The Disability Experts Site

New transportation service in the greater Bangor area

admin — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 02:14:58 +0000

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BANGOR, Maine (NEWS CENTER)– For people with disabilities, running errands can be a difficult task. But Penquis has a new transportation service that will pick people up who are handicapped right at their door.

Penquis said this new program is an extension of the Americans with Disabilities Act. It is designed to pick up people who live more than three-fourths of a mile off of a bus route in the greater Bangor area.

Which will help people like Sandra Rocco who has arthritis which has gotten worse in the last few months and it has made it difficult for her to get around.

“Mainly I’ve got arthritis all over me and its gotten worse in the past few months. I don’t know why, but I can’t even get into my car anymore,” Rocco said.

So she started looking for a way to get around and be more independent. She said it felt like it was impossible to find transportation. Then she was told to contact Lynx Transportation which was starting up a new program to help people out like her who need help getting around.

“So they found out that they were starting up a new program called Freedom. So I asked about it and they just happened to be starting out at the same time that I was calling,” Rocco said.

New Freedom is a service offered by Penquis Lynx Transportation. Penquis Director of Community Support Marcia Larkin said, this service allows people with disabilities to be picked up at their door. According to Larkin, the money needed for this program comes from the Federal Transit Administration program and is an extension of the Americans with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.). Larkin said adding New Freedom was something Penquis had to do.

“We sat down and decided that expanding the A.D.A. was a priority for Penquis to help the residents that are more than three-fourths of a mile off the bus route,” Larkin said.

And Rocco said this new service has given her a new sense of freedom.

“It’s so much different. I can go places on my own, cause my husband was taking me everywhere too. And I can actually go on my own like an adult,” Rocco said.

It costs $2.50 to ride one way on the New Freedom service. To ride on the service, Larkin said, people have to call to schedule a pickup at least two business days in advance.

NEWS CENTER

Marina housing project for adults with psychiatric disabilities gets big financial boost

admin — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 02:14:57 +0000

Construction will start early next year on 21 apartments in Marina for low-income adults with psychiatric disabilities.

The “Rockrose Gardens” project, which is being developed by Interim Inc., this month approved a major financial boost by securing $3 million in federal housing money.

“We were one of five projects in the state” to get financial assistance through the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s program for housing for people with disabilities, Interim spokeswoman Susan Alnes said Tuesday.

“It’s a shot in the arm for development in Monterey County, and a vote of confidence in our ability to deliver it,” Alnes said.

The site is about 3½ acres of former Army land at 3012 Lexington Court, which the nonprofit developer acquired from the city of Marina.

The $5.8 million project, which won final city approval in June, entails tearing down 11 dilapidated Army units.

Construction will take about a year, Alnes said. There will be a one-story community building, two residential buildings and a central courtyard.

Other federal and state money for neighborhoods and mental health services is going into the project, Alnes said.

Interim still must raise about $800,000 to $1 million, but that shouldn’t put a crimp in the project schedule, she said.

Interim, which has been providing housing, residential treatment and other mental health services since 1975, has about 180 people on its waiting list for federal housing in the county,

she said.

Music therapy has benefits for disabled kids

admin — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 01:37:13 +0000

Music therapy is a significant support for children with different disabilities. Not just singing, but also using instruments.

People First of Athens

admin — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 01:37:12 +0000

"Don't 'Dis' our 'Ability,' 'Dis' the 'Attitude'" is the motto of People First of Athens, an organization made up of people with disabilities who speak up for themselves to gain equal rights. The group will host a chili cook-off from noon to 3 p.m.

2 – MYSTICA’S SPECIAL VALENTINE’S GUEST APPEARANCE FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

admin — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 00:47:08 +0000

MYSTICA’S SPECIAL VALENTINE’S GUEST APPEARANCE FOR SHANDON FOUNDATION’S PWD’S (PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES) VALENTINE’S DAY ON BEHALF OF MYSTICA CHARITY FOUNDATION, MYSTICA AND THE PROJECT DIRECTOR, NINIA VANESSA PAMITTAN SARANDI, WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE FOLLOWING MAJOR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SPONSORSHIP AND SUPPORT: BETTER GLOBE PHILIPPINES AND ASIA, CHILD AFRICA, MANILA BULLETIN, SM FOUNDATION AND SM CORPORATIONS, CHOWKING AT AURORA ARCADE AND AQUABEST. Websites: www.betterglobepageant.com www.mysticacharityfoundation.org www.globalgreenrevolution.org www.betterglobe.asia www.betterglobeforestry.com www.betterglobegroup.com www.betterglobe.com

3 – MYSTICA’S SPECIAL VALENTINE’S GUEST APPEARANCE FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

admin — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 00:47:08 +0000

Disability advocate wants law overhaul

admin — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 00:47:08 +0000

Violence is ”scarily common” in residential accommodation for people with disabilities and is systemically accepted, according to a disability advocacy group.

In a submission to the ACT government, Advocacy for Inclusion has called for an overhaul of domestic violence laws to provide greater security for people with disabilities, including those living in disability group homes or relying on paid or unpaid carers.

”People with disabilities live with daily violence. It seems to be systemically accepted, or staff are simply inured to it after years of having no alternative to violence,” the submission said.

Advocacy for Inclusion general manager Christina Ryan said violence was extremely common in group homes for people with disabilities.

”It’s scarily common. You can actually end up with houses becoming extremely unpleasant,” she said.

Ms Ryan said some people with disabilities were often given little choice about where they lived and could end up in group facilities where they were unhappy.

Some people with communication difficulties expressed themselves by lashing out.

”You can actually have situations where everybody in the house is being violent towards each other. It’s just what happens,” she said.

