ILRC Newsletter ~ 4th Quarter 2001
THE INDEPENDENT LIVING
RESOURCE CENTER
a non-profit corporation
of, by and for persons with disabilities
423 W. Victoria Street•Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 963-0595 V/TTY • (805) 963-1350 Fax
www.ilrc-trico.org
October - December, 2001
Volume 12, No. 4
PUBLISHED FOUR TIMES ANNUALLY
Board of Directors
Wally Duncan, Moorpark, President
Michael Blaise, Ventura, Vice President
Anna Pedotti, Santa Barbara, Secretary
Bud Girard, Carpinteria, Treasurer
Sheila Blaise, Ventura, PR Chair
Sheila Duffy, Goleta, Membership Chair
Sue Andrews, Carpinteria
Richard Donchak, Newbury Park
Barbara Lynch, Santa Barbara
Mike Rifkin, Ventura
ILRC 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 which prevent them from full participation in the community.
United Way Agency
Ventura County, Santa Barbara and Central Coast
Locations and Staff
Santa Barbara Office
423 W. Victoria Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Voice/TTY: (805) 963-0595
Fax: (805) 963-1350
TTY: (805) 963-8265
Jo Black, Executive Director
Kathleen Riel, HR/Program Director
Bernie Faulkner, Bookkeeper
Carol Baizer, IL/Benefits Prog Coord
Kristen Joy Corey, Intern
Barry Gridley, Peer Support
Amy Hedberg, Advocate/Communications
Frank Lindstrom, Accounting Cons.
Petra Lowen, Personal Assistance
Aurelia Wallace, Admin Clerk
Jennifer Willer, Business/Grants Mgr
Nora Winger, Information & Referral
Ventura Office
1802 Eastman Av, Suite 112
Ventura, CA 93003
Voice: (805) 650-5993
Fax: (805) 650-9278
TTY: (805) 650-0669
BJ Legan-Adams, Benefits
James Greer, PA/Housing
Cynthia Janklow, ILS/Outreach
Christine Miko, I&R, AT I&R
Christina Rahn, Peer/ILS/CA
Chera Minkler, Systems Advocate
North Santa Barbara Co. Office
327 E. Plaza Drive, Suite 3A
Santa Maria, CA 93454
Voice: (805) 925-0015
Fax: (805) 349-2416
TTY: (805) 349-8477
Leeman Burke, I&R
Tina Horr, IL/Benefits
Madelena Nieto, PA/IHSS
Candace Ridenour - I&R
San Luis Obispo Office
1150 Laurel Lane #134
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Voice: (805) 593-0667
Fax: (805) 593-0671
TTY: (805) 593-0219
Mailing: P. O. Box 4310
San Luis Obispo, CA 93403
Marjie Bastanchury, I&R
Jerome Essen, Personal Assistance
Vicky Moraza, Advocate/CA
Sue Reese, Peer Support
Brenda Tebbetts, IL/BPAO
Jason Farrar, AT I&R
CCATC:
1150 Laurel Lane #132
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Voice: (805) 549-7420
Fax: (805) 549-7423
TTY: (805) 549-7424
Paul Mortola, Project Director
Ericka Grant, Services Coord
John Lee, Rehabilitation Eng.
SLOCo Access
1150 Laurel Lane #132
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Voice: (805) 543-3627
Polly Mintling, Executive Director
© 2001
Central Coast Council of, by, for Deaf and Hard of Hearing People Calendar
Call SLOCO Access at
(805) 543-3627 or
TTY (805) 549-7424
for a calendar of
meetings and events
occurring in the second quarter.
Lots is happening
in San Luis Obispo County.
Be a part of it!
We, like everyone else in the country, feel a deep sense of loss and violation following the events of September 11th. Our heartfelt condolences and thoughts go out to all those affected.
Amidst the barrage of news reports, three stood out to us as having a different meaning than the others. One story was about a person in a wheelchair who was one of the throng of people trying to escape from one of the World Trade towers. The reason we know about this person is that a man told a reporter that he felt “terrible about running past him and knowing he wouldn’t be able to get down the stairs.”
The second was about a man looking for his elderly mother, who was unable to run with everyone else fleeing the destruction.
The hidden meaning we got from these two stories is that emergency evacuation plans had not been made satisfactorily to include people with these limitations. If the plans were made, they were not executed, or effective in the face of panic.
