Enabling News
March 2012 Volume 59
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“Access II” A New YOU
~Walk It
5K
~Run It
~Roll It
An Event for all ABILITIES
Guest Marathon Runner: Dennis Atkins; 69,000 miles and counting, running blind.
Saturday April 28th, 2012
A Non-Competitive Event
$20.00 fee/includes t-shirt
(Weight Loss participants’ $5.00 discount)
Registration @ 8:30am (Court Lawn)
Or Register early by calling 660-663-2423
~Walk It ~Run It ~Roll It @ 9:00 am
Starts at 4-way light/Court House
Gallatin, MO
Vote Fan Favorite - Awards - Music - Lunch
11:00 @ Access II (101 Industrial Parkway)
Call to register or for more information
Our goal is to chase away the common perception of disability
from the minds of our all communities and to promote community wellness while
providing a race that is for everyone.
Individuals using a wheelchair may have 2 “pushers” with 1 registration.
All Abilities invited to participate.
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Staci Hamilton celebrates 10 Years at Access II Independent Living Center
Staci Hamilton, Consumer Directed Services Payroll Specialist was honored with a celebration for her 10 years
of service at Access II Independent Living Center. A luncheon for staff and an afternoon reception with family
and friends was held on February 27 in her honor. Access II would like to thank Staci for her dedication.
In celebration of World Autism Awareness Day
on April 2, Autism Speaks will again seek to turn the world
blue. The third annual Light It Up Blue initiative is fully
underway with over 350 buildings already committed to
turning blue. Among the landmarks that will be turning blue on April 2, 2012 are
Rockefeller Center, Top of the Rock Observation Deck and Madison Square Garden in
New York City, Hôtel de Ville in Paris, France, the famous Tokyo Tower in Japan and
Canada’s CN Tower, the Sydney Opera House in Australia and Michigan’s Mackinac
Bridge. Check out LightItUpBlue.org to register your events and see a full list of
participating buildings.
Board Members Wanted!!
All members of Access II Independent Living Center, Inc. board support our programs and service. In addition,
at least 51% of our board members are people with disabilities, and serve as role models for our consumers.
Our Board of Directors represents the interests of all people served by Access II ILC, Inc. Their major function is
to advise and generate alternative ideas, recommend action, and to problem solve.
We are looking for people who:
* Want to work on behalf of individuals with disabilities
* Have a disability and successfully function in everyday life
* Live or work in Caldwell, Carroll, Daviess, Grundy, Harrison, Livingston, Mercer or Ray Counties
What we ask of our board members:
* Attend monthly board meetings held on the 4th Tuesday of the month from 3:00-4:30 pm at Access II office
at 101Industrial Parkway, Gallatin, MO 64640
* Advocate on behalf of individuals with disabilities
* Share your strategic thinking skills at meetings
*Support and participate in committees, events and fundraisers
If you are interested in becoming a board member, please contact Access II for an application.
Heather Swymeler Executive Director: hswymeler@accessii.org or 660-663-2423 ext. 25
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Access II ILC Focuses on Future…
Currently, Access II, ILC, is in the stages of a strategic plan which we are focusing on the future for
our company, our eight counties plus navigating the economic times in our state and nation. The
Board and Staff are committed to innovation and quality improvements. This strategic plan will help to
envision the services and programs our consumers will need and to also prepare a simple and clear
plan that is true to our vision and to our mission.
To be prepared to meet the challenges of what lies beyond today, we need to envision where we
want to be and decide how to get there. Access II is engaging in a collaborative strategic planning
process that will result in a five-year strategic plan to provide a bright future for our consumers and
the communities in which we serve.
As we go through this process, it's important that we move forward within the framework we've
developed over the past few years. First and foremost, our strategic plan ought to be innovative. As
well, we have to develop into our new plan a significant degree of flexibility. Things are changing so
rapidly that to develop a static plan would be a waste of our time and effort. We must have within our
plan a mechanism to respond to changes quickly. On April 26 th we are having a collaborative meeting
with our key stakeholders to move through this process. If you would like to be part of this process
please call 660-663-2423 x 226 before April 16th. Access II is look forward to working together with
the community to implement our plan and approach our vision.
Vicki Corwin
Financial Director
G.R.A.S.P.
