First Quarter 2004 Newsletter
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DAWN, Inc. (Center for Independent Living, Inc.) 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
Recreational activities are also provided at a cost. The Office of Minority Health The Office of Minority Health (OMH) was created in 1986 as the result of a report that revealed gaps in the health status of minorities. Because OMH's mission is to improve and protect the health of the minority populations, it is currently focused on eliminating health disparities for minorities, reducing the potential for misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment, promoting an understanding of racial and ethnic differences in response to drugs, developing strategies to overcome racial bias in the delivery of healthcare, and integrating culturally related health factors into programs. There is an OMHRC (OMH resource center) Web-site, a minority health knowledge center and database, provides a list of volunteer resource experts that are available to the public, distributes publications, and aids in conducting campaigns. For more information go to: www.cdc.gov/omh or call OMHRC at (800) 444-6472 or (301) 251-1432 TTY. Women's Health Care Conference The focus of this conference is on the critical health care issues that affect the lives of women with disabilities. There will be representatives from state offices, agencies and associations dealing with women's health and disabilities. There will be no registration fee for consumers, but space is limited so register early (deadline is 04/26/04). Call Pat Krupka at 609-984-4513; 609-777-3238 TTY/TDD; or to request a conference brochure fax 609-292-7114. Or for a registration form go to: www.njddc.org/womenshealth.htm From the Executive Director's Desk Hopefully, as you read this, spring will be right around the corner. That usually means new beginnings for most. I am hoping that means new beginnings for DAWN, also. As I told you in previous newsletters, the board and staff have been hard at work towards implementing a strategic plan for the organization. During that process, all policies, programs, and services are being reviewed by committees to help this organization be the best it can be. As a member of this organization, you have a say in our work. Shortly, you will be receiving a survey asking for your input as to the services we have provided to you in the past year. I hope you will all take this opportunity to let us know your thoughts. Also, board meetings are open to members if you are interested in having a more hands on role in the organizations work. These meetings are held the 4th Thursday of each month from 5-7 p.m. Call the office for further details. At this time, I would like to welcome two new members to the board, Tina Raimondo and Paul Grossman. Tina has been a long-standing member of DAWN and has always been a strong advocate for the organization and the work we do. Paul has been volunteering his time over the past year in implementing a database so we can more effectively respond to funders about the people we help. We are thrilled to have both Tina and Paul with us. I would like to remind you all of other ways you can help DAWN. We have two fundraisers coming up. The first is our annual dinner at Chevy's Fresh Mex on May 20th. It's simple. Have dinner at Chevy's on Route 10 West in Morris Plains, tell them you are there on behalf of DAWN and they will donate 20% of your bill to DAWN. Tell all your friends and family and join us for this fun evening. The second fundraiser will be held at the Cardinals Ballpark in Augusta on June 26th. When you purchase tickets through us, the Cardinals will donate a portion of the tickets back to DAWN. More details will follow on both events. I hope to see you all at both. It's a great way to show your support for DAWN. ELA Scholarships The Ethel Louise Armstrong Foundation, Inc provides financial assistance to women with physical disabilities who are enrolled in a U.S.A. college or university graduate program. ELA Scholarship awards ($500 to $2,000), based on merit, are given on an objective non-discriminatory basis. Applications available online at: www.ela.org You can contact Deborah Lewis by e-mailing: executivedirector@ela.org for more information. Deadline is June 1, 2004 Cheers and Jeers Cheers Roxbury Public Library for declaring a "Special Needs Children's Week." for April 12th through the 16th. There were story time adaptations and crafts, books and web-resources, and information on what is available in the library system. Stewartsville - With out assistance a consumer effectively advocated for himself and got an accessible parking space installed at the condo he was renting. Jeers Phillipsburg - for not having a consistent policy for issuing accessible residential parking spaces. They have been ignoring a woman's request for four years. Sussex County - much of the parking in Sussex County does not comply with ADA standards. Also, the County Administrator allegedly said they will give people two or three warnings before they actually ticket or tow an illegally parked vehicle. New Jersey State Bar
Aktion Club What is an Aktion Club? It is a community service group composed of adults living with disabilities that is sponsored by the local Kiwanis in coordination with DAWN, Inc. (Center for Independent Living). The club provides an opportunity for its members to give back to their community. If you are interested in active participation in your community, building self-esteem, and developing leadership skills, than this group is for you. For additional information on Aktion Clubs go to: www.Kiwanis.org and click on Kiwanis Family Links. For information on how to get involved contact: Carmela Slivinski or call (973)361-5666, (973)361-6032 (TTY) or you can e-mail info@dawncil.org Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage Starting in 2004, Discount Cards with the Medicare-approved mark will be available for immediate savings on prescription drugs. Medicare will contract with private companies to offer new, voluntary discount cards. A discount card with the Medicare-approved mark offers a discount off the full retail price of prescriptions. Savings are estimated to be 10-25% or more on many drugs. People with incomes less than $12,124 a year or married couples with incomes less than $16,363 may qualify for $600 to help pay for prescription drugs. These voluntary cards are being offered for a short time with enrollment beginning as early as May 2004 and continuing through December 31, 2005. People whose drugs are covered by Medicaid are not eligible for this card. In 2006, the Prescription Drug Benefit will be added to Medicare. Get Auto Insurance for a Dollar a Day Dollar-a-day policy is a new initiative to help make auto insurance available to drivers who are likely to go uninsured because of limited financial resources. People who are currently enrolled in Federal Medicaid with Hospitalization are eligible. A policy can be obtained at most insurance agencies. Call the Personal Automobile Insurance Plan (OAID) customer service number at 1-800-652-2471. DAWN Programs - Members Meetings & Recreation Members Meetings - Monthly 1st Wednesday 7:00-9:00 p.m. Paragon Village Hackettstown
April 7 - Hendrix Tours General Members Recreation
Saturday, April 17 - Abilities Expo, Edison Board Meetings 5:00-7:00 p.m. Conference Room C St. Clare's Dover General 4th Thursday Meetings will be held on:
Dawn is seeking new board members. If interested please contact the office for details.
DAWN Programs - Young Adult Recreation 2nd Friday each month 7 -10 p.m. at the Montville Recreation Site (Unless otherwise noted)
Friday, April 16 - Montville Recreation Center Deaf Senior Citizens of North West Jersey 3rd Wednesday each month 1 - 4 p.m. at St. Clare's/Dover Campus cafeteria
Wednesday, April 21 - Social Gathering Communication Access www.CARTinfo.org, provides information regarding CART (communication access real-time translation) specifically for hard-of-hearing and deaf consumers of communication access services and for officials who decide how access services will be provided. The website was created because many times organizations that are required to ensure communication access for people who are deaf or hard of hearing don't understand the benefits of CART or how to obtain it What you will find: How to locate a CART provider, What to expect, Where it can be used, Benefits of CART, Resources for obtaining for schools, Recent legal decisions involving CART. For additional information call: 800-272-6272 voice or 703-556-6289 TTY.
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