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CenterPoint
A Publication of: Options for Independent Living - Serving 17 Counties in Northeast WI and the Fox Valley: Brown, Calumet, Door, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Oconto, Outagamie, Shawano, Sheboygan, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago
Winter/Spring Issue 2015
From the Director
By Thomas J. Diedrick, Executive Director
Governor Scott Walker recently released his biennial budget for the State. Many advocates, those who are older, and interested parties are carefully reviewing the proposed budget to understand various items the Governor proposed that will impact people with disabilities throughout the state. A number of items will require additional research and clarification before sending information out to our readers. Options will be updating you on those issues through our website and facebook pages. We encourage you to watch these sites for more information.
In addition, it is likely there will be several public hearings regarding the budget by the Joint Committee on Finance. We will list those on our social media sites also. These public hearings give Wisconsin residents an opportunity to present their concerns/issues surrounding the budget. This Committee has significant input on how the budget will be submitted to the Legislature for debate.
On another note...July 26, 2015 is the 25th Anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Act (ADA) into law. This is a milestone for a legislation that gave people with disabilities significant rights in the area of employment, public accommodations, state and local government and more. While we have come far since the ADA was implemented, there are still issues that need to be addressed. The important thing is to acknowledge all the positive aspects of this landmark legislation. To that end, Options and local agencies will be co-sponsoring a public event to celebrate the 25th Anniversary. Details have yet to be completed, so watch our facebook and website for more information.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS: Options and Wistech will be co-sponsoring an Assistive Technology Fair on Wednesday September 23, 2015 at the Green Bay Packer Lambeau Field Atrium. We will be inviting numerous companies to display a wide assortment of Assistive Technology for people with disabilities and those who are older. Agencies providing services to these groups will also be invited. Again, watch our website and facebook for more details.
In this Issue:
3. Dementia Care Program and Legislative Visits
4. HOME Program and IL Days in Madison
5. Consumer Spotlights
6. Consumer spotlight continued, Options Fox Valley Update. Board Update.
7. Facebook, Grassroots Advocacy Groups
8. Act Now and Support Groups
9. Options Staff Receives Award and Winter Recreation
10. Winter Recreation continued and Tech Closet News
11. Wisloan and Telework Loan Programs
12. TeleWork funding source continued, Options Personal Care Program
13. CenterPoint Going Green, For Sale Items
14. For Sale Items continued, Options Vision and Mission, Staff directory
15. Staff Directory continued, Board Members, Mark your Calendar
113Care Program
Dementia Care Program Focuses on Assistive Technology
AT Home with Dementia: Assistive Technology Support is a unique program developed to address the home safety needs of individuals with dementia and to assist their caregivers through the use of assistive technology. Home assessments are provided free of charge by trained specialists. Specialists come into the home and assess the needs of the individual with dementia in an effort to: improve or maintain physical and emotional health;improve safety;improve independence; enhance the care giving experience by reducing stress; and lengthen the amount of time the person can safely remain in their own home. The Specialist will then provide recommendations for the individual and caregiver.
AT Home with Dementia serves those with dementia in Brown, Kewaunee, and Oconto counties. It is a collaboration among the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) of Brown County, N.E.W. Curative Rehabilitation and Options for Independent Living Inc. For more information contact Stacie Scheibe, Options Dementia Care AT Specialist at 920-490-8270, ext. 187 or toll-free at 888-465-1515, ext. 187 or LaReina Tipping, Home Safety Assessment Specialist at N.E.W. Curative, 920-593-3521.
Thisprogram is funded through a Basic Needs Giving Grant, a Partnership of the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation, including the U.S. Venture Open Fund for Basic Needs, the J.J. Keller Foundation, and donors of the Community Foundation.
Legislative Visits to Options
Options welcomed visits from two newly elected State Representatives in February, Rep. Joel Kitchens, Sturgeon Bay and Rep. John Macco, DePere. Both toured Options accessible showcase home and office complex and learned about the services Options staff provide to their constituents with disabilities.
Options has HOME funds for Home Accessibility, Rehabilitation, or Repair
Options for Independent Living, Inc. has received federal funding through the State of Wisconsin Department of Administration, Division of Housing to administer the HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME Loan Program). The HOME Loan Program provides deferred no payment and no interest loans to low or moderate income persons with a disability and those who are older for the purpose of making accessibility improvements and general home improvements or repairs to their single family home. The loan must be paid back when the property is sold, transferred or ceases to be the borrower’s principal place of residence.
