Summit Independent Living Center, Inc. | (406) 728 - 1630 | … · 2015-09-21 · 3-bd, 2-ba...
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October 2015 Summit Independent Living Center, Inc. | (406) 728 - 1630 | www.summitilc.org Peer Wins Award New Staff Page 3 Page 7 When we think of marriage equality, we often think about the fight LGBT couples face, but another minority group must deal with the stark reality that they are often better off living alone or in long-term committed relationships, without marriage. These couples are denied more than 1,100 rights afforded to married couples. They have been denied access into their loved ones hospital rooms, faced family disputes over wills and have been denied spousal benefits from their partners workplace or the government in the event of their partners death. These are people with disabilities. Many people rely on the government for medical assistance. Without this insurance they would have no way to live independently. They would be forced into nursing homes; as some already have been, which costs the government significantly more than providing services in community settings. At the same time, this assistance comes with a price. The government expects married couples to share income and the marriage affects the couple’s eligibility for services. For many, their spouse makes too much, even if they both receive meager SSI payments. For some married couples, a nondisabled partners makes too much to allow them to qualify for medical assistance but not enough account for benefits lost. When a person with a disability can work, access to quality medical insurance is hard to find because only Medicaid covers many disability- related expenses. Programs that marriage can impact include: SSI, SSDI (including Adult Child Benefits program), Medicaid, Section 8 housing, and Medicare, which is often lost when SSDI is lost for Adult Children Beneficiaries. With the increased attention on marriage inequity, the group Marriage Equality for People with Disabilities and other advocates hope legislators will enact changes to laws and policies that currently discourage or prevent marriage of individuals with disabilities. To learn more about this issue, visit: www.facebook.com/ MarriageEqualityForPeopleWithDisabilities People interested in signing the Marriage Equality Petition can do so at: https://www.change.org/p/wyoming- governor-remove-the-penalty-that-prevents- people-with-disabilities-from-marrying or http://chn.ge/1KaJZL9
Transcript of Summit Independent Living Center, Inc. | (406) 728 - 1630 | … · 2015-09-21 · 3-bd, 2-ba...
October 2015
Summit Independent Living Center, Inc. | (406) 728 - 1630 | www.summitilc.org
Peer Wins Award New Staff Page 3 Page 7
When we think of marriage equality, we often think about the fight LGBT couples face, but another minority group must deal with the stark
reality that they are often better off living alone or in long-term committed relationships, without marriage. These couples are denied more than 1,100 rights afforded to married couples. They have been denied access into their loved ones hospital rooms, faced family disputes over wills and have been denied spousal benefits from their partners workplace or the government in the event of their partners death. These are people with disabilities.
Many people rely on the government for medical assistance. Without this insurance they would have no way to live independently. They would be forced into nursing homes; as some already have been, which costs the government significantly more than providing services in community settings. At the same time, this assistance comes with a price. The government expects married couples to share income and the marriage affects the couple’s eligibility for services. For many, their spouse makes too much, even if they both receive meager SSI payments. For some married couples, a nondisabled partners makes too much to allow them to qualify for medical assistance but not enough account for benefits lost. When a person with a disability can work, access to quality medical insurance is hard to find because only Medicaid covers many disability-related expenses.
Programs that marriage can impact include: SSI, SSDI (including Adult Child Benefits program), Medicaid, Section 8 housing, and Medicare, which is often lost when SSDI is lost for Adult Children Beneficiaries.
With the increased attention on marriage inequity, the group Marriage Equality for People with Disabilities and other advocates hope legislators will enact changes to laws and policies that currently discourage or prevent marriage of individuals with disabilities.
