New Horizons - January 2016

January 2016
New Horizons
Housing That Supports Independence
IRS Relaxes Rules For New ABLE Accounts
Norman A. Smith
Editor
Judith A. Wilkinson
Co-Editor
Tim Doherty
Executive Director
Norman A. Smith
Associate
Executive Director
Stephen J. Schaefer
Chief Financial
Officer
Tracee Battis
Director of Housing
Development
Robbinsville
Betty Maxwell
Housing Coordinator
Hamilton
Vivian Lavelle
Social Services
Coordinator
Melinda Sciarrotta
Office Manager
Lawrence
Jackie Elsowiny
Social Services
Coordinator
JoAnne Sherry
Office Manager
Freedom Village at
Woodstown
Sammi DeMaris
Social Services
Coordinator
Arlene Sims
Office Manager
Freedom Village at
Hopewell
Cecilia Funk
Social Services
Coordinator
Jennifer Applegate
Office Manager
Freedom Village at
Toms River
Laurie Solymosi
Social Services
Coordinator
The Internal Revenue Service is easing up on
rules for new accounts that will allow people
with disabilities to save money without
jeopardizing their government benefits.
Earlier this year, the IRS laid out plans for how
accounts established under the Achieving a Better
Life Experience, or ABLE, Act would operate. But
the agency received significant pushback from
disability advocates and state officials alike who
said the proposed federal requirements would be
overly burdensome.
Now, the IRS is backing off. In a notice, the agency said it plans to issue final regulations with less
stringent reporting requirements. Specifically, individuals opening ABLE accounts will not need to
submit medical documentation, but will have to certify under penalty of perjury that they have a
qualifying diagnosis, the IRS guidance said.
What’s more, the agency indicated that ABLE programs will not be required to request taxpayer
identification numbers from contributors to ABLE accounts except in limited circumstances and
program administrators will not have to categorize what money in the accounts is used for. “We
are very pleased with the interim guidance issued by the IRS, which will make it easier for state
administrators to establish and administer ABLE programs in an expedient and efficient manner,”
said Heather Sachs, vice president of advocacy and public policy at the National Down Syndrome
Society.
Despite federal passage of the ABLE Act last year, each state must establish regulations of their
own in order to make the accounts available. So far, 34 states have approved such legislation,
according to the National Down Syndrome Society. However, these states are still working out the
details for administering their programs, a process contingent on the IRS rules.
Nebraska State Treasurer Don Stenberg, who was critical of the IRS’ initial proposal, said the
agency’s updated approach is welcome and will allow his state to make accounts available as
planned next summer. “In particular, I am very pleased that the IRS will no longer require states to
obtain information about expenditures by plan participants and that states will no longer be required to seek and receive medical information about ABLE plan participants,” Stenberg said. “Had
those requirements remained in place, the cost of the ABLE program would have increased
substantially.” ABLE accounts are expected to start becoming available to consumers next year,
but the exact timetable will vary by state.
With the new accounts, people with disabilities will be able to accrue up to $100,000 without losing
access to Social Security and other government benefits. Medicaid coverage will remain intact no
matter how much money is saved in an individual’s ABLE account. Modeled after 529 college
savings plans, funds in the accounts can be used to pay for education, health care, transportation,
housing and other expenses. Interest earned on savings in the accounts will be tax-free.
Individuals with disabilities that originated before age 26 will be eligible for the new accounts.
By Michelle Diament / Reprinted from Disability Scoop.com / November 30, 2015
A Publication of Project Freedom Inc. / Robbinsville, Hamilton, Lawrence , Woodstown, Hopewell and Toms River
Visit us on the web at: www.projectfreedom.org
Page 2
We are Proud to List Our Major
2015 Gala Sponsors
Who Help Make
Project Freedom’s Mission Possible
2015 Event Sponsors
Costanza Builders, Inc.
V.J. Scozzari and Sons, Inc.
Grand Bank, N.A.
National Equity Fund
2015 Angel Sponsors
Investors Bank
Lowther’s Contracting, LLC
Joseph F. McKernan, Jr. Architects & Associates
2015 Patriot Sponsors
Nottingham Insurance
TD Bank
The Mohawk Group
2015 Freedom Sponsors
Bank of America
Dumont & Watson
First Commerce Bank
Garden State Tile
Gilligan & Nardini Electric
NJM Insurance Group
Page 3
“My Two Cents”
By Tim Doherty, Executive Director
So, we are now starting a new year, and it is a good time to reflect on
the past year as we move into the future. Scary thing is, these years
roll around so fast, you don’t realize how much has been done, until
you take time to look back.
