FYI

Abilities Expo: We have tickets for the 2001 Abilities Expo that will be held April 20th through the 22nd. If anyone is interested in attending please give us a call (973 361-5666) to request tickets

May 2nd Members Meeting: Steve Parrillo, Public Affairs Specialist for the Social Security Administration, will be presenting Working and Social Security. This will answer such questions as: When do I apply for Social Security? What are the new benefits? What is the difference between SSI & SSD? Can I collect SSI / SSD and work? How long can I work; how much money can I earn; and, is there a trial work period? What happens if I lose my job? What and when do I tell Social Security? What if I don't have insurance?

Follow-up on last month's newsletter / member's meeting. Every 53 seconds, someone in America has a stroke. The American Stroke Association (ASA) produces some excellent brochures and booklets that address prevention, intervention, and recovery. Produced in 1999: Steps to Recovery (30 pg.) A guide to living with disability after stroke. Titles produced in 2000: Caring for Someone with Aphasia (20 pg.) Sex After Stroke (12 pg.) and Being a Stroke Family Caregiver (16 pg.)

Single copies are free from: ASA National Center 7272 Greenville Avenue Dallas, TX 75231-4596 Telephone: 800-553-6321 Fax: 214-706-5231 Web: www.StrokeAssociation.org

Volunteers Needed -- Dawn Inc. is looking for volunteer assistance in the following areas: to help develop flyers for outreach purposes; to assist in developing our web-site; and for general technical assistance. Also, if you have knowledge of social service programs available at the county level, we could use your assistance in providing information and refer people as needed.

Are you planning to rent? Get prepared before you begin your search by registering for Rental Readiness. This is a FREE rental education workshop for people on a more modest income who wish to rent. It is sponsored by the Housing Partnership for Morris County, Inc., 2 East Blackwell Street, Dover NJ 07801. Your can reserve your seat with a $5 Registration Fee (refundable upon completion of the program). Learn first hand about: 1) why your credit report is important 2) interviewing with a landlord 3) sources of information on rentals 4) the security deposit 5) the lease and your legal rights, and 6) alternative housing options. Call (973) 659-9222 for more information.

Reach Out, Speak Out: Achieving Empowerment: New Jersey Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs Presents the 4th Annual Student Leadership Conferences. For our area it is being held at Centenary College in Hackettstown on March 23, 2001. From 8:30 to 9:00 a.m. is registration and breakfast; the conference program runs from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

This conference is a part of a statewide initiative designed to assist young adults in achieving their career potential and independence as integrated members of the community. Presenters will use the most current information and strategies relating to student empowerment, self-advocacy and transition. The conference is designed to attract a broad spectrum of students with a variety of disabilities. Conference activities will be relevant to students whether they plan to attend college, enroll in vocational programs or seek employment after graduation. (Parents are also invited to attend. Small group and individual sessions will be available to support parents with school and adult service issues.)

For more information contact: Bob Gordon, 137 Reservoir Avenue, Randolph, NJ 07869-1045 Phone (973) 366-4703, Fax. (973) 361-9352, or e-mail at njal1405@ix.netcom.com

The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program of Volunteers for Morris County in conjunction with Dawn, Inc. are sponsoring, free of charge, Federal and State income tax preparation assistance. If you require assistance please call the Dawn office to schedule an appointment (973) 361-5666 or call our TTY number (973) 361-6032. (We are one of the volunteer sites mentioned below.)

Taxes: VITA provides free tax help in the community to those with low and fixed income, individuals with disabilities, non-English speaking and elderly taxpayers. Phone 1-800-829-1040 and ask for volunteer sites.