Grand River Autism Support Program
Grand River Autism Support Program is a project developing in the Chillicothe area for
parents whose children have been diagnosed with an autism disorder. Eric and Angela Turner
and a small core of parents began the group in April of 2011. The group meets each month
on the 1st Tuesday at 6:00 at the Farm Credit Service building on North Washington in
Chillicothe. Usually children are welcome and play in the next room –with supervision- during
the meeting time. March’s meeting included training from MPACT on Understanding the IEP
Process for Parents with Children with Autism Disorders. Attending were parents, school
personnel, and other interested parties. Kelli Hamilton and Ann Spackle did a great job
explaining the process and including information on how to make the process go smoother. If
you would like more information contact GRASP: Eric & Angela Turner at 660.247.0947 or
email: graspmo@gmail.com. You may also contact Georgia Jackson; Child Advocate at
Access II Independent Living Center at toll free: 888-663-2423, ext 30, or Facebook, just
search for: G.R.A.S.P. Grand River Autism Support Program. Perhaps you might want to
start such a group in your area. Check it out!
Georgia Jackson
ILS/Child Advocate
Access II Staff have new Phone Extensions:
Marina Beebe: 229
Tanya Farrell: 227
Deanna Brown: 228
Georgia Jackson: 230
Vickie Tolen: 234
Vicki Corwin: 226
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Licha Kelley King: 231
Staci Hamilton: 235
Heather Swymeler: 225
Access II Independent Living Center recently invited Grundy, Harrison, and Daviess County
schools to participate in food drives in order to help create a food pantry for consumers of Access
II ILC, many of which are not able to access the local food pantries due to mobility and
transportation issues. Each Student Council in Grundy, Harrison, and Daviess County was invited
to participate in a 1st Annual County Food Fight. The schools would compete based on population
and number of food items or cleaning supplies donated.
Schools were encouraged to put out barrels or boxes at the school and or at sporting events to
involve the community as well or to come up with another strategy to bring in the food.
Cainsville even incorporated the food drive into a Spirit Week they were having. Each dress up
day also had a theme for the food fight. For example on Pajama Day, each student was
encouraged to bring in some morning foods: cereal, oatmeal, pop tarts, etc. Students could also 2
items for the “Food Fight” competition to the game and receive $1 off admission.
Pictured above are members of the schools who led the food fights in Grundy, Daviess, and
Harrison Counties. The “Food Fight” is working its way around our 8 county service area schools,
the winner receives a trophy and local recognition. Thanks to all our participating schools.
Georgia Jackson
ILS/Child Advocate
2012 Plunge results
The 5th annual Lake Viking Polar Plunge was a splashing success and broke plunger
records! 87 men and women braved the cold, making it our highest plunger turnout
ever and raised $22,655!
TEAM GOLDEN PLUNGERS
1st Place: Access II (Gallatin), “Peace, Love, Hippies”
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Join us APRIL 28
th
and our
guest marathon runner Dennis Atkins; who happens
to be blind. Dennis has an eye disease called retinitis pigmentosa. He was diagnosed in
July 1979 and it started with night blindness, destroyed his peripheral vision and finally the
central vision. Loss of sight has not detoured Dennis, he has ran over 69,000 miles with a
goal to break 75,000 miles and a lifetime goal of 100,000. To his credit, he has run 15
marathons and numerous half marathons. Five of his marathons have been for charity, raising
money to help individuals with disabilities continue to live in their homes. These marathons
have raised over $72,000. This money has been used to build wheelchair ramps, widen
doors, purchase wheelchairs and lift chairs, and to make home modifications which allow an
individual to choose to continue to live in their own home.
Walk It ~ Run It ~ Roll It 5K-an event for ALL ABILITIES
Gardening and People with
Disabilities
It’s that time of year again! Time to start checking out the new seed catalogs and
preparing those gardens to raise some wonderful, fresh produce. Many of us like
myself, can no longer bend like we used to and some have more serious disabilities
that they feel may keep them from enjoying a garden. Just because we are not as
mobile as we used to be doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy flowers and fresh produce. Gardening can be a
great activity for individuals with disabilities.
Using horticulture for healing has a very long history. As early as 1699 Leonard Maeger wrote
in the ENGLISH GARDENER that there is no better way to preserve your health than to spend spare
time in the garden, either digging, setting out or weeding. Following both World Wars, veteran’s
hospitals made use of gardening as therapy in the treatment and re-education of disabled solders.
Volunteers from gardening clubs brought their hobby to thousands of men recovering from battle.
Of course, there has to be special considerations to the special needs of the gardener. Raised
beds are the option I chose and they have added a whole new dimension to gardening. I live on a farm
and my raised beds are made of large tractor tires. My husband and son turned five large tractor tires
turned inside out and cut the bead off of the top edges. They filled these with some good topsoil, a little
dried manure and added peat moss. All of this was worked and mixed together and for about six years,
I have used them as my garden. They stand about 2 1/2 feet tall, thereby limiting the amount that I have
to bend. A hydrant is nearby and my husband placed a 5 gallon bucket with holes drilled in the bottom
in the center of each tire. He put them about 8 inches deep so the water can get closer to the roots. I fill
them each time I water, which is usually 3 or 4 times a week. He put steel posts around 3 of the tires so
we can tie up the tomatoes.
