V O L U M E 1 I S S U E 2

S P E C I A L P O I N T S O F I N T E R -

E S T :

Barry Smith Promoted To Executive Director

F.A.C.E.S of DRAIL Friends, Advocates & Consumer Empowered Stories

W I N T E R 2 0 1 1

HIGHLIGHTS PAGE 1 Barry Smith Promoted PAGE 2 Accessible Thermostats PAGE 3 Cesar Chavez Day Transition PAGE 4 Technical Training Black History Day PAGE 5 Fun at the Fest In support of Spanish Speak-ing PAGE 6 Staff Spotlight PAGE 7 DRAIL Pre-sents on AT A Fresh Start IPAD For Me PAGE 8 Changing Per-ceptions PAGE 9 TSA PAGE 10 New Program Manager Ramp To Suc-cess PAGE 11 Fresh Start

He has won

the para Olympics gold medal in snow skiing. He was the torch bearer at the ADA celebration in 2000. Barry Smith who has many such accomplishments under his belt, is now the Executive Director of DRAIL. His long jour-ney in the area of In-dependent living has been eventful. He was only 16 when a diving ac-cident left him quad-riplegic. That did not faze Barry. He actively got involved in sports like swim-ming, water skiing, weight lifting—all this while attending

Modesto Junior Col-lege. What followed was a degree in liberal studies and his fruitful service to the commu-nity. From being an Instructional Assistant in Special Ed, Barry has achieved distinc-tion of being named the President of the International Decade of the Disabled for California.

Disability Resource Agency for Independent Living

In the early 90’s Barry served as the Program Manag-er for United Cere-bral Palsy, where he wrote the first pro-gram on how to teach people with developmental disa-bilities become more independent within the community. His association with DRAIL began when he joined its board in 1993. In 1997, Barry became the center coordinator at DRAIL. He moved on to serve DRAIL as Director of Ser-vices, and then to Interim Executive Di-rector. In October 2011 Barry was pro-moted as Executive Director of DRAIL.

DRAIL Is collabo-

rating with the Modesto Irrigation District (MID) to assist persons with disabilities obtain acces-sible thermostats. This program is available to consumers of MID, who live in Stan-islaus County, who have a disability. Approval of this contract will allow select-ed consumers the ability to be more energy effi-cient, by allowing them the control of their ener-gy usage.

DRAIL will install

VIP Talking thermostats for consumers with vision dis-ability and the Lux touch screen thermostat for con-sumers with mobility im-pairments.

Other types of ther-mostats are available as well.

DRAIL staff will as-sess consumers who re-quest a thermostat, based on their needs.

Once installed, DRAIL will offer technical training on operation of the thermostat.

For details, contact AT Advocate Kris Rowe at 209.521.7260.

Accessible Thermostats

PAGE 2

Support Group Vent frustrations,

break free from feelings of isolation, share coping strategies and triumphs, get answers directly from people involved in the or-ganizations you receive services from, relax and enjoy the company of oth-ers who share familiar ex-periences. Held on the 1st Thursday of every month, 10.00 am-12.00 pm at DRAIL, Mod-esto.

Goals Group

Bring specific prob-

lems, questions and is-sues that are impacting your life. Chances are an-other group member has dealt with the issue them-selves and can provide firsthand insight into solu-tions that did, and didn’t work for them. Held on the 3rd Thursday of every month, 10.00 am-12.00 pm at DRAIL, Mod-esto.

Increase In Cost Of Living Adjustments

Monthly Social

Security and Supple-mental Security Income (SSI) benefits for more than 60 million Ameri-cans will increase 3.6 percent in 2012, accord-ing to a press release by the Social Security Ad-ministration. The 3.6 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits that nearly 55 million Social Security beneficiaries receive in January 2012.

Increased payments to more than eight million SSI beneficiaries will begin on December 30, 2011. This is the first such adjustment in COLA since 2009. Correspondingly, many workers who pay so-cial security tax will pay higher taxes in view of the increase in the taxable maximum. For details, log on to www.socialsecurity.gov/cola. Information about

Medicare changes for 2012, when announced, will be available at www.Medicare.gov.

PAGE 3

DRAIL

will be cele-brating its fourth annual Cesar Chavez day on March 30, 2012.

To ac-commodate the growing participation, this year, the event is being held outside of the Modesto DRAIL office.

