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This page was last
updated on
Friday, October 07, 2011
 
Hurricane Irene Feedback
 
A questionnaire was sent to all Center participants and other
interested persons and was placed on the ECI Website and
Facebook page.  In addition, a forum was held on September 16th
where people with disabilities told their "story" about how
Hurricane Irene affected them and changes they would like to
see as it relates to emergency preparedness.
 
The primary issues were: 
 
Transportation was not available because providers
would not alter their policies and had shut down and
was unavailable when people needed them.
 
Shelters opened when most public transportation stopped.
 
Lack of information about medical/functional needs (special
needs) shelter locations and their capabilities.
 
A report of all issues along with recommendations was
prepared and sent to FEMA and was presented at the Medical
Special Needs Sub-Committee for People with Disabilities
which is comprised of emergency managers, regional planners,
health department, Red Cross and other agencies.  The
Sub-Committee appreciated the time and valuable information
that was contained in the report and will review the report to
work on addressing concerns.  ECI will continue to address
these recommendations at future meetings of this group.

My Medicaid Matters Rally!
Over a thousand disability advocates gathered at the US
Capitol for a My Medicaid Matters rally.  About 70 people
traveled with the Endependence Center to Washington, DC
on September 21st for the rally to protect Medicaid services.
Included in the group were people with disabilities, families
and other advocates.  Two accessible buses made the trip to
Washington, DC providing an opportunity for people to be a
part of this large and important rally.
 
"With my Medicaid I can pay my Personal Care Assistant so
I can give back to my community by volunteering, public
 speaking, getting a job, etc.  The Olmstead Decision says I have
the right to live in my community.  Living at home saves the government money, because institutions cost three times
as much.  Medicaid makes that a reality." -Ivy Kennedy
 
"Witnessing so many people from a multitude of
different backgrounds come together to fight for their lifeline
was very moving.  I was honored to be a part of the
event and show my support" -Chip
 
  "The rally was a great experience.  It was wonderful to hear all
of the Congressmen and Senator Harkin lining up with all of
us who would suffer because of cuts in Medicaid.  Congress
and the President need to know that there are advocates
willing to fight for this cause and this rally is one way of
showing our determination to let them hear our voice." -Mary

CapTel Forum
Thursday, October 13, 2011
10:00 am to Noon at
Endependence Center
 
Presenter:  Marta Cagle, Hamilton's Virginia CapTel
Outreach Coordinator
 
Don't miss this exciting forum!  Hear from people that
have the CapTel phone and how it helped them to enjoy
telephone conversations again and learn the differences
in the two CapTel model phones.  Please come and share
your experiences with us and learn how to obtain
a CapTel phone if you don't have one.
 
Light Refreshments and Captioning provided
To register, call Brenda Estes at 461-8007, 351-1582 or

Endependence Center 30th Anniversary

   The Endependence Center will be celebrating its 30th
   Anniversary this year and it has been an amazing journey
   for both staff and participants.  Over the years, hundreds
   of participants have opened the door to opportunity and are
   leading productive, independent lives.
 
   The News Team, along with the Consumer Advisory
   Committee, would like to hear your story of independence which
   will be included in an Anniversary book that will be shared
   with everyone at the 30th Anniversary celebration later this
   year.  You can share a goal you accomplished, whether it was
   big or small, or something that inspired you along the way; we
   want to hear from everyone.  If you have been a participant
   for a long time, or if you just came through the door
   yesterday, everyone has a story to tell.
 
   The deadline to submit articles is October 31, 2011, so we
   may create the book in time for the celebration on Friday,
   December 9, 2011.  More details will follow at a later date as
   to time and location.
 
   There are members of the News Team and Consumer Advisory
   Committee who will be happy to assist you, if needed.  Please call
   Everline Brewer at 855-6526 for further information.

To access information on upcoming events, click here.
 
To sign up or request accommodations, contact Emily Fisher
at 461-8007 or 351-1587 Voice, 461-7527 TDD or email at
 
PLEASE NOTE:  If ECI does not have at least 5 people signed up
for any of the workshops/groups with a deadline to sign up,
we will cancel the workshop/group.  If we cancel a
workshop/group, we will notify those that have
signed up of the cancellation.
 

 

"Opening Doors To Opportunities With The Disability Community"
 

What is Independent Living?


   What is Independent Living?  Essentially, it is living just like
   everyone else having opportunities to make decisions that
   affect one’s life, able to pursue activities of one’s own
   choosing—limited only in the same ways that one’s non-
   disabled neighbors are limited. 
 
   Independent Living should not be defined in terms of living on
   one’s own, being employed in a job fitting one’s capabilities
   and interests, or having an active social life.  These are
   aspects of living independently.  Independent Living has to do
   with self-determination.  It is having the right and the
   opportunity to pursue a course of action.  And, it is having the
   freedom to fail—and to learn from one’s failures, just as non-
   disabled people do.


Items Of Interest


ECI 30th Anniversary
 
For information about
advertising or
exhibiting,

Announcing
Project Touch:
Free Apple iTouch
to Needy Virginia
Children with Autism
 
For more information,

Justice Department
Settlement
 
The Justice Department
announced a settlement
was reached in a
lawsuit over alleged
ADA violations
against students with
disabilities by Nobel
Learning Communities,
Inc. private schools.
 
To review the settlement,

ECI Media Center
 
The room can be
scheduled by
calling 461-8007.
For more information,

Virginia Easy Access
 
Virginia's
"No Wrong Door"
initiative launches
"Virginia
Easy Access".
For more information,

Money Follows
the Person (MFP)
 
Virginia launches website
describing community
living choice project for
seniors and individuals
with disabilities.
For more information,
click here

PIER Meetings
for 2010-2011
 
PIER (Protecting
Individuals with disabilities
Educational Rights)
provides information
on special education
rights, regulations,
evaluations and more.
For more information,

FREE Online
Course on the
American with
Disabilities Act
 
For more information,
 

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Endependence Center, Inc.
6300 East Virginia Beach Blvd.
Norfolk, VA 23502-2827
Phone:(757) 461-8007 Voice
(757) 461-7527 TTY
Fax: (757) 455-8223 or (757) 461-5375

Hours of Operation are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday

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