MILC RUN
MIDSTATE INDEPENDENT LIVING CONSULTANTS
“Working for persons with disabilities towards empowerment to make informed choices.”
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MILC Presentations
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Independence FirstMobility Store
Lifespan Respite Care Northern Network through New Horizons North
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Save The Date!
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Facebook
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Voting
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Meanest Mom In The World
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Achieving a Better Life
Experience (ABLE) Account– Update 2016
ISSUE 6
PAGES 6-7
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Assistive Technology
Review at MILC: Amazon Echo-Alexa and
Lift Assist Cane
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Loan Programs
APRIL - JUNE 2016
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Free Presentations
Want to learn more about us?
Just call to set up your free presentation. We have great
gadgets to demonstrate and you never leave empty handed. MILC is a not for profit organization serving individuals
with disabilities off ALL ages and of ALL disability types. No
disability is too big for us! To schedule, email us at
jstrike@milc-inc.org or call 1-800-384-8484 ext. 221.
Here are some of the services we can discuss during our presentations:
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Independent living skills
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Peer support
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Assistive technology
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Benefits counseling/How work will impact your benefits
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Personal assistance services
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Nursing home transition
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Youth program
Independence First– Mobility Store
The IndependenceFirst Mobility Store, formerly Wheelchair Recycling Program (WRP), is
an innovative non-profit program that offers low cost, refurbished and sanitized mobility and
medical equipment to those who lack the resources to acquire new equipment. It also offers a
selection of low-cost new equipment.
All previously owned equipment is donated at the Mobility Store by individuals, businesses,
and other nonprofit agencies. Every item is carefully sanitized and repaired by experienced
workers at Badger State Industries. Every dollar collected for equipment is re-invested in the
program and helps to sustain our services.
For more information, please contact:
Greater Milwaukee area: (414)988-5333,
Madison: (608)243-1785 or www.ifmobility.org
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Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Account
Update 2016
On December 17th, 2014 the US Senate passed the ABLE
Act – Achieving a Better Life Experience. With these accounts,
people with disabilities will be able to save up to $100,000 without losing access to Social Security and other government benefits. Medicaid coverage will continue even if you exceed the
$100,000 in your account.
The U.S. Department of Treasury is developing regulations
that will guide the states in terms of; information needed to
open an ABLE account, documentation needed to meet the requirements of ABLE accounts, definition of “qualified disability
expenses,” and documentation needed for tax reporting. No accounts can be open until the
federal regulations are finalized.
Even though this is a federal law, states had to approve their own legislation and develop
tools to regulate and administer the new accounts before letting consumers take advantage.
Wisconsin did create a Senate Bill which authorizes the creation of ABLE accounts. Unfortunately, this bill was just repealed in an Assembly Bill 731 that passed on February 16, 2016.
This eliminates Wisconsin’s plans to offer these ABLE accounts.
Recently, an amendment to the ABLE Act was approved by lawmakers. This provision will
permit individuals with disabilities to open new accounts under ABLE in any state, regardless
of where they reside. So, Wisconsin residents will still be able to open an account, just not in
Wisconsin.
This should greatly expand choice by allowing individuals to choose the state program that
best fits their needs, such as investment options, fees, and account limits. This also means
that individuals across the country will be able to open ABLE accounts when the first state
programs are up and running. This could be as soon as March.
Ohio, Florida, Virginia, and Nebraska are widely expected to be among the first to make
ABLE accounts available. These accounts are likely to be created and administered through
dedicated state websites.
Follow us on our Facebook page, “Midstate Independent Living Consultants” for further updates on ABLE accounts in Wisconsin.
For more information, a copy of 10 things You Should Know About ABLE accounts, http://
www.disabilityrightswi.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/ABLE-Accounts-FAQ.pdf, or to set up
a presentation for a group; contact Jill Walter at Midstate Independent Living Consultants at
715-344-4210 or jwalter@milc-inc.org.
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Lifespan Respite Care Northern Network
through New Horizons North
The Lifespan Respite Care Northern Network assists “caregivers”- persons in our community
who care for a family member with special needs. This program serves across the lifespan
~children to the elderly.
