FACES of DRAIL

HIGHLIGHTS
S P E CI A L
E ST :
P O IN T S
OF
I N T E R-
F.A.C.E.S of DRAIL

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 Speaking
PAGE 6
Staff Spotlight
PAGE 7
DRAIL Presents on AT
A Fresh Start
IPAD For Me
PAGE 8
Changing Perceptions
PAGE 9
TSA
PAGE 10
New Program
Manager
Ramp To Success
PAGE 11
 Fresh Start
Friends, Advocates & Consumer Empowered Stories
Disability Resource Agency for Independent Living
V O L U M E
1
I S S U E
2
W I N T E R
2 0 1 1
Barry Smith Promoted To Executive Director
In the early
90’s Barry served as
the para Olympics
the Program Managgold medal in snow
er for United Cereskiing. He was the
bral Palsy, where he
torch bearer at the
wrote the first proADA celebration in
gram on how to
2000.
teach people with
Barry Smith
developmental disawho has many such
bilities become more
accomplishments
independent within
under his belt, is
the community.
now the Executive
His association
Director of DRAIL.
Modesto Junior Colwith DRAIL began
His long jourwhen he joined its
ney in the area of In- lege.
What followed
board in 1993.
dependent living has
was a degree in liberal
In 1997, Barry
been eventful.
studies and his fruitful became the center
He was only
16 when a diving ac- service to the commu- coordinator at
DRAIL. He moved
cident left him quad- nity.
From being an
on to serve DRAIL
riplegic. That did not
Instructional Assistant as Director of Serfaze Barry.
in Special Ed, Barry
vices, and then to
He actively
has achieved distincInterim Executive Digot involved in
tion of being named
rector.
sports like swimthe President of the
In October
ming, water skiing,
2011 Barry was proweight lifting—all this International Decade
of the Disabled for
moted as Executive
while attending
California.
Director of DRAIL.
He has won
PAGE 2
Accessible Thermostats
VIP Talking thermostats for
consumers with vision disrating with the Modesto
ability and the Lux touch
Irrigation District (MID)
screen thermostat for conto assist persons with
disabilities obtain acces- sumers with mobility impairments.
sible thermostats.
Other types of therThis program is
available to consumers mostats are available as
of MID, who live in Stan- well.
DRAIL staff will asislaus County, who have
sess consumers who rea disability.
quest a thermostat, based
Approval of this
contract will allow select- on their needs.
Once installed,
ed consumers the ability
DRAIL will offer technical
to be more energy effitraining on operation of the
cient, by allowing them
the control of their ener- thermostat.
For details, contact
gy usage.
AT Advocate Kris Rowe at
DRAIL will install
209.521.7260.
DRAIL Is collabo-
Increase In Cost Of Living Adjustments
Monthly Social
Security and Supplemental Security Income
(SSI) benefits for more
than 60 million Americans will increase 3.6
percent in 2012, according to a press release by
the Social Security Administration.
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 social 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
Support Group
Vent frustrations,
break free from feelings of
isolation, share coping
strategies and triumphs,
get answers directly from
people involved in the organizations you receive
services from, relax and
enjoy the company of others who share familiar experiences.
Held on the 1st Thursday
of every month, 10.00 am12.00 pm at DRAIL, Modesto.
Goals Group
Bring specific problems, questions and issues that are impacting
your life. Chances are another group member has
dealt with the issue themselves and can provide
firsthand insight into solutions that did, and didn’t
work for them.
Held on the 3rd Thursday
of every month, 10.00 am12.00 pm at DRAIL, Modesto.
Medicare changes for
2012, when announced,
will be available at
www.Medicare.gov.
PAGE 3
4th Annual Cesar Chavez Day
DRAIL
Schedwill be celeuled to begin at
brating its
11 am, the
fourth annual
event will inCesar
clude tributes
Chavez day
to Cesar
on March 30,
Chavez, enter2012.
tainment by a
To acMariachi band
commodate
and DJ.
the growing
InforCesar Chavez
participation,
mation booths
this year, the
event is being held outside will be set up to disseminate information on proof the Modesto DRAIL
grams that serve our
office.
community.