4th Annual Cesar Chavez Day Sched-uled to begin at 11 am, the event will in-clude tributes to Cesar Chavez, enter-tainment by a Mariachi band and DJ. Infor-mation booths

will be set up to dissemi-nate information on pro-grams that serve our community.

It was just another

normal day for Bruce Riley who was standing next to a window on the second floor of a building.

Before he realized what was happening, he suffered a stroke, lost his balance and fell out of the window. Riley’s life changed after that.

The stroke left him paralyzed on the left side of his body. He was admit-ted to a skilled nursing fa-cility after his release from the hospital.

After many months, his condition became sta-

ble enough for him to be discharged.

However, Riley did not have any money to move out of the skilled nursing facility.

He approached DRAIL Independent Liv-ing Specialist Angelo Clay who applied for transition-al funding through DOR for Riley.

On Clay’s request, the funding was granted. With the help of this fund-ing, Clay assisted Riley in finding an apartment and moving back into commu-nity in September.

Returning To The Community

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

PRESIDENT Terry Gray

VICE PRESIDENT Vacant

TREASURER Bob Williams

(Retired Counselor, Modesto Junior College)

SECRETARY Mona Martinez (Retired, Modesto

Junior College)

YOUTH LEADERSHIP

Vacant MEMBERS Sam Jones

(Retired)

Hannah Boxell (Student, Modesto

Junior College)

Cesar Chavez

F.A.C.E.S OF DRAIL Published Quarterly Volume 1, Issue 2

Printed and published by DRAIL-Modesto 920 12th Street,

Modesto, CA 95354 Edited by

Anuradha Gajaraj

PAGE 4

The newly opened

AT Resource Center at DRAIL Modesto is offer-ing consumers technical training in accessible technology. Technical training is available on computer software programs like Jaws, Majic, Zoomtext and Dragon Naturally Speaking according to AT Advocate Kris Rowe.

Small group in-struction is available, but if consumers have the preference of meeting one on one, individual

appointments can be scheduled.

Consumers living in Stanislaus County who are not familiar with these types of software pro-grams, may contact DRAIL and ask to speak with Kris in our Modesto office.

DRAIL will help you determine which software programs would be most beneficial for you depend-ent on the type of disabil-ity. After the specific soft-ware program is utilized and recommended by the Assistive Technology Ad-

Technical Training Available At DRAIL AT Resource Center

vocate, funding may be available and can be looked into for our con-sumers.

DRAIL will be hav-

ing its Black History Month Celebration soon. The event will be held at the King-Kennedy Center on Feb. 24th from 11-2 pm. There will be guest speakers, food, music and information booths. Contact DRAIL Inde-pendent Living Specialist Angelo at 209.521.7260 ext. 311 for more infor-mation on this special event. The public is invit-ed to participate in the cel-ebrations.

Black History Month Celebration

DRAIL has acces-

sible consumer work sta-tions in each of their of-fices. These stations were created to allow in-dividuals with disabilities access to a computer with accessible features. The computers have Dragon Naturally Speaking software in-stalled for users who cannot use their hands to type, JAWS software for blind users, and screen reading and mag-nification features for

other users as needed. The computers are available to consumers and can be used to apply for SSA Disability benefits online, check the status of your case, complete and print out other forms, ADA research and general in-ternet use. If you would like to use the computer work station call your local DRAIL office and schedule an appointment.

Accessible Computers for Consumers

Find us on

FACEBOOK

PAGE 5

When

Ceres Partner-ship for Healthy Children orga-nized the 16

th

annual family resource and funfest, DRAIL was very much there. DRAIL Independent Living Specialist Ruben Villa-lobos set up an outreach booth at the event. Ceres Partnership promotes healthy families and safe neighborhoods. The event was held at Whitmore Park at Ceres on September 24, 2011.

