DPN Volume 2, Issue 3

TRCIL would like to welcome Sandi Weber as the Director of Quality Management and Contract Compliance. Her position began in early September of 2005. She had worked for TRCIL previously from 1984 to 1996 as a Regional Housing Counselor. She was promoted to Peer Counseling Coordinator, Attendant Care Program Manager, Transition Manager, and eventually became Vice President of Consumer Services.
          “When I was hired at TRCIL, there were 7 employees and when I left there were nearly 60. My belief is now, and has always been, that our mission and the embodiment of true consumer control in all we do must be in the driver’s seat. My goal while working here is to assist TRCIL’s staff in continuing to dedicate itself to its consumers and the independent living philosophy, thereby empowering TRCIL to take back its place as a national leader in the disability rights movement.”
          Sandi enjoys quilting, reading, theater, camping, and spending time with her family and friends.
          “Flea markets, yard sales, and antique malls have a magnetic effect on me. Moving back to Pittsburgh has enabled me to spend more time with my family including my 91 year old grandmother and my son Steven. I have a 12 ½ year old Pug, Booda, who is my soul mate and a brand new puppy, Gracie, who has brought a new energy to our home.”
          Sandi adds, “I am thrilled to be back at TRCIL after a 9 year absence and I am grateful to Stan (President and CEO) for giving me the chance to come home again.

The LIHEAP Crisis Program provides grants to low-income households during the cold weather season to assist families experiencing an emergency situation that places them in danger of losing their heat. This includes utility service terminations, needed deliverable fuels (heating oil, propane, and kerosene), and heating system and fuel line repairs and replacements.
For more information, please call toll free: 1-800-851-3838.

We are proud to launch a new advocacy effort here at TRCIL, especially for consumers residing in Westmoreland County. We are beginning a new support and advocacy group that will meet at Westmoreland Manor Nursing home. Our first meeting will be in January of 2006 (date and time to be announced). The focus of this group is learning to speak up for ourselves and speak out together. The meeting is open to any people with disabilities who wish to attend, but RSVP IS MANDATORY!
Please call Brenda Dare at 1-800-633-4588 x148 if you are interested!

TRCIL would like to thank the following people for their generous contributions…
Newsletter Donations
Linda Anderson
Judy Baker
Maria Cillo
William Jeffery
Helen Kielnar
Stephen Kielnar
Robert King
Theresa Lazorchik
Samuel McClung
Jennifer Miceli
Erika Vansickel
Rita Ann Walsh
Raymond Wojszynski, Jr.

Not the never believer
your hands tell me volumes
and your eyes open the
philltre’ from your heart
to believe the pining child’s fables.

With the thin skein of time
you are only opening the door
and I feel the fever drained
from my bones.
In this village green,
there is celebration.
Hearts delight to sing and strike
the moments wings take flight
leaving chains
to fall under the mustard sun.

“I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. That is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.” -Martin Luther King, Jr.

For information on Medicare Part D, Medicare’s new prescription drug coverage, there are several good sources including:

APPRISE, Pennsylvania’s free Health Insurance Counseling Program, at 800-783-7067 or 412-734-9330

Consumer insurance fraud complaints can be reported to the Pennsylvania Department of Insurance, 877-881-6388

MTV has created a web page aimed at combating stereotypes about people with disabilities in conjunction with the release of Murderball, a recent award winning documentary about the US wheelchair rugby team. The website includes tips for interacting with people with disabilities, clips from the documentary, and disability related links. The site can be found at www.mtv.com/thinkmtv/features/discrimination/murderball.

The EEOC has released a comprehensive report on the efforts of nine states to employ more people with disabilities in government jobs. The study, Final Report on Best Practices for the Employment of People with Disabilities in State Government, is the third EEOC publication released in October as part of National Disability Employment Awareness Month. The report is available online at
http://www.eeoc.gov/initiatives/nfi/final_states_best_practices_report.html. It contains findings from the EEOC's "States' Best Practices Project" launched in December 2003- one of many Commission activities to integrate people with disabilities into all aspects of the nation's social and economic life.

