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Disability Pride
Newsletter:
Volume 2, Issue 3
December/January 2006
In This Issue:
Tax Refund Loans
By Mike Mauer, Financial Counselor
Try this simple exercise. Open your wallet or purse. If you can, remove $100. Now put back $80. Take the $20 remaining, throw it on the ground and walk away without picking it up. Repeat annually.
Sounds somewhat silly, doesn’t it? But it is something thousands of folks do each year when they get tax refund loans. They borrow their own money.
Whether
known as ‘fast cash refunds’, ‘express money’, or ‘instant refunds’,
these types of loan products are known in the industry as refund
anticipation loans or RALs. Often they are targeted through
intensive marketing efforts at people who can least afford to part
with any of their refund; Households that benefit from the Earned
Income Tax Credit (mostly moderate to low income families).
In truth, you as the borrower absorb practically all the
risk with a RAL. Since a tax preparation agency usually works
together with a bank or some other financial institution, the RAL
has to be paid back even if another integral party not directly
involved with the arrangement – the Internal Revenue Service –
doesn’t meet the terms. If the IRS has a problem processing your
return or gives you a refund smaller than anticipated, you are on
the hook. Your convenient RAL could turn into a collection headache
and pop up as a bad loan on your credit report.
Also, a RAL can be an expensive proposition for just
giving you part of your refund a few days quicker. Say your tax
preparation work shows you expected a check back from the IRS for
$1,000. A realistic RAL loan fee would be $75. Should the preparer
tack on $35 for electronic filing and $105 for filling out your
forms, that’s $215 dollars total. You’ll have spent over 21% of your
refund before you received a penny of it.
The Pittsburgh
office of the IRS (412-395-6569) can help you with your tax
preparation directly or refer you to a
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance site. Some of these volunteer
sites offer the same electronic filing services and direct deposit
features that for-profit tax preparers do. You can usually get your
whole refund from the IRS in less than three weeks.
Before considering a RAL, ask yourself this question: Do
you really need just part of your annual tax refund this fast or can
you afford to wait for a few days? If you have an outstanding debt
you’re counting on your refund check to cover, call the creditor and
ask for a forbearance. Most are understanding during tax season and
will appreciate your reluctance to take out a costly new loan for
less than a month to pay an old bill.
(Mike Mauer is a
Financial Counselor with the Mon Valley Initiative. Visit the MVI’s
website at
www.monvalleyinitiative.com.)
Advocacy Calendar February/March 2006
February 2nd
Letter Writing
CANCELLED!
A letter writing activity to
protect home and community based services. Light refreshments
provided.
11:00 am to 3:00 pm
TRCIL, 900 Rebecca Ave.
February 17th
New Advocate
Roundtable
Come join us for lunch and discuss issues that affect the disability
community. We need to hear your voice!
11:00 am to 2:00
pm
TRCIL, 900 Rebecca Ave.
February 21st
Westmoreland
Manor Group
1:00 to 3:00 pm
Westmoreland Manor, Greensburg
February 27th
D.A.R.E. Meeting
Disability Advocates for Rights
& Equality
1:00 to 3:00 pm
TRCIL, 900 Rebecca Ave.
March 24th
New Advocate
Roundtable
Come join us for lunch and discuss issues that affect the disability
community. We need to hear your voice!
11:00 am to 2:00
pm
TRCIL, 900 Rebecca Ave.
March 27th
D.A.R.E. Meeting
Disability Advocates for Rights
& Equality
1:00 to 3:00 pm
TRCIL, 900 Rebecca Ave.
RSVP is requested for all events. Other events may occur after printing. Please contact Brenda DaRe at 1-800-633-4588 x148 or bdare@trcil.org for details.
Change Can Be As Simple As a Traffic Light
Millie Foster worked for several years to try and make her neighborhood
streets safer to cross, but she wasn’t getting anywhere. It seemed that
everyone wanted Millie to believe the problem was someone else’s
responsibility. Meanwhile, the dangerous traffic conditions on
Banksville Road, southern Allegheny County, were changing the way she
went about her daily life. She often had to take two or three extra
buses to avoid crossing Banksville Road. She also knew that the corners
were even more dangerous for anyone using a wheelchair.
Millie came to the DARE Committee and asked for help.
Committee members went with her to testify in front of City Council and
requested a meeting with PENNDOT staff. That meeting was very
productive. The good news is that the traffic light timing will be
lengthened along Banksville Road. Thanks to a collective effort, we can
all be safer in Millie’s neighborhood.
Is there a change you would like to see in your neighborhood
that would benefit people with disabilities? Call Brenda DaRe at
1-800-633-4588 x148 to find out if DARE can help you.