Fun At The Fest DRAIL STAFF MODESTO BARRY SMITH

Executive Director LENG POWER

Program Manager MORRE BENTO

Admin. Assistant LEONA HOLLINGSHEAD

Bookkeeper KRIS ROWE

AT Advocate LISA ARCHIBEQUE ANGELO CLAY &

RUBEN VILLALOBOS Independent Living

Specialists IGNACIO CHAVEZ

Lead Community Work Incentive Coordinator

GEORGE SHARP Systems Change

Advocate

STOCKTON JEFF VIERRA

Center Coordinator EILEEN PRECIADO

Independent Living Specialist

ALEXANDRA QUEEN Community Work In-centive Coordinator

SANDRA GRAHAM AT Advocate

SONORA KRISTY GILLEN

Center Coordinator JEMA PADAVANA

Independent Living Specialist

El Concilio hosted

its 43rd

annual dinner on October 14

th at the Del

Rio Country Club. DRAIL CWIC Igna-cio Chavez and ILS Ru-ben Villalobos attended the din-ner. The Coun-cil aims to serve the under-served commu-nity by empow-ering them, so that they can help themselves

In Support Of The Spanish Speaking

Lao students from The Bridge Community Center of Modesto, perform a Salawan dance

Julia Valdez from Health Plan of San Joaquin with DRAIL ILS Ruben Villalobos and his wife Maria.

become significant assets to the community at large. Individuals were recognized for their con-tribution to the community at the event.

PAGE 6

Staff Spotlight: Alexandra Queen

When

her husband, who is a com-bat veteran was injured at his civilian job,

Alexandra Queen had no idea how to live with disa-bilities or how to get help. It was then that she ap-proached DRAIL. The staff talked to the couple, and advised them about the basic so-cial, financial, and emo-tional aspects of living

Duct tape held

some parts of the car that Randy Limburg drove.

Randy had sur-mounted many obstacles and was pursuing his dream of becoming a Drug and Alcohol counse-lor.

The Department of Rehabilitation was paying for his schooling. He passed his training with flying colors.

Just the course work would be challeng-ing enough, but Randy had the additional prob-lem of getting around. He was driving a car that

was actu-ally held together by duct tape in many places. Yet, he drove, to his school, internship, and his part time work

DRAIL CWIC Ignacio Chavez assisted Randy in completing the Social Se-curity sponsored savings program known as the Plan for Achieving Self Support (PASS). The PASS is designed to assist consumers reach their

vocational goals. Once Randy’s PASS was approved, he was able to save up and purchase a reliable used vehicle. Randy is now all set to take the final certifi-cation in March this year. Here’s wishing him success in his endeav-ors!

‘PASS’ing With Flying Colors

with a disability. It was a kind of a “This End Up” experience that really helped them with the tran-sition into a new way of life. When her grandpar-ents and aunt required similar help, it was DRAIL that proved to be great resource. With a personal knowledge of what it meant to be faced with life situations, Alexandra was impelled to join the

workforce that had once served her. She joined DRAIL as in Independent Living Specialist in 2005. However, the more she listened to the DRAIL benefits planner help peo-ple with work-related So-cial Security issues, the more Alexandra realized that was the kind of work that she wanted to do as well. So in, 2007, Alex-andra fulfilled the neces-

Continued on Page 10

DRAIL Assistive

Technology Advocate Sandra Graham partici-pated in the California

DRAIL Presents On AT Communications Access Foundation Tech Grant presen-tation to/from CCAF funded pro-jects. CCAF Tech-

nology Fund

awards grants to

community-based non-

profit organizations in

California who establish

DRAIL AT Advocate Sandra Graham

PAGE 7

“Thank you for help-

ing me talk” . These sim-ple at poignant handwrit-ten words in a card say it all. With a touch of a fin-ger, 21 year old Char-maine of Amador County, can now “speak” , thanks to the I Pad2 and commu-nication software that DRAIL helped her get.

This effort at aug-menting her verbal skills was enabled through a grant from the California Communication Access Foundation (CCAF).

The I Pad offers a very wide variety of soft-ware that can assist with multiple disabilities, but primarily communication. With the touch of a finger,

“Thank You For Helping Me Talk” a non-verbal consumer can “speak” through the words and phrases avail-able in various applica-tions.

Typically the cost of an AAC device runs into thousands of dollars, whereas the I Pad is lighter, more compact and more cost effective than traditional devices.

The CCAF grant enables DRAIL to assist consumers who have communication disabili-ties with a funding re-source to obtain Aug-mentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices.

DRAIL has been

collaborating with the lo-

cal regional centers,

speech therapists and

school districts to assist

students and adults with

AAC devices.