For Project Freedom organization, we started off the year 2015 with
two projects or housing communities under construction. Our first was Toms River, which started
Late summer, early fall 2014. And Westampton shortly thereafter. The weather for the first part
of this construction period was not good, so we did experience some down time, as much as four
weeks overall on both projects. Some of the time, was made up with the good Spring and
Summer days, so in the end we are not too far off of our completion dates.
Prior to completing the construction phase of these projects, we still needed to have our Grand
Opening Events, where we thank the various government and Township officials for their
support—a very important event and function. You would be surprised as how important that
Grand Opening ceremony is to the Township officials and mayor.
Then, simultaneously we needed to plan our lease up process which requires us to conduct a
Lottery for the selection of the tenant applicants. This is a must since, we have received over 400
applicants for each project, which only has 72 units at Toms River, and 48 at Westampton. That
is really the only fair way to do the selection since we have such a great need.
Alongside of doing these two construction projects all year, we had to continue to deal with issues
from our existing sites, in Hopewell, Robbinsville, Lawrence, Hamilton and Woodstown. We
continue to try to maintain those communities at 100 % occupancy, but did have some transition
with some folks moving in and out.
Finally, during this time, and because of the COAH issues facing all New Jersey towns this past
fall, all towns have had to prepare their Housing Fair Share Plans, and submit them to the courts
for approval.
As a result of this mandate, Project Freedom has been invited into Hopewell and Robbinsville
townships once again, to create more affordable housing. Both Towns have sites which they
believe would work, so we have been assessing these sites and doing our due diligence, so as to
make a decision as to whether we move forward. In addition we have already been working with
Gibbsboro township, since last year, on a site which we feel could be developed into nice
housing.
So, a very busy 2015 with more to come in 2016. Stay tuned and HAPPY NEW YEAR.
Page 4
From Norman’s Desk
In October last year, the National Weather Service issues its annual winter forecast for
our current winter season. The outlook, which is not a forecast, is for a warmer and
wetter winter season because of the El Nino factor. Sounds good in terms of snow,
right? Not necessarily.
FEMA repackaged the Outlook by region and then broke the Outlook down to potential
impacts. For our region, those impacts are coastal storms and Snowfall.
But first, what is El Nino? An El Nino develops when sea surface temperatures are
warmer than average in the equatorial Pacific for more than a season, altering the
atmospheric circulation. This is important to North America because El Nino has an
impact on our weather patterns, most predominantly in the winter.
Although each El Nino is different, there are some general patterns that are predictable. For instance, the polar
jet stream is typically farther north than usual, while the Pacific jet stream runs across the southern United
States.
For our region, FEMA says El Nino impacts on the number of coastal storms that can be expected and the
amount of snowfall.
According to FEMA, several research studies have noted an increased frequency of East Coast storms during
El Niño winters. These storms, known as nor’easters, have a number of coastal impacts, ranging from beach
erosion and high winds to “heavy snowfall” and precipitation.
Snowfall along the Northeast coast is typically above average during El Nino winters. Typically, in regions
closer to the coast, December through February snowfall is as much as 6 inches or greater during such
winters. In Washington, DC, eight of the ten greatest 2-day snowfalls since 1950 have occurred during El
Ninos.
To hammer this in a bit more, FEMA added that “significant snow storms such as the Blizzard of ‘58 and a
second March 1958 nor’easter occurred in conjunction with El Nino conditions, as did the February 2003
Presidents' Day Storm.”
Warm winters do not mean that we can relax our winter preparedness or awareness routines. In fact, we
should increase are weather awareness so the we are not lulled by the warm temperatures. They are nice,
but old air rising over warm air can produce spectacular snow explosion or icing conditions. Ice conditions
usually mean power outages.
Learn from Sandy! Now is the time to think about power outages. Store drinking water, first aid kit, canned/
no-cook food, where you can get them easily, even in the dark. Have emergency supplies on hand before
storms occur:
Flashlight and extra batteries
Portable, battery-operated radio and extra batteries.
One-week supply of food to include items that do not require refrigeration or cooking in case the
power is shut off.
Non-electric can opener
One-week supply of essential prescription medications.
Extra blankets.
Information during weather emergencies can be obtained from the Emergency Broadcast System
through these radio stations for Mercer County:
WPST - 97.5 FM
WHWH - 1350 AM
WKXW - 101.5 FM
Page 5
In all of the above situations, prepare for aides and personal assistants to be
late, not show, or to be stuck in your home. All of these scenarios should be
discussed and planned for by people who are dependent on aides or
personal assistants.