To learn more about this issue, visit:
www.facebook.com/MarriageEqualityForPeopleWithDisabilities
People interested in signing the Marriage Equality Petition can do so at:
https://www.change.org/p/wyoming-governor-remove-the-penalty-that-prevents-
people-with-disabilities-from-marrying
or
http://chn.ge/1KaJZL9
October 2015The Summit Independent
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Summit Board
Steve HacklerLarry Riley
Jenny MontgomeryRandy Morigeau
Mark CashJoe Stone
Meg WhicherSuzanne Meikle
Flathead County
Social Security Orientation - First and third Wednesday monthly. Please call 257-0048 ext. 141, to register and get location.YODA - Youth group meets once a month.Living Well with a Disability - TBAWorking Well with a Disability - TBASocial Activities - We get together four times a year for social activities. Call the office to put your name on the mailing list so you won’t miss the next fun and exciting adventure! Our next activity will be a Stumptown Art Studio session with glass fusing and ceramics on Nov. 13.
Unless otherwise noted, classes and groups meet at:
Gateway Community Center, United Way Conference Room 1203 Hwy 2 West, Kalispell
Call Lynae, (406) 257-0048, ext. 142, for more information or to register.
Ravalli County
Social Security Orientations - Oct. 5, Nov. 2, Dec. 7Man Cave - Nov. 19People First - Tuesdays, 3-4 p.m.Women on the Move - Nov. 18TGIAF - Thank Goodness It’s Activity Friday - Fridays, 1-3 p.m. (No meeting Nov. 27, Dec. 25 and Jan. 1) Halloween Party- Tuesday, Oct. 27, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at Corvallis Methodist Church. Bring side dish to share, and please call the office to let us know you are coming.
Unless otherwise noted, classes and groups meet at:
Human Resources Council Building, Summit Conference Room 316 N 3rd St., Hamilton
Call Joel, Mary or Sarah, (406) 363-5242, for more information or to register.
Upcoming Events
October 2015The Summit Independent
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Summit StaffMissoula County
Executive Director Mike MayerProgram Manager Jude MonsonProgram Support Specialist Mike GiddingsSDPAS Coordinator Beth AndersonSDPAS Coordinator Betsy AmesAdvocacy Coordinator Travis HoffmanPeer Advocacy Coordinator Chris ClasbyPeople First Advisor/IL Specialist Andrea DahlIL Specialist Belinda RodriguezYouth Coordinator Michael BeersYouth Specialist Cara WherleyMedia & Work Specialist Justice EnderSecretary Kathy BoyerBookkeeper Libby MillerAssistant Bookkeeper Sally Wahl Assistant Bookkeeper Alicia RooneyBASE Advisor Renae StilesBASE Social Media Advisor Wesley Schneider
Flathead CountyCoordinator Flo KiewelIL Specialist Lynae WestIL Specialist Leslie Baldwin SDPAS Specialist Aleyna Raymond
Ravalli CountyCoordinator Joel PedenIL Specialist Sarah SeltzerPeople First Advisor/IL Specialist Mary Millin
Lake CountyCoordinator Susan MorrisIL Specialist Michelle WilliamsonIL Specialist Scott Williamson
Summit Peer Wins Award
Summit Independent Living Peer Advocate Rick Eakle won the 2015 Rising Star Award in the Bitterroot Toastmasters Club for most improvement in speaking and/or leadership
skills.
For the award Eakle received a commemorative certificate and his name was added to the Bitterroot Toastmasters Club’s
Montana-shaped plaque for permanent display in their meeting room.
Rick, who has been a peer advocate in Ravalli County for a few years, is very involved in
supporting the Man Cave, Hamilton’s social group for men with disabilities.
A story about his award was featured in the Ravalli Republic, and can be viewed here:
http://ravallirepublic.com/news/local/article_2daa85d8-3b1b-11e5-ab0d-
836d17171382.html
or
http://bit.ly/1KoazVC
Congratulations Rick!
October 2015The Summit Independent
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Missoula County
Summit Closed - Nov. 11, 26, 27, Dec. 24, 25, Jan. 1
Summit Orientation -First Fridays monthly, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
SSA Orientation - Oct. 9, 10-11 a.m., Oct. 20, 1-2 p.m., Nov. 13, 10-11 a.m., Nov. 24 1-2 p.m., Dec. 11, 10-11 a.m., Dec. 22, 1-2 p.m.
