where everyday is independence day - bay area center for...
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Bay Area Center for Independent Living, Inc.
Where Everyday is Independence Day
909 Progress Circle
Salisbury, MD 21804
(443) 260-0822
In This Issue
• Spotlight on Donors
• Partnership with Habitat for Humanity
• Meeting with the Legislators
• New Assistive Technology and Vocational Lab
• Salisbury Christian School Visit
“We appreciate your sponsorship and your continued interest to support those who choose to live independently.”
On January 26, 2017, Bay Area CIL traveled to Annapolis to support Independent Living Awareness Day
and to advocate for legislation that would improve the quality of life for individuals with disabilities. The
Maryland State Independent Living Council (MSILC) designates one day a year when Maryland Centers for
Independent Living are given the opportunity to meet with their Delegates and Senators to discuss house
bills that that may influence the lives of their consumers.
Dr. Katherine L.R. Jones stated, “As a CIL, we supported the tax credit bill for assistive technology and the
creation of an “Overseer” to make sure Maryland technology systems are accessible for those with
disabilities. Furthermore, we voiced our thoughts on the Physician Assisted Suicide Bill that lacked protec-
tion for those with disabilities.”
Bay Area CIL staff successfully met with State Delegates and Senators throughout the day, encouraged
many Delegates to visit the Center and most importantly left their presence behind showing full support for the Independent Living (IL) movement.
MEETING WITH THE LEGISLATORS
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Message from the Executive Director
Thank you for supporting Bay Area Center for Independent Living, Inc. Our dream began in 1974 and today we are providing resources and support for people with disabilities, and their families, through programs which offer choices, preserve dignity and increase independence for an improved quality of life across the nine counties of Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Our future is bright as we increase our services in Assistive Technology, Vocational Development, Benefits Counseling, Independent Living and Supports Planning. We appreciate your sponsorship and your continued interest to support those who choose to live independently. With great pride, we will continue to serve others. Thank you for making our dreams come true.
~ Katherine Dr. Katherine L.R. Jones, Executive Director
Left to Right– Rose Carey, I.L. Program Manager, Dee Still, Independent Living Specialist, Jennifer Rooney, Supports Planner, Delegate Mary Beth
Carozza, David Yockey, A.T. Program Manager and Dr. Katherine L.R. Jones, Executive Director
The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
- Eleanor Roosevelt
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Abresch, Sarah
Bailey, J. Lee
Baker, Penny
Beattie, Dr. & Mrs. Alfred
Bounds, Margaret
Bradley, Melvin
Bunting, Millie
Burton, Mr. & Mrs. Joseph
Bush, Ruth
Dalto, Michael
Dean, Roland
Elliott, Marcia
Foster, Michael
Frombach, Diane
Gallagher, Mr. & Mrs. James
Goslee, Charles
Hager, Mr. & Mrs. Ronald
Hall, Mr. & Mrs. Allan
Hearn, Louise
Hunt, Brooksie
Johnson, Mr. & Mrs. Rick
Thank you to our sponsors for preserving Bay Area CIL’s mission to
provide support for people with disabilities.
Koehler, Katherine
La Tolteca Restaurant
Law Firm of George Strott
New Life Sanctuary
Ocean Pines AARP #4507
Owens, Alda Mae
Perdue, Mitzi
Perunko, Mr. & Mrs. Paul
Rubenson, Mr. & Mrs. George
Smith, Mr. & Mrs. Earl
Smith, Mr. & Mrs. William
Snavely, Mr. & Mrs. William
Sterling, Rebecca
Talbot American Legion Post #70
Tyndall, Mr. & Mrs. Merrill
VFW Post #10159
Wiles, Linda
Zimmerman, Mr. & Mrs. Daniel
Family Fun at the Bowling Alley
Appearing on Front Cover:
Evan Harcum and Andy
Ambriz
FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER
All meetings are held at Bay Area CIL, Inc., unless a trip
is planned and advertised in advance. All meeting dates
are on Saturdays and last from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
2017 Schedule
April 15th, May 27th, July 15th, August 15th, September 26th,
October 21st, November 18th and December 16th.
The Bay Area CIL Family
Resource Center offers children
and young adults opportunities
for engaging activities with
friends and families. Bowling
is scheduled for Wednesday
evenings and Bocce on Friday
nights. The Voyagers Club
meeting is held once a month
on Saturdays.
For more information on the
Family Resource Center, please
contact Pat Lewis at
(443) 260-0822. Thank you to
South Bend Alley for opening
their doors to our community.
Megan Hopkins and Tracey Zlock
FREE COMPUTER SKILLS TRAINING
VOYAGERS CLUB MEETING DATES
Bay Area CIL welcomes youth and
seniors to work with our Vocational
Trainer, Lucille Hayward, to learn
free basic computer skills. The
Assistive Technology and Vocational
Lab is open to residents of the
Eastern Shore who are living with a
disability. The computers in the lab
are equipped with touchscreen monitors and a variety of adaptive
technologies to accommodate those with disabilities. Thank you to the
United Way, Maryland Technology Assistance Program and Rural
Maryland Council for making this lab possible. 4
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
James Michael,
President
Russell Endicott,
Vice President
Kaye Holloway,
Secretary
Eric Brumbley
Michael Dalto
Helen Johnson
Office Hours
Mon.– Fri.
8:30 a.m.
until
4:30 p.m.
Welcome
“This unique partnership continues to benefit residents from all 9 counties of the Eastern Shore.”
Habitat for Humanity partnered with Bay Area CIL to
build a wheelchair ramp for a Cecil County resident.
Habitat for Humanity provided the volunteers and
logistics while Bay Area CIL paid for the supplies. This
unique partnership continues to benefit residents from all
9 counties of the Eastern Shore.