Give your paycheck a boost with the following tax benefits for families! 1. Claim your Earned Income Credit (a tax benefit for people who work): Use file form 1040 or 1040A attach schedule EIC a.) If you lived with one child in 2000 and your family earned less than $27,413, you can get up to $2,353. b.) If you lived with two or more children in 2000 and your family earned less than $31,152, you can get up to $3,888. Use file form 1040 or 1040A or 1040EZ a.) If you had no children living with you in 2000 and you earned less than $10,380, and you were between ages 25 and 64, you can get up to $353. 2. The Child and Dependent Care Credit a.) This is a tax benefit that helps families pay for childcare they need in order to work or to look for work. b.) The credit also is available to families that must pay for the care of a spouse or an adult dependent who is incapable of caring for him/herself. c.) For families that do not owe taxes at the end of the year, this credit can give them back some or all of the federal taxes that were taken out of the parents' paychecks during the year. d.) For families that owe taxes, the credit can lower the amount they must pay to the IRS. Please direct all inquiries requiring more detailed information to the IRS at 1-800-829-3676. People who are Deaf, hard-of-hearing, or speech-impaired the TTY number is 800-829-4059. For People who are blind, deaf-blind, or visually impaired instructions and tax tables are available in Braille from the regional libraries for the blind and physically handicapped. To locate the nearest library call 800-424-8567 (press #4 at the prompt); web www.loc.gov/nls

The following are some new web sites that you may find helpful or at least interesting.

www.zdnet.com/pcmag/ Ziff-Davis' online version of PC Week magazine. Lists the Top 100 web sites and break them into a variety of topics -- Could save you some time depending, of course, on the topic you are seeking.

www.firstgov.gov As the premier web site for the U.S. Government, it is linked to virtually all the U.S. Government web sites.

www.navh.org The National Association for visually Handicapped works with millions of people worldwide dealing with the difficulties of vision impairment.

www.disabilitypostcards.com A comprehensive direct link to product information. Such as: adaptive clothing, automotive/transportation, fitness and sports equipment, lifts and transfer devices, technology and computers, wheelchairs / scooters and much more.

Anyone Can Travel written by Melba M. Rous and Eileen B. Ward (both registered nurses and partners in Health Ideas) This is a new book that shows seniors and people with disabilities and / or health problems how to travel safely and comfortably. Covers planning, booking, traveling, tips on insurance, passports and visas and government help when abroad. Sections include topics such as traveling with a wheelchair, travel companions, service animals and staying healthy away from home and coming home. This book is available through Trafford Publishing (888) 232-4444 or visit www.trafford.com

7-1-1 Relay Presentation: Will be held on Saturday, April 14, 2001 from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Assumption School Cafeteria, 63 MacCulloch Ave., Morristown, NJ. This information will be presented by Susan Leber and Kathy Kady-Hopkins of AT&T's New Jersey Relay Outreach Partners and co-hosted by the New Jersey Association of the Deaf, Inc. and Disabled Advocates Working for Northwest, Inc. (DAWN). (Refreshment will be provided.)

Parking will be available at either lot located in the rear of the school. There is also parking behind Assumption Church in the lower lot on MacCulloch Ave. One block before you reach the school. Please note, the Assumption School is on the street directly parallel, behind Assumption Parish on MacCulloch Ave.

Directions: I-287 South - Exit #35 (Madison Avenue), make a right off exit ramp. Make a right at the light onto South Street. ***Pass Kings Supermarket and make a left at the traffic light onto James Street. Go two blocks and make a right onto MacCulloch Avenue. School is on the left. I-287 North - Exit #35 (Madison Avenue), make a left at the end of the ramp. Follow from *** above. New Jersey Association of the Deaf contact person: Vicki Sullivan, 609-895-2942 TTY or vickijoy@AOL.com DAWN's contact person: Lila Taylor, TTY (973) 361-6032 or Fax (973) 361-7086 info@dawncil.org

Interpreted Services: The Washington Assembly of God Church in Washington (Warren County) has it's Sunday morning service (10:45 a.m.) interpreted. The church also offers a variety of other services, which with advanced notice can also be interpreted. If you would like directions, please visit their web-site at washingtonag.net or email ldandrus@juno.com.

Telephone access for people with speech disabilities: If you have a speech disability, you can now use a new, free telephone assistance service. This service provides communication assistance to people with difficulty being understood over the telephone. To reach a communication assistant familiar with speech patterns call 1-800-229-5746.

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