ILRC - San Francisco

Welcome to the 59th 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

Monthly Observances:
African American History Month (Black History Month)
AMD/Low Vision Awareness Month American Heart Month
Chocolate Month

Weekly Observances:
1st Week: Burn Awareness Week
Women's Heart Week
4th Week: Eating Disorders Awareness Week

Daily Observances:
2/1 Freedom Day Women's Heart Health Day
2/2 Groundhog Day
2/7 National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
2/17 World Human Spirit Day 2/18 President's Day
2/19 Japanese-American Internment Day of Remembrance
2/29 Leap Day Repetitive Strain Injuries Awareness Day

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 am, 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.

February Workshops:
February 7: Returning to Work – for People Receiving SSDI only
February 14: Basic Benefits Overview
February 21: Returning to Work – for People Receiving SSDI or SSDI and SSI
February 28: Basic Benefits Overview

March Workshops:
March 6: Returning to Work – for People Receiving SSI only
March 13: Basic Benefits Overview
March 20: Returning to Work – for People Receiving SSDI or both SSDI & SSI
March 27: Basic Benefits Overview

April Workshops:
April 3: Returning to Work – for People Receiving SSI only
April 10: Basic Benefits Overview

HOUSING WORKSHOPS - Low Income Housing
Registration is required. Call 543-6222 ext. 100. Monday’s in February 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

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!

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

Independent Living Resource Center San Francisco, located in the financial district (downtown SF very near to BART/MUNI) is looking for a 50%-60% time Deaf Community Services Coordinator. This position reports directly to the Associate Director, Programs.

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 part - time position is in the range of $17,000 - $20,400 annually, and includes a prorated benefits package: health, dental, vision, and life insurance and 403(b) employee contribution retirement plan, 2 weeks vacation. Flexible and diverse work place.

Under the direction of the Associate Director, Programs, the Deaf Community Services Coordinator provides an array of services including peer counseling, information & referral, and advocacy, in service areas including housing, benefits, work incentives, assistive technology, health care access, etc. for people who are deaf/have experienced severe to profound hearing loss. Occasional translation/interpreting required. All services are delivered on a bilingual-bicultural and disability peer role model basis at ILRCSF and at community sites.

Provide service coordination to Deaf/Hard of Hearing Community, including needs assessment, identification of relevant community resources, advocacy, and assistance with language access
Provide independent living skills training so consumers may actively participate in obtaining community services
Provide information and referral services
Provide assistance in the areas including IHSS, disability benefits, work incentives, money management, housing and assistive technology, health care access and ADA related issues (Training Provided)
Conduct community workshops and other community education activities
Through community outreach, establish culturally appropriate relationships with services providers, agencies, etc., in order to increase deaf accessible service delivery in the community
Maintain and develop resource materials for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing Community
Complete necessary reporting duties in a timely manner
Participate in agency systems change work, particularly as it pertains to the Deaf/Hard of Hearing Community

Knowledge of, proficiency and ability to use American Sign Language in delivery of services.
Must identify as a person who is deaf or hard of hearing, or as having significant personal experience with the Deaf Community
BA or equivalent education and experience
At least 2 years experience in social services delivery
Good personal and written communication skills
Ability to present information in a workshop/group setting
Ability to work as a generalist - absorb detailed information in an array of service areas
Ability to come to work scent free

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

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

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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.

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.

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

Taken from the American Council of the Blind
Celebrating Louis Braille's Birthday

One hundred and seventy nine years after the first book was published in braille, millions of people who are blind or have low vision continue to read, write, and communicate through the six dot system. In fact, braille is used throughout the world by people who read a variety of languages. Louis Braille designed the coding system, based on patterns of raised dots, by which the blind can read through touch. January 4th was Louis Braille's birthday, and thus, January is also designated to be National Braille Literacy Month.

Louis Braille was born January 4, 1809, in Coupvray, France. An injury to his eye at age three resulted in total loss of vision. When he was ten, he entered the Royal Institute for Blind Youth in Paris, the world’s first school for blind children. There he would live, study, and later teach. When Louis was fifteen, he developed an ingenious system of reading and writing by means of raised dots.

