April 2004 Publication
North Country’s Website Has Fresh, New Look
North Country’s new updated website is now online at www.northcountryil.com. The website has information for consumers on how to contact North Country Independent Living staff, upcoming events, and a section of community resources that includes information on area support groups, and links for information on disability awareness, housing, communication, advocacy and rights. The website will have North Country News that you can view online.When you visit North Country’s website, we encourage you to offer your
comments and suggestions to Jeri Collier at 715-392-9118 , ext. 11,
V/TTY, 800-924-1220 V/TTY or via email at
nciljeri@superior-nfp.org. The
website is continually being updated as new items and information
becomes known or available.
You are encouraged to bookmark the website, share the information with
friends and relatives, and check back often.
Developing Advocacy Skills at
Superior Days
Two young adults from Superior Senior High School came back home from
Superior Days with skills they will be able to use in their community.Amber Van Overmeiren and Jackie
Shelafoe traveled with Gloria Hakkila-Johnson of North Country to
Madison to participate in this year’s Superior Days.
They told Gloria, “they both learned a lot about what goes on at the Capitol.” Both young women, who are Juniors at Superior Senior High, joined the rest of the delegation in advocating with lawmakers about issues important to northern Wisconsin and people with disabilities.
Jackie and Amber say Superior Days was a fun way to learn and they hope to do it again. They want to thank everyone who helped make their trip possible, including the Wisconsin Coalition of Independent Living Centers who provided funding that made this learning experience possible.North Country Seeking Board Members
North Country Independent Living is seeking to fill vacancies on their Board of Directors. NCIL is a private, non-profit agency serving people with disabilities in Ashland, Bayfield, Douglas, Iron, Price, Sawyer, Washburn, and Burnett counties. Our mission is to assist people with disabilities to live as independently as their abilities allow.
North Country’s board provides oversight/management of our many services and provides for meaningful community-based input into the operations of North Country.
For further information, contact NCIL at 1-800-924-1220 v/tty. Those
interested should send a letter to:
Mark Novotny, President, NCIL,
2231 Catlin Ave, Superior, WI 54880.
Disability Navigator Helps Consumers Overcome Employment Barriers
The Disability Navigator Project is employment-focused. This is a collaborative project between North Country Independent Living (NCIL) and the Local Workforce Investment Board.John Nedden-Durst, from NCIL, is providing services to customers with disabilities, Job Center partner agency staff and interested employers in the community. Issues may vary from accommodations and alternate formats to benefits, rights and auxiliary aids and services.
The goals of this project are to improve accessibility at Job Centers and for customers with disabilities to be successful in their employment pursuits.
The Disability Navigator will travel about twice a month to all eight Job Centers in our area, meeting with customers, partner agency staff, and providing outreach to employers on disability issues. Call your local job center to schedule an appointment.
Outreach is also being done to youth with disabilities as they transition out of high school and enter the workforce for the first time.
If you are interested in finding available jobs, you can search at www.dwd.state.wi.us and look for JobNet listings in northwestern Wisconsin. If you are interested in finding out more information, please contact John Nedden-Durst, disability navigator, at the North Country office in Ashland or via email at nciljnd@superior-nfp.org.
Board President Says North Country a Big Help
Mark Novotny
I have served on the North Country Independent Living board for over five years and one year as chairperson. I live in Price County where my two sons and I operate a beef and heifer -raising farm business. I have been a consumer with NCIL for over 10 years. They have done home assessments, loaned out hand controls and consulted with me on financial benefits. North Country has given me a lot of help over the years. I think they are a great resource for people with disabilities.My goal is to make the Independent Living philosophy that North Country serves available to as many people as possible today and tomorrow.
The board and staff of North Country have worked hard at positioning the
center to carry on these services and add additional services in to the
future.
A Big “Thank You” to the Friends of North Country.
North Country continues to receive donations from individuals who want to help us increase the independence of people with disabilities.In the last few weeks we have received donations from people in Washburn, Ashland, Mellen, Brule, and others. We appreciate this help.
If you would like to make a donation to North Country, send it to: NCIL, 2231 Catlin Ave., Superior, WI 54880.
North Country is a non-profit agency with 501 {c}3 status. We are now in our 16th year of service to people with disabilities and their families. Your generous gifts go a long way in helping consumers take charge of their lives.
Calendar of Events
Living with Grief, Alzheimer’s Disease, April 28, 10-3:30, Iron County Courthouse, Hurley. To register, call the Iron County UW Extension office, 1-888-561-2695.ADA Title III and Disability Rights Empowerment Conference, May 6, 8:30 to 3:30, Superior Public Library, 1530 Tower Ave. This conference is for Douglas County residents only. Cost is $5. Limited number of stipends for people with disabilities. Contact the Mayor’s Commission on Disabilities, Government Center, 1316 Tower Ave. Superior or call Gail, NCIL, Superior.
My Future, My Life, Transition Summer Camp for High School Students with
Disabilities. June 26-July 2, UW Whitewater. Cost $500. Registration deadline May 3. Possible assistance if cost is a barrier. Call 262-472-4711 for more information.
16th Annual Wisconsin Conference on Brain Injury, May 3-4, Wisconsin Dells. A limited number of scholarships available to cover registration fees. Call NCIL in Ashland.
Working Together to end Violence Against Women with Disabilities in Wisconsin, May 24, Country Inn & suites, Hayward. Registration deadline, May 10. Consumer/Survivor $25. For a registration form, stop by NCIL in either Superior or Ashland.