I usually plant 9 or 10 tomato plants and several pepper plants along with some cucumbers and
zucchini. I have tried snow peas, green beans, basil, spinach and anything else that look interesting. I
usually raise all that we need for the summer with some left over for friends and family. Plants can be
set fairly close to each other and this does help to keep weeds crowded out. Just remember to fertilize.
Raised beds can be made from lumber (untreated), stacked stones, old railroad ties ( as long as
the creosote is dried up) and even stumps set together in a circle or rectangle. You can even plant your
garden in a 5 gallon bucket; just make sure that you have drainage holes. Almost any vessel is suitable
for container gardening if it has proper drainage. Small containers can be place on a bench for
accessibility, and can be moved around to take advantage of the sun. I have also placed bags of potting
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soil over a log, cut holes for plants on top and holes in the bottom for drainage. My dad tried this last
summer but put his bags in a wheelbarrow so he could move them. He was able to raise enough
tomatoes for himself and was happy just to be able to do some type of gardening. With a little planning
you can create an accessible, interesting, productive and pleasant space.
You can get more information about gardening for people with disabilities on the internet. Check out:
http://agrability.missouri.edu/GardenWeb/
Vickie Tolen
ILS/CDS
MO HealthNet: Spenddown…what is it?
Spend-down is a program instituted by MO HealthNet to help people who would otherwise qualify for
coverage, but don’t meet the income eligibility guidelines for Medicaid to meet those income requirements.
The current income eligibility guidelines for participants are $772 for single persons and $1042 for a married
couple. According to the Missouri Department of Social Services webpage, “spenddown is a MO HealthNet
program in which you have an amount that you must pay or reach each month before you can have MO
HealthNet coverage. It is similar to an insurance premium.” According to the CLAIM website (Missouri’s
State Health Insurance Assistance Program) “This process allows someone to ‘spend down’ or subtract medical
expenses (like the cost of prescription drugs) from their income in order to become Medicaid-eligible. For
example, if you made $100 more than the monthly limit on Medicaid, but spent $101 on prescription drugs, you
could be eligible.”
Does Spend-down have to be met each month?
Since spend-down is a program instituted to assist in helping people meet income-eligibility guidelines for MO
HealthNet coverage, spend-down only must be met during months that the participant requires MO HealthNet
coverage. What this means is that if you don’t utilize your MO HealthNet benefits each month, then you are not
required to meet spend-down each month. You are only required to meet spend-down on months that you will
require MO HealthNet coverage. Therefore, if you don’t regularly utilize your MO HealthNet benefits, you
don’t have to regularly meet your spend-down.
How Can Spend-down be met?
There are two different ways for participants to meet spend-down. Spend-down can be met by directly sending
payment to MO HealthNet. This is very much like paying an insurance premium each month. Once payment is
received by MO HealthNet, a participant is MO HealthNet eligible for that month. The payment can be either
sent by mail or electronically withdrawn from a participant’s banking account. A participant can also meet
eligibility by submitting to their local Family Support Division (FSD) proof of payment of medical bills equal
to the amount of his/her spend-down. Once the Family Support Division has approved the medical
expenditures to meet the spend-down, the participant becomes MO HealthNet eligible for the month.
The bottom line….
Recently, the spend-down program has undergone some clarifications. In an effort to make the MO HealthNet
program more efficient, each county has appointed a spend-down liaison who is responsible for contacting MO
HealthNet members who participate in the spend-down program and clarify how spend-down will be handled.
These changes will go into effect on May 1 for current MO HealthNet Participants. If you regularly utilize your
MO HealthNet benefits but rely on medical expenses to meet your spend-down, you should contact your local
Family Support Division immediately and ask to speak to the spend-down liaison. You should verify with
him/her how you will need to prove your spend-down each month. The spend-down liaison is the “go-to”
person for each county in determining spend-down eligibility. If you pay your spend-down in to MO HealthNet
each month, you should expect no changes.
Resources
http://www.dss.mo.gov/mhd/faq/pages/faqpart2.htm
http://www.missouriclaim.org/?q=medicare/spenddown
http://www.dss.mo.gov/mhd/
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Local FSD Offices
Caldwell County, 400 West Barry, Hamilton, MO 64644; Phone: (816) 583-2166
Carroll County, 1303 North 65 Highway, Carrollton, MO 64633; Phone: (660) 542-0656
Daviess County, 201 Ash, Gallatin, MO 64640; Phone: (660) 663-2189
Grundy County, 2926 Oklahoma Avenue, Trenton, MO 64683; Phone: (660) 359-3971
Harrison County, 2403 Vandivert Street, Bethany, MO 64424; Phone: (660) 425-7995
Livingston County, 601 Mohawk Road, Suite B, Chillicothe, MO 64601; Phone: (660) 646-5770
Mercer County, 501 West Main, Princeton, MO 64673; Phone: (660) 748-3292
Ray County, 901 East Lexington, Richmond, MO 64085; Phone: (816) 776-6964
ARE YOU ELIGIBLE For a Property Tax Credit?