We want to take this opportunity to encourage you to think about your home and work place, and whether you are secure that the emergency evacuation plans – if any – that are in place are sufficient and effective.
People with disabilities have an increased risk in such situations because of mobility and/or communication limitations. If, in an emergency, you are likely to be on any floor other than the first, how will you vacate the building? You cannot necessarily count on rescue personnel being able to reach you. They were unable to reach people in need at the World Trade Center, because of both time and distance.
Do you have a “buddy” system in place? Can you easily get to any equipment you might need to help you evacuate? If the elevators aren’t working and you use a wheelchair or other mobility device, is there a slide or chair that will allow you to escape quickly?
Do you have a cell phone or other communication device that will allow you to contact someone if you get trapped? Do you have that emergency number preprogrammed so you don’t have to try to remember it?
Does someone know where you usually are, so that you will be missed?
The important thing is for you to think about it, and to think about it regularly. As we have so horrifically seen, disaster occurs without warning. Schedule regular reviews or drills every six months. Make sure the equipment is checked and sound. Make sure you have good batteries for whatever equipment you will need. Make sure you know what your exit route is. If you will need assistance, make sure you know who will help you and that they are also prepared and practiced.
A great source to help you plan for emergencies is available through the ILRC in San Francisco. They publish a booklet called “Earthquake Tips for People With Disabilities.” They also offer specific Tip Sheets on Health Cards, Emergency Documents, People With Visual Disabilities, Deaf or Hard of Hearing, Communication and Speech Related Disabilities, Psychiatric Disabilities, Developmental or Cognitive Disabilities, Mobility Disabilities, Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, People Who Use Life Support Systems, and Service Animals. Single copies of Tip sheets are free with a self addressed stamped envelope. Send your request to ILRC-San Francisco at 649 Mission Street, 3rd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105. Or you can call them at 415/543-6222 voice, 415/543-6318 FAX, 415/543-6698 TTY, 415/543-6743, Spanish, 415/543-6768 Chinese. Or on the Web at www.ilrcsf.org.
And what was the third story that held special meaning for us? A service dog, a yellow Lab trained by a couple who live in Montecito, was with his master at work, high up in the first tower that was struck. Amidst all the panic, the dog calmly did what he had been trained to do - led his visually impaired owner down more than 80 flights of stairs and to safety. But there’s more! Along the way, a sighted woman, who was temporarily unable to see because of debris in her eyes, was successfully assisted out of the building by the man and his guide dog! What a wonderful example of what a well-trained canine partner is capable of doing in unexpected and disastrous situations! It also underscores how important it is for such service animals to remain with their owners at all times, in all places.
In a city full of heroes and heroic actions, this dog and his owner, who took time to help save another life under the worst imaginable circumstances, get our vote for Most Distinguished Service.
From the Desk of the Director:
ILRC staff, board and friends said good-bye to another of our dearest friends early in July of this year. Linda Egar, long time supporter of ILRC and leader in the Santa Barbara disability community, passed away after a long illness. She was here at the beginning, and her spirit and will live on. It is our pleasure to announce that the Access to Independence Fund, established several years ago, was her gift to the people with disabilities in our region. It will now be renamed in her honor, and known as the Linda Egar Access to Independence Fund (A2IF).
Linda was not only a consumer and a former board member, she was well known in the Santa Barbara area as a frequent attendee at festivals, an enthusiastic participant in community-centered events, a celebrant of milestones. She was an artist and a lover of music. Linda was long an avid supporter of the ideals behind the Independent Living Movement, and it was she who anonymously donated the initiating funds to establish her dream in the form of the A2IF—a fund designed to assist people with disabilities to obtain assistive technology and durable medical equipment.
Linda loved her fellow community members, selflessly supported efforts toward independence and self-sufficiency, and the A2IF memorializes her caring. She served on several boards and committees for many years, always speaking in a soft voice, yet clearly and firmly stating her well-thought-out opinions. The organizations and people she touched benefited tremendously by her input, participation and support.
I miss her.
On October 1, a new “711” relay access number goes into effect. To prepare for it, you may need to modify your PBX equipment.
By October 1 the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requires all telecommunications companies to provide three-digit 711 dialing for access to the Telecom-munications Relay Service (TRS). Customers will be able to dial 711 for TRS assistance from any wireless, wireline or pay phone. There’s no charge for dialing 711.