DRAIL has assisted

several consumers with

communication goals

through this grant in 2011

and hopes to continue this

wonderful partnership with

the CCAF fund in 2012.

Charmaine with her I Pad

projects and programs de-

signed to improve existing

technology that will make

spoken or verbal commu-

nication easier for people

with disabilities.

The event was held on October 21. Graham made a PowerPoint presentation reporting success stories attributed to CCAF funding.

PAGE 8

Changing Perceptions Of Youth ...With A Personal Touch

It was all about

tolerance. Stories from the Japanese intern-ment camp, personal stories about bullying, the religious perspec-tive on tolerance, sto-ries of war, of experi-ences while working in the child protective services-all painted a dramatic but touching picture for the students at the Modesto High School.

The occasion was the 14

th An-

nual Day of Re-spect. Organized by the Human Relations Club of the Modesto High school, this event has been reinforcing the need for a better,

more peaceful communi-ty through good practic-es and attitude. Among the per-

sonal stories that were shared that day included DRAIL Sys-tems Change Advocate George Sharp’s ex-perience with bullying. The tra-

Continued on Page 9

dition of Day of Respect was established in 1998 by Sharon Froba, Modesto High Schools English lan-guage teacher for over two decades. Froba hoped that personal stories by individ-uals from different walks of life would help replace ig-norance with knowledge and intolerance with com-passion. Within a year of forming, the Day of Respect turned into a week-long event of

Ahmad Kayello, Preacher at a Muslim Mosque spoke about tolerance

George Sharp of DRAIL speaks about bullying

Sherman Kishi, shares his experience about living in a Japanese Internment camp.

Veteran Frank Alvarez speaks on the occasion too.

CHP officer Marcos Rivers speaks about perception and judgment.

PAGE 9

Help For Travelers The Transporta-

tion Security Administra-tion (TSA) announced the launch of TSA Cares. This is a new helpline number de-signed to assist travel-ers with disabilities and medical conditions, prior to getting to the airport. Travelers may call

TSA Cares toll free at 1-

855-787 2227 prior to

traveling with questions

about screening poli-

cies, procedures and

what to expect at the

security checkpoint.

It is an additional

dedicated resource for

persons with disabilities.

diversity awareness pro-grams. The Day of Respect has had different speakers-They have ranged from person suffering from AIDS, a mother of a lesbian, per-son of African American origin who suffered discrim-ination, veterans of war, re-ligious groups that point out that their religion does not promote terrorism among others. The aim of this event is to promote respect and social acceptance for all in-

Continued from Page 8

We would like to re-

mind consumers the im-

portance of providing us

with your feedback.

Integral to DRAIL’s

mission is consumer control

and part of implementing

this idea into our practice is

by providing the consumer

the ability to complete a

Satisfaction Survey.

This tool allows a

consumer to evaluate not

only the services that they

received but the overall ex-

perience with our agency.

Help Us to Help You – An Appeal From DRAIL

Changing Perceptions Of Youth...

dividuals. No matter which part of the world, social station, culture, gender or age group they belong to. This event takes education to another lev-el altogether-of shaping good citizens for the fu-ture. Of promoting indi-viduals with a broader view point.

We use the infor-

mation provided to us as

a way to ensure that we

continue with our high

level of quality service

delivery and allows us to

incorporate suggestions

or refine current practices

as necessary to meet the

needs of our consumer

base.

Every consumer

has a chance to com-

plete a survey upon com-

pletion of their case with

our agency but you may

be selected to complete

one at random or if you

contact our offices to re-

quest a copy.

It is with consumer

input that we truly ac-

complish the vision of

the Independent Living

Movement.

Thank you

Leng Power, Program

Manager .

Disability is a matter of perception. If you can do just one thing well, you're needed by

someone. Martina Navratilova

PAGE 10

THUS SPAKE: Franklin D. Roosevelt

“We know that equality of individual

ability has never existed and never will,

but we do insist that equality of oppor-

tunity still must be sought”.

Leng

Power, has been ap-pointed as the Pro-gram Man-ager at the DRAIL Modesto office. Leng

has a ten- year long asso-ciation with the non profit field. “This experience has afforded me the opportuni-ty to witness how strong, consumer focused ser-vices and efficient re-source management can positively impact the com-munity we serve, “ says Leng. She hopes to contin-ue to grow DRAILS com-mitment to quality service delivery and staying in-ventive in diversifying its service structure to ensure sustainability.