Respite allows families to take a well-deserved break. The program helps families locate respite
care in the community, assists families to obtain other services, and builds a pool of provider
resources for respite care.
Program Eligibility
You live in our service area and request our services. Counties include: Ashland, Bayfield, Forest, Iron, Florence, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Oneida, Portage, Price, Sawyer, Taylor, Vilas,
and Wood.
What about funding?
The program will assist families to find funding for respite care through connections to long-term
care support programs. The program also offers available, temporary, one-time funding to
caregivers who live in the home of the person for whom they care.
For more information, please contact:
Deanna Yost at 715-373-5000 or dlyost@centurytel.net. (Serving Ashland, Bayfield, Florence,
Forest, Iron, Langlade, Lincoln, Oneida, Price, Sawyer, Taylor and Vilas counties).
Pam Ironside at 715-423-7182 or ironkids@hotmail.com. (Serving Marathon, Portage and Wood
counties).
Save The Date!
Brat Fry season is just around the corner (it’s the 5th Wisconsin seasonFall, Winter, Spring, Brat Fry, Summer!). The ROCC Point Annual Brat
Fry Fundraiser will be held at Trig’s in Stevens Point from 10am-4:00pm
on Friday, June 3rd. Come on down and enjoy a brat or burger!
“LIKE” Us on the MILC Facebook Page!
Learn about MILC’s great services, social activities, fundraising
events, and clubhouses. Read articles about independent living.
Learn about disability related laws, programs, and legislation. Enjoy
looking at photos from recent events or write a review.
Follow us on the “Midstate Independent Living Consultants” page then “Like” and “Share” posts
on your personal page to help MILC reach as many people as possible!
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Voting
There are four elections this year and for the first time in Wisconsin, voters
will be required to show government-issued identification in order to vote.
Watch for the 2016 Spring Election and Presidential Preference Vote on
April 5. This is the general election for most non-partisan offices and the Presidential Primary Election. The 2016 Fall Primary on August 9 is the primary
election for partisan officials (Congress, State Legislators, most other State and some local officials). The 2016 Fall General Election is November 8. This is where we cast a final vote for
President, Congress and other state and local partisan officials.
As stated previously, when you go to the polls to vote this year you must bring a valid photo ID. Acceptable forms of ID are: a current WI Drivers License or WI-issued ID card, a US Passport, a Military ID Card, an ID from a federally-recognized WI Tribe, Certificate of Naturalization,
or a Receipt for a WI Driver’s License or WI State ID. You can also use an unexpired Student
PHOTO ID from an accredited university or college as long as it has an expiration date no later
than 2 years after the date it was issued. If you use the Student PHOTO ID option, you must also
bring or display electronically; Enrollment Verification, Class schedule or a Tuition Bill.
Meanest Mom in the World
Ahhh, springtime! That means longer days, warmer weather, and busier
Emergency Rooms! Yep, now that the days are warming up, people are
once again cruising around on just the two thin wheels of their bikes, rollerblades, and scooters, and most of these folks will not be wearing a helmet.
So…Spring is also the perfect time to write an article about helmet safety!
Here are some frightening statistics: Every 21 seconds someone in the US
sustains a traumatic brain injury, and one and a half million Americans suffer
from head injuries annually. Each year, 50,000 persons die from brain injuries, and 80,000 to 90,000 people experience long-term disability! According to the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration, helmet use reduces the risk of head injury by 88 %, and
severe brain injury by 75%, yet less than 30% of riders wear them!
You’re the meanest mom in the world!!! When my boys were younger, they would mutter
that phrase from time to time, especially when I made them wear their bike helmets. They would
balk at the idea, saying, “It’s not cool”, or “None of my friends have to wear a helmet”, to which I
would reply, “In pavement vs noggin, pavement wins…if you don’t want to wear a helmet, then
you can walk!” (pretty mean, I know!) But all it takes is a patch of gravel, a pothole, or just simply
losing their balance to fall and end up with a head injury. I was not willing to let them take that
chance. Please insist that your children wear a helmet every time they ride a bike, skateboard,
or scooter; Don’t let them become a statistic! (And make sure you’re setting an example and
staying safe by wearing one too!) If you need information on how to fit your child with a helmet, or
which type of helmet is best for different types of sports, visit Safe Kids Worldwide at
www.safekids.org, or Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin at www.chw.org.