TRS provides a communi-cations link between people with hearing or speech disabilities using a text telephone (TTY) and people who use voice phones. Although existing 800 numbers will remain in effect, imple-mentation of 711 dialing nationwide will make it easier to use TRS, especially if people are traveling from state to state.
Either the TTY or voice phone user can initiate the 711 call. By dialing 711, they’ll reach a TRS center. A communications assistant at the center sets up a connection between the TTY caller and the phone user, and relays the discussion by typing in voice conversations and speaking text messages. All calls are handled with total privacy.
Modify your PBX equipment before October 1.
If you have PBX equipment, it may be necessary to make changes in that equipment to allow for 711 dialing. Please contact your equipment vendor if you need assistance. Your customers will be able to use the new 711 code starting October 1.
Do You Have Questions About The Americans With Disabilities Act?
Persons interested in finding out more about the Americans with Disabilities Act can contact the ADA Technical Assistance Hotline, operated by the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund at 1-800-466-4232 (voice/TDD). This Department of Justice funded information line, free to callers, is able to provide technical assistance and informational materials to persons with disabilities, businesses, state and local government agencies, and the general public to help them understand their rights and responsibilities under Titles II (state and local government activities) and III (public accommodations) of the ADA. The hotline operates 9:00 to 5:00 Pacific Time.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a Federal non-discrimination law that gives civil rights protection to individuals with disabilities similar to those provided to individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, and religion. It guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in public accommodations (such as restaurants, hotels, theaters, retail stores, etc.), employment (for businesses with 15 or more employees), transportation, state and local government activities, and telecommunications.
Will You Be Our Friend?
Date
Name
Address
City, State, Zip
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Endowment $100+ Other
New Friend Continuing Friend Volunteer
I would like my gift to be acknowledged in the ILRC Newsletter.
I’d rather my gift not be mentioned in the Newsletter.
Thank you. Your donation is fully tax-deductible.
A receipt will be mailed to you.
Farewell to Another Friend
Lou Fant, a pioneer in programs for the deaf, died on June 13th in Seattle. He was 69. Fant was the child of two deaf parents and learned sign language before he learned to speak. His book, The American Sign Language Phrase Book, is considered one of the best for teaching conversational ASL.
Fant was a founding member of the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, which tests and certifies ASL interpreters. In 1967, he was a co-founder of the National Theatre of the Deaf, which created plays and television shows.
“Setting up a theater for the deaf gave deaf people recognition that they had their own language,” said Geoff Mathay, a professor at Seattle Central Community College, where Fant taught until he retired last year.
In 1978, Fant was an actor and consultant for “Rainbow’s End,” a children’s television show on PBS. In the 1980s, he co-hosted an interview show in ASL called “Off Hand.” The show won two Emmys. He taught at Gallaudet College and California State University at Northridge before moving to the Seattle Central Community College. Fant coached Diane Keaton, Henry Winkler, Melissa Gilbert and other actors on their sign language use, including actors on the set of the movie “Children of a Lesser God.”
He had an acting career of his own, with small parts in movies and television shows such as “Highway to Heaven” and “Cheers.” In the 1970s, he was the helpful Ace Hardware man in television commercials.
“One of the things he’s very well known for is a video tape of him doing ‘Jabberwocky’ in sign language,” said his youngest son, Lorn Fant. “To see him do this in sign language is an amazing thing, because it’s gibberish even in English.”
Lou Fant had pulmonary fibrosis and died of a lung infection, Mathay said. Fant had four children and was married to Barbara Bernstein of Seattle.
The News Tribune,
Tacoma, Washington
Scolari’s Food & Drug Company is updating the Scolari’s Club Card Friendship Fund Pro-gram as of July 1, 2001. Changes to the program are as follows:
*Customers must re-enroll in the Friendship Fund on a yearly basis.
*Current customer designated organizations were cleared as of June 30, 2001.
*Customers may select the same organization or a new organi-zation from the approved list effective from July 1, 2001 through June 30, 2002.
*Customers may re-enroll or change their designated organization at any time.
We encourage you to re-enroll and designate ILRC as the reci-pient organization.
GOOD NEWS FOR HARD-OF-HEARING!
The Santa Barbara chapter of Self Help for Hard of Hearing People meets the 4th Monday of the month at Louise Lowry Davis Recreation Center (corner of De la Vina and Victoria) from 2 to 4 PM. Anyone with a hearing problem is welcome to attend this support group for people with hearing problems who want to keep in contact with the hearing world.
