Options Center for Independent Living Reference Guide to Independence
A Guide For People With Disabilities 2017-2018
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Options Center for Independent Living
Partnering with People with Disabilities Who Want to Live Independently And Participate Fully in Society
1989 to 2017. Options CIL is a consumer driven, non-residential, community based, non-profit organization that emulates the independent living philosophy. Independent living is essentially living just like everyone else – having opportunities to make decisions that affect one’s life, having the ability to pursue activities of one’s own choosing – limited only in the same ways that one’s non-disabled neighbors are limited.
Options CIL was established in 1989. Our board and our staff are comprised of more than 50% of people with disabilities. We are funded by state and federal grants, private donations, private foundation grants, United Way allocations, memberships and proceeds from fundraisers.
Our main office is located in Bourbonnais, Illinois serving Kankakee County. Our satellite office in Watseka, Illinois serves Iroquois County. OCIL serves individuals of all ages, races, faiths, genders, and disabilities.
We provide five core services, which are: advocacy, information and referral, independent living skills, peer mentoring, and transition. Our mission is to partner with persons with disabilities who want to live independently and participate fully in society.
Through peer support and role modeling, Options staff teaches consumers that persons with disabilities have the right and the responsibility to pursue goals of self-determination and self-sufficiency. We serve as a resource and mentor, empowering consumers with the skills to direct their own lives, set their own goals, and plan the necessary steps to achieve those goals.
Options CIL works to bring about positive change in attitudes and accessibility and provides our community with the information and knowledge needed to accept, respect, and accommodate citizens with disabilities.
Options Service Area AND OFFICES
Iroquois County
130 Laird Lane, Suite 103
Watseka IL 60970
815-432-1332 (Voice)
815-432-1361 (TTY)
815-432-1360 (Fax)
Kankakee County
22 Heritage Drive, Suite 107
Bourbonnais IL 60914
815-936-0100 (Voice)
815-936-0132 (TTY)
815-936-0117 (Fax)
2017 Options CIL Board of Directors
President- Romero Lewis
Secretary- Dina Raymond
Treasurer- Dan Brough
Larry Burton
Jessica Corbus
Kay Jurica
Chris King
Mark Mantarian
Mary Ann Molnar
Options CIL Advisory Board Members
KANKAKEE COUNTY MEMBERS
Debra Ann Caise RN, BSN
Donna Cardosi
Deb Hoyer-Denson
Dr. Lori Foster
Brandi Kaner
Chris King
Nancy Moore
Brenda Randazzo
Melissa Tanner
Jackie Tobey
IROQUOIS COUNTY MEMBERS
Tina Abhsie
Linda Clatterbuck
Chuck Gomez
Jean Green
Greg Hankey
Carol Saucedo
Carla Waters
Staff
Therese Cardosi- Executive Director
Jennifer Cappellano- Associate Director
Lenda Brasel -Independent Living Advocate, Iroquois County
Olivia Eson- Independent Living/Vision Service Advocate
Heather Long- Independent Living Advocate/Transition Coordinator
Jessica Paro- Administrative Assistant, Iroquois County
Donna Sample- Independent Living Advocate/ Resource Coordinator
Ashley Varvel- Personal Assistant Advocate, Administrative Assistant
2017 Membership
Philanthropic Membership
Home Helpers Home Care
Fisher-Swale-Nicholson Eye Center
Foster Chiropractic
Corporate Membership
Bank of Bourbonnais
G & V Development Inc.
Iroquois Federal
Kankakee County Housing Authority
Peoples Bank of Kankakee County
Riverside Medical Center
Tobey’s Construction & Cartage Inc.
Small Business Membership
Kankakee Natural Foods, Inc.
McDonalds – Linman Family
Pence Oil Company
Piggush Simoneau, Inc.