New Program Manager

Leng Power, DRAIL Pro-gram Manager

A Ramp To Success

DRAIL staff with the help of different agencies obtained

funds and helped install a ramp for Randy. Among those who helped with Randy’s move towards independence was the staff of the Calaveras Mariposa Community Action Agency, Valley Mountain Regional Center and Creative Support Alter-natives.

sary credentials required to become a Community Work Incentives Coordi-nator. Now she helps people understand how the Ticket to Work pro-gram can support them in entering the workforce and how their Social Se-curity and public benefits will be affected by their new income. “I remember how it felt when my husband and I had no idea how anything worked, so I re-ally enjoy helping people go from being confused and frustrated to knowing what’s going on with their

benefits and feeling more in control. I also love sharing people’s enthusi-asm about planning work, and their sense of accomplishment when they start pulling in a paycheck. It’s great being there with people when they prove to themselves what they can really achieve”, she says.

Alexandra Queen: Continued from Page 6

The new ramp at

the Stanislaus County Men’s Jail is expected to be completed by the end of February 2012 barring weather. It may be recalled, DRAIL took the lead in persuading jail authorities to make the Jail accessi-ble to visitors, as reported in our Summer 2011 is-sue .

DRAIL MISSION STATEMENT

Disability Resource Agency for Independent Living,

(DRAIL) is a non-profit, community-based, consumer-controlled, consumer-choice, cross-disability center for Independent Living serving the counties of Ama-dor, Calaveras, Mariposa, San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Tuolumne in California. DRAIL is dedicated to working towards the objectives of the Disability Rights and Independent Living movement through the provision of comprehensive services designed to empower and improve the quality of life for persons with disabilities.

PAGE 11

Louise Scott was

59 years old when she lost her job due to the poor economy.

She then helped take care of her grand-children. Even that ended when she became very ill owing to diabetes.

Louise was hospi-talized. Her troubles com-pounded when eventually she had to have her left leg amputated below the knee.

She was then re-leased to a skilled nursing facility to recover, since by then, she no longer had a home.

Even though Louise became eligible for Social Security Disability Income while in the hospital, she

A Fresh Start: The Story of Louise Scott

I Pad Communication

A developmentally disa-

bled consumer explores the IPAD that he received from the California Com-munications Access Foun-dation, through DRAIL as-sistance.

could only receive $50 per month as she was not living independently. Her meager be-longings were stored in a friend’s garage.

She then contacted DRAIL for assistance in transitioning from the skilled nursing facility.

Center Coordinator Kristy Gillen, started working with Louise.

Kristy was able to secure $4000 from the Department of Rehabilita-tions Transitional Funding Grant to assist Ms. Scott in purchasing household items she needed.

This included furni-ture and her first month’s supply of groceries that she needed to transition.

Louise now lives

independently and even has time to spend with her grandchildren!

[Consumers’ first name has been changed to pro-tect her identity].

Ramp Completion

Visit us on www.drail.org

MODESTO

920 12th Street, Modesto, CA 95354 Ph:209.521.7260, Fax:209.521.4763 TTY:209.576.2409, VP:209.566.0547

STOCKTON

501 W. Weber Avenue, Suite 200-A Stockton, CA 95203

Ph:209.477.8143, Fax:209.477.7730 TTY: 209.465.5643

MOTHER LODE 67 Linoberg Street, Suite A

Sonora, CA 95370 Ph:209.532.0963, Fax:209.532.1591

NON –PROFIT ORGANIZATION US POSTAGE PAID

MODESTO, CA PERMIT NO 520

DRAIL Modesto 920 12th Street Modesto, CA 95354 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

SERVICES OFFERED

Independent Living Services Information & Referral, Personal Assis-

tance Referral, Housing Referral, Individu-al Advocacy, Systems Advocacy,

Peer Support, Peer Support Volunteer Training, Volunteer Services, Independent Living Skills, Benefits Advising, Disability

Awareness Sensitivity Training, ADA Tech-nical Assistance & Evaluation, Motor Voter

Registration, Braille Classes

Assistive Technology Visually Impaired Equipment, Dial a Ride

Certification, Interpreters, Utility Assistance Programs, Equal Access Statements.