You may be entitled to a refund contact Marina Beebe: toll free at 888-6632423 EXT 29 for more information.
For Partners In Education (PIE)
No MOre Trash!, Missouri’s litter-prevention program coordinated by the Missouri
departments of Conservation and Transportation, has sponsored a trash-can
decorating contest for Missouri elementary, middle and home schools, K-8.
Access II ILC initiated this project as a Partner In Education activity with Covel D
Searcy Elementary 2nd grade class in Gallatin. The can decorating is to raise
awareness about Missouri’s litter problem and discourage littering. Chosen class
entries will receive a $200 award. The “can” themes included: Nemo: No MOre
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Trash, Just Keep Swimming, Hand Over The Trash and Stop Trash, Go Green. The
“cans” were placed in locations chosen by the classes.
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Access II
Art Show & Sale
August 17-18,2012
Painters, sculptors, actors,
dancers, singers, mime,
woodworking, fabric art,
embroidery, cooking, poetry,
prose, performing arts,
magicians, quilters, story tellers,
photographers, film makers,
crafters, decorators, and more!
Calling all artists, whatever your art may be, to participate in:
Access II Independent Living Center
Second Annual Art Show and Sale
Featuring artists with disABILITIES
August 17-18, 2012
at the Trenton Rock Barn on Oklahoma Avenue
Artist’s Reception Friday, August 17, 5pm—7pm
Viewing and Sale Saturday, August 18, 10am—2pm
Call Licha Kelley-King at Access II, (660)663-2423 ext 231
Or email: lkelleyking@accessii.org for more information
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MISSOURI STATEWIDE
CONSUMER NEEDS SURVEY FOR THE
2014-2016
STATE PLAN FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING
From the list below please mark any services you believe are needed for persons with disabilities
living in your community. Please place an “X” or check mark in the column that you believe best
describes the service in your community.
Service/Program
Widely
Available
Somewhat
Available
Not available
at all
Accessible Transportation
Accessible/Affordable Housing
Adaptive Equipment
Personal Care Attendant Services
Ramps & Home Modifications
Transition or Deinstitutionalization
Emergency Assistance Funds
Health Care Services
Adaptive Telephone Equipment
Recreational Services
Children’s Services
Youth Services
Prescription Assistance
Disaster Preparedness
Voting Accessibility
Accessibility Compliance –ADA
Mental Health Services
Information & Referral
Peer Support Groups
Independent Living Skills Training
Advocacy (Individual/System)
Assistive Technology
MO. Property Tax/Rent Rebate
(Circuit Breaker)
Communication ServicesInterpreters/Braille
Durable Medical Equipment
Benefits Counseling
Are there any services, not listed above, that you believe are needed in your community?
Please return in the self addressed stamped envelope provided. Thank you!
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NOT FOR PROFIT ORG.
U. S. POSTAGE PAID
PERMIT NO. 30
GALLATIN, MO 64640
Access II, Independent Living Center
101 Industrial Parkway
Gallatin, MO 64640
Calendar of Events
April
STAFF
BOARD
President
Curtis Staggs
Vice President
Scott Marshall
Secretary
Rob Zirfas
Treasurer
William Cullen
MEMBERS
Annie Gibson
Dave Arnold
Executive Director
Heather Swymeler
Financial Director
Vicki Corwin
Program Manager
Deanna Brown
Child Advocate/ILS
Georgia Jackson
Benefits
Specialist/ILS/TAP
Marina Beebe
Employment Training /ILS
Licha Kelley-King
ILS/CDS
Vickie Tolen
ILS/CDS
Tanya Farrell
CDS Payroll Specialist
Staci Hamilton
2
4
6
17
18
20
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World Autism Awareness Day
Disability Rights Legislative Day
Good Friday-Office Closed
Board Meeting
IL Skills-Daviess County
Access II Hwy Clean Up
Walk It Run It Roll It 5K
National Women’s Health Week
May
15
16
22
28
Board Meeting
IL Skills-Caldwell County
Blood Drive
Memorial Day-Office Closed
19
20
22
Board Meeting
IL Skills-Harrison & Mercer County
Anniversary of Olmstead Act
June
Office Hours
8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.ACCESSII.ORG we will be undergoing changes
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