Simms Engineering LTD
Not-For-Profit Agency Membership
Good Shepherd Manor
Presence St. Mary’s Hospital
River Valley Special Recreation Association
Individual Memberships
Richard Seton Anderson
Arlene Bartolini
Calli Raye Bodie
Johnna & Don Branch
Lenda Brasel
Dan Brough
Charles R. Burke
Jennifer Cappellano
Therese Cardosi
Ashley Carlson
Mary Causer
Linda L. Clatterbuck
Jessica Corbus
Mary Kate Dalcanton
Olivia Eson
Carol Glade
Jean Green
Darla J. Gregory
Michael Dee Grimes
Margaret Guerrero
Alvera E. Hamlyn
Greg Hankey
Lisa High
Lenda Hunt
Bill J. Isaacs
Joshua Allen James
Kayley & Marion Jaworski
Irene Jensen
Dorothy M. Johnson
Mileen Joines
Genevieve Keller
Mardell A. Koch
Dr. Thomas Koehler
Jacob Scott Lohiser
Heather Long
Sherry Lynn Long
Mark Mantarian
Barbara J. Miller
Nancy Moore
Ruby Nagel
Ryan Neese
Mary K. O’Brien
Jessica Paro
Larry E. Patton
Kathy Petersen
Betty A. Peters-Lambert
Joseph Pistono
Brenda Randazzo
Jeanne Regnier
David & Joann Rushing
Marsha L. Saathoff
Donna Sample
Carla Sue Sandage
Carol Saucedo
Cathrine Anne Schwartz
Wendy Skarstad
Norm & Janice Strasma
Richard J. Sygulla
Melissa Tanner
Denise L. Thomas
Jerry Thomas
Celeste S. Tynes
Ashley Varvel
Sharon Walski
Ann Wendlick
Xavier L. Willis
Lisa A. Winge
Juan Zarate
Allie Ellen Zimmerman
Please contact us for a Membership Application or for more information.
815-936-0132 (TTY) or 815-936-0100 (Voice)
Article:River Valley Metro Mass Transit District
What is it, and what do they do?
River Valley Metro Mass Transit District is a public service agency that offers three types of bus services for the residents of Kankakee County.
- Traditional, or “fixed route”, bus service in the urbanized area of Kankakee County. This includes Aroma Park, Kankakee, Bradley, Bourbonnais and Manteno.
- Commuter shuttle service to Midway Airport and to the Metra train station at University Park.
- Service for individuals with disabilities who are unable to independently use fixed route service. This is referred to as Metro Plus service.
Fixed route buses serve more than 350 bus stops from 5:00 am to 9:30 pm Monday through Friday, 7:00 am to 9:30 pm on Saturdays, and 8:00 am to 4:00 pm on Sundays and major holidays. Most stops are served once each hour, but a few are served every half hour. All buses are wheelchair accessible. Fare is $1.00 per trip.
The University Park Metra train station commuter shuttle departs from the Metro Centre in Bourbonnais and makes one stop in Manteno. The morning schedule is coordinated with trains departing from University Park, and the afternoon/evening schedule is coordinated with trains arriving at University Park. Fare is $2.00 each way.
The Midway Airport shuttle also departs from the Metro Centre in Bourbonnais and makes one stop in Manteno. It then runs non-stop to the public transportation hub at Midway Airport. Free parking is available at both the Bourbonnais and the Manteno departure points. Fare is $2.00 each way.
Metro Plus service requires pre-qualification and operates by appointment. Metro Plus buses will pick you up at your home and take you to your destination. This is a shared ride service, meaning that multiple individuals’ trips are grouped together in an effort to meet all trip requests and improve efficiency. Ride time on Metro Plus is comparable to travel time on the fixed route system, including transfers and wait times. Fare is $2.00 each way.
Additional details about each of these services are available at RiverValleyMetro.com or by calling 815-937-4287.
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Article:Transportation And The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA): Q & A
Q: What is the Americans with Disabilities Act?
A: The Americans with Disabilities Act gives civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities similar to those provided to individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, and religion. It guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in transportation. Barriers to access to transportation for disabled persons must be removed in all instances where removal is reasonable.
Q: What are the ADA’s requirements for public transportation?
A: The transportation provisions of ADA Title II cover public transportation services, such as city buses and public rail transit (e.g. subways, commuter rails, Amtrak). Public transportation authorities may not discriminate against people with disabilities in the provision of their services. They must comply with requirements for accessibility in newly purchased vehicles, make good faith efforts to purchase or lease accessible used buses, remanufacture buses in an accessible manner, and, unless it would result in an undue burden, provide paratransit where they operate fixed-route bus or rail systems. Paratransit is a service where individuals who are unable to use the regular transit system independently (because of a physical or mental impairment) are picked up and dropped off at their destinations. Title III of the ADA covers businesses and nonprofit service providers that are public accommodations, including privately operated transportation services (such as shuttle services) and facilities (such as transportation depots).