Returning To The Community
ble enough for him to be
discharged.
normal day for Bruce Riley
However, Riley did
who was standing next to a
window on the second floor not have any money to
move out of the skilled
of a building.
nursing facility.
Before he realized
He approached
what was happening, he
DRAIL Independent Livsuffered a stroke, lost his
ing Specialist Angelo Clay
balance and fell out of the
who applied for transitionwindow. Riley’s life
al funding through DOR
changed after that.
for Riley.
The stroke left him
On Clay’s request,
paralyzed on the left side
of his body. He was admit- the funding was granted.
With the help of this fundted to a skilled nursing facility after his release from ing, Clay assisted Riley in
finding an apartment and
the hospital.
moving back into commuAfter many months,
nity in September.
his condition became sta-
It was just another
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)
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
Accessible Computers for Consumers
DRAIL has accessible consumer work stations in each of their offices.
These stations
were created to allow individuals with disabilities
access to a computer
with accessible features.
The computers
have Dragon Naturally
Speaking software installed for users who
cannot use their hands
to type, JAWS software
for blind users, and
screen reading and magnification 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 internet use.
If you would like to
use the computer work
station call your local
DRAIL office and schedule
an appointment.
Find us on
FACEBOOK
Black History Month
Celebration
DRAIL will be having 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 Independent Living Specialist
Angelo at 209.521.7260
ext. 311 for more information on this special
event. The public is invited to participate in the celebrations.
Technical Training Available At DRAIL AT Resource Center
The newly opened
AT Resource Center at
DRAIL Modesto is offering 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 instruction 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 programs, 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 dependent on the type of disability. After the specific software program is utilized
and recommended by the
Assistive Technology Ad-
vocate, funding may be
available and can be
looked into for our consumers.
PAGE 5
Fun At The Fest
MODESTO
When
Ceres Partnership for Healthy
Children organized the 16th
annual family
resource and
funfest, DRAIL
was very much
there.
DRAIL
Independent
Living Specialist
Ruben VillaLao students from The Bridge Community
lobos set up an Center of Modesto, perform a Salawan dance
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.
In Support Of The Spanish Speaking
El Concilio hosted
DRAIL STAFF
become significant assets
to the community at large.
Individuals were
recognized for their contribution to the community
at the event.
its 43rd annual dinner on
October 14th at the Del
Rio Country Club.
DRAIL CWIC Ignacio Chavez and ILS Ruben Villalobos
attended the dinner.
The Council aims to serve
the underserved community by empowering them, so
that they can
Julia Valdez from Health Plan of San Joaquin with
help themselves DRAIL ILS Ruben Villalobos and his wife Maria.
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 Incentive Coordinator
SANDRA GRAHAM
AT Advocate
SONORA
KRISTY GILLEN
Center Coordinator
JEMA PADAVANA
Independent Living
Specialist
PAGE 6
Staff Spotlight: Alexandra Queen
When
her husband,
who is a combat veteran
was injured at
his civilian job,
Alexandra Queen had no
idea how to live with disabilities or how to get help.
It was then that she approached DRAIL.
The staff talked to
the couple, and advised
them about the basic social, financial, and emotional aspects of living
with a disability. It was a
kind of a “This End Up”
experience that really
helped them with the transition into a new way of
life.
When her grandparents 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 people with work-related Social Security issues, the
more Alexandra realized
that was the kind of work
that she wanted to do as
well.
So in, 2007, Alexandra fulfilled the necesContinued on Page 10
‘PASS’ing With Flying Colors
Duct tape held
some parts of the car that
Randy Limburg drove.
Randy had surmounted many obstacles
and was pursuing his
dream of becoming a
Drug and Alcohol counselor.
The Department of
Rehabilitation was paying
for his schooling. He
passed his training with
flying colors.
Just the course
work would be challenging enough, but Randy
had the additional problem of getting around. He
was driving a car that
was actually 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 Security 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 certification in March this year.
Here’s wishing him
success in his endeavors!
PAGE 7
DRAIL Presents On AT
Communications
Access Foundation
Tech Grant presentation to/from
CCAF funded projects.
