The Progressive Center for Independent Living

P R O G R E S S I V E C E N T E R F O R

I N D E P E N D E N T L I V I N G, I N C.

Help may be a phone call away, but the threat is imminent and you must act. Whether the crime is calculated or random, home invasions and personal attacks will continue to happen. Protecting oneself should come as natural as breathing, but it's not, it's learned. Don't get caught off guard. Formulate a plan to protect yourself, whether at home or in public.

On Tuesday, October 21, 2003 20 people attended a PCIL sponsored workshop regarding personal and home protection. Speakers from Ewing Township police department and Mercer County Sheriff's department showed a video about home protection and offered tips on home and personal safety. Personal alarms were given to attendees of the workshop from the Sheriff's department. The police strongly recommended that everyone learn a self defense technique.

People who are disabled can be more vulnerable to victimization than others in society. One out of five people in the US have a disability. The risk of criminal victimization for people with a disability is much higher than people without disabilities.

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibit discrimination on the basis of a disability. Law enforcement is required to make reasonable modifications to policies, practices, and procedures where needed to accommodate crime victims who have disability, unless doing so would fundamentally alter the service, program, or activity the agency provides.

For more information about your responsibilities under ADA and Section 504, call Department of Justice's ADA Information Line at 1 (800) 514-0301 or Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs at (202) 307-0690.

Safe While Sitting

Coming from a small town I always feel safe, leave doors unlocked, key in my car, will approach and talk to anyone.

As a person using a wheelchair I pretty much do not change my approach to moving around in public or interfacing with people.

I do not think of running - can't, don't think of avoiding - not me, don't think of being scared - too stubborn.

With my work I travel all over the state including large cities where the topography is much different then the small town from which I come. One must realize that when the elements are much different, your actions and behavior must coincide with the environment your in.

Exuding confidence, being observant and keen to your surroundings is crucial to surviving and staying out of harms way.

I might be a little bolder if I had a wheelchair with a top end speed of 25 miles per hour.

My message to anyone including people with mobility issues is to live your life but do so wisely.

legislative/advocacy

The Reauthorization of the IDEA

The federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act is due to be reauthorized this year. The house has recently passed its version of the bill, HR 1350, which has some serious concerns for students with disabilities. For example, the bill significantly changes and weakens the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) process. This bill would allow IEP's to be developed only once every three years as opposed to every year in the current law. Short-term objectives and benchmarks which are critical to student success, may be come optional on the IEP. HR 1350 also reduces rights and procedural protections for students and their parents or guardians. This results in less time and opportunity for students and parents to disagree with the school child study team before having to resort to formal procedures such as due process. The bill's revisions to the discipline policy are also problematic. The bill significantly changes the disciplinary procedures schools must follow when a child has a behavior problem that may be a manifestation of his or her disability.

The Senate HELP Committee has released its version of the bill, S1248, is an improvement over HR 1350, but still has some problems. The disciplinary procedures under S1248 are not as harsh and do allow school districts to consider if the behavior is a manifestation of the child's disability. IEP's would still be optional every three years. There is a concern among advocates that amendments will be made to S1248 before it reaches the floor for a full Senate vote to cap attorney's fees, which would limit families ability to find and afford attorney representation.

It is expected that S1248 will go to the full Senator for vote in January 2004. Contact Senators Corzine and Lautenberg and urge them to protect the rights of students with disabilities. Share your stories with them and explain how important IDEA protections are. Contact information for Senators Corzine and Lautenberg are below:

US Senator Jon S. Corzine

502 Hart Senate Building

Washington, DC 20510

voice: (202) 224-4744

Senator Frank Lautenberg

324 Hart Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20510

voice: (202) 224-3224

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If you are interested in receiving current updates regarding legislation that affects people with disabilities, please contact Nicole Davis at PCIL with your name, e-mail address and/or mailing address. We will add your name to our mailing list.

PCIL has recently formed a legislation/advocacy committee to address important issues such as IDEA. If you would like to become a member of the legislation committee or if you would like more information, please contact Nicole Davis at (609) 530-0006.

Stress Time ... Again

W H A T I S S T R E S S ?

The dictionary defines stress as a mental or emotional disruptive or condition occurring in response to adverse external influences and capable of affecting physical health, usually characterized by increased heart rate, a rise in blood pressure, muscular tension, irritability, and depression.

W H A T C A U S E S S T R E S S ?

