DAWN, Inc. (Center for Independent Living, Inc.)

Member's Notice - Third Quarter
Issued: September 2003

Dawn is a non-residential center for independent living (CIL) committed to providing the resources to enable people with disabilities to remain independent. Dawn is federally mandated to provide free of charge the following core services

• Information & Referral
  
  
• Advocacy
  
  
• Peer support
  
  
• Independent Living Skills

Recreational activities are also provided at a cost.
CILs are membership organizations located throughout the country and each provides services to a specific geographic area.
Dawn services Morris, Sussex and Warren counties.

Adapting Motor Vehicles

Advances in technology are making it easier and safer for people with physical disabilities to drive motor vehicles that have been adapted to accommodate their needs

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has published a simple, easy to read brochure entitled "Adapting Motor Vehicles For People With Disabilities," Catalog No. DOT HS 809 014, and is making it available free of charge to consumers. This brochure provides important and useful "how-to" information and consumer guidelines.

You can receive a free copy of the brochure directly from NHTSA by calling the DOT Auto Safety Hotline: (888) 327-4236 or TTY (800) 424-9153 or visit their web-site: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/adaptivebrochure/index.html

Accessibility Guide

The New Jersey Arts Access Task Force has a brochure "Discover Jersey Arts—Accessibility Guide." It is well organized by accessibility symbols and arts sections. For a copy call (973) 593-0189.

Medicaid Coverage of Hearing Aids by State

For the first time, in one place, you can now learn what each state covers for hearing aids for people who are eligible for Medicaid. SHHH surveyed each state’s Medicaid office to find out what they covered in the way of hearing aids and related services for children and adults. The result is a very useful resource both for consumers and professionals working in the field of hearing loss, health and rehabilitation.

The state-by-state chart may be viewed at www.hearingloss.org/html/advocacy752a.html Or write SHHH 7910 Woodmont Avenue Ste 1200, Bethesda, MD 20814 note issue, page # and title of document you are seeking.

Hearing Loss May/June 2003
Page 6

From the Executive Director’s Desk

I hope this newsletter finds you all well and ready for the holiday season. With the new fiscal year upon us once again DAWN board and staff have been hard at work reviewing current policies and procedures and working towards improving and enhancing services. We have been fortunate to engage the assistance of several consultants through the United Way of Morris County who are assisting us with this planning process (pro bono of course). We will keep you posted of our progress.

We also have 2 new individuals on staff. Juanita Rosa is our Outreach and Advocacy Coordinator and Dawn Massa-Williams is our Independent Living Specialist intern. So don’t be surprised if you call and hear DAWN, Inc., Dawn speaking. Feel free to contact Juanita if you are interested in assisting with outreach to the community or being a part of the advocacy committee. I know Juanita has already made requests of some of you to volunteer your time. Dawn will be assisting Roberta with requests for assistance, so feel free to contact her if you need assistance in the area of Independent Living.

Several activities are underway which we need your assistance with:

• First, you all should have received a request to renew your membership. As you know, this is a yearly membership which runs October 1st – September 30th. As we mentioned in earlier mailings, newsletters are now being sent to you on a quarterly basis and this will be the last newsletter you receive unless you pay your dues for the next year. Please show your support of DAWN by paying your dues.
  
  
• Second, our annual raffle fundraiser is underway. Shortly you will be receiving a book of tickets to sell or purchase yourself. The booklets are packed in books of ten and each ticket is $2.00. There are 7 prizes available to win. Please do your best to sell the tickets you are sent.
  
  
• Third, a survey is being distributed to those members who attend our recreational programs. We will be utilizing the information you provide on the surveys to plan next year’s calendar. Be sure to send your comments in so your choices can be taken into consideration.

Thank you all for your continued support of DAWN.

Disability Research

Of all people with disabilities in the United States, people with hearing loss are the largest group and the least heard from.

Here is a great opportunity to influence research on hearing loss.

A new website has been developed by the governments Interagency Committee on Disability Research (ICDR) to gather comments and recommendations on research needs for Americans with disabilities.

