ENDEPENDENCE CENTER NEWSLETTER FOR SEPTEMBER 2015
ADA 25th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
How did you celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the American
with Disabilities Act (ADA)? Were you one of the many people
that came to ECI to observe and honor the law signed by
President George H.W. Bush on July 26, 1990 that was the
culmination of decades of advocacy and legal efforts to end
discrimination against people with disabilities? Our celebration
focused on praising the strong advocacy efforts our staff and
participants have made throughout the twenty-five years of the
ADA and to highlight the individual efforts of citizens in our community to protect the rights granted under the ADA.
Posters were hung along the halls of ECI that proclaimed significant local events regarding the ADA and the
changes it has brought to people in our community. A scavenger hunt had everyone searching for particular facts or
pictures featured on the posters. Completed answer sheets were exchanged for snazzy T shirts with the bright
“Disability Rights Are Civil Rights” logo printed on the back of the shirts. The scavenger hunt was followed by a
picnic lunch on the front lawn with speakers sharing their personal experiences in their fight for independence by
exercising their rights under the ADA to better their lives. At the July 26, 1990 signing, Bush said, “ ... With today’s
signing of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act, every man, woman and child with a disability can now pass
through once-closed doors into a bright new era of equality, independence and freedom.” The purpose of the ADA
is to ensure equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities for access to businesses,
employment, transportation, state and local government
programs and services, and telecommunications. Much has
been accomplished in twenty-five years to meet the promise of
the ADA but we all need to remain determined to continue our
vital role in pursuing disability justice and end the discrimination
that still remains. Our celebration is also a recognition of that
commitment.
“NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION DAY”
Rachael Loria and Ramona Defonza from the disAbility Law Center of Virginia (dLCV) will be at ECI on Tuesday,
September 22nd from 1 pm – 2 pm to give us a presentation on voter’s rights in Virginia. The public is welcome
to attend. The “Office Hours” Program will be 11:00 am – 1:00 pm, then 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm with appointments for
30 minutes. “Office Hours” is a program sponsored by the disAbility Law Center of Virginia and is designed with
you in mind. A dLCV advocate or attorney will be at the Endependence Center every other month to talk to you, by
appointment, about issues related to discrimination as it relates to your disability. Assistance can be provided in
the following areas: Denial of SSI &/or SSDI benefits; overpayment of SSI or SSDI benefits related to working;
denial of educational supports or services; questions or concerns about your services from, the
Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services; or the Department for the Blind and Vision
Impaired; denials of Medicaid services including waiver service denials; questions or concerns
about power of attorney or advance directive issues; and Americans with Disabilities Act
accessibility or accommodation issues. dLCV will not talk about the following areas: Family
law; custody issues; personal injury issues; and medical malpractice issues. To schedule an
appointment for September 22nd, please contact Rena Lewis at 351-1578 or
rlewis@endependence.org.
ASSISTANCE WITH ELECTRIC AND HEATING BILLS
Dominion Virginia Power has a new grant that will be able to offer assistance to a limited number of people
with disabilities. It will assist people with their Dominion power bill. To be considered for funding, you must
receive SSI or SSDI. An application and documents will be required. Making an application will not guarantee
that you will receive funding.
For more information, contact Rena Lewis at 351-1578 or
rlewis@endependence.org .
SEPTEMBER 2015
Sun
Monday
Tuesday
1
Wednesday
2
IL Support Group
@ ECI
2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
6
7
8
Participant Led Event **
@ Hibachi Grill &
Supreme Buffet, Norfolk
12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
9
Mix & Mingle
@ ECI
12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
ECI CLOSED
13
14
20
21
Movie Monday
“Blindness”
@ ECI
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
28
Participant Led Event **
Writer’s Club
@ ECI
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Friday
Sat
3
4
5
10
Participant Led Event **
Hebrew Class @ ECI
12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
--------------------------------Participant Led Event **
Women’s Group @ ECI
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
11
12
Patriot Day
15
Participant Led Event **
M.A.N. Group
@ ECI
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
16
ECI Board Meeting
@ ECI
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
17
Participant Led Event**
Arts & Crafts with Leslie
@ ECI
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
18
19
22
dLCV “Office Hours”
@ ECI
11:00 am – 1:00 pm
2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
by appointment only
23
24
25
26
Advocacy Group
@ ECI
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
dLCV Presentation
@ ECI
“Voter’s Rights”
1:00 pm –2:00 pm
27
Thursday
29
Autumn Begins
30
ENDEPENDENCE CENTER INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS TRAINING SCHEDULE FOR SEPTEMBER 2015
1st
IL SUPPORT GROUP – 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Tue This support group is for anyone with a disability. We talk about adjusting to a disability, being
independent, plus dealing with stereo types and attitudes.
