ILRC Newsletter ~ 3rd Quarter 2006

Though the June election has passed, it is important to note that the campaign included recognition, at least by one candidate, that people with disabilities cast votes and matter in the political scheme of things. Gubernatorial candidate Steve Westly visited ILRC’s Santa Barbara office during his first trip through this area. He talked with staff and met our IT/Access consultant, Peter Robertson. Ken McLellan demonstrated the video chat with Deaf consumers and Patty Neumeyer explained her assistive technology corner. Mr. Westly told us he has eleven staff people who are Deaf in his Office of the Controller, and his policy director shared that his mother is a wheelchair user. They are supportive of our issues and better yet, have personal understanding of why we have those issues.
People with disabilities have impacted the lives of these people seeking to serve in political office and we should continue to fight for more recognition as a voting block.
Polling place access, understanding the ballot and placing our issues before the decision-makers are ways we start of making people with disabilities into a powerful force in the political scene.

FOR SALE
A few pre-owned Apple G3 iMacs w/keyboard & mouse or G3 Beige Towers w/G4 processor upgrade, monitor, keyboard & mouse remain at bargain basement prices! Call the Santa Barbara office at (805) 963-0595 Voice/Text!

Board of Directors
Sue Andrews, President • Carpinteria
Anna “Tina” Pedotti, Vice President • Santa Barbara
Marjorie Bastanchury, Secretary • Santa Barbara
Richard Donchak, Treasurer • Newbury Park
Edward “Bud” Girard • Carpinteria
Larry Laborde • Santa Barbara
Dan Naretto • Carpinteria
Edward Perry, Sr. • Santa Maria

Mission Statement
The Independent Living Resource Center, Inc., is an organization of, by and for persons with disabilities who reside or work in our service area. Our purpose is to assist and encourage individuals to achieve their optimal level of self-sufficiency while eliminating the architectural, communication and attitudinal barriers that prevent full participation in the community.

Santa Barbara County
Headquarters
423 W. Victoria Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 963-0595 Voice/Text
(805) 963-1350 Fax
(805) 963-8265 Text
Client Assistance Program (CAP) (888) 963-0595 Voice/Text (Toll-Free) or (805) 884-8423 Voice/Text

Carol Baizer, ILS/BPAO Coordinator
Jo Black, Executive Director**
Bernard Faulkner, Bookkeeper
Gabriella Gonzalez, Admin Clerk *
Rebecca Gonzalez, I & R *
Jennifer Griffin, Business Manager
Rosa Lopez, I & R/Outreach *
Petra Lowen, Cmty Living Advocate
Ken McLellan, ILS/Peer Support Deaf**
Corinne Neale, Systems Change Advocate
Patty Neumeyer, AT Coordinator
Kathleen Riel, Program Manager
Kristin Watts, CAP Advocate

Santa Maria
327 E. Plaza Drive, Suite 3A
Santa Maria, CA 93454
(805) 925-0015 Voice/Text
(805) 349-2416 Fax
(805) 925-5892 Text

Laurie Colson-Young, BPAO Specialist
Jennie Morales, Advocate/Interpreter
Registry Coordinator**
Candace Ridenour, Cmty Liv Advocate/ I&R

Ventura County
1802 Eastman Avenue, Suite 112
Ventura, CA 93003
(805) 650-5993 Voice/Text
(805) 650-9278 Fax
(805) 650-0669 Text

San Luis Obispo County
1150 Laurel Lane #184
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
(805) 593-0667 Voice/Text
(805) 549-7423 Fax
(805) 549-7424 Text

Denise Martinez, Peer Support Advocate
Karen “Cary” McGill, AT Advocate
Maria “Lisa” Rubio, I & R *
Georgianna Knopf, Cmty Living Advocate
Steven Young, BPAO Specialist

July 1, 2006 marks the beginning of ILRC’s 30th year of service! We are preparing to celebrate our milestones, our successes, and to plan for the next 30 years. Different disability groups, ally organizations and ILCs are working together is ways that were never imagined even 15 years ago. The systems change advocacy has grown in import and emphasis, as has the service around assistive technology.
During this fiscal year, fall of 2006 thru fall of 2007, ILRC will look back and plan forward. Our work will include a formalized voter education plan and voter registration drive. We will work on health care education and access, as well as housing, transportation, employment and ADA access.
Work with us, celebrate with us and move forward with us. Let us know what you remember about ILRC and what you dream for the disability community. Together we can plan for the next few years and put what we have learned to the test. I hope you will join us. Up coming newsletters will provide the information about events and occasions at which we will welcome your presence.
Here’s to the next decade!
Jo Black