Q. Does the ADA cover air transportation?
A. Discrimination by air carriers in areas other than employment is not covered by the ADA but rather by the Air Carrier Access Act. The Air Carrier Access Act prohibits discrimination in air transportation by domestic and foreign air carriers against qualified individuals with physical or mental impairments. It applies only to air carriers that provide regularly scheduled services for hire to the public. There is more information in the article titled, Air Passengers with Disabilities.
Q. What are the ADA’s specific requirements for public transit buses?
A. Under the ADA, the U.S. Department of Transportation has issued regulations mandating accessible public transit vehicles and facilities. The regulations include requirements that all new fixed-route, public transit buses be accessible and that supplementary paratransit services be provided for those individuals with disabilities who cannot use fixed-route bus service.
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Kankakee, IL 60901
Office 815-932-4194
Fax 815-932-4394
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Article:Getting Ready For Managing Finances At The Age Of Maturity
The Importance Of Starting Early
Managing money matters–even with support–involves many skills. Starting with the most basic, it’s about being able to:
•Recognize the value of coins and bills; and
•Count money and subtract it, too.
•These are skills most of us learn in school, and they provide the foundation for future learning about how to manage money.
•For many young people with disabilities, money matters can be challenging. That’s why it’s important to start early working on developing those skills.
•This includes:
•Using the IEP meeting to advocate that your son or daughter’s IEP include goals focused on money management.
•Practicing money skills at home and in the community–for example, let your son or daughter hand over the money to the cashier in the grocery store and count the change returned.
•Giving your young person the opportunity to decide how he or she will spend whatever allowance or gift money he or she has.
There are also many tools available that schools and families can use to teach basic math and money skills. All this lays the foundation for later, when money matters get more complicated.
Areas of Financial Managementto Consider
What decisions will your son or daughter face in managing money, and what skills will he or she need? Consider the common activities adults do when managing their money. Adults:
•Keep a bank account, including checking and savings accounts.
•Talk with the bank about their financial needs or concerns.
•Make and keep to a budget that balances expenses and income.
•Understand money basics, including how to pay bills, use credit or debit cards, and make money transactions.
•Keep financial and money records (e.g., asking for records, keeping track of income to prevent overdrafts).
•Make financial plans for the future.
Strategies for Providing Support
In light ofthe money skills and activities just listed, you can see why it’s important tostart earlydeveloping the skills your son or daughter will need when he or she reaches the age of majority. For many youth with disabilities, it will also be important toput supports in placeto help your son or daughter manage his or her money and financial matters as much as possible. What skills will he or she need? If any of these skills are lacking, what supports would help?Supports caninclude:
•Using amoney management service, where a provider can teach your son or daughter about money management and how to keep track of money.
•Usingdirect deposit and automatic bill payments.
•Usingjoint checking accountsthat will help in keeping track of your son or daughter’s bank account.
•Having family/friends/extendedfamily supportsin place the young adult trusts and could call or contact for guidance when needed.
•Havingco-signers on bank accountsto help your son or daughter with bill payment and money transactions.
•Using aPower of Attorneyto help your son or daughter with making decisions and handling business, personal, and legal matters.
•Using aRepresentative Payeeto help with your son or daughter’s payments.
•Establishing alegal trustto help with the transfer of money and legal matters.
•Establishing aconservatorshipto help manage your son or daughter’s assets.
HelpfulResources
Practical Money Skills for Life.
To help consumers and students of all ages learn the essentials of personal finance, Visa partnered with leading consumer advocates, educators, and financial institutions to develop theprogram. The link below takes you to all the free materials available.
Tools for Teaching Financial Literacy Skills.
Here are severalfree tools for teaching your child essential money management skills and habits.
Teaching Money Counting Skills: Using Money Is an Important Functional Skill for Independent Living.
Cents and Sensibility: A Guide to Money Management for People with Disabilities.
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National Resource Center for Supported Decision-Making
The NRC-SDMprovides leadership and expertise in supported decision-makingand hasdeveloped evidence-based outcome measures; successfully advocated for changes in law, policy, and practice to increase self-determination; and shown that supported decision-making isa valid, less-restrictive alternative to guardianship.
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Article: Universal Design: The Next Frontier In The Disability Rights Movement
By Heather Long
Over the years many of us in the ability community have heard the terms “accessible”, “ADA compliant” or “modification/accommodation.” The actions behind these terms have allowed persons with disabilities to equally enjoy or participate in goods and services they may not have been able to do so beforehand. They are how the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ensure people with disabilities are afforded equal access. But is it truly equal access?