US News (2009)
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Assistive Technology Review at MILC:
Amazon Echo - Alexa
MILC has a new piece of assistive technology available through the Loan and Demonstration
program at MILC.
What is “Alexa”?
Alexa is a hands free device that is always on (connected via WiFi)
Alexa is an expertly tuned speaker for playing music, which can connect to Your Amazon
Music Library, Pandora, iHeartRadio and more.
Alexa is a cloud based service to provide information, answer questions, check sports
scores, check the weather, and much more!
Alexa works with an app that must be downloaded to your smart phone or a Kindle.
Alexa can set alarms, timers, and keep shopping lists.
Alexa can be paired with other smart devices for voice controls.
Call us for more information and a demonstration
Watch a video demonstration:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkOCeAtKHIc
Product Web address:
http://www.amazon.com/Amazon-SK705DI-Echo/dp/
B00X4WHP5E
Lift Assist Cane by Golden Violin
The Lift Assist Cane is an assistive tool for individuals
who want to move from a seated position to a standing
position independently. This item is featured in the latest Gold Violin Catalog, but you can also find similar
models at Bed Bath and Beyond and Home Depot. Midstate Independent Living Consultants does not currently
have this item, but our consultants can assist with resources to locate this item for sale through a few vendor
options.
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LOAN PROGRAMS
What is Wisloan?
Wisloan is a statewide,
alternative loan program
that allows Wisconsin residents or their families with a
disability to purchase adaptive equipment, assistive
technology or modify their
homes so that they can live
more independently. The
applicant must be 18 and a
resident of Wisconsin who
wishes to improve his or her
quality of life through the
acquisition of (examples include assistive technology,
modified vehicles, etc.)
Both Telework and Wisloan
loan amounts will depend on the
item being purchased and the
ability to repay. The current interest rate is 6.5%.
Bad credit, including bankruptcy
is not a reason to not apply. The
focus is on the ability to make the
monthly payments. Reasons for
credit issues are taken into consideration by the review board.
Contact an IL Consultant at the
MILC office for assistance in
completing an application.
What is Telework?
Telework is a statewide,
alternative loan program allowing Wisconsin residents
with disabilities to purchase
computers and other equipment needed to work from
remote sites away from the
office, including at home, on
the road or at a Telework
center. In addition to the purchase of equipment, the loan
funds can be used for training to use equipment, extended warranties, the cost
of maintenance and repair.
What is TEPP?
Telecommunications, Equipment
Purchase Program
If you are one of the millions of people
who have difficulty using a telephone,
you should know that help is available through the Telecommunications Equipment Purchase
Program, or TEPP. The TEPP Program provides funding, (through the Universal Service Fund),
for people with disabilities to purchase specialized telephones and related equipment.
The TEPP program issues vouchers, each with different dollar amount, based on several
categories of disability. For example, the Hard of Hearing voucher is $100, the Deaf/Severely
Hard of Hearing voucher is $800, and the Mobility Impaired voucher is $1,600. (Vouchers over
$100 require a $100 co-pay, but there are programs available that may help cover that cost).
If you don’t know what kind of phone will work for you, we have several different types of
phones that you can borrow from our Wistech Loan and Demonstration Closet so you to ‘Try
before you buy’.
Please contact MILC for further information about the TEPP Program or to schedule an appointment to try a few phones. (We can also assist with the application).
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Midstate Independent Living Consultants
NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION
3262 Church Street, Suite 1
US POSTAGE PAID
Stevens Point WI 54481
STEVENS POINT, WI
PERMIT NO. 314
How To Get a Hold of Us:
Midstate Independent Living Consultants
3262 Church Street
Stevens Point, WI 54481
715-344-4210 or 800-382-8484
milc@milc-inc.org or www.milc-inc.org
To contact the following departments dial:
MH/Peer Support: Ext. 228
IL Program: Ext. 232
PAS Program: Ext. 224
Human Resources: Ext. 226
Accounting: Ext. 214
MOVING?
Let us know so we can keep
you on our mailing list.
Contact us at milc@milc-inc.org
FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER
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