Welcome to the 58th issue of the ILRCSF Resource Rag. This compilation of resources, announcements, and events is designed as a community pipeline for things that may fall through the cracks of other newsletters or postings.

The Rag is published the first week of each month and sent to the ILRCSF Resource Rag distribution list and you can also pick up copies of the Rag at our office. If you have resources or articles you would like to share, would like to give us feedback, or want to be added to the Resource Rag distribution list, please send an email to data@ilrcsf.org

CONTENTS

• ILRCSF Announcements, Updates and Calendar
• Spotlight News - 2008 Medicare Information
• Advocate’s Corner - Long-Term Care
• Events
• Announcements

ILRCSF RECOGNIZES NOTABLE DATES IN DECEMBER & JANUARY

Monthly Observances:

December:
Stress Free Family Holiday Month

January:
Birth Defects Prevention Month
Eye Health Care Month
Glaucoma Awareness Month

Weekly Observances:

December:
1 st: Hand Washing Awareness Week

January:
4 th: Health Awareness Week

Daily Observances:

December:
12/1: World AIDS Day
12/3: International Day of Disabled Persons
12/5 – 12: Hanukkah
12/10: Human Rights Day
12/12: Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
12/25: Christmas Day
12/26 – 1/1: Kwanzaa

January:
1/1: New Year’s Day
1/4: Braille Day
1/16: Religious Freedom Day

1.  ILRCSF ANNOUNCEMENTS, UPDATES AND CALENDAR:

NEW ILRCSF OFFICES HOURS:
Monday to Thursday 9:00 am to 4:30 pm
Friday's 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

ILRCSF is wheelchair accessible and provides reasonable accommodations on request, including ASL interpreters and print information in alternative formats. ILRCSF is a scent-free office in order to be fully accessible to all people with disabilities. Please do not wear any scented products including perfumes, aftershave, hairspray, etc. to any meetings, groups, or workshops held at or by ILRCSF.  If you are wearing scents, you will not be able to remain in the office.

BENEFITS WORKSHOP
ILRCSF now offers three different workshops on benefits:
1. Basic Benefits Overview
2. Returning to Work - for People Receiving SSI only
3. Returning to Work - for People Receiving SSDI or both SSDI and SSI

Every Thursday at 9:30, we will hold a workshop on one of these three topics. You can ask any question about benefits at these workshops, but if possible, please come to the workshop most closely related to your benefits. If you need information about applying for Social Security, Medi-Cal or other benefits, come to the Basic Benefits Overview. The other two workshops cover - in depth - the PASS program, and how Social Security benefits and healthcare are affected by returning to work.

Upcoming workshops:
December 6: Basic Benefits Overview
December 13: Returning to Work – for People Receiving SSI only
December 20: Basic Benefits Overview
December 27: Returning to Work – for People Receiving SSDI or both SSDI & SSI
January 3 : NO WORKSHOP
January 10: Returning to Work – for People Receiving SSI only
January 17: Basic Benefits Overview
January 24: Returning to Work – for People Receiving SSDI or both SSDI & SSI
January 31: Basic Benefits Overview

HOUSING WORKSHOPS - Low Income Housing
Registration is required. Call 543-6222 ext. 100. Monday’s in November 1:30-3:30

ILRCSF RESOURCE ROOM
ILRCSF has a FREE/ accessible Resource Room, with information in Chinese, English and Spanish. We also have a bulletin board with information for Deaf Consumers and information is available in alternative formats upon request.

The resource room provides info on a variety of subjects, such as benefits, ADA, assistive technology, returning to work, free food-shelter-medical care resources, health care access, legal resources, housing (including a place for those who want to post ads for apartments for rent or shared housing rentals; an updated rental list from Craig’s Lists; etc.) etc. If we don’t the resource, we’ll do our best to find the resource and referrals you are looking for. (Service providers are welcome to send us flyers and handouts to distribute.)

For further information on these and other ILRCSF services
you can stop by our office at 649 Mission Street, 3rd Floor

ATTENTION SAN FRANCISCO PEDESTRIANS: We need your help!!

Please let us know what you think about the City’s Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS). Have you used them? Did they work properly? Have you encountered any problems? Have they helped you in your travels? Please use the contact information at the end of this announcement to give us your feedback!

