Navigating Today™

"Independent Living News For People With Disabilities And The Community"

Winter 2008 Issue

Volume 1, Number 2

In This Issue

Center News                         

·    Macomb Office Expands

·    Community Reintegration Program

·    Lunch Buddy Program

·    Voting in 2008

·    Home Modification Program

Community News                         

·    Job Development Program

·    Make 2008 A Great Year

State of Illinois News                         

·    Coalition Of Citizens With Disabilities in Illinois/Community Choice Act

WCICIL Staff

Executive Director
 ………………Glenda Farkas

Outreach Director
 ………………Ryan Jansen

Program Director
 ……………..Dale Winner

Youth Services
 ………………Dustin Gorder

Home Services &     Reintegration Coordinator
 ………………Jennifer Kelly

Independent Living
 Specialist 
…..…………Patricia Bissell

Independent Living
 Specialist 
 ……………..Joe Pashka 

WCICIL Board Members

Chris Bunch, President  

Marcia Holmes,Vice-President

Mona Pyatt, Treasurer

Mike Killebrew, Secretary

Unetta Mallory 
Shari Jones 
Karye Willard               

WCICIL Services

Main Services

·         Advocacy

·         Independent Living Skills Training

·         Information and Referral

·         Peer Counseling

Additional Services

·         Reintegration Program

·         Youth Services

·         Equipment Loan Program

·         ADA  Technical Assistance

·         Braille Services

·         Personal Assistant Program

Contact Us

West Central Illinois Center for Independent Living

Main Office:

300 Maine Street              Suite 104               Quincy, IL  62301

(217) 223-0400

(800) 225-0407

TTY (217) 223-0475

FAX (217) 223-0479

Satellite Office:

440 N. Lafayette          First Bankers Trust Bldg.  Lower Level                    

Macomb, IL  61455

(309) 833-5766

(888) 309-5766

FAX (309) 836-5867

cilod@adams.net

www.wcicil.org

Center News

By Ryan Jansen

By Jenny Kelly

The WCICIL Community Reintegration Program assists those who lack the resources or home care needed to live independently. Persons eligible for reintegration are those who are inappropriately living in nursing homes who wish to return to the community.

WCICIL may assist people with disabilities aged 18-59 who meet the income guidelines to qualify for this program. We offer help with the initial costs for rent, furniture, appliances, utilities, ADA accessibility and services from a personal assistant or other home health care for customers needs.

WCICIL is dedicated to empowering people with disabilities to choose the setting in which they live. The philosophy of Independent Living does not allow for people with disabilities to be forced into nursing homes when they can receive the care they need at home.

WCICIL also offers other services to help make the transition a success.

By Dustin Gorder

The Youth Services program at WCICIL and Big Brothers Big Sisters of West Central Illinois have joined together in what Big Brothers Big Sisters call the lunch buddy program.  Through this program, adults meet with their child (a little brother or sister) once a week during recess and lunch, not as a tutor per se, but more as a friend.  The program is set up to encourage children to make good choices and by having a friend that they can look to when problems arise or simply having someone there to talk to.  The idea to promote a positive avenue for the child and give him something to look forward to when he gets to school and to help him to look forward and set goals to accomplish later in life when they get out of school.

The youth services program is also working on an Internet-based group that will allow parents, teachers and students to voice their concerns, questions, and advice to the center as well as one another through web-based chat groups.  More information on this as well as other issues pertaining to the youth services program will be available in our next issue.

By Dale Winner

Who will you vote for in 2008?

Are you informed on the candidates’ platforms concerning disability issues? WCICIL has tried to make it easy for you to get informed, keep informed and stay informed with all the presidential candidates’ views that are important to you. All you do is go to our website www.wcicil.org and go to News heading on left hand column then click on the I’D Vote link then to the AAPD Presidential Election Action Center. Voting is POWER make an informed choice.

By Joe Pashka

Illinois has now launched the Home Modification Program to help hundreds of low-income seniors and people with disabilities across Illinois afford basic home improvements, and continue living independently in their own homes. The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) has allocated $1,070,000 to eight administering groups around the state. “This program will help them stay in their homes and remain active members in their communities,” said Governor Blagojevich. While Illinois already has a number of programs to help keep low-income seniors and people with disabilities from institutionalization - these do not specifically address home modification needs.  To qualify for the program, households must have at least one disabled family member or a senior over the age of 60. Household incomes must not exceed 50% of the area median income based on household size. Under the leadership of Governor Blagojevich, Illinois is now one of the most progressive states in the nation in regards to affordable housing. Increased funding means more opportunities for people with disabilities to apply for the Home Modification Program. WCICIL last year successfully empowered a number of consumers to take advantage of this program, and obtain the home modifications they required to achieve a more independent life. 

By Julie Herring

Working Today, Changing Tomorrow is a new program offered by Two Rivers Regional Council in partnership with Illinois Council of Developmental Disabilities.  It has been developed to meet the needs of both job seekers with developmental disabilities and businesses agreeing to hire persons with developmental disabilities.

Working Today, Changing Tomorrow is not set up like many traditional programs developed to assist people with developmental disabilities obtain employment.  Working Today, Changing Tomorrow is that WTCT lacks a “traditional job coach”.  WTCT incorporates a “job mentor” or “natural support”.  With a traditional job coach a professional hired by the social services agency goes to work with the disabled person and teaches him/her the job.  Studies have shown this to be distracting at times.  A “job mentor” is an employee of the hiring business willing to mentor the person with disabilities and teach them the job.  The “job mentor” more closely resembles how most of us have been taught our jobs. 