Do 1 Thing
It is a good time to begin planning your preparedness activities for 2016.
Start the New Year off with an exciting web-based preparedness program
called Do 1 Thing! (www.do1thing.com) This 12-month program focuses on
different areas of preparedness each month in a way that is inexpensive,
easy, and fun for the whole family. The program also won in the Awareness
to Action category of the 2014 FEMA Individual and Community
Preparedness Awards. The Do 1 Thing mission is to move individuals,
families, businesses and communities to prepare for all hazards and become
disaster resilient.
To get started, click the topic for the current month, select an activity from the list of “Things to do,” and do that
one thing! After following along for an entire year, you’ll be better prepared for disasters and emergencies.
Participating in these activities can also count as participation in America’s PrepareAthon! so be sure to register.
Do 1 Thing also has resources available in seven languages, braille, large print and audio.
Get your head in the preparedness focus! Join my email Emergency Notification List. When the NJ Office of
Emergency Management sends me information on potential hazardous weather, I forward it via Blind Copy
email to people on my list. Send me an email and get prepared!
Norman A. Smith, Associate Executive Director - [email protected]
.
Page 6
Hamilton Happenings
The Knights of Columbus delivered
bags of non-perishable food to each
tenant residing at Project Freedom
at Hamilton on Sat, Nov 21, 2015.
The group included the Knights and
their children. The tenants were
thrilled to receive the bags, and the
children experienced first–hand
how important it is to be charitable.
DATE
DAY
PROGRAM (in Community Room)
TIME
6-Jan
Wed
Hamilton/Lawrence Shopping
Bus Leaves PFR 10:00 AM
8-Jan
Fri
Hamilton Games
Prog. Time 6:00 -8:00 PM
13-Jan
Wed
Hamilton Crafts
Prog. Time 6:00 -8:30 PM
19-Jan
Tue
Hamilton Cooking
Prog. Time 5:30 -8:30 PM
29-Jan
Fri
Hamilton Board Game Night
Prog. Time 6:30 -8:30 PM
Lawrence Goings On
Hamilton Happenings
Tenant party on 12/17/2015
DATE
DAY
PROGRAM (in Community Room)
TIME
6-Jan
Wed
Hamilton/Lawrence Shopping
Bus Leaves PFR 10:00 AM
7-Jan
Thu
Lawrence Games
Prog. Time 6:00 -8:00 PM
14-Jan
Thu
Lawrence Cooking: Soup Making
Prog. Time 4:00 -6:30 PM
22-Jan
Fri
Lawrence Crafts
Prog. Time 6:00 -8:00 PM
27-Jan
Wed
Lawrence Spa Night
Prog. Time 4:00 -6:00 PM
Page 7
Robbinsville Events
Making Christmas cookies with Dana
DATE
DAY
PROGRAM (in Community Room)
TIME
4-Jan
Mon
Robbinsville Game Night
Prog. Time 6:30 -8:30 PM
5-Jan
Tue
Robbinsville Healthy Cooking Demo
Prog. Time 6:00 -8:00 PM
15-Jan
Fri
Robbinsville Pizza
Prog. Time 5:30 -7:00 PM
21-Jan
Thu
Robbinsville Crafts - Bird Feeders
Prog. Time 6:30 -8:30 PM
26-Jan
Tue
Robbinsville Game Night
Prog. Time 6:30 -8:30 PM
Hopewell “Bear Facts”
Tenant Holiday Gathering on 12/15/15
DATE
DAY
PROGRAM (in Community Room)
TIME
1/6/16
Wed
Heart to Hearts Chair Message
1:15 PM - 3:15 PM
1/11/16
Mon
Senior Care Hosting Grocery BINGO Room
2 PM - 3 PM
1/12/16
Tues
Hopew’ll Twp. School Dist. Hosting Parent Chat Group
7 PM - 8 PM
1/27/16
Wed
Heart to Hearts Chair Message
9:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Page 8
Therapeutic Riding Proves More Than Horse
Play Reprinted from The Orange County Register/TNS | December 4, 2015 by Greg Mellen,
For 25 years, the nonprofit Therapeutic Riding
Center at the Huntington Beach Central Park
Equestrian Center has offered riding therapies to
people with special needs ranging from autism to
epilepsy.
