KBBI News By Renee Gross  June 15 2019

The Homer City Council recently adopted an American with Disabilities Act Transition Plan to make Homer more accessible. Legally, the city should have implemented a plan years ago but because of lack of oversight, it’s just now accomplishing that goal.

Click the link below to read or listen to the entire article winch includes Homer area resident Tess Dally, ILC Director Joyanna Geisler and former ILC staff member Rick Malley

For Homer residents with disabilities, accessibility is a waiting game

Youth Summer Work Program
The Independent Living Center is recruiting
students for a summer work program. Ages
14-21 and enrolled in high school or post
secondary education. We would like to give
students the opportunity to gain valuable
experience and skills, and earn wages! We will
work with you or your student on individual
community placements for the best work
experience.

Please contact Maggie Winston at the
Independent Living Center for details and to
apply.
907-740-0410
907-262-6333
Who: Students age 14-21
When: June 3-July 12 2019
Wage: $9.89 hr.
Application deadline May 10, 2019

SWP Flyer.pdf

Key Coalition of Alaska educates legislators about the importance of sustaining community-based services for people with disabilities and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) through their annual statewide Key Campaign advocacy efforts.

Each year, the Key Coalition organization sends members and advocates to Juneau to speak with legislators about public policy issues affecting people who experience a disability.

See the 2019  Key Campaign Priorities

Kids With Disabilities Can Be At Risk Of Bullying By Adults

Earlier this month, a Kentucky teacher was charged with assault after a video showed her dragging a 9-year-old boy with autism through school hallways. Studies show that kids with disabilities are three times more likely to be bullied than their peers, and an increasing number of parents are speaking about their kids' experiences with abusive adults.

Among them are Lauren Robert-Demolaize and Virginia Scudder, whose autistic children, they say, have been targeted by adults. They join Here & Now's Robin Young to talk about their experiences.

This segment aired on January 29, 2019.

Check out the link below to a public radio "Here & Now" article on the complexity of navigating senior health care decisions.  Navigating Senior's Health Decisions Can Be Complex...

ILC is an ADRC, Aging and Disability Resource Center.  Part of our ADRC program is to provide options counseling to seniors regarding services and finding adequate care.  We provide a screening interview called a PCI (Person Centered Intake) that is required by the State of Alaska for Medicaid Waiver services.  Medicaid waivers are one mechanism that senior and disability care needs can be funded.  This can be complex processes to navigate so our ADRC staff can talk with individuals about their unique circumstances and develop options.  For more information link to our ADRC page and or contact an ILC office in your community.

Please Support the work that ILC does through Pick Click and Give when you apply for your Alaska PFD!   Log in to My Alaska to apply for your PFD.

The Alaska State Independent Living Council

Needs Assessment Survey

Community Access equal Integration and Inclusion of Alaskans with disabilities.

Take the SILC Survey

The survey will be combined with focus group results, interviews, and data collected for secondary sources to determine the areas/topics that will be specifically targeted by the Independent Living Network during the years of 2020-2022.  The survey will take about 10-15 minutes to complete. Your responses will be confidential. Please share this survey with others that are interested in improving the lives of Alaskans with disabilities.  All responses are appreciated! Also, you can enter for a chance to win one of two $50 gift cards (the gift card can be from one of several national companies, such as Amazon, Fred Meyers, Costco, Safeway, etc.). Thank you for your time! If you have any questions or comments on the survey, please contact Heidi Frost (email and address below). The survey needs to be completed no later than November 1, 2018.

SDS Information Sharing Webinar New CFC, ISW and TCM Regulations Summary For All Stakeholders