Mary “Corinne” Neale
New Systems Change Advocate for the Tri-Counties!
Corinne originally worked in publishing, but she went on to receive a Master of Social Work Degree (MSW) from Fordham University in New York. Her social work degree involved training as a clinical counselor and as a social policy advocate.
Corinne started as a volunteer companion working with a mental health consumer who was blind. She worked as an activities therapist assistant at a work training center for people with developmental disabilities. She was a recreation assistant at a retirement home. Corinne has worked as a nursing home social worker, inpatient psychiatric social worker, and a mental health outreach counselor. She also volunteered as a camp counselor working with underprivileged children.
Corinne says about her experience “It all started with my own disability. I have bipolar disorder and when I was treated with dignity as a psychiatric patient, my life changed. I knew that I wanted a career where I could help others.”
About the new job, she says, “I hope that I can work with others to make meaningful changes in the community for people with disabilities.”
Most of Corinne’s experience has been on the East Coast, as she moved to Santa Barbara a year ago. She has already been of assistance volunteering with Santa Barbara ILRC staff organizing data and files for about four months. She will continue to work at the Santa Barbara Office location. Her phone number is (805) 963-0595 ext.113. Her email is mneale@ilrc-trico.org. Please join us in welcoming her to our team.

Carolyn Ann Bellman
Born August 16, 1939
Died April 22, 2006
Carol Bellman worked for the Independent Living Resource Center as the attendant care specialist, finding attendants in the Tri-County area. After six years, she retired due to bad health for a five-year period. She then went to work for the city as Chairperson of D.A.C.A. (Disabled Advisory Commission on Access) a disabled group who worked with architects, to ensure that they met ADA guidelines on all new buildings in the Santa Barbara area. Some of the projects she worked on were Paseo Nuevo Mall, A Child’s Estate and the Railroad Depot. She was very involved in the disability community.
She is survived by her loving husband Rocky, son Robert, four grandchildren (Christina Alphier of Puyallup, WA, David Lara of Santa Barbara, Daniel Lara of Santa Barbara, Robert Lopez of Santa Barbara), two great grandchildren (Anthony Lara of Santa Barbara, Kyla Reine Alphier of Puyallup WA), and numerous cousins in the Tri-County area.
She was much loved and will be sorely missed by her family and her many friends. In lieu of flowers, a donation in her name can be made to the ILRC at 423 W. Victoria St. Santa Barbara, CA 93101.

From Petra Lowen...
It was with great sadness that we learned that Carol Bellman had passed away. The ILRC lost a wonderful friend, former employee and consumer of the agency. In 1983, when I was first hired, I soon realized how much practical wisdom she possessed. She was a great teacher, in a very gentle and humble way. She was extremely patient with everyone and could instinctively tell which personal assistant applicants were trustworthy and honest and which needed to be carefully scrutinized. I learned tremendously from her, just by being around her and came to admire her. She genuinely loved her work and remained employed at the ILRC until her body simply did not allow her that added stress. She was very realistic about her disability, but she chose to concentrate on the positive aspects of life and cherished the good moments and especially her family. After she retired she remained as much involved as her health permitted. For a few months she invited the new staff to her home for training sessions and remarked humbly that she learned as much from us as she taught us.
The last time I saw her she came to our agency for a site visit by representatives from United Way. Her dry humor made everyone feel welcome and relaxed. Carol touched many lives and I know she will be greatly missed. She will live on in everyone who knew her.