Here is our schedule: Oct. 22, Nov. 26, and Jan. 28 (no December meeting)
For further information, call 967-5241 or 969-4090.
From Nora Winger:
The National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. will provide a free mammogram for an underpriv-iledged woman if you are willing to go to their web site an click on the box in the large pink square. You may do this once each day. Their web site address is thebreastcancersite.com. Just once a day. I suggest that you make yourself a desktop icon on your computer as a reminder. You won’t regret it.
25th Anniversary Open House in San Luis Obispo
We celebrated the 25th anniversary of the ILRC in California with an open house on July 6th. The San Luis Obispo ILRC joined with the CCATC in hosting the event from 1:00 to 6:00 on Friday.
It is always interesting to get together with people involved in Independent Living Centers and to realize that they come from everywhere in the business and educational communities but have independent living as their vocation.
Ben Harville from the Department of Rehabilitation in Sacramento referred to this interest as “fire in the belly.” Ben is currently Chief of the Independent Living Section of the Department of Rehabilitation at the state level. He provided advice for the San Luis Obispo Grant and is the former Executive Director of the Humbolt Access Project. He received an award for his work with independent living centers.
We were also pleased to honor Debbie Grant, Hugh Marsh and Brenda Primo. Debbie Grant is from the Santa Barbara County Education Office. She took her vision of a technology center on the central coast from paper to reality! Her hard work and dedication to the mission has really paid off! Thank you Debbie!
Hugh Marsh was on the original board for the Santa Barbara Independent Living Center. He has been a supporter of the Center for 30 years and assisted to establish the organization.
Brenda Premo, former director of the Department of Rehabilitation, was unable to attend the festivities but she was also honored for her critical role in the vision and Department of Rehabilitation funding that started the CCATC.
We owe these people so much for their visions and their hard work. We also appreciate the many people not mentioned in this article who give their hearts and minds to the independent living movement including Jo Black and Kathleen Riel in the Santa Barbara Office who worked so hard to found the San Luis Obispo group. Thank you for your “fire.”
25th Anniversary
Celebrations Continue
There will be an open house at ILRC’s Ventura office from 11-3 on October 25th. We invite you to join our celebration. The address is 1802 Eastman Avenue, Suite 112, near the corner of Market and Eastman.
Something Else
to Celebrate!
ILRC marked Kathleen Riel’s 20 year anniversary with our organization on September 8th.
Calendar
October is
Disability Awareness Month!
8 Columbus Day (Observed)
16 National Boss Day
24 United Nations Day
28 Daylight Savings Time Ends
30 ILRC Board Meeting (Ventura)
31 Halloween
31 ILRC Staff Meeting
November
6 Election Day
11 Veterans’ Day
12 Veterans’ Day (Observed)
16 Ramadan Begins at Sundown
20 Mexican Revolution Day
22 Thanksgiving
23 ILRC Closed
27 ILRC Board Meeting (Santa Barbara)
December
9 Hanukkah Begins at Sundown
15 Bill of Rights Day
21 Winter Solstice
24 ILRC Closed
25 Christmas
26 Kwanzaa Begins
31 New Year’s Eve
From Mike Rifkin:
I still have trouble paying attention to Jesus, even when he uses e-mail.
I have been doing a lot of peer counseling, ministering and attempting to encourage wheelchair users to become more mobile. I was having difficulty understanding why individuals were resisting the idea of using an electric chair.
I know that I am stubborn but here is what happened last Wednesday.
Upon rising I checked my e-mail and read a letter from San Francisco mayors office on disability that said that they were conducting a study to answer the question of what do w/c users do when they are out in public and their w/c fails. I took the phone number with me and went to a doctor’s appt.
At the office was Larry, a wonderful Christian that I have been urging to use a powerchair so he can share the message with others. When I asked if he had been considering my suggestion, he asked what I did when my chair breaks in public. My response was: I do carry a cell phone but it never breaks down.
I left there and drove one mile to the closest bus stop where my reliable w/c completely stopped and would not work at all. Nice people pushed the 500 lb mass onto the bus where I would ride it to the bus stop near my house.
I then called my wonderful wife who gathered up my very helpful neighbor and met me at the corner bus stop. Thanks to the Lord, John was able to diagnose and repair my chair in about an hour.