Types of projects include (but not limited to) ramp construction, bathroom, kitchen and bedroom modifications, along with general housing rehabilitation and repairs. The counties served by this program include Brown (outside Green Bay City limits), Calumet, Door, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Oconto, Outagamie, Shawano, Sheboygan, Waupaca, Waushara and Winnebago Counties. Applicants must meet the eligibility requirements to be considered for a loan. For more information contact Steve LaFrombois at Options, 920-490-0500 or toll-free at 1-888-465-1515, ext. 122.
IL Days in Madison
Options staff convened with Independent Living staff from across the state on February 3rd to advocate with area legislators at the Capitol on issues surrounding people with disabilities. This year was the largest number of staff and Board members from Options to attend.
taff /Board Directory
Consumer Spotlights
A Blessing that is not in Disguise — by Mary Terrien
When you have a severe multi disabled child with huge problems who is sometimes well and often sick, it is easy to feel alone. The work is huge, the quest to find improvement for a better life is at times overwhelming, and the isolation that can take place is like none other. From the day we found Options for Independent Living some of those problems simply no longer exist.
It started the day I applied to be Madeline Rottier’s official care-giver (I am also Maddi’s grandmother) and for the first time ever I was connected to an organization that was all about taking care of her and also about caring for me. I was no longer alone in this huge endeavor. Maddi has a condition called Schizencephally which leaves her unable to walk or talk. She cannot hold up her head or see. Maddi cannot even eat except for her stomach tube. All the information given me from the first interview, has been so important to Maddi’s care. In the months that followed, the information that came to our house in the form of the Centerpoint newsletter was absolutely fantastic. The articles are right on and I have learned so much about community help from this publication.
Perhaps though, my most important gift comes in the form of our visits from Options Personal Care Program nurse every 58 days or so. We are blessed with a nurse who truly cares about us and who makes us feel so good about what we are doing. This nurse allows us to know that we are not alone in this difficult task.
Thank you Options for Independent Living for your support, your kindness and your flow of information. We are not only blessed by caring for an angel (Maddi), and blessed by having such a great teacher/supporter in our nurse, but are also blessed to have an organization so committed to improving our lives.
Tammy — by Tammy
My name is Tammy. I am a 48 year old female living with cerebral palsy since birth. I currently live in the Brillion area, but that was not so a year ago. A year ago I was living in a Community Based Residential Facility (CBRF) in a different area and was not pleased with my cares and level of independence; I wanted to be living in the community independently as I did when I owned my own home. My world had totally changed and my self-worth decreased when I moved from my home to a CBRF. I knew I needed to change my life. I needed an advocate. It was then that I contacted Options for Independent Living to help me become a better self-advocate and assist me in advocating for my right to live in my own apartment in the community.
I met Mackenzie Egan, an Independent Living Coordinator at Options, who was more than willing to be an advocate for me and encourage me to be an advocate for myself. Together we appealed the decision made by Family Care which denied me my right to move back into the community with personal cares. I worked very hard to explain my rights and my need to live independently. By making my voice heard, Mackenzie and I were able to win the appeal which allowed me to move out of the CBRF and have personal care in my OWN apartment! It wasn’t easy and took a lot of time, but I now successfully live independently in an apartment and could not be happier! I am a self-advocate and an independent woman thanks to help from Options for Independent living! Amen! Everyone should know that anything is possible and to never give up!
Options Fox Valley Office Update
Did you know Options has a branch office in Appleton? It is located in the Thompson Community Center at 820 W College Avenue.Options has two Independent Living Coordinators in the office offering all of the same services asour Green Bay office -including LEND (a used medical equipment program) and anassistive technology room loaded with equipment to demonstrate and loan for try-out.
Staff person John Meissner has a great interest in advocating forlocal and state level transportation issues. Most recently he received a Relentless Badger award for all of his amazing advocacy efforts related to the topic he is so passionate about, transportation! John is the IL Coordinator for Outagamie, Winnebago and Calumet counties. Please contact John for any information or questions about Options services, 920-997-9999 or email at .
Staff person Mackenzie Egan shares a similar passion for advocacy and can be found traveling her counties daily. Along with her IL Coordinator duties, she is active on local County Communities on Transition committees, a group of individuals in each county advocating for youth with disabilities in our local communities. Mackenzie serves Fond du Lac, Waushara, Marquette, Green Lake and Waupaca counties. Please feel free to contact her for any information or questions about Options services, 920-882-9309 or email at .
Options Board Welcomes Two New Members
Options Board of Directors recently welcomed two new members. Ann Jadin, Community Engagement Director-NAMI Fox Valley, and Joyce David, community volunteer, joined Options Board serving a three year term. For more information about Options Board or committees contact Tom Diedrick, Executive Director.
Find Options on facebook!!
Options for Independent Living can be found on “facebook.” Check it out for up to date happenings, news, and information, etc. Then go ahead and like us on “facebook.”