For much of that time, Donna Brandt, president of
the group and the lead instructor, has been at the
center of the action. A longtime horsewoman,
Brandt became involved after her daughter, Jamie,
was diagnosed with severe developmental delay.
Like many parents with children who have
challenges, Brandt tried numerous activities and
therapies to find one that engaged her child. “We tried them all. This is the one she liked best,” Brandt
said. “She’ll sit around all day and wait to go riding. This is the one that stuck.”
Parents and caretakers are almost unanimous – there’s something about horses. The relationships and
bonds the children form with the animals can be transformative.
Katy Prill is all about drama, according to her father, David Gill. The 17-year-old, who has Down
Syndrome and recently recovered from leukemia, often tries to make big productions out of small things
and can act out. But on this day, she hops right onto Wilma, a big bay, without any histrionics.
“Hey, dad, look at me,” she calls out, waving.
“She’s almost unrecognizable,” Gill, 44, said of his daughter and the progress she has made since
beoming involved with therapeutic riding. On the horse, Prill is focused and confident, two things lacking
since her move from Redding, in Northern California, to Huntington Beach four years ago. “When she
came down, this was one of her first activities,” Gill said. “She was very fearful.”
On a warm, dusty day at the Huntington Beach Equestrian Center, parents talked about the selfconfidence it gave the children. They feel the experience improves cognitive, physical, emotional and
social well-being. Brandt said people who use wheelchairs can build core strength by riding a horse. It
also builds self-confidence. Brandt said something as simple as a change in perspective – looking down
from horseback rather than up from a chair – can feel empowering. Plus, the lessons are conducted
outdoors and away from therapy rooms. “This is one of the therapies (people with disabilities) don’t give
up on,” Brandt said. “There’s something about animals.”
Karen Starky, 54, says the program has been a “savior,” for her daughter, Angie, 28, who has epilepsy.
Starky says before her daughter developed the condition, she was a fearless athlete and skier. Epilepsy
took that away. Therapeutic riding is bringing her back.“When she started, she could barely get on (the
horse), she was so weak,” Starky said. Now Angie rides confidently and mugs for a photographer.
Danielle Stanback, 32, is a volunteer who also has epilepsy but is rebounding. She said the riding is
particularly important because it pulls people out of isolation.
At the Therapeutic Riding Center, most of the riders are accompanied by three volunteers, one who
leads the horse and two side-walkers, who protect riders from toppling off. Classes are an hour, once a
week, Monday through Wednesday and Saturday. Riding is divided into 10-week semesters, which cost
$410 per semester. There also are scholarships for those in need.
Page 9
In addition to classes, Brandt often offers special extras. This year, there was a Halloween horse prade,
and she took 30 students to the 2015 Kiwanis Equestrian Competition for Special Athletes at Hansen
Dam Equestrian Center in Los Angeles. Brandt said a film crew from South Korea was scheduled to
visit to make a documentary film and possibly create a similar program.
The therapeutic capabilities of working with horses date to ancient Greece. In the 17th century,
interaction with horses was prescribed for ailments ranging from gout to low morale. It was not until the
1960s, however, that equine-assisted therapy and hippotherapy was formalized.
Brandt said insurance programs don’t pay for riding as therapy, but she hopes that will change.
“It’s becoming more mainstream. One of these days it will be accepted,” she said. “I encourage
everyone to file with their insurance.”
New Year's Day Resolutions and Traditions
While celebration varies all over the world, common traditions include making resolutions or goals to
improve one's life. Common resolutions concern diet, exercise, bad habits, and other issues concerning
personal wellness. A common view is to use the first day of the year as a clean slate to improve one's life.
One food superstition includes circle-shaped foods, which symbolize cycles, and that the first day of the year
sets precedent for the following days. Some foods considered "lucky" to eat during the festivities include
circular shaped foods, black-eyed peas, cabbage and pork
A common superstition specific to New Year's Day concerns a household's first visitor of the year—tradition
states that if a tall, dark-haired stranger is the first to walk through your door, called the First Footer or Lucky
Bird, you'll have good luck all year. Also, if you want to subscribe to superstition, don't let anything leave the
house on New Year's, except for people. Tradition say's: don't take out the trash and leave anything you
want to take out of the house on New Year's outside the night before. If you must remove something, make
sure to replace it by bringing an item into the house. These policies of balance apply in other areas as well—
avoiding paying bills, breaking anything, or shedding tears.