Ticket to Work Legislation and Electronic Services Training, Thursday, June 17, 9-12, Superior Public Library, 1530 Tower Ave. In-depth training on SSI employment supports, including PASS plans and Ticket to Work. Respond via e-mail to: joani.werner@ssa.gov by June 4.
Kayaking on St. Louis Bay, starting June 17, 6:30-8:30 p.m., UMD Aquatics Center, Minnesota Ave. Cost: $60.
Call Eric at Courage, Duluth, 218-726-4762. E-mail: couraged@computerpro.com.
The Arc Annual State Conference
in Racine in September. Call the Arc for more information, 1-877-272-8400.Support Groups
MS Support Group, meets the second Tuesday of each month from 6-8 p.m. at the Superior Public Library, 1530 Tower Ave. Call Pam, 394-6958 for more information.Ashland MS Support Group, meets the third Wednesday of the month at Memorial Medical Center, Stockton Island Room from 2-3 p.m. Call Peggy for more information, 682-6506.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome/Effects Support Group, meets monthly from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at North Country Independent Living, 2231 Catlin Ave. Hawkes Hall, second floor.
Young Adults Women’s Group, meets the second and fourth Thursday at NCIL at 3:30. Call Gloria ahead of time if you plan to attend.
Ashland Area Brain Injury/Stroke Support Group, meets the third Wednesday,
1-2 p.m. Gull Island Room, Memorial Medical Center.
Senator Jauch receives WCILC Award
Senator Bob Jauch received the 2004 Wisconsin Coalition of Independent Living Centers (WCILC) Legislative Day Award for his efforts for persons with disabilities throughout the state of Wisconsin.WCILC honored Senator Jauch at their annual legislative day event on February 11th 2004. Senator Jauch was recognized for his diligent efforts to both capture federal funds and increase state funding for persons with disabilities. He has been effective at achieving bi-partisan support both in the State Assembly and Senate for long-term care services and has been a strong advocate for increased access to assistive technology for persons with disabilities, consumer’s rights to live in the community and children’s issues.
Senator Jauch is a strong
and articulate advocate for persons with disabilities and disability
issues, particularly those issues unique to the rural regions of the
state.
Genesis Receives Grants
Genesis in Ashland has been awarded two grants that will assist them in continuing their drop-in center and providing other services to people with mental illness.The Bremer Foundation has awarded Genesis $10,000 dollars for general operating expenses.
The mission of the Grassroots Empowerment project is to create opportunities for people with mental illness to exercise power in their lives. Call Genesis at 685-0232 or e-mail Georgia: Gtolliver54806@yahoo.com.
Voting Rights for People With Disabilities
The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) makes it illegal for State and Local Government to discriminate against people with disabilities. The Help AmericaVote Act (Public Law 107-252) also makes it easer for people with disabilities to vote.
You can vote in Wisconsin if:
If you would like to find out more about your voting rights as a person
with a disability, call or e-mail North Country at our Superior or
Ashland office. Remember to vote on Tuesday, November 2, 2004.
For a checklist of what makes a polling place accessible, go to
www.usdoj.gov/
crt/ada/votingchecklist.htm.
Ben Barrett
Receives WCILC
Consumer
Advocate Award
Ben Barrett of Trego received a consumer advocate award from the
Wisconsin Coalition of Independent Living Centers (WCILC) while in
Madison for Superior Days. This event is an annual advocacy effort by
citizens from northwest Wisconsin.While in Madison, Ben testified to the Department of Health and Family Services (DHFS) about the red tape involved in obtaining replacement batteries for his prosthetic arm. Barrett explained how the chain of events, procedures, and paperwork take longer than the life of the batteries. The subsequent delays require Ben to improvise batteries. This shortens the life of the prosthetic. This process requires more work from doctors, and others which adds costs as well as headaches.
Elder Services Administrator Sinika Santala asked Ben to write a letter detailing the process. He did and DHFS changed the prior authorization process. Now all people needing replacement batteries are not required to go through the tedious prior authorization process.
In his acceptance speech Ben praised the Superior Days efforts and DHFS for partnering in this important systems change efforts. “If not for Superior Days, I would not have been in Madison with the opportunity to testify to DHFS on this issue. Without a DAWN grant (Disability Action Network Wisconsin) I couldn’t afford the trip down.
Without the efforts of Helene Nelson, (DHFS Sec.), Sinika Santala and Mark Moody (Div. Health Care Financing) this systems change wouldn’t have happened.
Assistive Technology Needs
Wanted: a used (2000) or newer) full- sized van with lift, 6-way power
seat, remote door opener/closer and hand controls. Call 715-767-5788 or
e-mail, novotnys@centurytel.net.
Wanted: A rigid frame walker, 19” between the handle grips and 23” between the legs. Must not be recessed. Call 715-274-3301.
Wanted: Used lift chair. Call 715-682-6074.
These items will be listed on our website,www.northcountryil.com for one month only. Call Jeri at 715-392-9118 if you no longer want your ad listed.
You may also want to list an item with or purchase an item from Used
Equipment Market Place,
www.wati.org/Used Equipment Market Place.htm or
Used Equipment Referral Service (UERS),
www.uiowa.edu/infotech/UERS.HTM.
Please help us. We are creating a list of consumers, family members or
service providers who would like to receive North Country News via
e-mail. We would also like to be able to share announcements and other
information that could be helpful to everyone. Please send your e-mail
address to ncilstew@charterinternet.com.
Also, when you are writing to us, please use our street address only,
rather than our box number: NCIL, 2231 Catlin Ave. Superior, WI 54880.
Thanks.
Did you know: The average yearly cost of staying in a nursing home is
$56,000. If you would like help to get out, call NCIL and we can help.