Ms Ryan said problems were often addressed by sending people to respite care for extended periods or moving them to other group homes – regardless of whether they wanted to go or not. But sometimes violence was simply accepted.

”We’ve had situations where people have just been left there because, ‘they’ll get used to each other and it will stop’,” Ms Ryan said.

Advocacy for Inclusion wanted the ACT Domestic Violence and Protection Orders Act amended to incorporate the broader NSW definition of a household.

Ms Ryan said this would give police and other authorities greater power to intervene and use tools such as apprehended violence orders when people with disabilities suffered domestic violence.

”If they’ve got the capacity to intervene, you can treat it like any other act of domestic violence,” she said.

The ACT government is considering an overhaul of domestic violence laws, including adopting definitions of domestic relationships used in NSW. A spokesman for Community Services Minister Joy Burch said protocols were in place for dealing with incidents in group homes.

”As an incident arises, they are treated on a case-by-case basis by the directorate and the service providers,” the spokesman said.

”At all times, the priority is to secure and maintain the safety of the person and those people around them. It is not a common occurrence and once known it is responded to swiftly.”

Disability ACT had a service audit process and worked closely with individual clients, families, carers, the providers and where appropriate, the Disability Service Commission, Public Advocate, police and mental health staff.

Local Veteran Assists Other Veterans WIth Disabilities

admin — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 00:47:06 +0000

About 20 percent of current combat injuries result in blindness or vision impairment, which is the highest number of visual disabilities acquired by troops since the Civil War.

Urban Miyares, a San Diego veteran, said he can help others benefit from blindness in the business world. He is founder and president of the Disabled Business Person Association.

“I’m totally blind, hard of hearing—I have to use hearing aids,” Miyares said. “I have post traumatic stress disorder.”

With the aid of his dog Crocket, Miyares has lived with his severe disabilities since 1968, when he and his platoon were attacked.

“They thought I was dead in the field and put me in a body bag where I stayed for two days, until a medic—Brian Leet— was unzipping body bags,” Miyares said. “He was assigned to put toe tags on the dead soldiers to identify who they were. When he opened my body bag he said there was something different. He felt a pulse and rushed me to the hospital.”

Miyares returned home to his young wife—sightless. To support his family, he got a job on Wall Street. But back then it wasn’t blindness that got him fired.

“When they found out I was a Vietnam vet, I was literally told we’re not going to have any baby-killing needle-toting veterans working for this company and they sent me home,” he said.

From then on, Miyares went into business for himself, making millions owning companies that have nothing to do with being disabled. He now helps other visually impaired or disabled vets become entrepreneurs.

“By being your own boss you can control your future,” he said.

Miyares oversees a new program that offers free online business courses through the Hadley School for the Blind. Visually impaired vets and their families can enroll and work at their own pace.

“You’re going to learn with Hadley how to get back into the workplace to be active and productive again,” he said. “Just because you’re a veteran, your job isn’t done.”

Spouses of visually impaired veterans can also enroll in the free online business course through Hadley’s School for the Blind.

Windows 8 will be more accessible to those with disabilities

admin — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 23:50:19 +0000

The new OS will see some improvements in its accessibility features, making it easier for people who are visually impaired or face other disabilities.

TravelinWheels Gives People With Disabilities Tips for Choosing a Travel Agent for Spring Break

admin — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 23:50:19 +0000

SCHAUMBURG, Ill., Feb. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ – From Florida to California, people are choosing a Spring Break travel destination. However, a person with a disability can have an even more difficult time. According to Michell Haase, founder of TravelinWheels (www.TravelinWheels.com), a company dedicated to helping travelers with disabilities travel the world easier, choosing a travel agent well-versed in accessible travel is key to making successful plans travel plans this Spring Break.

“While choosing a travel agent may seem like an afterthought to most, a travel agent can be a tremendous asset if you are traveling with a disability,” said Haase. “A travel agent who specializes in accessible travel knows the ins and outs of where to stay, choosing the right cruise and even which car to rent. They have the relationships needed to make travel easy and enjoyable for people with disabilities, which is the main premise TravelinWheels was founded on.”

When interviewing travel agents, be sure to ask the following questions to gauge if they are versed in accessible travel:

How long have you been an accessible travel agent?
How many clients have you had with disabilities (especially your type of disability) and what types of arrangements have you made in the past?
Do you have experience in arranging accessible travel in the destination I plan to go to, and have you been there?
Do you have contacts in the destinations that can assist me if something goes wrong?
Do you have relationships with the various access desks at the airlines, cruises, resorts etc. who you can call on my behalf?
What type of training have you had in accessible travel, the needs of those with disabilities, etc.?
May I speak with some of your past clients who can provide a reference?

By visiting www.TravelinWheels.com, travelers with disabilities can obtain more tips, as well as accessibility details for travel destinations throughout the U.S. and Europe, including hotels, restaurants, attractions, tours, transportation options, medical needs and more. Through the site’s content, travelers are provided with virtual tours, detailed accessibility information, destination reviews and first-hand testimonials of experiences, helping travelers with disabilities and their families select the perfect vacation spot.

About TravelinWheels

Since 1993, Haase has been visiting hotels and travel sites with her U.S. Paralympian-hopeful daughter Kelsey, who utilizes a wheelchair, as well as groups of travelers with a variety of disabilities. In 2011, she launched TravelinWheels as the preeminent online “go to guide” for travelers with disabilities and their traveling companions. Haase’s mission is to provide a service that encourages and promotes disability travel around the globe.

TravelinWheels is a member of the Society for Accessible Travel and Hospitality, as well as the European Network for Accessible Tourism and Tourism for All UK. For more information about TravelinWheels, visit www.TravelinWheels.com.

Contact: Andrea Schnorr
847.884.0000