home well maintained. Here are a few reminders that you may be able to use. Let's start with a few things outside of the home. Bring in your plants before the first frost. When bringing outdoor hanging plants indoors, make sure that there aren't any unwanted insects within the plant or soil. Put a flea collar around the stem, next to the soil. Place inside a garbage bag for 24 hours and then remove and find a spot in the house where the plant can thrive for the winter. One of the biggest things that many people forget to do is to turn off outside water. Open the faucets outside and turn off the main valve. Let all of the water and the air out of the spigot. You can let these turned on (in the opened position) all winter and there will be no ice forming to make the pipes crack or burst. One last thing outside is to make sure that the gutters are all cleaned out. If there is a blockage, rain or snow melt off will overflow at that one spot and will actually cause erosion of soil. It can even cause a breakdown of cement sidewalks. Cleaning out the gutters is good to have done before the onset of winter. Ice dams are little ridges on the edge of the roof. They often start from the melting snow or ice from the roof and then start to refreeze as icicles hanging down from the roof and gutters. Behind this ridge of ice there can be a puddle of water lying on the roof. This water can seep under the shingles and cause damage inside the house. Inside the house there are some simple things to do like lock your windows so they seal tightly and place weather stripping around doors and windows. If windows are older you can cover with plastic. Do not make your home totally air tight, circulation of air is important. Too airtight can cause unwanted moisture. Also, when using a dryer in your home, do not vent it into your room. Keep them vented outside. You may be getting some warmth and think that you are saving money on heat; however, you are bringing too much humidity into the house. This may leave fibers floating in the air and cause moisture buildup that may increase mold, allergies and a host of other problems. Experts are out there to help with winterizing your home. Many resources are available to people that are inexpensive and can be picked up at a local hardware or department store. There are clinics held at Home Depot every Saturday and Sunday. You can call your local store for topics, days and times that the clinics are going to be held. You can also check it out on the web at www.homedepot.com and click on the icon for clinic information. Remember if you are renting an apartment, check with your landlord first to see which of these aspects you are responsible for and which the landlord is responsible for. "Scrubs" Portrays Unrealisitic Interpreting Scenario Written by Michele Marks Suppose a Deaf person in a hospital emergency room needs an interpreter? Would using a janitor who had taken one sign language class be appropriate? Most would say "no way!" However, that is exactly what happened in the Scrubs episode, "My Words of Wisdom." I suppose showing the hospital personnel contacting an agency or a qualified interpreter (which Deaf people have the right to under the ADA) would not elicit nearly as many laughs. My commendation goes to the producers of Law and Order who at least have incorporated interpreters into their stories. Check out the Scrubs episode by going to youtube.com and searching the key words: Scrubs My Words Wisdom. For Enthusiastic Members Everything from Wellness to Weather WELLNESS FOR ALL WRAP-UP On December 17, 2007 from 2-5 p.m. the Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living Wellness for All Program will celebrate the end of another program year with the Wellness for All Wrap Up. Join us at the CIL to learn about local healthy options for recreation and enjoy some nutritional snacks. All attendees are eligible for raffle prizes! ADA TELECONFERENCES Join us at the CIL for presentations by the ADA and IT Center from 2-3 p.m. Upcoming topics include: December 18th - Disability Law & Policy, Present & Future January 15th - Best Practices in Design LVCIL HOLIDAY PARTY Our Holiday Pot-Luck Event will take place on Tuesday, December 11, 2007 from 12 - 2:30 p.m. Please bring your favorite covered dish or desert! And if you would like to participate in our gift exchange, please bring a gender-neutral gift worth $5. There will be lots of food, music and games! Please RSVP your attendance to Brenda Palmer no later than Monday, Dec. 3, 2007 at 610.770.9781 ext. 15. COFFEE FUNDRAISER LVCIL will be selling coffee from the Lehigh Valley Coffee Roasting Company from now until December 3, 2007. For more information or to purchase coffee you can check out our website www.lvcil.org or call Corrina Passaro at 610.770.9781 ext. 20. All coffee orders will be available for pick up by December 18, 2007. LONGABERGER BASKET PARTY On Saturday, February 23, 2008, there will be a Longaberger Basket Party held at the LVCIL offices at 2 p.m. The event will have a Spring Fling Theme. Sales of Longaberger baskets will benefit LVCIL programs and services. Light refreshments will be served. For more information including catalog information, please call us at 610.770.9781. 