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State of New HampshireGovernor's Commission
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State of New HampshireGovernor's Commission
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New In New Hampshire: Opening the Gates of Accessibility
Thanks to House Bill 478-FN-A, the State of New Hampshire has now made an appropriation to support “Newsline”. Newsline, produced by the National Federation of the Blind (NFB), is a free newspaper reading service for people who, because of a disability (NOT ONLY BLINDNESS), cannot read regular newsprint. This service is now available in New Hampshire. Anyone who cannot read conventional print due to a disability is eligible for this free service and can subscribe by filling out a simple application form. To register as a subscriber, call the New Hampshire State Library, Services to Persons with Disabilities (Talking Book Library) at (800) 491-4200 or (603) 271-3429, or download the application form from www.nfb.org/newsline1.htm, or call the National Federation of the Blind in Baltimore, Maryland, at (410) 659-9314, and request this free service. If you would like further information, contact the NFB of New Hampshire, Bruce Gillis: (603) 749-4156, or email: bruce_gillis@yahoo.com
The Governor’s Commission on Disability (GCD) also monitors the state’s PhoneLink Program, which is administered by Granite State Independent Living (GSIL). The PhoneLink program is responsible for providing various forms of telephone products to individuals with disabilities. Along with providing needs assessment and instruction on how to use each piece of required equipment, GSIL provides these services with little or no cost to the applicant.
If you should need any further information on either of these services, feel free to contact us here at GCD at (603) 271-2773.
Civil Awareness:
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, I have been wondering if I would have known how to react in the best interest of my family and my community. Would I have taken what I needed to care for my children? Who should I call for help? How much and what sort of personal/medical information should I have in case our medical community is impaired? Who can I call to offer my help now and in the future? Over the last week we have been bombarded by messages both asking for and offering help and advice. Presented here you will find legitimate organizations and information in
Highlights for September:
• Newsline and Phonelink
• Are you prepared for an emergency?
• Where are our Federal dollars going?
“The future depends on what we do in the present.
-M. Gandhi”
regards to volunteerism and emergency preparedness.
• “After a Disaster: A Guide for Parents and Teachers”; National Mental Health Information Center: This brochure presents information developed with federal funds by Project Heartland as a result of the 1995 bombing in Oklahoma City. It is broken down by age group, offering tips on how to react to and reassure our children and adolescents. www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov.
• “Disaster Preparedness for People with Disabilities”: American Red Cross: The American Red Cross offers comprehensive disaster preparedness information that can be found on their web site at: www.redcross.org/services/disaster/beprepared. On this site you will find basic information such as what to include in a supplies kit and being prepared for how disaster-related stress may affect your disability and independence. It offers instruction in how to create a personal support network, and walks through the creation of a personal disaster plan. The Red Cross has also developed a coloring book to use as a tool to educate children.
• The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in conjunction with the Red Cross, has published the pamphlet “Your Family Disaster Plan” which can be found at the Red Cross site listed above, or at www.FEMA.gov. You can reach FEMA by phone at 1(800) 480-2520 or by writing to FEMA, PO Box 2012, Jessup, MD 20794-2012.
For those looking for a place to volunteer, the following is a brief list of organizations (found on the DisibilityInfo.gov website) you can contact:
• www.TheArcLink.org: “Emergency Relief Resources for People with Special Needs”: offers emergency relief resources from The Arc for people with special needs, family members, case managers, employers, and service coordinators.
• www.independentliving.org/links/links-swa-recruitment-volunteer: This page offers links to national and international volunteer opportunities from the Independent Living Institute Web site.
On the Download: Here you will find reviews of web-related and other informational resources.
• President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities is a Federal advisory committee that coordinates activities between federal agencies and measures their impact on individuals with intellectual disabilities and their families. They can be found on the web at www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/pcpid
• Association of University Centers on Disabilities is a “network of interdisciplinary Centers advancing policy and practice for and with individuals with developmental and other disabilities, their families, and their communities.” www.aucd.org/ (NEADA, Spring 2005).
• The ADA Document Portal, www.adaportal.org, offers over 7000 technical assistance documents related to the ADA of 1990.
• “Equal Access to Safe Egress”, published by Easter Seals Project ACTION, offers strategies to be used by passengers with disabilities during an emergency evacuation to significantly increase safety. This can be found online at www.projectaction.org.
• “Intersection: National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability” (NCWD) is a youth newsletter and website which provides information to “improve services to youth and especially youth with disabilities.” To sign up for their newsletter, you can email them at newsletter@ncwd-youth.info, or send your request to 4455 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 310, Washington, DC, 20008.
The Mini-Seminars are Here!
Well, it’s that time again; Karen Geary, Cheryl Killam, Gayle Baird and the rest of us here at the GCD have been working hard to present an incredible year of mini-seminars for you. Each month a disability-related organization or program will be highlighted.
Participants will receive a comprehensive overview of each organization and learn what resources are available for further information.
Back by popular demand, Cheryl Killam will be providing a three-part series on Accessibility Codes that apply in the State of New Hampshire.