Calendar 2006

July
1 Canada Day
4 Independence Day
(ILRC closed)
11-15 Jr. Wheelchair Sports Camp (For Info Call (805) 893-4114)
25 ILRC Board Meeting
Santa Barbara
August
15 Assumption
29 ILRC Board Meeting
Santa Barbara
September
4 Labor Day
10 Grandparents Day
23 Rosh Hashanah
23 First Day of Autumn
24 Ramadan
26 ILRC Board Meeting
Santa Barbara

ILRC News & Ad Submission Deadlines

Issue Deadline
October - December, 2006 • September 1, 2006
January - March, 2007 • December 1, 2006
April - June, 2007 • March 1, 2007
July - September, 2007 • June 1, 2007
Please send camera ready advertisements (.eps, .jpg or .tif files) and news articles (.doc or .txt files) to Jennifer at jgriffin@ilrc-trico.org or by snail mail to: ILRC News • 423 W. Victoria Street • Santa Barbara, CA 93101

An Opportunity to Make A Change
By Susan Kaltman
This is an open letter to my fellow consumers of ILRC. I would like to encourage you to call attention to community situations that seem wrong or need improvement.
You and I are in an ideal place in which we are supported or sustained by a combination of programs and funds, all of which allow us to view the world from a different perspective. The rest of the world has far less opportunity to notice the things we see. We are indeed lucky to have the assistance of the staff at ILRC. If a door is too hard for you to open, chances are it is in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and can be checked very easily by these professional people. What needs to be done is that you let know and they will take it from there. Call or email or just start asking questions.
When I took my walk in the morning, I started noticing a tree branch that hung so low, less than 5’4”, that my leg was scraped by it. I called city hall and found out the proper person to talk with and his name was Larry Tolson. The next issue was broken concrete on the sidewalk. He even came out to walk my route with me to take care of what seemed amiss to me. He said, “Wherever you are, if you see things needing attention I would be more than happy to hear from you.”
ILRC is an excellent place to start. I would be happy to help if you want to contact me at Suzyken@charter.net. Sorry, I have no TTY. [Ed. Note: Use the California Relay Service! Dial 711.]
It really does not matter how you start. Just Do Something!

Looking at One’s Life Through a Consumer’s Life
By Denise Martinez
Warren Mattingly, who was one of ILRC’s consumers and a member of a self-advocacy group named People First of San Luis Obispo, passed away on May 24, 2006. He was a wonderful advocate at both the state and local levels.
Mr. Mattingly was a man with Cerebral Palsy (CP) who fought all his life to live as independently as possible. He also fought for the rights of other people with disabilities. He was and is an inspiration to all self-advocates. A resolution was made in the state assembly honoring Mr. Mattingly’s contribution to self-advocacy. I believe that being recognized in the state assembly is quite an honor. Despite his own struggles, he spoke on behalf of all persons with disabilities. He seemed to me to be a very selfless man.
Sometimes we do not realize the impact somebody might have on us, and how one’s life might mirror our own. Our lives had many parallels. He was born with CP and so was I. Hearing his story shows me how lucky and blessed I truly am.
My point is that it is interesting to know someone such as Mr. Mattingly who has a similar story to my own. He was a remarkable man with a remarkable mission.

AMC Movie Theater Chain to Improve Wheelchair Seating Nationwide
The US District Court of the Central District of California has ordered AMC to remedy ADA violations by providing access to the stadium section for seating for individuals who use wheelchairs. To find out more, go to http://www.ada.gov.

From the State Independent Living Council
People who use wheelchairs and shopped at Kmart in California, Colorado, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon and/or Texas between May 6, 2003 and July 7, 2006, may be eligible for damages under a recent settlement with Kmart. A valid claim form must be postmarked no later than August 16, 2006.
Please go to http://www.kmartaccesssettlement.com for more information on the settlement, and to download a claim form.

ILRC Wish List
• Pictures/Art to hang on our office walls (all offices)
• 1 Bench Seat (SB reception area)
• 2 Front Office Chairs [with legs (not wheels), & arm rests]
• Refrigerator (SB & SLO offices)
• Cork Boards
• Disability History Memorabilia
• 8 1/2 x 11 and larger picture frames (total of 20)
People Help…
• Need someone with PSA and PR experience to help us “get the word out” about our 30th anniversary (July 06-June 07) and about our major upgrades in technology Open Houses.
• Need people to help plan the 30th anniversary events for each office. Meetings will be about an hour long each month.
Contact Jennifer at (805) 963-0595 ext. 112 V/T or by email jgriffin@ilrc-trico.org.