Third Quarter 2005 Newsletter
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DISABLED ADVOCATES WORKING FOR NORTHWEST, INC. DAWN AWAKENINGS AWAKEN TO INDEPENDENCE
SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST:
MOTORIZED WHEELCHAIR LEMON LAW The Motorized Wheelchair Lemon Law was created to protect consumers when they purchase a motorized wheelchair or power scooter. The law requires motorized wheelchair and power scooter manufacturers to provide at least a one-year warranty to cover defects which substantially impair the use, value or safety of the wheelchair or scooter. The warranty covers accompanying power accessories that are used to operate the wheelchair or scooter, as well as the wheelchair or scooter itself. The law provides specific procedures which must be followed in order to resolve disputes between a consumer and manufacturer. Motorized wheelchair or power scooter is presumed to be a lemon if it has one or more defects that continue to exist after three attempts at repair or after the wheelchair or scooter has been out of service for a total of twenty cumulative calendar days. If you want more information on your rights under the Lemon Law, please contact NJ Division Consumer Affairs, Lemon Law Unit, P O Box 45026, 124 Halsey St., Newark, NJ 07101 or call 973 504-6226. HOUSING WEBSITE There is a new website that will help people with disabilities & others find housing that is affordable and accessible. It provides an on-line tool for finding and listing affordable housing, helping people explore housing options and providing housing information and links. The information is updated bi-weekly and the service is free. To check it out go to: www.njhousing.gov FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S DESK Well, I can say that this past summer was not what I remember as a child growing up. Summer is supposed to be a time to sit back, relax and enjoy. That has not been the case for the DAWN board and staff. We have been very busy finding a new home and organizing two major fundraisers. The move is scheduled to occur about the end of October and our new location will be in the town of Netcong which is geographically central to the three counties we serve. We are very excited about the move because we will be doubling our space for a very reasonable amount. We are hopeful with the move we will be able to offer more activities within the Center and people will be able to come into the office to utilize our vast library of resources. Please look for further information about the move and the change in our contact information. As you all know, DAWN, Inc. had been given a challenge to raise $5000 which would be matched by an anonymous donor. I am thrilled to report that we have met that challenge thanks to your very generous support. This was a first for us and the most we have ever raised for a single effort. There are not enough words to express our thanks to you. Our next major fundraiser is our 1st Annual Tricky Tray. The event is scheduled for October 14th at Dover High School. This event is being hosted in collaboration with the AKTION Club. Thanks to the incredible support of the members of the AKTION Club and their families as well as the DAWN Board and staff, it looks like this event will be a success. See the article inside for further information if you are interested in attending. Finally, I hope you all "Save the Date" for DAWN's 1st annual meeting. The event is scheduled for Wednesday, November 16th, 2005 from 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. The Annual meeting is an event we are hoping to continue each year to provide our membership with updates on the work of the organization. We will also be inducting our new board members and recognizing those board members whose terms are up. In addition, it will be an opportunity to publicly thank all the wonderful volunteers who give so much time to the agency. Please save the date and look for further information in the next few weeks. This will be an opportunity for everyone to see the full scope of the work done by this organization. I hope to see you all there. Once again, many thanks for supporting us in our efforts. ROCKAWAY TOWNSQUARE'S EVENING OF GIVING DAWN has joined with other non-profit agencies for an Evening of Giving on Sunday, November the 20th from 6:30 -10:00p.m., at the Rockaway Townsquare Mall. Tickets may be purchased now by calling 973 361-5666. Each person attending (including children) needs a ticket. Your ticket gives you access to the mall and to:
FIRST ANNUAL TRICKY TRAY DAWN, Inc. and the Morris County Aktion Club will be holding their first annual Tricky Tray fundraiser on Friday October 14th at the Dover High School on 100 Grace Street. The doors will open at 6:00 p.m. to great trays, specials and a 50/50 drawing. For further information contact DAWN at: 973 361-5666. THE FAIR HOUSING ACT The Fair Housing Act, as amended in 1988, prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of disability, as well as race, color, gender, and religion. It covers housing in the public and private sectors and bans discrimination in any aspect of selling or renting housing. Under the law, new multifamily housing must be able to be adapted for accessibility according to established guidelines. The law also requires reasonable exceptions to housing policies and operations so that people with disabilities are afforded equal housing opportunities. Department of Housing and Urban Development: www.hud.gov or call: 800 669-9777 (voice) / 800 927-9275 (TTY). STEP-UP PROGRAM PROMOTES SELF-ADVOCACY As DAWN's STEP-UP program reaches the half way mark of its three year grant, we are proud to report that approximately one thousand transition aged students with disabilities have received resources manuals regarding disability services within their communities. In addition, over one hundred students from thirteen school districts have participated in the six module series "Promoting Self-Advocacy" and have been able to set, monitor, and achieve their self-directed goals. Students have been able to identify key areas within their lives for which they would like to see improvement. At Kittatinny Regional High School students stated that they wanted more work related opportunities in their communities prior to graduation. Kittatinny was able to meet this need by introducing an individualized community based vocational program that provides instruction based upon students own skills and interests. At Sussex County Special Children's School, students voiced their concerns regarding the lack of social opportunities and connectedness with students their own age. In response to this the school has worked in collaboration with two local area high schools through which visitations and combined field trips within the community have created an increased capacity for students to establish friendships and meaningful connections. Aside from self-advocating for the expansion of experiences within employment and recreational areas, some students are encountering new opportunities within their communities with regards to acquiring new independent living skills. Learning how to access community services, complete banking transactions, and arrange personal transportation are just some of the skills students are choosing to learn. In all instances there is an ever growing awareness that heightened community involvement is a critical element in having students transition more smoothly into their own communities. Self-advocacy, personal involvement, and ownership of one's own goals are the keys to success. Positive and tangible outcomes are resulting from the efforts put forth by STEP-UP. "Tell me, and I will probably forget. Show me, and I might remember. Involve me, and I will learn." - AKTION CLUB What's New at DAWN, Inc.: DAWN recently collaborated with the Morris County Chapters of the Kiwanis Club to organize "The Morris County Chapter of the AKTION Club."