Louis Braille accepted a full-time teaching position at the Institute when he was nineteen. Unfortunately, he became seriously ill with incurable tuberculosis (a lung infection) in 1835 and was forced to resign his teaching post. Shortly before his death, a former student of his, a blind musician, gave a performance in Paris, France. She made a point of letting the audience know that she had learned everything she knew using the system developed by the dying Louis Braille. This created renewed interest in and a revival of the Braille system (although it was not fully accepted until 1854, two years after the inventor's death). Louis Braille died on January 6, 18 52 at age forty-three.

The Braille system has been modified slightly over the years; for instance, to accommodate the new computer terminology and symbols. The fundamental version employed today was first used in the United States in 1860 at the Missouri School for the Blind. It continues to be used by many blind people around the world. Mitch Pomerantz, President of the American Council of the Blind (ACB), says: "As someone who learned to use Braille at the age of five, I am absolutely convinced that without this wonderful code, I would be, in every sense of the word, illiterate and unable to hold the responsible position I have with the City of Los Angeles." Lynne Koral, President of the ACB Affiliate, the Braille Revival League, which is at the forefront of the fight for Braille literacy, says: "Despite the substantial impact of digital communications, Braille is still the preferred medium for comprehension and literacy for many blind people."

If you have any questions about the use of Braille or about blindness, or if you know anyone who has lost, or is losing, their eyesight, or if you are a parent of a blind or sight impaired child, contact :

Jeff Thom, President
California Council of the Blind
Executive Office- 1510 "J" Street Suite 125
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-441-2100
Fax: 916-441-2188
Toll Free California Only 800-221-6359 10 am to 4 pm Monday-Friday

3. ADVOCATE'S CORNER - Information from the San Francisco Department of Elections

The San Francisco Department of Elections is sending the following important notice about the upcoming February 5, 2008 election, including information about services designed to assist voters with disabilities.

If you would like more information about any of the services provided by the Department of Elections or on the voting process in general, please contact the Department of Elections at (415) 554-4375 or by email at sfvote@sfgov.org.

February 5, 2008 Presidential Primary Election
Polling places are open from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.
Early voting at City Hall begins January 7.
Last day to register to vote is January 22.
Last day to request a vote-by-mail ballot is January 29.

Party Affiliation & “Decline-To-State” Voters
The February 5, 2008 election is a “modified” closed primary. If you registered to vote with a qualified political party, you can only vote for candidates from that party.

If you declined to state a political party when you registered, you can vote for candidates from one of the following two parties: American Independent Party and Democratic Party. All registered voters may vote on ballot propositions.

Register to Vote
If you are not registered to vote, or need to re-register to vote, you needed to do so by January 22, 2008. You must re-register to vote if you have moved, changed your name, or want to change your party affiliation. To get a voter registration form call (415) 554-4375. You can also pick up a voter registration form year round, at the ILRCSF office.

Important!
When registering to vote, you must provide a California Identification or California Driver’s License number. If you do not have either one, you must provide the last four digits of your social security number.

Voting with the Accessible Touch Screen Voting Machine
For the February 5, 2008 election, each polling place will have one accessible touch screen voting machine that assists voters with disabilities to vote independently and privately. This accessible voting machine provides several different ways for voters to cast a ballot.

Voters can make ballot selections using a touch screen, and review their selections on a paper record before casting their vote. Additionally, the touch screen voting machine provides an audio ballot feature that allows voters to listen to instructions and ballot selections while voting. The touch screen machine also has an option for voters to use their own personal assistive device such as a sip/puff switch.

Audio Ballot and Handheld Keypad
For audio voting, the accessible voting machine is equipped with headphones and a Braille embossed handheld keypad. When using the audio ballot feature, the voting machine will provide you with audio instructions and guide you through the ballot. The keypad is used to move through the ballot and make selections. When using the audio feature, you can adjust the volume and rate of the speech.

The accessible touch screen voting machine will be available for use at each of the City’s 561 polling places, as well during Early Voting in City Hall. If you would like to vote using the touch screen voting machine on Election Day, please tell a poll worker. Large print and Braille instructions will be available both at the polling place and City Hall during early voting.