By Cindy Williams, Information & Referral Specialist
TAX TIPS
LIVE TELEPHONE ASSISTANCE:
For
general information call 800-829-1040 (V) or 800-829-4059 (TTY).
RECORDED INFORMATION:
IRS
TeleTax topics are pre-recorded tapes and can be heard at
800-829-4477 or read at
www.irs.ustreas.gov/taxtopics/index.html.
TeleTax Topic 102 Tax Assistance for People with Disabilities & the Hearing Impaired is a brief overview of IRS services related to people with disabilities.
TeleTax Topic 603 Credit for the Elderly or the Disabled.
PRINT PUBLICATIONS & FORMS:
IRS
forms and publications can be ordered at 800-829-3676 (V),
800-829-4059 (TTY), or downloaded at
www.irs.gov/formspubs/index.html.
Publication 907 Tax Highlights for People with Disabilities is a booklet that highlights the part of the tax law that are of particular interest to people with disabilities. Topics include income, itemized deductions, tax credits, household employees, and business tax incentives.
Publication 524 Credit for the Elderly or Disabled provide information about this credit for people 65 and over or retired on permanent and total disability.
ACCESSIBLE TAX PUBLICATIONS:
IRS Publications and forms are available in Braille and Text formats at www.irs.gov. Selected publications are available from regional libraries for the blind and visually impaired. The Pittsburgh area library is at 412-687-2440. Titles include Publication 17 Your Federal Income Tax; Publication 334 Tax Guide for Small Business; and Forms 1040, 1040A, and 1040EZ.
FREE TAX SERVICE & ASSISTANCE:
People who need assistance due to a physical disability can get assistance from an IRS office or the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA). For more information see TeleTax topic 101 or Publication 910 Guide to Free Tax Services.
New Resources for People Who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing
By Christina Chamberlain, Deaf Services Coordinator
People who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing have access to two new resource
directories recently released by the Allegheny County Department of
Human Services Office of Behavioral Health. The
Allegheny County Resource Guide for Behavioral Health Providers for
Persons who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
lists health care
providers who have experience working with individuals who are Deaf or
Hard of Hearing. The Allegheny
County and State Community Support Resource Guide of Services for
Persons Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing provides information
on behavioral heath services and non-behavioral health services and
resources available. The directories are the result of the Deaf and Hard
of Hearing Behavioral Health Task Force.
The Task Force was formed by the Allegheny County Department
of Human Services Office of Behavioral Health and the Center for Hearing
and Deaf Services with the purpose of helping people who are Deaf or
Hard of Hearing achieve better access to behavioral health services. The
team of providers, educators, and members of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing
communities met for 1 ½ years to compile these valuable resources. The
directories are also helpful for persons who are Deaf/Blind, physicians,
audiologists, behavioral health care providers, and the general
community.
The directories are available on the county web site at
www.county.allegheny.pa.us/dhs/BH/guide.html. A limited
number of hard copies are also available and can be requested by
contacting Judy Wood at 412 350-7299 or
jwood@dhs.county.allegheny.pa.us.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
On March 6th,1988, students at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. (world’s only university for people who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing) began demanding that the university hire a deaf president. The next day the “Deaf President Now” protest ended, and on March 13th I. King Jordan was named the first Deaf President of the university.
Job Announcement
Personal Care Assistant (Attendant)
The
philosophy of Three Rivers Center for Independent Living is that
people with disabilities should be able to live independently
with dignity and have the ability to make personal decisions. In
order to fully participate in their communities and to live with
personal empowerment, individuals with disabilities may need
additional support from others. Personal Care Assistants (PCAs,
Attendants) provide various supportive services in order to
assist people with disabilities. These services may include
cooking, grooming, cleaning, and help with daily living and
health maintenance activities.
The work of a PCA may be very challenging, although it
is often very rewarding. The most successful PCAs are patient,
caring, kind, and are devoted to putting the needs of the
consumer first. TRCIL is committed to recruiting PCAs who
understand the Independent Living Philosophy and have the skills
and characteristics to provide consumers with the best possible
care. We provide extensive training for new attendants. If you
know of anyone who may be interested in becoming a PCA, please
contact Celiwe Jones, PAS Supervisor at 412-371-7700, ex. 185,
or Barb Taylor, PAS Program Specialist at ex. 113 for further
information.
What is MVI?
Following
the decline of the steel industry, it was clear the communities
along the Monongahela River needed help. In 1988, Mon Valley
Initiative was incorporated to develop projects with an economic
core to attract investment and provide both social benefit and
financial return to the community.