Toasting- Toasts typically concern gratefulness for the past year's blessings, hope and luck or the future,
and thanking guests for their New Year's company. In coastal regions, running into a body of water or
splashing water on one another, symbolizing the cleansing, "rebirth" theme associated with the holiday.
New Year’s Celebrations
American Citizens often celebrate with a party
featuring toasting, drinking and fireworks late into
the night before the New Year, where the gathering
counts down the final seconds to January 1st.
Some might even get a kiss at midnight. Many
English speaking countries play "Auld Lang Syne,"
a song celebrating the year's happy moments.
Americans often make resolutions and watch the
Time Square Ball drop in New York City. Although
much of this celebration occurs the night before,
the merrymaking typically continues to New Year's
Day. Football is a common fixture on New Year's
Day in America, usually the day of the Rose Bowl.
Page 10
Hotel Centered Around
Workers With Special
Needs Set To Open
Reprinted from Disability Scoop by Michelle Diament, December 18, 2015
A first-of-its-kind, fully-functioning teaching hotel designed to
provide job training and employment for people with
disabilities is ready to open its doors. The 150-room Courtyard Muncie at Horizon Convention Center in Muncie, Ind.
will open with a ribbon cutting on Dec. 22.
From day one, at least 20 percent of the Courtyard by Marriott hotel’s 129-person workforce will be people
with developmental and other types of disabilities, according to Sally Morris with The Arc of Indiana, which
spearheaded the project.
Individuals with disabilities are already employed in all areas of the operation including at the front desk, in
housekeeping and at the on-site bistro and restaurant, Morris said.
Beyond traditional hotel offerings, the $32 million project includes a training institute where those with
disabilities will come from across Indiana for 9- to 13-week sessions to learn vocational skills related to the
hospitality, food service and health care fields. As part of the training, participants will intern at the hotel,
restaurant or at a nearby hospital. The first class of trainees is slated to begin Jan. 11.
The 113,000-square-foot facility, which was funded in part by the state of Indiana, is attached to the local
convention center.
Page 11
January General Recreation
Club Freedom Events Highlighted
1-Jan
Fri
PF Offices Closed—Happy New Year
2-Jan
Sat
Holiday Lights - PA 5 Consumers Needed
Bus Leaves PFR 5:00 PM
4-Jan
Mon
Day Program
Prog. Time 10 AM-3 PM
7-Jan
Thu
Mall Trip Moorestown 5 People Needed
Bus Leaves PFR 9:30 AM
11-Jan
Mon
Day Program
Prog. Time 10 AM-3 PM
12-Jan
Tue
Parx Casino - Philadelphia - 5 Needed
Bus Leaves PFR 9:30 AM
13-Jan
Wed
Grocery Shopping - Shop Rite
Bus Leaves PFR 9:30 AM
14-Jan
Thu
Columbus Farmers & Flea Market
Bus Leaves PFR 9:30 AM
18-Jan
Mon
PF Offices Closed - M.L. King Holiday
19-Jan
Tue
Mall Trip Oxford Valley 4 People Needed
Bus Leaves PFI 9:30 AM
20-Jan
Wed
Movies—Hamilton AMC 24
Bus Leaves PFR 10:00 AM
21-Jan
Thu
Dine Out - Lunch - Cracker Barrel
Bus Leaves PFR 11:30 AM
23-Jan
Sat
Disney On Ice
Bus Leaves PFR 5:00 PM
25-Jan
Mon
Day Program
Prog. Time 10 AM-3 PM
27-Jan
Wed
Grocery Shopping - Shop Rite
Bus Leaves PFR 9:30 AM
Jan. 1
Rose Eller
Jan 17
Sakina Diwan
Jan 7
Wendy Brown
Amarianna Page
Jan. 20
Iris Helfritch
Jan 10
Nate Smith
Beverly is busy making her snow globe as part of Dana’s craft
program. Insides of more globes are pictured at right.
Jan. 15
Brandon Francis
Jan. 29
Billy Fudali
Johnny Piepszak
Project Freedom Inc.
223 Hutchinson Road
Robbinsville, NJ 08691
Non-Profit
Organization
US Postage Paid
Trenton, NJ
Permit #1083
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Project Freedom Inc. is a 501 (c)(3 ) not for profit organization dedicated to developing, supporting
and advocating opportunities for independent living for people with disabilities
Do You Want to Get
Out Once a Week?
We are now accepting applications for
Project Freedom’s Monday Day Program
We do arts & crafts, games and
monthly trips
Monday 10am—3pm
Charge $ 4 bag lunch / $5 hot lunch
(every other week)