A list of San Francisco intersections currently equipped with APS can be found on the website of the San Francisco LightHouse at http://www.lighthouse-sf.org/AccessiblePedestrianSignals.php

On that same page you will find information about how the APS work and links to information about the settlement agreement between the blind community and San Francisco about APS. To request an APS, call the City’s Customer Service Line at 311 (if you are in San Francisco) or 415-701-2311 (outside of San Francisco).

The APS in San Francisco are being installed as a result of an agreement between the City and the LightHouse, the California Council of the Blind, and the Independent Living Resource Center. Community feedback is crucial as we implement the agreement over the next two years. We hope we will hear from you soon.

Please send feedback to: info@lighthouse-sf.org or, if email is not available, please leave a message, toll free, at 888.400.8933

Thanks in advance, Jessie Lorenz, SF LightHouse, Linda Porelle, CCB, Diane Rovai, ILRC

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

Chinese Community Services Coordinator

Independent Living Resource Center San Francisco, located in the financial district (downtown SF very near to BART/MUNI) is looking for a CHINESE COMMUNITY SERVICES COORDINATOR .  This position reports directly to the Community Outreach Supervisor.

Independent Living Resource Center San Francisco (ILRCSF) is a disability rights advocacy and support organization. ILRCSF’s mission is achieved by: systems change; community education; partnerships with business, community organizations and government; and consumer directed services.

Salary for this position is in the range of $34,500-$39,000 annually, and includes a benefits package: health, dental, vision, and life insurance and 403(b) employee contribution retirement plan, 2 weeks vacation. Flexible and diverse work place.

Job Description

Under the direction of the Community Outreach Supervisor, the Chinese Community Services Coordinator is responsible for establishing a relationship with community organizations which facilitates culturally appropriate services for Chinese speaking people with disabilities in San Francisco 's Chinatown (primarily). Additionally, this position provides an array of services in group and individual settings, including peer counseling, information & referral, and advocacy, in service areas including housing, benefits, work incentives, assistive technology, health care access, etc. Occasional translation/interpreting required. All services are delivered on a bilingual-bicultural and disability peer role model basis at ILRCSF and at community sites.

Specific Responsibilities

1. Provide service coordination to the cross disability community, including needs assessment, identification of relevant community resources, advocacy, and interpreting.
2. Provide independent living skills training so consumers may actively participate in obtaining community services.
3. Provide information and referral services.
4. Provide assistance in the areas including IHSS, disability benefits, work incentives, housing and assistive technology, health care access and ADA related issues.
5. Provide peer counseling and assist consumers to develop peer and family support systems.
6. Conduct community workshops and other community education activities.
7. Through community outreach, establish culturally appropriate relationships with community groups to facilitate identification of people with disabilities; identify venues for community education; and work to increase both disability awareness and accessible service delivery in the community.
8. Maintain and develop resource materials for Chinese speaking community.
9. Represent ILRCSF on community task forces and committees.
10. Participate in Officer of the Day duties.
11. Complete necessary reporting duties in a timely manner.

Qualifications

1. Bilingual-bicultural Chinese speaking persons preferred.
2. Must identify as a person with a disability as part of independent living/role modeling approach. (Includes diabetes, asthma, heart disease, HIV, or other disabilities which significantly effect some daily activity or activities).
3. BA or equivalent education and experience.
4. At least 2 years experience in social services delivery.
5. Good personal and written communication skills.
6. Ability to present information in a workshop/group setting.
7. Ability to work as a generalist - absorb detailed information in an array of service areas.
8. Ability to come to work scent free.

Union representation by the Office & Professional Employees, International Union Local No. 3, AFL - CIO

Independent Living Resource Center San Francisco (ILRCSF) is wheelchair accessible and provides reasonable accommodations on request, including ASL interpreters and print information in alternative formats. ILRCSF is a scent-free office in order to be fully accessible to all people with disabilities. Please do not wear any scented products including perfumes, aftershave, hairspray, etc. to any meetings, groups, or workshops held at or by ILRCSF. EOE.