CCAF TechDRAIL AT Advocate Sandra Graham nology Fund
awards grants to
DRAIL Assistive
community-based nonTechnology Advocate
profit organizations in
Sandra Graham particiCalifornia who establish
pated in the California
projects and programs designed to improve existing
technology that will make
spoken or verbal communication easier for people
with disabilities.
The event was held
on October 21. Graham
made a PowerPoint
presentation reporting
success stories attributed
to CCAF funding.
“Thank You For Helping Me Talk”
“Thank you for helping me talk” . These simple at poignant handwritten words in a card say it
all.
With a touch of a finger, 21 year old Charmaine of Amador County,
can now “speak” , thanks
to the I Pad2 and communication software that
DRAIL helped her get.
This effort at augmenting her verbal skills
was enabled through a
grant from the California
Communication Access
Foundation (CCAF).
The I Pad offers a
very wide variety of software that can assist with
multiple disabilities, but
primarily communication.
With the touch of a finger,
a non-verbal consumer
can “speak” through the
words and phrases available in various applications.
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 disabilities with a funding resource to obtain Augmentative and Alternative
Communication (AAC)
devices.
DRAIL has been
collaborating with the local regional centers,
Charmaine with her
I Pad
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.
PAGE 8
Changing Perceptions Of Youth ...With A Personal Touch
Ahmad Kayello, Preacher at a Muslim Mosque
spoke about tolerance
The occasion
was the 14th Annual Day of Respect. Organized
by the Human
Relations Club
of the Modesto
High school, this
event has been
reinforcing the
need for a better,
It was all about
tolerance. Stories from
the Japanese internment camp, personal
stories about bullying,
the religious perspective on tolerance, stories of war, of experiences while working in
the child protective
services-all painted a
dramatic but touching
picture for the students
at the Modesto High
School.
CHP officer Marcos Rivers speaks about
perception and judgment.
George Sharp of DRAIL speaks about bullying
dition of Day of Respect
was established in 1998 by
Sharon Froba, Modesto
High Schools English language teacher for over two
decades. Froba hoped that
personal stories by individuals from different walks of
life would help replace ignorance with knowledge
and intolerance with compassion.
Within a year of forming,
the Day of Respect turned
into a week-long event of
more peaceful community through good practices and attitude.
Among the perContinued on Page 9
sonal stories
that were
shared that
day included
DRAIL Systems Change
Advocate
George
Sharp’s experience with
bullying.
The tra- Sherman Kishi, shares his experience
Veteran Frank Alvarez speaks on the occasion too.
in a Japanese Internment camp.
about living
PAGE 9
Help Us to Help You – An Appeal From DRAIL
We would like to remind consumers the importance 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 experience with our agency.
We use the information 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 complete a survey upon completion of their case with
our agency but you may
Changing Perceptions Of Youth...
Continued from Page 8
diversity awareness programs.
The Day of Respect
has had different speakersThey have ranged from
person suffering from AIDS,
a mother of a lesbian, person of African American
origin who suffered discrimination, veterans of war, religious 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-
dividuals. No matter
which part of the world,
social station, culture,
gender or age group they
belong to.
This event takes
education to another level altogether-of shaping
good citizens for the future. Of promoting individuals with a broader
view point.
Disability is a matter
of perception. If you
can do just one thing
well, you're needed by
someone.
Martina Navratilova
be selected to complete
one at random or if you
contact our offices to request a copy.
It is with consumer
input that we truly accomplish the vision of
the Independent Living
Movement.
Thank you
Leng Power, Program
Manager .
Help For Travelers
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced
the launch of TSA
Cares.
This is a new
helpline number designed to assist travelers with disabilities and
medical conditions, prior
to getting to the airport.
Travelers may call
TSA Cares toll free at 1855-787 2227 prior to
traveling with questions
about screening policies, procedures and
what to expect at the
security checkpoint.
It is an additional
dedicated resource for
persons with disabilities.