The Into New Hands program is a service of Three Rivers Center for Independent Living. Persons with disabilities who are in need of home medical equipment, but who have limited insurance coverage, and / or financial resources, may obtain the items they need through this recycling program.
          Those who have equipment for which they have no further need may donate items to the program in exchange for a receipt for a charitable donation to a non-profit organization. Donated items are refurbished and then made available to those who need them.
          All individuals who do not have insurance coverage are eligible to receive this pre-owned equipment. Persons under the age of 18 who require specific items may not be able to receive equipment, unless a written and signed prescription is furnished, (i.e. a wheelchair fitted with specific adaptations). If the specially adapted equipment is available a person under 18 may receive it, but only after being assessed by a qualified therapist. All requests are considered on an individual basis.
          A wide range of items are available through the Into New Hands program including, but not limited to, walkers, bedside commodes, wheelchairs, tub seats, Hoyer lifts, and hospital beds. The actual types of equipment available through the program vary because it is reliant upon donations from outside persons or agencies to maintain its inventory.
          Additionally, the Into New Hands program recently began a 911 / Emergency Cellular Telephone Recycling Program. This program is similar to those operated by some local police and sheriff’s departments. The focus of this particular program is persons with disabilities who may have need of an emergency-only phone.
          If persons in the community have items in good working condition which they wish to donate, the equipment will be gratefully accepted. All donations are tax deductible. Unfortunately the program is not permitted to accept donations of equipment which is considered invasive, such as IV’s, catheters or items that must be used under a doctor’s supervision. Items such as sleep apnea monitors, or nebulizers cannot be accepted or distributed by the program.

                                                Equipment Overstock
                    Occasionally, due to large donations of equipment, the Into New Hands Program ends up with an overstock of a particular type of device.
          Currently TRCIL’s Into New Hands Program has a temporary overstock of the following types of equipment:
4 wheel “Rollator”-type walkers, 2 wheel walkers, “Standard” walkers, crutches.
          We would like to find these items a good home as soon as possible.
          For more information on the Into New Hands program, please contact Thom Gressman at 412-371-7700 extension 166, TTY 412-371-6230, or
tgressman@trcil.org.

“Advocacy” is the focus of this issue’s Book Review and further resources. If you are interested in reading this book or finding other disability related material, please visit the TRCIL Library or call 412-371-7700 extension 159 to speak with the librarian.

“Make Them Go Away- Clint Eastwood, Christopher Reeve & the Case Against Disability Rights”
by Mary Johnson, Founder and Editor of the Disability Rag Magazine

This book is an engrossing read which is divided into two sections titled “Part 1 The Case Against Disability Rights” and “Part 2 The Case For Disability Rights” and presents an excellent overview of the disability rights situation in our nation. It discusses flaws in the ADA, in particular that it is only enforceable through filing a lawsuit. The author explores the roots of disability prejudice, personal and national values regarding disability. For example: the backlash against the ADA highlighting actor Clint Eastwood’s refusal to adapt his hotel in Carmel CA even after being sued to ABC 20/20 “Give Me a Break” reporter John Stossel who continually criticizes the ADA. Johnson’s criticism of public figures who believe that individual determination to succeed would outweigh any need for rights or legislation is most welcome.
Most importantly, the author presents in discussion depth on all social justice issues with which people with disabilities must cope.

www.adapt.org Americans Disabled for Attendant Programs Today
www.notdeadyet.org information by euthanasia opponents
www.ada.gov US Department of Justice page for ADA information
www.aapd-dc.org American Association of People with Disabilities & Justice For All
www.accessiblesociety.org current topics in disability
www.dredf.org Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund
www.nod.org National Organization on Disability
www.ncd.gov National Council on Disability

Mission Statement
To empower people with disabilities to enjoy self-directed, personally meaningful lives by providing outstanding consumer controlled services and by advocating for effective community change.
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