Send résumé and cover letter to Alice Ordover, 649 Mission Street, 3rd Floor, SF, CA 94105 or email alice@ilrcsf.org

2.  SPOTLIGHT NEWS - 2008 MEDICARE INFORMATION

Important Dates:
Week of October 15: Mailing of Medicare and You handbooks
October 31: Medicare beneficiaries should have received their 2008 Annual Notice of Coverage and Summary of Benefits
November 15 through December 31: Annual Part D enrollment period
January 1, 2008 : Changes to coverage take effect

What is Covered by Medicare:
Part A: Medicare Hospital Insurance
Part B: Medicare Medical Insurance (outpatient visits)
Part C: Medicare Managed Care plans (called Medicare Advantage)
Part D: Outpatient Medication Coverage (brand names & generics)

Medicare D

Two Ways to get Medicare Part D Coverage:

1. Join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) that adds drug coverage to Medicare Health Coverage under Parts A and B.
2. Join a Medicare Advantage Plan (MA-PD) that is like an HMO or PPO and includes prescription drug coverage as part of the plan. Beneficiaries get all their Medicare coverage through these plans, including prescriptions.

Milestones in Part D Coverage for Medicare Only Prescription Drug Plans:

Dual Eligibles/MediCal & Medicare (up to 100% Federal Poverty Level):

Co-payments: Generic: $1.50 Brand: $3.10

Dual Eligibles/MediCal & Medicare (over 100% Federal Poverty Level):

Co-payments: Generic: $2.25 Brand: $5.60

Subsidies for Dual Eligibles Who Do Not Qualify for Full Benefits:

• Resources under $6,120 for an individual and under $9,190 for a couple:

Co-payments: Generic: $2.25 Brand:$5.60

• Resources between $6,120 - $20,210 for an individual and between $9,190 - $20,410 for a couple:

$56.00 Deductible

15% Co-insurance up to out-of-pocket threshold of $4,050

Maximum co-payments about out-of-pocket threshold:

Generic: $2.25 Brand: $5.60

Part A Premium

Most people do not pay a Part A premium because they paid Medicare taxes while employed. If you do not qualify for premium-free Part A the cost is up to $423 per month.

Part B Premium (based on income)

3. ADVOCATE'S CORNER - Long-Term Care

Information from: The Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured “Long-Term Services and Supports: The Future Roles and Challenges for Medicaid” (September 2007).

Medicaid’s (MediCal in California) role from its inception has been to ensure access to health care for low-income Americans. Medicaid covers a variety of long-term care options from community-based services and supports, to nursing homes. Currently Medicaid pays for 42% of all long-term care expenditures and almost 50% of all institutional care costs.

Growth in community-based care alternatives is reducing the institutional bias nationally, and allowing more seniors and people with disabilities to live and receive services in the community. Waiting lists for community-based services indicate that access to these services are too limited and that they are preferred over institutional care. Between 1999 and 2003, the percentage of Medicaid beneficiaries ages 65 and older in nursing homes, declined from 21.6% to 18.1%. Between 1990 and 2002 numbers of nursing home beds declined from 66.7 to 61.4 per 10,000 population. The national trend is to move away from institutional care, so we need to ask why this is not what is happening in San Francisco. Why are we investing hundreds of millions of dollars into rebuilding Laguna Honda, instead of investing in the services that seniors and people with disabilities need in order to live in their community?

One of the major impediments to community-based living options is the availability to secure appropriate affordable housing or to modify housing to accommodate the person’s needs. In 2002 the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services recognized that re-establishing a residence was a barrier to transitioning from institutional settings to the community, and allowed payment for certain one-time expenses such as security deposits and essential home furnishings. Despite this, the lack of appropriate affordable housing continues to disrupt efforts to provide community-based services in the least restrictive setting - as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Olmstead decision. San Francisco needs to understand it’s obligation to invest in appropriate housing and other services, in order to accommodate its disabled and senior populations.

All residents of San Francisco need to be aware of our City’s bias toward Laguna Honda. We all need to think about why SF has decided that an institution is the place to house its disabled and senior residents, instead of investing equal time and money into making this a community that welcomes everyone. It is time that we hold our elected officials accountable to the will of the people most effected by their decisions to invest the bulk of the long-term care dollars that are available, in the rebuilding of the largest nursing home in the country, instead of allowing people to be full and equal partners in all aspects of life in this City.