People First - First and third Wednesday of each month, 4-5 p.m.
Alzheimer’s Support Group - Second Wednesday of each month, 12-2 p.m. (No meeting Nov. 11)
Blind Low Vision Support Group - Second Tuesday of each month, 1-2:30 p.m.
Epilepsy Support Group - First Monday of each month, 2-3:30 p.m. (No meeting Sept. 7)
Independence and Gratitude - Fridays, 1-3 p.m. starting Nov. 6 (No meeting Nov. 26)
The following activities are now meeting at BASE, 725 West Alder, No. 4, across from St. Patrick Hospital
and next to Draughtworks in the Warehouse Mall.
Video Game Night - Second and fourth Thursday of each month, 3-6 p.m.
Youth Opening Doors through Advocacy (YODA) - Fourth Wednesday of each month, 3:30-6 p.m.
Art Group - Second and fourth Thursday of each month, 2-4 p.m.
Unless otherwise noted, classes and groups meet at:
Summit ILC, Summit’s Conference Room
700 SW Higgins, Suite 101, Missoula
Call Kathy, (406) 728-1630, for more information or to register.
Upcoming Events
Photos: Missoula’s Community Picnic
October 2015The Summit Independent
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BULLETIN BOARD
3-bd, 2-ba double-wide manufactured home in Corvallis. Not on foundation. Wheelchair accessible. All appliances included. Asking $125,000. Call Chris at (406) 241-6862.
Stair lift to give away. Call Ralph at 295-5668.
Hoyer Lift – battery powered. T.H.E. Medical Ultra Lift 3510. 650 lb. capacity. 3 years old but barely used. $1450. Call 406-871-8709.
Vestil 1000lb capacity lift, model #ehlt-6678-1-43 operates on 115V, rain proof operation controller, 36 inch lift height, 2 removable rails, hinged ramp for easy loading/unloading, hardly used. $3000 OBO. Call 531-8588.
Medical Air Purifier by FilterQueen. Great Condition – Rarely used. Call 493-0451.
Tri-fold ramp for vehicle. $400 OBO. Call Cheryl at 552-3679.
Permobil C300 Wheelchair. Full-featured-power-lift, footrest, backrest, vertical lift, Bluetooth, Omni-control module, enhanced steering, removable tray, E-Z lock (vehicle mount), Roho cushion. $1500 OBO. Call Theresa at 251-6450.
Power chair. $400 OBO. Needs batteries – $75 each at Battery Plus (needs two). Call Jon at 360-7997.
2006 Chrysler T&C Touring VMI in-floor ramp. Side entry. White. EZ-Lock. $22,900. 20,112 miles. Call James at (406) 531-4220 for more information.
2005 Toyota Sienna – IMS Ramp Van – in-floor ramp w/ kneel. $26,250. Power doors. Both front seats heated, removable. Sonar on corners (blind spot detection, and automatic braking). Sunroof, speaker system. Call Duane 544-2157 and leave message, or email [email protected].
View more classifieds at:
www.summitilc.org/newsletter/classified-ads/
Have something you want to sell or give away or are you looking for a hard-to-find piece of equipment?
To get listed contact Justice Ender at (406) 728-1630 or email [email protected].
Or, list and find items on the MonTECH exchange:
http://montech.ruralinstitute.umt.edu/mtdb/
Summ
it is funded in part under an agreement w
ith the Montana D
epartment of Public H
ealth and Hum
an Services. A
ny statements herein do not necessarily refl
ect the opinion of the Departm
ent.
Last month, peer advocate Jason Billehus gathered with other self-advocate leaders from the western United States in Seattle at the 2015 Pacific Alliance on Disability Self Advocacy (PADSA) Leadership Academy.