The first AKTION Club was organized by George D. "Jake" Swartout, 1988-89 Governor of the Florida District in Putnam County, Florida, in 1987. With the assistance of fellow Kiwanians, Ed Brooks and Dick Wittner, the Aktion Club concept spread throughout the Florida District and, by world-of-mouth, throughout the Kiwanis world. AKTION Club became an official Sponsored Program of Kiwanis International on October 1, 2000.Today, in addition to the US; there are clubs in Australia, Canada, Jamaica, and Malaysia. The Morris County Chapter has been busy organizing and setting goals for themselves since their Charter night which took place in January of 2005. The group meets monthly to discuss upcoming events and to coordinate the activities they are interested in pursuing. One of the goals of the group was to participate in the ARC of Morris' annual walk-a-thon. The group raised over $300. Unfortunately, the members were not able to participate the day of the walk but the donation was sent in name of the club along with a letter of support for all the good work the ARC does. The group has already decided that they will be organizing a group for next year's walk. More recently, the Kiwanis Club of the Hanover's, led by Frank Atkins, challenged the Morris County AKTION Club to a Bowl-a-Thon. The club with the highest total scores would win the tournament. There were about fifteen members representing each club. The Bowl-a-Thon was a success and The Aktion Club came out on top. Everyone had a great time. Most importantly, the event raised $500 for Battered Women's Services of Morris County. The AKTION Club presented the $500 from the Bowl-a-Thon to Jersey Battered Women's Service at their July meeting. Stay tuned for more news on The AKTION Club. HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY RECOGNIZING POTENTIAL OF TRAVELERS WITH DISABILITIES Cheers to the Hospitality Industry for recognizing potential of travelers with disabilities. In a study commissioned by the Chicago-based Open Doors Organization, in cooperation with the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA) and conducted by Harris Interactive, 1037 people with disabilities were polled and found that those travelers with disabilities could spend $27 billion per year or more if specific lodging and travel accommodation issues were addressed. The study mentioned lodging issues such as the need for rooms close to amenities, and staff members that accommodate guests with disabilities. Airport customer service was discussed also. A simple "meet and greet" program along with a preferred seating plan could possibly increase expenditures by people with disabilities by 100% a year, according to the study. Last year, travelers with disabilities spent $13.6 billion on 31.7 million trips. In 2001, the lodging industry saw $4.2 billion in spending by disabled travelers, which resulted in 60,000 jobs created to provide services for people with disabilities, according to the report. That same year the airline industry saw $3.3 billion in spending by the same group, which led to the creation of 52,800 jobs. Results of the study also indicated that people with disabilities could practically double their spending if the needs of travelers with disabilities were met. "This study will teach the travel, entertainment and hospitality-related business, more about the size, revenue opportunities and preferences of people with disabilities," said Lipp. "Further, this information will enable business to determine how best to meet these needs in order to realize revenue growth among a large, but relatively untapped market." Web: http://www.tia.org/ The Travel Industry Association of America (TIA), is the Washington DC based, non-profit association that represents and speaks for the common interests and concerns of all components of the U.S. travel industry. They are the authoritative and recognized source of research, analysis and forecasting for the entire industry and its primary spokesperson to the domestic and international media. ARCHITECTURAL BARRIERS ACT Steps at entrances, a lack of accessible parking or restrooms, and signs without tactile characters make facilities unusable by people with disabilities. The Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) requires access to facilities designed, built or altered with Federal dollars or leased by Federal agencies. The law covers a wide range of facilities, including post offices, social security offices, prisons, and national parks, It also applies to non-government facilities that have received Federal funding, such as certain schools, public housing, and mass transit systems. Passed 1968, the ABA stands as the first measure by Congress to ensure access to the built environment. Facilities that predate the law generally are not covered, but alterations or leases undertaken after the law took effect can trigger coverage. Filing an ABA complaint with the Access Board (and independent Federal agency created to enforce the ABA) is simple to do. All the Board needs is the name and address of the facility and a brief description of the barriers to accessibility. Complaints can be submitted by mail, fax, e-mail, or through an on-line form: Compliance & Enforcement Section UPCOMING MEMBER'S MEETINGS General Membership
Deaf Seniors 1st Friday of month at St. Peter's Episcopal Church Mountain Lakes 1:00-4:00 p.m. UPCOMING RECREATION EVENTS General Members Rec.
Young Adults Recreation 2nd Friday of Month at Montville Rec. Center (unless otherwise noted) 7:00-10:00 p.m. To sign-up or for more information call the office at: 973 361-5666. |
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and leadership skills.