The site was produced to help ensure that federal research efforts meet the needs of the disability community.

The feedback will be used to generate recommendations on research and development that will improve the lives of people with disabilities.

The form on the website is very easy to use. Upon opening the home page the reader sees in bold letters, "Send your comments to the ICDR." Clicking on that link takes the reader to a comments form where individuals may offer their ideas about access to technology, education, employment, community life, health care and other needs.

The website is found at: http://www.icdr.us/

Hearing Loss
May/June 2003, Page 37-38

NICHCY Publications

The National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities is an information and referral center that provides information on disabilities and disability related issues with the focus on children and youth—birth to age 22.

For information and to request a publication catalog:

National Information Center for Children and Youths with Disabilities
P O Box 1492
Washington, DC 20013-1492
(800) 695-0285 Voice / TTY
(202) 884-8200 Viice / TTY
(202) 884-8441 Fax.
nichcy@aed.org
www.nichcy.org

All NICHCY publications are available free of charge on the website

A New P.A. Resource

An important new resource for the disabilities community is Assistant Pages. Assistant Pages is an Internet resource designed to assist disabled people recruit personal assistants. Assistant Pages is FREE! Visit to learn more and tell them what you think. www.assistantpages.com

Access Link

Access Link provides door-to-door accessible service to people with disabilities, in areas where local NJ transit buses are routed. This service is specifically for people whose disability prevents them from using existing local bus service and who are no farther away than 3/4 of a mile from a local bus route.

Eligibility is determined by an application process. For further information contact NJ Transit at (800) 955-2321.

Cheers and Jeers

We seek input regarding the businesses you have visited and whether the building is or isn’t accessible. We would like the name of the business, its address and a brief description of accessibility. You can send the information to the Dawn office. We are dependent upon our members providing us with the pertinent information to cover this section of the newsletter.

An open letter to disability advocates-

Today is the last day that citizens can register to vote for New Jersey assemblymen and senators in the November 4th elections. You do not vote? Your registration is not current? You have moved or changed your name since last voting, and you have not renewed your registration? So be it. Register now and be ready for 2004’s national elections.

Do you, a member of DAWN, consider yourself an advocate for the disabled? If so, good; but if you answered "yes" to any of the three questions in the first paragraph, you fail the first test of advocacy. Advocates for social justice VOTE. Advocates realize elected officials set the policies, write the laws, and allocate the funds for programs upon which we depend.

If you as a member of DAWN do not vote in your local, county, state and national elections, your organization speaks with a muted voice. Elected officials need votes to gain office, if you are not a voter, why then will an elected official listen to your position on an issue? That elected official will heed you if he/she knows you vote.

Strengthen our advocacy, vote. Then when you approach that elected official to state your position, make sure he/she knows you vote.

Voting is the obligation of every disabled person. Voting is the obligation of the siblings, parents, friends, and caregivers of every disabled person. For your own benefit, meet your obligations; vote!

Bob Panzer

Thank you!

We would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to Robbie Furman ("Twisticologist") of Balloons by Robbie for his continued support of Dawn functions.

Robbie has for a number of years now contributed his time, product and seemingly effortless talent to our events. We were sorry he was unable to join us at our picnic this year, but appreciate the fact that he still took the time to make the fruit basket centerpieces for our tables.

Our very pleasant assistants this year work for Home Instead Elder Care. Thanks also to the drivers from Sussex Transit, MAPS, State Shuttle and Mr. "P"s Limo who also took time from their day to lend an occasional helping hand.

A fun time was had by all. And the food that we did not have to cook and that we had in abundance was provided by the Lakeview Deli, located in Landing.