16th ECI BOARD MEETING – 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Wed The Endependence Center Board of Directors meets every other month.
21st MOVIE MONDAY – 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Mon The movie “Blindness” will be shown followed by a discussion of thought and feelings regarding
disability and how it relates to the movie.
22nd dLCV “Office Hours” – 11:00 am – 1:00 pm and 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Tue A dLCV advocate or attorney will be at the Endependence Center to discuss issues related to
discrimination as it relates to your disability. By appointment only – Contact Rena Lewis at 351-1578 to
schedule
22nd dLCV Presentation – 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Tue September 22 is “National Voter Registration Day” and Rachael Loria and Ramona Defonza from the
disAbility Law Center of Virginia are doing a presentation on voter’s rights in Virginia. See page one.
23rd ADVOCACY GROUP – 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Wed The group will be discussing the Americans with Disabilities Act.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PARTICIPANT LED SCHEDULED EVENTS**
Tuesday, September 8, 2015 – 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm @ Hibachi Grill & Supreme Buffet,
5957 E. Virginia Beach Blvd., Norfolk
Thursday, September 10, 2015 - 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm Hebrew Class @ ECI
Thursday, September 10, 2015 - 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm – Women’s Group @ ECI
Tuesday, September 15, 2015 – 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm - M.A.N. Group @ ECI
Thursday, September 17, 2015 – 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Arts & Crafts with Leslie @ ECI
Monday, September 26, 2015 – 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm - Writer’s Club @ ECI
Participants schedule these events; therefore, staff will not be present, however, staff will be available for
assistance for events taking place at the Endependence Center. **HRT paratransit/bus tickets will not be
provided for events in the community, but will be provided for events taking place at ECI!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
COMMUNITY INFORMATION
Silent Dinner Schedule – September 2015
All take place 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm in the food court of each mall listed below and is open to the general public.
Meet the Deaf community, ASL-English interpreters, ASL students and signers.
9/4 Lynnhaven Mall 9/11 Greenbrier Mall 9/18 Lynnhaven Mall 9/25 Greenbrier Mall
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY: DISABILITY AND DISASTERS
The George Washington University is conducting research about how adults with physical
disabilities think about and prepare for disasters. To take part in the study, adults must: be 18
years or older, live in the United States, self-identify as a person with a physical disability
(limitations with physical functioning, mobility, dexterity or stamina; this includes difficulty walking,
moving limbs, etcetera). Participants are invited to complete a survey online or by phone. The
survey will take approximately 20-30 minutes when completed online and approximately 40 minutes when
completed by phone. Participants will receive a $10.00 gift card (from Amazon, iTunes, or Target) for their
time and effort. Please email emergencyprepstudy@gmail.com or call (202) 994-1887 for more information!
Disability Advocacy & Services
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Norfolk, VA
Permit No. 102
Endependence Center, Inc.
6300 East Virginia Beach Blvd
Norfolk, VA 23502
Phone:
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
(757) 461-8007 Voice
(757) 461-7527 TDD
Fax:
(757) 455-8223 or
(757) 461-5375
E-Mail:
ecinorf@endependence.org
Website:
Place label here
www.endependence.org
Alternate formats of this
Newsletter are available upon
request by contacting
Cheryl Simpson at 351-1575
Mix and Mingle
All are welcome to
come to the Center to
socialize with others
and play cards, watch
movies, etcetera.
Trainings and Activities
ARE HELD AT ECI unless
otherwise noted.
Check ECI website at
www.endependence.org
for any changes to the
schedule or by calling
461-8007, Extension 400
To sign up for a training
or to request an
accommodation, such as a
sign language interpreter,
CART, attendant, or Braille,
contact Rena Lewis at
351-1578 Voice,
461-7527 TDD or,
rlewis@endependence.org
OFFICE SPACE AVAILABLE
The Endependence Center (ECI)
has office spaces available for
rent to non-profit disability
organizations with a similar
mission as ECI--promotion of
disability rights, advocacy, direct
services and resource sharing.
For more information contact
Carol at 351-1598 or
ccrabill@endependence.org
For All Ages
September 9, 2015
12:00 pm – 3:00 pm