PAGE 10
A Ramp To Success
New Program Manager
Leng
Power, has
been appointed as
the Program Manager at the
DRAIL
Leng Power,
Modesto
DRAIL Prooffice.
gram Manager
Leng
DRAIL staff with the help of different agencies obtained
has a ten- year long assofunds and helped install a ramp for Randy. Among those who
ciation with the non profit
helped with Randy’s move towards independence was the
field.
staff of the Calaveras Mariposa Community Action Agency,
“This experience has
Valley Mountain Regional Center and Creative Support Alterafforded me the opportuninatives.
ty to witness how strong,
Alexandra Queen: Continued from Page 6
consumer focused sersary credentials required benefits and feeling more vices and efficient resource management can
to become a Community in control. I also love
sharing people’s enthusi- positively impact the comWork Incentives Coordimunity we serve, “ says
asm about planning
nator.
Leng.
work, and their sense of
Now she helps
She hopes to continaccomplishment when
people understand how
ue to grow DRAILS comthey start pulling in a
the Ticket to Work program can support them in paycheck. It’s great being mitment to quality service
delivery and staying inthere with people when
entering the workforce
and how their Social Se- they prove to themselves ventive in diversifying its
service structure to ensure
curity and public benefits what they can really
sustainability.
achieve”, she says.
will be affected by their
new income.
“I remember how it
THUS SPAKE:
felt when my husband
Franklin D. Roosevelt
and I had no idea how
anything worked, so I re“We know that equality of individual
ally enjoy helping people
ability has never existed and never will,
go from being confused
and frustrated to knowing but we do insist that equality of opporwhat’s going on with their tunity still must be sought”.
PAGE 11
A Fresh Start: The Story of Louise Scott
Louise Scott was
could only receive $50
per month as she was
59 years old when she
not living independently.
lost her job due to the
Her meager bepoor economy.
longings were stored in a
She then helped
friend’s garage.
take care of her grandShe then contacted
children. Even that ended
when she became very ill DRAIL for assistance in
transitioning from the
owing to diabetes.
skilled nursing facility.
Louise was hospiCenter Coordinator
talized. Her troubles compounded when eventually Kristy Gillen, started
working with Louise.
she had to have her left
Kristy was able to
leg amputated below the
secure $4000 from the
knee.
Department of RehabilitaShe was then released to a skilled nursing tions Transitional Funding
Grant to assist Ms. Scott
facility to recover, since
in purchasing household
by then, she no longer
items she needed.
had a home.
This included furniEven though Louise
became eligible for Social ture and her first month’s
Security Disability Income supply of groceries that
she needed to transition.
while in the hospital, she
Louise now lives
DRAIL MISSION STATEMENT
Disability Resource
Agency for Independent Living,
(DRAIL) is a non-profit, community-based, consumercontrolled, consumer-choice, cross-disability center
for Independent Living serving the counties of Amador, 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.
independently and even
has time to spend with her
grandchildren!
[Consumers’ first name
has been changed to protect her identity].
I Pad Communication
A developmentally disabled consumer explores
the IPAD that he received
from the California Communications Access Foundation, through DRAIL assistance.
Ramp Completion
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 accessible to visitors, as reported
in our Summer 2011 issue .
DRAIL Modesto
920 12th Street
Modesto, CA 95354
NON –PROFIT ORGANIZATION
US POSTAGE PAID
MODESTO, CA
PERMIT NO 520
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Visit us on www.drail.org
SERVICES OFFERED
MODESTO
920 12th Street, Modesto, CA 95354
Ph:209.521.7260, Fax:209.521.4763
TTY:209.576.2409, VP:209.566.0547
Independent Living Services
501 W. Weber Avenue, Suite 200-A
Stockton, CA 95203
Ph:209.477.8143, Fax:209.477.7730
TTY: 209.465.5643
Information & Referral, Personal Assistance Referral, Housing Referral, Individual Advocacy, Systems Advocacy,
Peer Support, Peer Support Volunteer
Training, Volunteer Services, Independent
Living Skills, Benefits Advising, Disability
Awareness Sensitivity Training, ADA Technical Assistance & Evaluation, Motor Voter
Registration, Braille Classes
MOTHER LODE
Assistive Technology
STOCKTON
67 Linoberg Street, Suite A
Sonora, CA 95370
Ph:209.532.0963, Fax:209.532.1591
Visually Impaired Equipment, Dial a Ride
Certification, Interpreters, Utility Assistance
Programs, Equal Access Statements.