4.  EVENTS

Understanding Learning Disabilities – Richard Lavoie: Beyond F.A.T. (Frustration, Anxiety, Tension) A Look Back, A Look Ahead
Date and Time: Saturday, December 1, 2007 from 2:00 – 4:00pm
Location: San Francisco Public Library, Main Library, 100 Larkin St. (At Grove) – Latino/Hispanic Community Meeting Room B, Lower Level
Information: Contact cac_specialed@hotmail.com 

TEENPOWER Personal Safety Workshop for Youth with Support for Families of Children with Disabilities and the ITOP Youth Council Date and Time: Tuesday, December 4, 2007 from 4:00 – 6:00pm
Description: TEENPOWER works with participants and staff to identify everyone’s strengths and then enables them to practice how to use those strengths to keep themselves safe
Information, Location and Registration: Contact John Weber at 415-282-7494 ext. 20 or email ITOPSF.org

5.  ANNOUNCEMENTS

SUPERFEST International Disability Film Festival Calls for Submissions

SUPERFEST , the world’s longest-running juried international disability film festival, is seeking your entry for submission to our 28 th film competition. SUPERFEST is the primary international showcase for cutting-edge films that portray disability culture and experience in all its diverse, complex, and empowering facets.

Entry fees range from $30 to $90, depending on film length and production budget. SUPERFEST is funded solely by entry fees, small grants and individual contributions.

Final Entry Deadline: Postmarked by January 15, 2008 (Early bird discount if postmarked by January 2, 2008 )

Eligibility Requirements;

Judging takes place in Spring 2008. Winners will be announced on or around April 1, 2008 . Winners will be screened in the SF Bay Area in June 2008 and all entries will be listed in the festival catalogue. Winners will be asked to provide still production photos and tape copies for publicity purposes.

For detailed information, and to download an entry form, visit: http://www.culturedisabilitytalent.org, email superfest@aol.com, phone 510-845-5576 , or send a legal size SASE to: CDT , PO Box 1107, Berkeley, CA 94701.

Universal Lifeline Telephone Service (ULTS)

• Service connection fees
• Conversion of service to ULTS
• Flat rate local service
• Measured local service
• A discounted second line if a household member needs TTY or TDD device

You may qualify if you or another person in your household is enrolled in one of the following programs:

• Medi-Cal · SSI · Food Stamps · Healthy Families Category A · Tribal TANF WIC · Low Income
• Home Energy Assistance Program · TANF · Federal Public Housing/Section 8 · National School Lunch’s FREE Lunch Program · Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance · Head Start Income Eligible (Tribal Only)

                                                                   OR

You meet before tax income limits:
1-2  members in household  - $22,000  maximum yearly  household income
3  members in household - $25,900  maximum yearly  household income
4 members in household - $31,200  maximum yearly  household income
Each additional household member - $31,200 + $3,500/additional person

For additional information about this program, stop by ILRCSF’s office and pick up a copy of the Lifeline brochure.  You can also call 1-800-446-5651 or go on line www.att.com/lifeline

National ADA Symposium and EXPO
A comprehensive three day conference on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other disability laws sponsored by the National Network of Disability and Business Technical Assistance Centers (DBTAC). Conference will be held from May 12 – 14, 2008 at America’s Center in St. Louis, MO. For more information call 1-800-949-4232 for the DBTAC that serves your region.

Downtown Social Security office has moved!

The downtown Social Security office on Market street has moved to 90 7th Street. This is at Mission Street and 7th and is close to the Civic Center Muni/Bart station.
Here is the new address:
Social Security
90 7th St, Annex 1st Fl
San Francisco, Ca 94103

The national toll-free number for Social Security is 1-800-772-1213 and operates from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Tip: To get a person faster, you can select your language, and then keep pressing “0” at the prompts. Enter your social security number when asked.

For detail information on SSI and SSDI rules, visit www.db101.org .

New Website: Special Mates

Web Address: www.special-mates.co.uk

A national support network for people with disabilities, their parents and caretakers in the US, Canada and Britain. Features include specialist information, support networks, videos, books, DVDs, therapy services, articles, grants, benefits, etc.

New Website: Northern California Cancer Center

Web Address: www.nccc.org

New features include links to updated scientist profiles, community Cancer Calendar, qualified resources for cancer information, press releases, media materials and newsletter sign-up.

YOUR ONLINE PURCHASES CAN BENEFIT
Independent Living Resource Center San Francisco!

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* 1st purchase must be made through iGive.com, within 45 days of joining. eBay bids are not considered for this purpose. Causes listed at iGive.com have been listed by iGive members for their own and other members' use. Information listed here is subject to change. Visit www.iGive.com for the most current information.

ILRCSF is wheelchair accessible and provides reasonable accommodations on request, including ASL interpreters and print information in alternative formats. ILRCSF is a scent-free office in order to be fully accessible to all people with disabilities. Please do not wear any scented products including perfumes, aftershave, hairspray, etc. to any meetings, groups, or workshops held at or by ILRCSF.