There are some situations that can cause us to be stressed and mis-define-us. Once these are identified we can take steps to change the way we view the situation. Learning coping skills and examining your thought processes will enable you to look at these situations in a more positive manner and to take steps that will reduce your stress responses.

C O G N I T I V E B E H A V I O R R x

Studies make it clear cognitive and behavior treatment has become the best-liked treatment for conditions such as ... depression, anxiety, PTSD, insomnia, anger, and substance abuse. Cognitive treatment teaches how certain thinking causes your symptoms. Cognitive treatment teaches thinking for the better so you can welcome challenges and opportunities with a clear and calm mind. Behavior treatment teaches you to recognize habitual reactions to difficult situations. Take actions that are likely to have desirable results -- focus on how to achieve beneficial change.

T H E B O T T O M L I N E !

It is our personal attitudes and reactions that give us the most dilemma. We cannot always choose our external situations, but we can choose how we respond to them. Liveliness and ease begin with a clear grasp of one truth: some things are within our control, and some things are not. Accept this basic rule, and learn to recognize what you can and cannot control.

thumbsupthumbsdown

thumbsup to the Congregation of Lawrence Road Presbyterian Church for making the church accessible. After years of fundraising and planning the dream of making this church accessible for all people has become a reality with the installation of an elevator. The church is located at 1039 Lawrence Road in Lawrence Township ... come check it out.

thumbsup to Audubon & Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Announcing the 7th annual Great Backyard Bird Count February 13 - 16, 2004; presented by BirdSource.

A L L I N V I T E D

-all ages and skill levels

-help scientists define the status of winter birds

-join backyard birders from Nome to Key West

-become a Citizen Scientist

S P R E A D T H E W O R D

People with disabilities are encouraged to participate. Visit http://www.birdsource.org.

Cornell contact: cornellbirds@cornell.edu

thumbsdown to people who plow snow and shove it all into the accessible spots!

thumbsdown to NBC Today show telecast in November 2003 that had good intentions, but used inappropriate language. Ann Curry referred to a male using a wheelchair as 'crippled' and 'wheelchair bound.'

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"The Bible tells us to love our neighbors, and also to love our enemies; probably because they are generally the same people." G.K. Chesterton

didyouknow ... ?

Economic Participation

Finding and marketing good jobs to people with disabilities is essential because financial independence benefits everyone.

Unemployment is one of the most profound issues facing the disability community. Only 32% of Americans with disabilities aged 18 to 64 are working. The disability community, comprising nearly one-fifth of the American population is an untapped market worth over $220 billion in collective spending power. Like other niche markets, the disability community responds positively to companies whose marketing approaches are sensitive to their needs and interests. The National Organization on Disability (N.O.D.) offers businesses and marketers resources for tapping into this increasingly powerful consumer sector. To help job seekers with disabilities, N.O.D. offers resources and articles specifically addressing their needs. Visit http://www.nod.org.

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Websites for Travelers with Disabilities

United Artists Theater at Princeton MarketFair

Home to MarketFair for many years, United Artists Theater has been reborn after a full renovation, which included stadium seating, state of the art sound system, an additional 10th screen, accessible seating and a brand new look! Make sure to see your next movie at United Artists MarketFair. Call (609) 520-8700 for show times.

A good selection of shops, services, and restaurants are housed in MarketFair. Specialty items, apparel, and sporting goods are just a few of the goods available.

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Bristol-Myers Squibb

The giant drug company that employs roughly 6,500 has developed two important drugs in recent years - Abilify for schizophrenia, Reyataz for AIDS and an experimental new drug showing promise against rheumatoid arthritis. Executives at Bristol-Myers expect to ask the US Food and Drug Administration for permission to market the experimental drug, which goes by the name CTLA41g, for now.

On January 16, 2003, I visited my daughter who was expecting her first baby in February. She took a leave of absence from her teaching job, under doctors orders. Before the doctor left for his vacation, he told her, "Do not have the baby while I'm gone."

My son-in-law, Mike, had a ticket for the coming Eagles football game in Philly on January 19. He too told my daughter, "Don't have the baby before the game."

We scheduled a surprise baby shower for her on January 18. Well, this baby decided to arrive when she was ready! No medication, no doctor, no football game, or baby shower was going to stop her.

Kirstyn Renee Loftus was born on January 17, 2003 at 2:47 AM. She weighed 5 lbs. 11oz. She beat us all.