Vote-by-mail and Permanent Vote-by-mail Voting
Any voter may request a vote-by-mail ballot. Requests for vote-by-mail ballots must have been received by the Department of Elections by January 29, 2008. Additionally, any registered voter may request to be a permanent vote-by-mail voter. When you become a permanent vote-by-mail voter, the Department of Elections will automatically mail you a vote-by-mail ballot before every election. Applications for a vote-by-mail ballot and for permanent vote-by-mail status can be found on the back cover of your Voter Information Pamphlet and online at www.sfgov.org/election. You can also call the Department of Elections at (415) 554-4375 to have one mailed to you.

Early Voting
Beginning January 7, 2008, you can vote early at City Hall. Voting hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, January 26 and 27, 2008 and February 2 and 3, 2008. You may also vote at City Hall from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day, February 5, 2008.

Audiocassette and Large-print Voter Information
The Department of Elections provides audiocassette versions of the Voter Information Pamphlet. The Voter Information Pamphlet contains information about the local ballot measures. You may also access a PDF or text only version of the Voter Information Pamphlet online on the Department of Elections Web site at www.sfgov.org/elections. Additionally, copies of the Voter Information Guide in audiocassette and large-print format are available. The Voter information Guide contains information about the statewide measures and political parties participating in the primary. To request an audiocassette version of the Voter Information Pamphlet or an audiocassette or large-print version Voter Information Guide please call (415) 554-4375.

Other Forms of Assistance at the Polling Place
Personal Assistance – A voter may bring up to two persons, or poll workers, into the voting booth, to receive assistance in marking his or her ballot.
Curbside Voting – If a voter is unable to enter a polling place, poll workers can be asked to bring the necessary voting materials to the voter.
Reading Tools – Every polling place is provided with large print instructions on how to mark a ballot and special optical sheets to magnify the print on the ballot.
Seated Voting – Every polling place has at least one voting booth that allows voters to vote while in a seated position.
Voting Tools – Every polling place has two easy-grip pens for signing the roster and marking the ballot.
TTY (Teletypewriter Device) – The Department of Elections can also be reached via TTY by calling 415-554-4386.

If your polling place is not functionally accessible, you may call (415) 554-4551 to find out the location of the nearest accessible polling place within your district.

Tenderloin Community School
Sponsored by KPMG
627 Turk Street @ Van Ness Avenue
Saturday, February 16, March 1 and April 5, 12, 10:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.

St. Peter’s Parish School
Sponsored by Deloitte
1249 Alabama Street
Saturday, March 29 and April 5, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

Boys & Girls Club of San Francisco, Columbia Park Unit
450 Guerrero Street @ 17th Street
Wednesday, March 5, 12 , 19, 26, 5:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m.

Glide Memorial Church
Freedom Hall, 330 Ellis Street @ Taylor Street
Saturday, February 23 and March 1, 15 , 29, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.

Jones Memorial United Methodist Church
Sponsored by Rowbotham & Co., LLP
1975 Post Street @ Steiner
Saturday, February 23 and March 1, 8, 15, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.

OMI /Excelsior Beacon Center
241 Oneida Avenue @ James Denman Elementary School
Saturday, February 2, 9, 16, 23, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.

Salvation Army Chinatown Corps
Sponsored by Seiler & Co.
1450 Powell Street @ Broadway Street
Saturday, February 2, 9, 23, and March 1, 9 a.m.–2 p.m.

San Francisco AIDS Foundation
HIV Positive Clients Only
One Sixth Street @ Market Street
Tuesday, February 5, 12 , 26, 5:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m.

Southeast Community Facility
1800 Oakdale Avenue @ Phelps Street
Saturday, March 8, 22 and April 5, 9 a.m.–12 p.m.

Sunset Neighborhood Beacon Center
3925 Noriega Street @ 46th Avenue
Saturday, March 1, 15 , 22, 29, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

Richmond District YMCA
360 18th Avenue
Saturday, February 2, 23 and March 22, 29 , 9 a.m.–2 p.m.

