CIL Access-2005 Master.Indd
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
2005 Annual Feature & Directory of Community Resources, Health & Rehabilitation AnnAnn ArborArbor CenterCenter forfor IndependentIndependent LivingLiving MonroeMonroe && WashtenawWashtenaw CountiesCounties AdvertisingAdvertising supplementsupplement toto thethe AnnAnn ArborArbor News.News. AllAll editorialeditorial contentcontent suppliedsupplied byby thethe CenterCenter forfor IndependentIndependent Living.Living. Our CIL Offices Index of Feature Articles Ann Arbor 2568 Packard Road Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104 Ann Arbor CIL Staff . .4 (734) 971-0277 (734) 971-0310 TTY The President’s Desk and Chairman’s Corner . .5 (734) 971-0826 FAX www.aacil.org WEB Independent Living: An Investment in [email protected] E-MAIL Individuals and Communities by Jim Magyar . 6-10 Monroe Michigan Centers for Independent Living . .11 40 N. Roessler Street Monroe, Michigan 48162 Advocacy for All! by Ed Wollman . 12-15 (734) 242-5919 (734) 242-7129 FAX- IL / CIL Partners . .15 My Life Since I Can Remember by Peg Ball . 16-18 Board of Directors We Are People First by Carolyn Grawi . 19-21 Brenda Baraniak Vince Brown Our National Disability Agenda by Jim Magyar . 22-29 David Gater, Jr., M.D. Public Transportation Is Vital by Angie Carlson . 30-31 Vijaya Goli, Chairperson James Magyar, President & CEO Toward Our Common Future: Michigan’s Common Robert Perry, Ph.D. Disability Agenda! by Jim Magyar . 32-35 William Scelza, M.D. Tobin Siebers Advocacy and Disability Benefits by Rick Baisden . 36-37 Joan Smith Kim Swartz Advocacy for Freedom to Work by Tony Wong . .38 This publication is available in alternate formats – please call. Directory of Resources Accessibility 39 Health Care Consulting Walk & Roll 2006 Home Health/Personal Assistance 48 Advocacy Saturday, April 8, 2006 Arts and Entertainment 40 Insurance and Risk Management 49 at Bowen Field House on the campus of Eastern Brain Injury Rehabilitation 41 Legal Services Michigan University. Community Media Library Services 50 Counseling 42 Optical/Low Vision Dentistry Orthotics/Prosthetics 52 On the cover: Maria Kirchhoff, AACIL Advocate and Driving Aids & Services 43 Pet Care and Sitting 53 Independent Living Counselor Durable Medical Equipment 44 Philanthropy Education 45 Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation 54 A Washtenaw/Monroe United Way Agency Employment and Recreation 55 Cover Photo by Ramayan Saries, © 2005 Vocational Rehabilitation 47 Transportation and Rentals 56 Graphic Design © 2005 McCullagh Creative, Inc., Ann Arbor, MI Financial Planning, Banking, Supporting the Mission of AACIL Advertising Supplement to & Assistive Technology Loans 47 the Ann Arbor News. Advertiser Index 58 All editorial content supplied by the Center for Independent Living. For the Advertiser Index plus information on how The AACIL is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt, nonprofit/MI CS9599. to contribute to the AACIL, please see page 58. Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living | 2 0 0 5 Access Magazine 3 CIL Staff, Friends & VolunteersJust a few people from our great staff… Ann Arbor Office Glen Ashlock Rehabilitation Engineer Tom Hoatlin Director of Development Rick Baisden Vocational Rehabilitation & Carey Larabee AmeriCorps VISTA Team IL Counselor Jim Magyar President & CEO Al Ball Administrative Assistant Lynda Marion Independent Living Counselor Peg Ball IL Advocate & Life Coach Alysa Mohr IL Transition Specialist & Sharon Baller Chief Operating Offi cer Benefi ts Counselor Sigrid Barnes AmeriCorps VISTA Team Becky Munce MRS Orientation Specialist Rob Benninger AmeriCorps VISTA Team Trudy Murry Special Events Coordinator Angie Carlson AmeriCorps VISTA Team Sue Probert Community Resource Specialist Shirley Coombs Chief Financial Offi cer Suzanne Shaw AmeriCorps VISTA Team Marcia Crocetto MicroEnterprise Works Specialist Natasha Tolchinsky Accountant Kit Cromwell IL Advocate Rick Weir MicroEnterprise Works Manager Dan Durci Youth Transition Specialist Edward Wollmann Program Research Manager Anna Dusbiber Youth Mentorship Assistant Jeanine Wright Data Specialist Dana Emerson Youth Services Manager Alex Gossage AmeriCorps VISTA Team Monroe Office Carolyn Grawi Director of Advocacy & Education Gary Dygert AmeriCorps VISTA Team Kevin Hartgerink Information Technology Specialist Linda Maier Independent Living Manager Kathy Herron Employment Services Manager Mark Rawlings AmeriCorps VISTA Team 4 Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living | 2 0 0 5 Access Magazine President’s Desk Chairman’s Corner or the Ann Arbor CIL and CILs across the State of Michigan and our nation, our work ultimately comes down to People who have committed to a service or advocacy role advocacy, advocacy and more advocacy. know that some of the most sublime pleasure they have ever FImproving the quality of life of people with disabilities experienced comes in the context of that work. You get way more is central to our individual and collective missions. than you give. That is what most of us who are associated with Advocacy sometimes takes the shape of supporting the AACIL