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. If we are closed or are having a delayed opening, our automated greeting will provide you with the latest and greatest information! INDIVIDUALIZED COMPUTER SKILL BUILDING TIMES AT LVCIL LVCIL will now be offering an opportunity for our consumers to build skills for using email, nternet and basic word processing. Staff and volunteers will provide support as you learn computer basics. Limited time slots are available by appointment only. Please call Brenda at 610-770-9781 ext. 15 to sign up for this FREE training. MULTIPLE CHEMICAL SENSITIVITY POLICY LVCIL is proud to have a policy to make our offices a positive environment for persons with multiple chemical sensitivities. Whenever you are coming to LVCIL, please refrain from using any unnecessary scented products such as perfumes, after shaves and scented lotions. ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER You can help LVCIL save precious resources! A version of our newsletter is available electronically! Please email Bob Amelio at bamelio@lvcil.org if you would like to receive Livin' electronically. (Or feel free to visit our website to view current or previous newsletters.) TEXT ONLY VERSION OF LIVIN' Would you or someone else you know prefer to receive a text only version of the newsletter? You may access it from our website, or you may contact Bob Amelio at bamelio@lvcil.org to have it sent to you. In Memoriam Susan Zwarycz, a dedicated LVCIL volunteer, passed away on October 26, 2007. For more than three years Suzie volunteered almost daily in the LVCIL Sign Language Interpreter Referral Service. She gave freely of herself to help bridge the gap between the hearing and Deaf worlds. Our deepest condolences go to her family and friends. Seasonal Affective Disorder & You: What You Should Know by Corrina Passaro Some call it the Winter Blues. Others call it Cabin Fever. But in reality, the feelings of depression that begin in the winter months could actually be Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.). Seasonal Affective Disorder is a depressive disorder, most commonly found in women. It rarely affects people under the age of 20 and is most common in places that are located in the Northern Hemisphere. It is estimated that approximately a half million people suffer from Season Affective Disorder worldwide. S.A.D. is caused by the decrease in sunlight, making the disorder more common in the winter months when the days become shorter. Doctors also suggest that it is caused by melatonin, a sleep-related hormone. In winter the body produces more melatonin, which can cause depression. The brain chemical serotonin could also be a cause of winter S.A.D. Actually, it is the lack of serotonin, the brain chemical triggered by sunlight that may cause depression. In winter months, S.A.D. can lead to weakened immune systems making people more vulnerable to sickness. Winter Symptoms include: · Depression · Anxiety · Loss of Energy · Social Withdrawal · Increased Sleep/Sleepiness · Overeating · Weight Gain · Difficulty Concentrating However, the disorder does not only occur in the winter months. It also can occur for some in the summer. Summer Symptoms include: · Anxiety · Insomnia · Irritability · Weight Loss · Decreased Appetite Treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder includes light therapy, medication or psychotherapy. Doctors have found that light therapy, which includes sitting near a lamp that has 10x to 20x brighter light than a normal indoor light, usually helps. Special lights can be purchased over the counter but light therapy is not officially approved by the Federal Drug Administration as a proven solution. Definitive evidence of effectiveness was inconclusive. Light therapy has side affects, although they are typically uncommon which include: · Eyestrain · Headache · Agitation · Fatigue · Nausea · Insomnia · Dry Mouth Light therapy is not recommended for people who take medication that reacts with sunlight, has skin that is sensitive to sunlight, or eye conditions that make them vulnerable to sunlight. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Seasonal Affective Disorder is commonly misdiagnosed as hypothyroidism, hypoglycemia or infectious mononucleosis. If you believe you are affected by S.A.D. you can attempt to alter the amount of light in your home or try to spend more time in the sunlight. However, if your symptoms become severe and affect daily living, it is important to contact a mental health professional. Sources: The Mayo Clinic National Alliance on Mental Illness Seasonal Affective Disorder Association