Ruprecht Memorial Fund

Grants not exceeding $500 are available through the Ruprecht Memboria Fund, sponsored by the NJ Polio Network, to help pay for polio-related goods and services for polio survivors living in New Jersey. For further information and to apply, contact Heightened Independence and Progress. Phone: (201) 996-9100 Fax: (201) 966-9422 or e-mail: ber@hipcil.org

Toll-Free Hotline for Air Travelers with Disabilities

The hotline is designed to assist travelers in resolving issues either on the spot or in advance of travel. Hotline operators facilitate airline compliance. The hotline can be reached at (800) 778-4838 (voice) (800) 455-9880 (TTY) from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Eastern time. Additional information is available on DOT’s website at:
www.dot.gov/airconsumer

Schizophrenics Anonymous

A self-help group for people coping with schizophrenia and related disorders will hold meetings for mutual support on the first and third Wednesdays of the month from 7-8 p.m. at the Mental Health Association of Morris County, 28 Walnut Street, Madison. For more information, please call Natalie Hudson, Dir. of Consumer Empowerment 973-377-9280, ext. 27.

CCS Ministry with the Deaf

The CCS Ministry with the Deaf, Archdiocese of Newark has a new interpreted Mass schedule. For information regarding where the Masses are being held and the time call (973) 824-5568 TTY or 973-596-5121 Voice.

Web Sites to Check-out

The Millneck Foundation for Deaf Ministry has a Sign Language Resource Catalogue with a number of sign language resources for both children and adults - www.millneck.org

A site for accessible apartments available throughout the country. http://www.forrent.com/naac/naac.html

Community Research for Assistive Technology (CR4AT) researchers identified several major gaps related to the need for informational education about AT for persons with disabilities. For the full report on AT Information & Education: Community Research for AT focus group results, please visit the CR4AT website at: http://www.atnet.org

For information on how to access web cast go to: http://www.ilru.org/online/index.html

The National Center for the Dissemination of Disability Research invites your participation in a monthly short focus group question posted on their web site. http://www.ncddr.org/

Final regulations for No Child Left Behind: Title I—Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged final rule is available now but before you send it to your printer, NOTE that this document is 300 pages. http://www.ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg/esea02/pg2.html#sec1120

For additional information from the United States Department of Education about No Child Left Behind (NCLB), visit: www.nclb.gov

NCLB a Desktop Reference how the Act’s four guiding principles are brought to bear on many of these programs http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/nclbreference/index.html?src=mr

Transition to Adult Life Pocket Guide 22-page pocket guide titled Where did the Time Go? Is a straightforward resource that covers the basics of transition, including planning, finding a job, furthering education housing & community life. www.trninc.com/timego.htm

DAWN Events — (Transportation provided.)

Members Meetings & Recreation:

1. Call the office (973) 361-5666 no later than one week prior to an event to schedule transportation; and
   
   
2. If you need a special accommodation (assistant, interpreter, Braille, etc), please inform us at least two weeks prior to an event. Attention Deaf Members: Please call (TTY 973-361-6032) if you need an ASL interpreter.
   
   
3. Call your county’s transportation department two days prior to an event to establish your pick-up time.
   
   
4. To assist the scheduler and to show consideration for your fellow travelers, if you need to cancel pick-up, call transit at least two days in advance, or as soon as possible.

Young Adult Recreation
DAWN Programs —
(Transportation NOT provided.)

Deaf Sr. Citizens of No. W Jersey

Social Security Administration & Disability Ruling Regarding Post-Polio Sequelae

Polio survivors win five year battle with the Social Security Administration. The ruling is more inclusive than the POMS and uses "Postpolio Sequelae" to describe all of the late-onset symptoms polio survivors experience: post polio syndrome, early advanced degenerative arthritis, sleep disorders, respiratory insufficiency and a variety of mental disorders having an etiological link to either the acute polio infection or to chronic deficits resulting from the acute infection. According the Ruling any one or a combination of these disorders will constitute the presence of "postpolio sequelae" and can be grounds for granting SSDI.

Singles Group

A singles group is starting up for people with disabilities ages 18 to 35. The meetings will be held monthly. For more information call Alisha at: (973) 586-0962

Needlepoint

Bobbie Humphries has offered to teach needlepoint to anyone who is a quad. Bobbie is also disabled with C-4,5,6,7 Injuries. She would be willing to come and teach you in you home. If you are interested and would like to sign up for classes call DAWN office: 973 361-5666.