feel about our common goal of advocacy. people with disabilities, one-on-one, in an effort to achieve a personal goal or access a support system The past year has been a journey through some turbulence with or service. Sometimes it takes the shape of education the hard-earned successes of our fundraising and other events and awareness-building activities, or amplifying our and our goal to ensure that several local municipalities comply collective voices so that those who create social with the ADA. We kept our promise of advocacy in the face of policies and those who implement them hear us and both financial and legal pressures and will continue to do so. respond. Sometimes as advocates we use our court I have had the opportunity to be part of one of the planning system or civil disobedience in order to be heard and meetings at the Center and witnessed first hand the commitment to create change. on the part of our staff and volunteers. I would like to thank all of you on behalf of the board of directors for going beyond the call of duty and making advocacy a lifestyle. The future is not VIJAYA GOLI and JIM MAGYAR some place we are going to, but a place we are creating. The paths to it are not found, they are made. They are being made by us in our little corner of the world by educating people about their rights and their duties. Our work is not done as long as there are people who do not know to respect their fellow citizens’ rights to education, recreation, habitation, rehabilitation and vocation. As we move forward with our roles in the society as advocates of the rights of people with disabilities, I would like to remind all of you of our success as a nation and as an institution in creating and sustaining equal opportunities. I lived in a third world nation for the first 25 years of my life, and most of those years were spent in confinement in a house with no contribution This 18th edition of ACCESS MAGAZINE presents a from me to the society. Within a year of moving to this country series of issues of importance to 1.9 million people I became a physically independent and tax-paying member of with disabilities in the State of Michigan and over 54 this society. The advocacy and hard work of our predecessors million across the United States. Ultimately, we all made it possible for me to have a new life... a real life of respect have a responsibility to be advocates, to make sure and dignity. And, I feel it is my responsibility to pay it forward. our voices are heard. We all have the responsibility to I hope most of you share this sentiment. “Get Active,” stay active and make a difference in the As R.W. Emerson puts it, that which we persist in doing lives of people and issues we care about and in the becomes easier–not that the nature of the task has changed, world we live in. but our ability has increased. Let us stay on track and, With Liberty, Justice through advocacy, make equal opportunity a reality for our fellow citizens and friends with disabilities. and Access for All! VIJAYA GOLI JIM MAGYAR, President & CEO Chairman, AACIL Board of Directors Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living | 2 0 0 5 Access Magazine 5 Independent Living: An Investment in Individuals and Communities here are over 1.9 million Michigan citizens with disabilities. Approximately one of every five individuals in our State has a disability, and essentially every extended family includes one or more individuals with disabilities. As a society we have created a confusing web of disincentives to work and Tindependence that has significantly contributed to the unnecessary dependency of individuals with disabilities who are then forced to consume public services and resources. This detracts from workforce and economic development efforts and compromises individual and community quality-of-life. In 1978, Independent Living was established by Title VII Michigan’s Independent Living program currently oper- of the Rehabilitation Act as an essential part of the nation’s ates through 15 local Centers for Independent Living (CILs) Rehabilitation System. The Independent Living program and two statewide organizations. The local CILs are indepen- reflects Congressional findings that Americans with disabili- dent, community-based non-profit organizations governed ties form one of the most disadvantaged groups in society, and staffed predominantly by people with disabilities. encountering discrimination and barriers in a number of CILs are not residential centers but rather resource critical life areas. centers that provide information and supports to help The Rehabilitation Act sets a national goal of providing individuals with disabilities live independent lives fully individuals with disabilities the tools they need to make integrated into their communities. CILs help communities informed choices and decisions, and to achieve equality of remove barriers that promote dependency among people with opportunity in education, the pursuit of economic and per- disabilities. Individuals with disabilities and their families sonal self-sufficiency, civic involvement, and participation are assisted in obtaining appropriate housing, basic living in community life.