Mon Valley Initiative is a non-profit community and economic
development coalition of 13 community development corporations or
CDCs. Operating in Allegheny, Washington, and Westmoreland
counties, MVI works to restore and revitalize the Mon Valley
region.
MVI’s Mission Statement:
“Working together to unite communities and restore the economic vitality of the Mon Valley.”
Housing and Real Estate Development-
MVI’s
housing program works to provide safe, affordable, attractive
housing options for low-income families throughout the Mon Valley
and to revitalize economically distressed communities by renovating
existing housing stock and building new housing. These goals are
accomplished through three different MVI programs: the renovation of
existing houses in Mon Valley communities under the Rehab-for-Resale
program, new construction development projects, and affordable
rental units for low income families.
With assistance from Allegheny, Washington, and Westmoreland
counties in providing a second mortgage to buyers to fill the gap
between market value and renovation costs, MVI is able to offer
homeownership options to low-income families. Almost all of their
development projects have income guideline qualifications due to the
assistance MVI receives in subsidizing programs.
Housing Counseling-
MVI
Housing Counseling offers Pre Purchase counseling and Homebuyer
Education services to Mon Valley residents seeking to purchase a
home. These services are free with a small fee for obtaining the
individual’s credit report.
Participants learn the importance of managing monthly expenses,
retiring debt, and resolving credit issues. This assists clients in
achieving financial self-sufficiency and economic independence. When
credit-ready, clients are encouraged to apply for pre-approved
mortgages from reputable lenders and to start shopping for a home.
Attendees have the opportunity to later schedule individualized
appointments and gain information on upcoming MVI home construction.
To contact the Mon Valley Initiative, call 412-464-4000 or visit their website at www.monvalleyinitiative.com.
Three Rivers Adaptive Sports (TRAS)
Three Rivers Adaptive Sports (TRAS) is a chapter of the Disabled Sports,
USA (DS/USA) here in Pennsylvania. Located in Pittsburgh, TRAS provides
activities, events, and other resources for people with disabilities and
their families and friends.
Two of their most popular activities are snow skiing during
the winter months and water skiing in the summer. Snow skiing is every
Saturday from January to March at Hidden Valley Ski Resort. Thirteen
certified adaptive ski instructors and $30,000 of adaptive ski equipment
is on hand for interested individuals. Water skiers enjoy skiing on the
Monongahela River throughout the summer and an annual water ski event
held in July at Conneaut Lake.
Other adaptive sports activities include camping, canoeing,
kayaking, cycling, paint ball, and many more. There is a nominal fee for
each activity.
Three Rivers Adaptive sports is always looking for
participants and volunteers. To learn more about TRAS, visit their
website at
www.traspa.org or contact Mark Kulzer at (412) 848-8896 or by
email at
mark@traspa.org.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
The
RRTC on Spinal Cord Injury (SCI): Promoting Health and
Preventing Complications through Exercise
is pleased
to announce new additions to the "Exercise Videos and DVDs"
section of the ILRU website. Included on the website are reviews
of exercise videos and DVDs by people with spinal cord injuries
(both quads and paras) and people with limited mobility who are
exercising from a seated position. Some of the videos and DVDs
were developed for people with SCI or persons with limited lower
body strength. Some are upper body workouts for people without
disabilities. These video and DVD reviews can be viewed at:
www.ilru.org/html/publications/SCI/information/exercise_videos.htm
OR
www.sci-health.org/library/videos.php.
Further information about the
RRTC on SCI: Promoting Health
and Preventing Complications through Exercise as well
as additional information about spinal cord injuries (scientific
and consumer related information) can be found at the following
links:
www.ilru.org/html/projects/SCI/index.htm OR
www.sci-health.org.
TRCIL would like to thank the following people for their generous contributions…
Newsletter Donations
William
Karolyi
Theresa Lazorchik
Margaret Patterson
Other
Donations
Thomas & Patricia
Canfield
“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” –Aesop, The Lion & the Mouse
To make a donation, please visit us online at www.trcil.org/donations.htm.
“Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.” -Jack Kerouac
“The greatest good you can do for another is not just share your riches, but reveal to them their own.” -Disraeli
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
We are currently recruiting VOLUNTEERS to assist TRCIL in many areas. If interested, please contact Robin Preston at 412-371-7700 x119 or rpreston@trcil.org to request more information regarding volunteer opportunities both inside and outside of the building. If you are interested but don’t think you’ll “fit in,” please call us FIRST! Dates and times are flexible and reasonable accommodations can be met. We need assistance in all areas, so CALL TODAY!
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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