A two-part series on Emergency Preparedness, which is detailed on the front page, will begin in September.
Schedule of Mini-Seminars:
• Sept 14: Emergency Preparedness – Part I
• Oct 12: Living Wills
• Nov 30: Emergency Preparedness – Part II
• Dec 14: Access Codes – Part I
• Jan 18: Access Codes – Part II
• Feb 15: Access Codes – Part III
Scheduled seminars are held from 2 – 4 pm, Wednesday at Regional Drive, Concord, NH.
This series is offered free to the public, but pre-registration is required to ensure adequate seating room. If you or your organization would like to participate in this series, please contact Karen Geary at (800) 852-3405 (Voice/TTY), 603-271-2773, or email Karen at Karen.Geary@nh.gov.
A three-part series will be presented by Cheryl Killam, Accessibility Specialist, on Accessibility Codes that apply in the State of New Hampshire. The first workshop will review the basic requirements for providing accessibility and when/which facilities are required to be accessible. Attending the remaining workshops will require a general understanding of basic accessibility requirements.
This series will compare the two codes most often referred to: the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibilities Guidelines (ADAAG), and the “Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities” guidelines from the International Code Council, otherwise known as ANSI A117.1-1998. Copies of the ADAAG will be available at the workshop, but you can obtain a free copy of ADAAG by calling 1-800-514-0301 or by going online to http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/stdpdf.htm.
ANSI-1998 is a copyrighted standard, and cannot be distributed. If you wish to purchase a copy prior to the workshop, you may do so by calling the ICC store at 1-800-786-4452 and requesting product #9033S98, or by going online to: www.iccsafe.org. Additionally, the 2004 version of the ADAAG, published by the United States Access Board, will be discussed. This code is available at www.access-board.gov/ada-aba/index.htm.
Access Codes Part I: will cover scoping, access basics, and building and site elements.
Access Codes Part II: will cover accessible routes, and communication elements such as alarm systems, signs, telephones and ATM’s.
Access Codes Part III: will cover plumbing elements, special rooms and spaces, and built-in furnishing and equipment.
For further information on accessibility, please contact Cheryl Killam at (800) 852-3405(TYY), 603-271-4177, or email at Cheryl.Killam@nh.gov.
What’s New at the Commission?: New people, perhaps a new look; whatever the change, you’ll find it here.
The Governor’s Commission on Disability has undergone quite a few changes over the past couple of months. In March, I was brought on board as the Office Manager for the Commission. Shortly after that, our long-time bookkeeper, Carol Royce, retired and Gayle Baird took her place as our Accounting Technician. Promoted from within, Gayle brings over twenty years of bookkeeping and administrative support experience to our team.
The Commission was fortunate to be able to bring Karen Geary in from her support position at the Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC). She is now working a dual role within our office as administrative support to both the Front Office Team and to our Architectural Barriers program.
Oh, and did I mention over the summer we gave the office a coat of paint and fantastic new rug in the common areas, as well as new tile in the kitchen area?
We look forward to the upcoming months as we move through this transition and welcome your contact and calls.
On the Federal Front
The 109th Congress is working on appropriations bills that will determine federal spending for the Fiscal Year 2006, which begins on October 1, 2005. Highlights for key disability program funding include:
• A $150 million increase in the House bill for the IDEA State Grant program, while the Senate version calls for only $100 million.
• Both the Senate and House version of this bill cut the Supported Employment State Grant program by almost $8 million.
• The House Bill freezes the Tech Act while the Senates bill increases it by $500,000.
• The Senate proposes a small cut in the DOL’s Office of Disability, while the House is requesting a 40% cut.
• Both House and Senate bills reject eliminating the portion of HUD’s Section 811 Assistive Housing program for new housing starts.
The Senate is not scheduled to return to work on their bills until after Labor Day. With a deadline for completion of October 1, they will have to work quickly. (Washington Watch, vol 3, issue 6)
Governor’s Commission on Disability
57 Regional Drive
Concord, NH, 03301
Phone (603) 271-2773 V/TTY
(800) 852-3405
Fax (603) 271-2837
E-mail Marcy.hoik@nh.gov
We’re on the Web!
www.nh.gov/disability
Important Dates to Remember:
Sept 13: Commission meeting
Sept 14: Emergency Preparedness Seminar
Sept 21-22: ADA Celebration at UNH
Sept 28-29: ADA Celebration at UNH
Oct 12: Living Wills Seminar
A Quick Note From the Editor
It has been a beautiful, albeit busy, summer here at the Commission. With the changing of leaves, I am looking forward to Fall, and the next issue of The Blue Sheet, which will spotlight Education and Employment.
If you should have any comments, suggestions, items of interest, or events which you would like addressed or included, please forward them to me at the Contact Information listed below. I look forward to receiving your feedback.
Address questions and comments to Marcy Hoik, c/o the Governor's Commission on Disability, 57 Regional Drive, Concord, NH 03301, Tel: 271-5614 or 1-800-852-3405 toll free in New Hampshire (Voice or TTY), e-mail: Marcy.Hoik@nh.gov.
Happy Reading;
Marcy E. Hoik