We went ahead with the baby shower on January 18 as planned. Kirstyn's dad, Mike, decided to take the new mommy's place. It was fun watching him open up all the gifts as my son Chris recorded the whole baby shower for Maureen to see. At the end of the baby shower we dressed him in a net skirt and paper hat with all the ribbons. He was a good sport and had a lot of fun.

Kirstyn was born with Tetrology of Fallot (heart condition) and serious hearing loss.

On July 8, 2003, Kirstyn entered Children's Hospital in Philadelphia for open heart surgery. She was shy of six months old. The surgery lasted three hours. It was a very emotional time for she remained in the hospital for four days. Fortunately, her parents stayed the whole time. They have rooms set up for all parents who wish to stay as close as possible.

At six and a half months, she had her hearing tests. She was getting tired, fussy, and ready to fall asleep. When she was fitted with two hearing aids, her whole face and eyes lit up to the world of sound. It was so funny and a wonderful sight to see after all she had been through.

On the way home from the hospital, Kirstyn was going through a terrible time adjusting to all the sounds around her. She cried and screamed non-stop, until she was completely exhausted. I was a little teary as Kirstyn's grandfather and I are deaf.

I lost my hearing from Measles at age four. Her grandfather, Bob, was born deaf. He may have been six months or more when his parents learned of his hearing loss.

The heart problems and hearing loss are inherited from both families; her maternal grandfather and greatgrandfather have heart complications and hearing loss, and her father's folks have heart complications.

When I first learned of her hearing loss I felt bad because I do not want her to experience the hardships. School was a long and aversive experience for me. There were no interpreters in those days. I felt robbed of an education. I had no guidance and, no friends, the days seemed as long as shadows, and I was held back two times. By the time I graduated from public school, I was sent to NJ School for the Deaf, which is now call MKSD for Vocational Training. Times have changed for the better and she will have the best of both worlds by interacting with hearing and non-hearing people. It's going to be edutaining teaching Kirstyn American Sign Language (ASL) and speech skills.

Keeping in stride with all other children, her first sign word was "dad-dad." A few weeks later and to our surprise her first voice word - "da-da," so we know she can hear some with her hearing aids.

Kirstyn is a happy and bubbly baby who likes to tease her mother. She will pull her hearing aids out knowing her mom will run over to stop her. Or her mom will find her sitting on them, trying to pull them apart, using them as a pacifier, or teething toy.

The Progressive Center for Independent Living (PCIL) advocates for the rights of people with disabilities to achieve and maintain independent lifestyles. Through promotion of choice, self-direction and inclusion, PCIL works with people with disabilities and their families to ensure the same freedoms and civil liberties as everyone else.

· education/training

· assistive technology/devices

· emergency preparedness

Sponsored/Hosted Programs Includes Workshops & Conferences:

· Emergency Planning That Includes People with Disabilities

· Understanding Your Health Insurance

· Cross-Disability Peer Support Group (monthly)

· Home Finance and Budgeting

· Disabilities and Addictions

· Disability Awareness & Sensitivity Training

· Advocacy Group (monthly)

· Deaf or Hard of Hearing/Substance Abuse Support Group,

· Americans with Disabilities Act

· Law Enforcement and PwD

Volunteer Program Activities:

· programs supports

· building maintenance

Emphasized Outreach Efforts:

Tax Time ... Again

Don't put off until April 15 what you should be doing now. Get a jump on tax season with these simple steps:

1. Planning to prepare returns yourself? Two software programs, TurboTax and Kiplinger Tax Cut, will make the process easier. If you don't own a computer, pick up a copy of Taxes for Dummies by Eric Tyson and David J. Silverman. You can find these and other tax-preparation aids at office-supply chains, major bookstores or on-line.

2. Organize your records in the order you'll report them on your tax forms. And make sure you store them in an accessible easy-to-remember spot.

3. If you've saved your paid bills, receipts from charitable contributions you've made and 2003 bank statements, go through them so that you don't overlook potential deductions.

4. There's still time to take advantage of initiatives that can reduce your tax burden. Some, like the credit for qualified retirement-savings contributions, can be used up to April 15 and have an impact on the previous year's taxes. Log on to irs-gov or call 1 (800) 829-1040 for more information.

5. Want someone else to do the dirty work? Then now's the time to find a tax preparer, other than your cousin. Check the National Association of Tax Professionals' database at taxprofessionals.com for preparers near you or visit your neighborhood H & R Block.