There, leaders shared information and learned more about topics such as organizational management, social media, and self-advocate leadership with their self-advocacy organizations. Participants also created advocacy goals for their home states.
Keep it up Jason and all you other self-advocates out there!
To learn more about PADSA, please visit:
http://pacific-alliance.org/
Leadership Academy
October 2015The Summit Independent
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Photo credit: Joe Stone Photo credit: Joe Stone
We at Summit Independent Living are grateful for all of the support we received from sponsors, community partners, allies, staff, peers, volunteers, consumers and our communities for our many
events celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act this summer!
We have seen great growth and promise over the last 25 years. To keep going, we know we’ll need your support to make the next 25 even better as we work together to making our
communities inclusive places where all citizens can enjoy the promise of our amazing country.
Thank you for your support, and let’s work together to move forward through the next 25.
Want to see more great pictures?
Visit Summit’s Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/SummitILC
Want to see a great video of the Missoula celebration?
Visit Missoula Community Access Television’s webpage:
www.mcat.org or http://bit.ly/1NuIc98
October 2015The Summit Independent
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I have been involved with the Self Direct Personal Care Services program since 1998. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from the University of Montana and my professional and personal interests have always revolved around self-determination and individuals’ rights.
I love living in Montana and am grateful to be able to raise my two children, Lauren and Mason, along with our Pug, in such a beautiful state. My hobbies include cheering for my kids at every extra-curricular activity that they are involved with, family game night and enjoying the outdoors.
I graduated from Weber State University in 2014 with a Bachelor’s of Intergraded Studies in Health Promotion, Family Studies, and Psychology
with an emphasis in Social Work. I did my internship at Roads to Independence ILC in Ogden, UT where I wore many hats. I enjoyed most
creating new class lessons and helping to put on the yearly campout for the consumers.
I have lived off and on in Whitefish throughout my life on my family ranch. I have two boys, ages 13 and 8. You will often find us on our horses, fishing,
or camping under the stars. I love to can garden foods, raise my own food, as well as cook and bake. I am excited to join the team at Summit ILC as
an ILS, and I look forward to growing with the team!
I am excited to be part of the Summit team down in Hamilton!
Learning about Independent Living has been a great experience so far and I love getting to interact with our peers and consumers through social activities, especially if it involves food! I also really enjoy the focus on self-determination in IL and look forward to being able help people in my community get involved in ways that interest them.
I have two great kids, two excitable dogs and a wonderful husband! In my free time I like to cook, hike and cheer on the Griz and the Hamilton Broncs.
Summit Welcomes New Staff Members!Beth Anderson, SDPAS Coordinator, Missoula
Leslie Baldwin, Independent Living Specialist, Flathead
Sarah Seltzer, Independent Living Specialist, Ravalli
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PAIDMissoulaMontana
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SUMMIT INDEPENDENT LIVING CENTER, INC.700 SW Higgins, Suite. 101
Missoula, MT 59803
Return Service Requested
Phone: 406-728-1630Toll-Free: 800-398-9002Fax: 406-829-3309
Website: www.summitilc.org
AN ADVOCACY AND RESOURCE CENTER FORMONTANANS WITH DISABILITIES
October 2015The Summit Independent
This publication is available in alternative format on request. Please call 1 (800) 398-9002.
Remember, you can always sign up for the electronic newsletter by contacting: [email protected]
Thanks to a grant from the Rural Institute, Summit ILC will run ‘Missoula LIVE!!,’ a ten-week communication-through-improvisation program that will culminate in a live comedy/variety show. Organizers will recruit up to 30 cast members with and without disabilities.
By including people of different ages, backgrounds and abilities in the cast and crew, as well as having a final program held at a public venue and promoted to the general public, ‘Missoula LIVE!!’ exemplifies interdependent living for the entire community.
This means we will be recruiting community members participate in ‘Missoula LIVE!!’
If you are interested in this exciting event, please contact Summit ILC to learn more.
(406) 728-1630 or 1 (800) 398-9002