Visitacion Valley Community Center
Sponsored by Daoro Zydel & Holland
66 Raymond Avenue @ Bayshore Boulevard
Saturday, January 26 and February 2, 9, 16, 23, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

Bay Area Annual Diversity Employment Day Career Fair
Date and Time: Tuesday, February 5, 2008 from 11:00am to 4:00pm Location: Oakland Marriott City Center – East Hall, 1001 Broadway, Oakland
Information: www.citycareerfair.com

24 th Annual Pac Rim Conference – Sponsored by the Center on Disability Studies (CDS)
Date: April 14 and 15, 2008
Location: Sheraton Waikiki Hotel and Resort, Honolulu, HI Information: www.pacrim.hawaii.edu/ad/registration_flyer/

San Francisco Women Against Rape (SF WAR) 5K Walk and Rally Date and Time: Saturday, April 19, 2008 at 10:00am
Location: Walk begins at Justin Herman Plaza; rally at Mission Dolores Park
Information, Registration, Sponsorship Forms: www.sfwar.org

Protection & Advocacy, Inc., working since 1978 to advance the rights of Californians with disabilities, has decided to change its name to more accurately reflect its work. The Board of Directors has just voted to change the name to Disability Rights California, which will take effect in late 2008.

The organization is in search of a new logo that captures the spirit and diversity of the disability rights movement in 21 st century California. The contest is open to all, and prizes of $1000, $750 and $500 will be awarded to the top three selections respectively. The deadline is February 29, 2008 .

Executive director Catherine Blakemore said, "We are really looking forward to seeing some new ideas, especially from graphics students, artists, designers and innovators who have experience with disability." The logo will be selected by the organization's board and all decisions are final.

Designs will be accepted in various formats and should be sent via email to Cathy.Harton@pai-ca.org or by mail to Cathy Harton, Protection & Advocacy, Administrative Office, 100 Howe Ave., Suite 185-N, Sacramento, CA 95825. Finalists will have to submit a signed form with information about the designer and relinquishing rights to the design beyond the monetary prize.

PAI is a member of the National Disability Rights Network (formerly the National Association of Protection and Advocacy Systems), comprised of disability rights and advocacy organizations based in the 50 states and territories. In recent years, many of the state groups have updated their names and logos, and a list can be found on the web: www.ndrn.org.

National ADA Symposium and EXPO
A comprehensive three day conference on the Americans with Disabilities ct (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.

WASHINGTON - Millions of $40 government coupons become available Tuesday to help low-tech television owners buy special converter boxes for older TVs that might not work after the switch to digital broadcasting.

Beginning Feb. 18, 2009, anyone who does not own a digital set and still gets their programming via over-the-air antennas will no longer receive a picture.

That's the day the television industry completes its transition from old-style analog broadcasting to digital.

The converter boxes are expected to cost between $50 and $70 and will be available at most major electronics retail stores. Starting Tuesday, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration will begin accepting requests for two $40 coupons per household to be used toward the purchase of the boxes.

To request a coupon, consumers can apply online at http://www.dtv2009.gov starting Tuesday. The government also has set up a 24-hour hotline to take requests, 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009).

Congress, in ordering the transition to digital broadcasting, set aside $1.5 billion for the coupon program, which will fund 33.5 million coupons and other costs.

The first 22 million coupons will go to all households that request them. That includes a residence that gets cable service for one television but has a spare TV that still uses an antenna, for example.

The rest of the coupons, however, are meant only for those who do not subscribe to a pay-television service.

The Nielsen Co. estimates that 14.3 million households, or about 13 percent of the 112.8 million total television households in the nation, rely on over-the-air television broadcasts for programming.

Tony Wilhelm, director of consumer education for NTIA, said the agency expects to have enough coupons to satisfy demand. "We think the high number will be 26 million," he said. "Low end is 10 million."

Members of Congress have criticized both the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and the Federal Communications Commission for their work on the transition to digital television.

In November, the Government Accountability Office, Congress' investigative arm, released a report that concluded there is "no comprehensive plan" for the transition.

Most of the concern rests with public education campaigns. While Congress allocated $1.5 billion for the coupon program, only $5 million was for education. The Association for Public Television Stations reported in September that 51 percent of participants surveyed were unaware that the transition was taking place.

Since then, the broadcast industry has announced a voluntary public education campaign. The FCC is circulating a plan among commissioners that would make public education efforts by broadcasters mandatory.

Congress ordered the transition to digital broadcasting to make more efficient use of the publicly owned airwaves.

On Jan. 24, the FCC will auction off the spectrum currently used for analog television. That portion of the airwaves will be sold to wireless providers and is expected to bring in as much as $15 billion. A portion of the spectrum will also be dedicated for use by emergency responders.

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Independent Living Resource Center San Francisco!

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