Grassroots Advocacy Groups meet in Sheboygan and Waupaca
You may be asking, what is a grassroots advocacy group? Well it originates among concerned citizens, rather than organizations or companies. People come together in a grassroots advocacy movement when there is an issue which they feel is not being resolved or addressed appropriately and try to make a change.
Disability Action Advocacy Network (D.A.A.N) –
This Sheboygan County group has been working on employment barriers and police response to persons with disabilities, especially those with a hearing loss. D.A.A.N meets the third Wednesday of each month, downtown Sheboygan at 806 North Eighth Street. For more information on D.A.A.N. contact Kitty Barry, Options Assistant Director, at 920-490-8370, ext. 183 or toll-free at 1-888-465-1515, ext. 183. Funding from the Independent Living Council of Wisconsin supports the grassroots advocacy group that meets in Sheboygan.
“People First” Chapter North Central WI/Waupaca Area
The Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities (BPDD) has awarded a 2014 SPARKS grant to help fund the People First North Central WI Chapter. This self-advocacy group is for people of all ages, all disabilities, and others with a vested interest in those with disabilities in our communities! This group plans to identify the challenges and needs of people with disabilities within North Central WI area communities and advocate for positive change in areas such as accessible transportation, housing, employment, and community accessibility. If you would like to join this “People First” chapter please contact Mackenzie Egan, Options IL Coordinator, at 920-882-9309 or toll-free at 888-465-1515.
Act Now Disability Advocacy Network
For those of you who want to advocate on a state and federal level, Act Now Disability Advocacy Network may be for you. Act Now is not a group, there are no meetings. It is a network of individuals trying to assert positive change for people with disabilities on a state or federal level. If you join Act Now, you will receive email (or mail) alerts or information on current legislative issues. Alerts ask you to take action by contacting your legislator, and information is just that, information on legislation or issues surrounding people with disabilities. It is simple to join. Just contact Sandy Popp at Options (888-465-1515, ext 179) for more information. Please join the many voices coming together as one to make positive statewide change for people with disabilities!
“Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. If people all over the world...would do this, it would change the earth.” ~William Faulkner~
Support Groups Meeting at Options
Options for Independent Living hosts several support group meetings:
NEW Multiple Sclerosis Support Group— Meetings are held the 4th Tuesday of each month at Options from 6:30—8 pm. Care partner breakout sessions at most meetings. Contact Lisa Van Donsel at 920-621-0949 or email her at for more information.
CARE Café – “A place for adults on the spectrum.” This is a social/support group for adults 18 and over on the autism spectrum. Meetings are held the 2nd and 4th Friday from 6-8 pm at Options. The meetings are free. For more information contact CARE Café on facebook or email or . You can also request that you be added to their email roster which will include updates on meeting plans and location, any meeting changes, etc.
Epilepsy Support Group – Meetings are held at Options every 1st Wednesday of the month from 6:30 – 8 pm. For more information contact Ann Hubbard toll-free at 1-800-693-2287 or direct at 715-341-5811or email her at .
ALS Support Group - Meetings are held the 2nd Wednesday of each month at Options from 6 pm—8 pm. For more information contact Carolynne Younk, MS, Care Service Coordinator for ALS Association WI Chapter Satellite office in Green Bay. Contact number is 920-288-7095.
NEW Tourette Syndrome Support Group - Meetings are held on the 2nd Saturday of each month from noon to 2:00 p.m. at Options. Open to all who are interested in learning more about Tourette Syndrome (TS). For more information, please contact Patti Bani at (920) 217-0032 or .
Options Staff Receives Relentless Badger Award
John Meissner, Options Independent Living Coordinator, received the 2015 Restless Badger Award at the Wisconsin Coalition of Independent Living Centers IL Days on February 3, 2015. Recognized for his tireless advocacy efforts and commitment to the Independent Living Philosophy. John has been employed with Options for over 20 years. Congratulations John!
Winter Recreation
Sit-Skiing available at many WI State Parks
State park visitors can enjoy the outdoors year-round, but cross-country skiing is a favorite among fervent winter recreationists. "Wisconsin state parks offer opportunities for everyone," explains Anthonette Gilpatrick, the accessibility coordinator for the Department of Natural Resources. The State Park System wanted to have skiing opportunities for people with disabilities and this was made accessible through sit skis.
Sit skis include a chair on top of the skis which provides more control and balance for skiers with a disability. The sit skis are available for free at Buckhorn, Governor Nelson, Harrington Beach and Mirror Lake state parks, at the Lapham Peak Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest and at Richard Bong State Recreation Area. All of the properties where the sit skis are available also offer easier, groomed trails.