Job seekers will be asked to attend Job Clubs and Workshops at the Workforce Service Center.  These workshops will cover a variety of topics to assist the job seeker with

 learning skills necessary to obtaining employment.  When the job seeker feels ready to search for work the job developer will assist him or her with completing and mailing/dropping off applications for work as well as Job Proposals. Also, as part of Working Today, Changing Tomorrow each job seeker will be evaluated to help assess their needs and wants for employment.  This process will also assist the job developer and the job seeker with determining what type of work he or she may want to pursue.  Periodically there will be workshops offered to caregivers and family members to assist with supporting their loved one who is seeking employment. 

Employers sought for this program will have a need in an area that the job seeker can meet.  For example, if there is a job seeker with strong computer skills that may lack in socialization skills, the job developer will seek to find an employer that has a need for someone to do data entry or some other type of computer work that may not require tremendous social skills.  It will be the job of the job developer to help enhance the existing skills of the job seeker, not to try to fit the job seeker to existing roles within the community.

If you have any questions or would like to be part of this new hiring initiative please contact Julie Herring at:  (217) 222-1560 ext 235.  The WTCT office is located at: 107 North 3^rd St., Quincy, IL 62301 (the building many people refer to as the “unemployment office”).

By Karye Willard, Board Member

The word “service” is used a lot, especially at this time of year.  Most people expect a certain level of service from others, especially if it comes with a price tag or cost.  It is expected that the waitress at the restaurant will keep your drink glasses filled, or at least ask if she can get you anything else.  It’s expected that the department store sales personnel will offer customer service as you browse the merchandise.  And, at this time of year, it is certainly expected that someone will work the returns counter with patience, if not a smile!

The word “service” simply means to serve or to be a servant.  But, how many people can you find who really take that definition to heart?  It’s an aspect of giving time and effort without looking for something in return, not even a paycheck!  With the Christmas season behind us, so is the time of celebrating the birth of the Christ child.  How interesting that it was Christ who once said, “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.”  There seems to be some redemptive value in finding ways to serve, with no payment expected and no strings attached.

            The following ideas are just a few reminders of the countless ways to serve groups of people who have legitimate needs.

• Right now, the United States has a large number of military personnel serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Even though they are far away, we can still serve them.  Soldiers’ Angels, according to their website, www.soldiersangels.org/, is a non-profit organization that provides aide and comfort to the men and women of the United States Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force and the Coast Guard.  This organization allows people to serve the military personnel overseas through letters and care packages in their “Adopt A Soldier” campaign, or by donating money.

• Senior citizens and the disabled are often overlooked or ignored, and there are many opportunities to serve them.  Some service ideas for these individuals include: mowing lawns, clearing sidewalks, or shoveling snow; running errands, helping with housework, or other chores like changing a light bulb.  Spend some time at a retirement center or nursing home.  Just being available to talk and listen can be of great service.

• Providing service to those in need can bring challenges.  In the Quincy area there are many organizations with ongoing programs to help people with genuine needs.  Some, like the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, Care Net and Quanada, to name a few, specialize in emergency response to specific crises.   
• Also, there are ways to provide service to people in Third World countries through sponsorship organizations such as Compassion International, The Christian Children’s Fund, IDES (International Disaster Emergency Services), UNICEF, World Vision, and numerous others. 

Giving through nationally and locally recognized charitable groups and organizations helps ensure that whatever you give, whether money, food, clothing or other items, actually gets to the intended need. 

As the New Year begins it’s a great time to reflect on how to make 2008 better, not just for ourselves, but for people everywhere.  Starting with what may seem like a small act of service could result in a great benefit to the receiver.  Make it a great year.  Start looking for ways to serve.

Support the Community Choice Act – HR 1621

Hey Illinois!  Remember the Community Choice Act?  We haven’t had a US Representative sign on since June.  Support for the Community Choice Act has stalled.  We need your help as we go into the New Year!

For a summary of the Community Choice Act of 2007 (HR 1621) visit à http://www.ccdionline.org/newsflash.php?newsflash_id=95&

National ADAPT is working to get the U.S. House of Representatives to hold a hearing on the Community Choice Act (CCA) in January, but we need a push from our grassroots to get our US Representatives to support the CCA!  Illinois has 19 US Representatives, but only five have signed on to co-sponsor.  Where are the other 14?  Chicago ADAPT, CCDI, Access Living, Progress Center, MOPD and the Campaign for Real Choice in Illinois need you!

We are pleased that Senators Obama and Durbin, and Representatives Davis, Weller, Shimkus, Schakowsky and Gutierrez support the CCA.  If your Representative is

already a supporter, be sure to thank them and ask them to encourage their colleagues to become supporters too!

However, if your US Representative is not on this list, please contact them and tell them to sign onto the Community Choice Act today!  Here is how to find your US Rep by typing in your address: http://www.elections.il.gov/DistrictLocator/AddressSearch.aspx.  Your US Rep will be at the top of the list.  You can write or call your Representative, but you can also set up an appointment to visit them in their district office.  Let's do whatever it takes to get our Reps on board.