The answer to my question of why more people are not out in public using powerchairs was plain old fear of being stranded. Too bad I wasn’t paying enough attention to others’ concerns. The lesson was finally understood somewhere on Telephone Road, while I was on board a bus completely unable to move.
Since that time I have been working on a support system that will be made available to all w/c users that will address and calm their fears of being out in public.
Vision without action is merely a dream.
Action without vision is a waste of energy.
Vision with action can change the world.
The next need for my project would be communication. I learned that if I use a cell phone without a service provider like ATT or Verizon, the phone can dial 911. The call will go to the highway patrol and they will transfer the call to the proper jurisdiction. This is a federal law and is free.
Sometimes w/c transport might be necessary so I called SCAT Transportation. The new director told me that SCAT would help the project and help stranded w/c users in an emergency basis.
I am thrilled to report that at this time, only 17 days after my eye-opening experience, the necessary cooperation exists. The only thing left involves you. You can help by donating your old cell phones by calling (805) 647-2004 so they can be distributed to the disabled so they can have this needed safety net.
Hello! My name is Barry Gridley and I am the new (make that brand new) Peer Support Specialist for the Santa Barbara office. I am married to the most wonderful woman in the world and have two fine children. I am also British (actually a dual national) but please don’t hold that against me (J). My previous job history includes printing, life insurance, real estate, working for a funeral home, retail sales and various administrative positions.
I have been very impressed with the organization and everyone I have come into contact with so far and plan on making ILRC my working “home” for some time to come. If you feel I can assist you in some way, please feel free to call me at (805) 963-0595, ext. 105.
From Sue Reese:
Rarely do we hear someone rave about public transportation. Here is a beautiful example of a County to County collaboration, one that truly works! Logic has prevailed in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties.
If you have ever wondered how you could travel from San Luis Obispo to Santa Maria and back, or the reverse, here is one solution. If the bus is not an option and if you can be picked-up and dropped off within 3/4 of a mile from a fixed bus route, then you can successfully manage an accessible transfer. Both County providers of para-transit service, a door-to-door transportation option, are successfully working together. In San Luis Obispo County the service is known as Runabout. In Santa Maria this service is handled by SMOOTH Inc. Each of these operators are trained to accommodate passengers who are ambulatory or wheelchair users. This service is available to riders who are disabled and non-disabled. If you have a disability and qualify, you can become A.D.A. Certified and ride for a lower fare. Check with your local para-transit provider for specifics.
Tips for Successful Connections:
* You can make ride arrangements up to 2 weeks in advance. The sooner the notification, the better your results.
* If your travel begins in San Luis Obispo contact Monica at Runabout: (805) 541-2544.
* If your travel begins in Santa Maria contact Jim at SMOOTH Inc.: (805) 922-8476.
All you need to do is make one call. These two resourceful dispatchers will arrange a connection location, often in Arroyo Grande or Nipomo. Also, Runabout can go directly into Santa Maria if your trip originates in San Luis Obispo and the desired destination is within three quarters of a mile from a San Luis Obispo bus route in Santa Maria.
We must be respectful and mindful users of this service. If we were to over use this mode of transit we could potentially burden an already over-taxed system and deny other riders access. Let’s work together for greater access for all. Wishing you many successful “Pluses and Minuses”!
Best wishes to you and your loved ones
for a wonderful Holiday Season
and a joyous and safe New Year
from all of us at the Tri-Counties
Independent Living Resource Center
Be sure to check with your local ILRC office
regarding Holiday Celebration dates and locations!
General Information
Circulation Base: 2,600
Published four times yearly; mail submissions to ILRC NEWSLETTER at Santa Barbara office or e-mail to jwiller@ilrc-trico.org; deadline is the first day of the month prior to publication date. For more information, contact Admin Assistant, (805) 963-0595, extension 112. Submit articles as Word attachments to jwiller@ilrc.tri-co.org.
Schedule for ILRC Newsletter Submissions
Issue Deadline
January - March, 2002 December 1, 2001
April - June, 2002 March 1, 2002
July - September, 2002 June 1, 2002
October - December, 2002 September 1, 2002
Please send submissions to Jennifer Willer at jwiller@ilrc-trico.org, or mail to:
ILRC Newsletter Submissions
423 W. Victoria Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
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