According to the Cecil County resident, the ramp has
changed the quality of her life. She can now move in and
out of her home safely and independently. Bay Area CIL
would like to thank Habitat for Humanity for preserving
the quality of life for those on the Eastern Shore.
Kelly Mann, Voyagers Club member, visited
the Salisbury Christian School to share her ex-
periences of working and being fully engaged in
the community while living with Down Syn-
drome. Kelly talked about her many friend-
ships, her talents as a swing dancer and her ad-
venturous trips around the world.
She shared her message of overcoming barriers
and being a champion for those with disabili-
ties. Her active social life includes bowling,
bocce and the Voyagers club at Bay Area CIL.
Despite her busy schedule, she actively
works as a nanny for 4 children.
Thank you to the United
Way and the Salisbury
Christian School for
hosting this special event.
PARTNERSHIP WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
SALISBURY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL VISIT
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“Mr. Day expressed his vested interests in serving his community and learning more about the programs that keep individuals in their homes.”
PATHWAYS TO SUCCESS NIGHT AT WOR-WIC
Bay Area Center for Independent Living partici-
pated in the Pathways to Success Night at
Wor-Wic Community College. Pathways to Suc-
cess Night provides students, with disabilities, the
opportunity to learn about the available resources
for their transition into higher education. Juniors
and Seniors, from the lower counties, were given
the opportunity to learn about financial aid, dual
enrollment, benefits counseling and employment
opportunities.
Michelle Parker and Kim Payne, Bay Area CIL
Benefits Counselors provided a workshop on the
benefits associated with receiving SSI and SSDI.
Most importantly, they encouraged students and
their families to consider employment while
receiving these benefits.
Pat Lewis, Family Resource Coordinator, provided
families and youth information on Bay Area CIL
activities and advocacy resources.
Michelle Parker, Kim Payne and Pat Lewis
Salisbury’s Mayor, Jake Day, visited Bay Area
CIL to learn about the many innovative programs
that are available to assist individuals, with
disabilities, to live independently in the communi-
ty. Mr. Day expressed his vested interests in
serving his community and learning more about
the programs that keep individuals in their homes.
Executive Director, Dr. Katherine Jones and Inde-
pendent Living Program Manager, Rose Carey,
were pleased to continue their partnership with the
city of Salisbury.
Bay Area CIL was also visited by Delegates Chris
Adams and Mary Beth Carozza. They too were
interested in the Independent Living Philosophy
and visited the Center to learn more about the
many resources offered by Bay Area CIL. They
were particularly interested in listening to our
concerns about finding affordable and accessible
housing on the Eastern Shore.
For more information about advocacy opportuni-
ties, please contact our center. (443) 260-0822
Dr. Katherine Jones, Mayor Jake Day and Rose Carey
ADVOCACY IN ACTION
Bay Area CIL received a grant from the Rural
Maryland Council to create a vocational lab for
young adults, with disabilities, for lower shore and
Dorchester county residents. The lab is open to
individuals, under the age of 25, who are in need of
assistance for vocational services. No appointment is
necessary and it’s free of charge to the community.
The center is open Monday-Thursday 8:30– 4:30
p.m., for those who need vocational assistance, and
on Fridays 8:30-4:30 p.m. for those who can work
independently.
The lab is equipped with large touch screen
computers uploaded with the latest technologies to
accommodate a variety of disabilities. For example,
screen reading applications are available for those
who are blind, Dragon can assist individuals with
limited mobility and Kurzweil helps those with
learning disabilities.
Some of the services provided by the lab include:
• Career assessments;
• Job searches;
• Cover letters; and
• Resume design
Mr. Phil Linz, from Atlantic Low Vision, visited the
Bay Area CIL Assistive Technology Lab to present
the latest devices designed to assist individuals with
low vision. One of the most popular devices was a
Merlin Ultra HD video magnifier (shown below)
that has the capability to enlarge the print of reading
materials. The video magnifier can improve the
quality of life for an individual who loves to read or
needs to read in order to pay bills or read
appointment cards. These particular devices magnify
the material placed under the camera as well as read
the print to the consumer. Mr. Linz provided hands-
on demonstrations so the participants were
comfortable in operating the devices independently.
For more information about our assistive technology
lab or loan program, please contact David Yockey
for a personal demonstration. (443) 260-0822
ASSISTING THOSE WITH LOW VISION
NEW VOCATIONAL SERVICES FOR THE YOUTH
BAY AREA CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING,
INC. PROMOTES ACCESS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND
SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABLITIES AND
THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH PROGRAMS
WHICH OFFER CHOICES, PRESERVE
DIGNITY AND INCREASE INDEPENDENCE FOR AN IMPROVED QUALITY OF LIFE ACROSS THE NINE
COUNTIES OF MARYLAND’S EASTERN
SHORE.
GIVE THE GIFT OF INDEPENDENCE
Bay Area CIL is a community
based non-profit organization
who is ever grateful to those
who make private donations to
keep our programs running.
Bay Area CIL would like to
thank Mr. Melvin Bradley for
his generous donation. If you
would like to donate, please vis-
it our website and click on “Donate.” You can be certain that
100% of your donated dollars will be used for direct services. If
you would like to donate items, we are always in need of chap
stick, deodorant, unscented powders, bath sets, fleece throws,
large socks, sweat shirts and unscented lotions. These items are
given to residents of nursing facilities through the Esther’s Wings
Lee Lewis, Rose Carey, Melvin Bradley
and Dr. Katherine Jones
Rose Carey, Conni Speidel
and Tracey Larrimore gathering
supplies for Esther’s Wings.
Salisbury University Volunteers sorting
holiday cards
Tyrone Cooper, Kathy Wright and Tasha King
Supports Planners in Action
Rocio Sarmientou, Volunteer, helps at Basket Bingo