OSWEGO COUNTY EDITION Director: Sabine Ingerson
February 2014 ACCESS to SERVICES
What’s Inside: ARISE Groups
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Habilitation Dept.
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MSC Blog
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Ramp Fundraiser
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Fun Page
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Calendar
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Employment
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ARISE Center for Independent Living ARISE Oswego 9 Fourth Ave Oswego, NY 13126 (315) 342-4088
ARISE Pulaski 2 Broad St Pulaski, NY 13142 (315) 298-5726
ARISE Fulton 113 Schuyler St, Suite 2 Fulton, NY 13069 (315) 887-5156
ariseinc.org /ARISEcny
Our Mission To work with people of all abilities to create a fair and just community in which everyone can fully participate.
By Sabine Ingerson Realizing how complicated the enrollment process is, the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) Family Support Services awarded us a grant to help anyone new seeking services for a family member with a developmental disability. I am very pleased that Kristin Drumm has accepted the position as the Access to Services Coordinator. She will be assisting families who have a family member with a developmental disability gain access to services through OPWDD by helping them through the eligibility process. The most important part of the service, though, is to connect with the families, explain the services they might want to access for their loved one, gather required documentation, and submit them to OPWDD. In the meantime, she will also be staying in contact with the family to share information about other services that might be helpful. Kristin has been a Medicaid Service Coordinator since 2006. She first worked at DPAO in Watertown, NY and then joined us at ARISE in Oswego County as a Medicaid Service Coordinator. In September of 2013 she accepted a position in our Advocacy Department as the HOME Coordinator for the Housing Options Made through Environmental Modifications (HOME) program. This program, which is funded by the Richard S. Shineman Foundation, covers the cost of minor interior home modifications that become necessary due to mobility issues. In addition, Kristin also works as an ARISE Advocate at DSS by assisting individuals with disabilities access services that are not offered by DSS. All these experiences make her a very knowledgeable person and a great resource for anyone who has questions about available services. If you are an individual or have a family member with a Developmental Disability and are interested in OPWDD services, please feel free to contact Kristin Drumm at (315) 342-4088 ext. 230 or kdrumm@ariseinc.org. You can also reach out to Lisa Seguin, Manager of MSC/CSS/ FSS, at 315 342 4088 ext. 208 lseguin@ariseinc.org.
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ARISE Groups Oswego Social Club
Self-Advocacy Group
Friday, February 14th 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Friday, February 7th 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
We will be making some Valentine’s Day crafts! This group is open to anyone who is 18 years of age and older. Please contact Jen Stanard at 342-4088 ext. 209 if you have any questions.
Self-Advocacy is a group for people who want to advocate for change. For additional information, or if you have an issue you would like the group to advocate for, please contact Ken Skillen at 342-4088 ext. 226.
Teen Group
Community Connections
(ages 11—17)
Wednesday, February 12th 5:00 pm—7:00 pm
Tuesday, February 18th 10:00 am—12:00 pm
We will be making decorations for our 3rd annual formal dance. We will be meeting at the Oswego office. Pizza will be provided. Please contact Vicki Affinati at 342-4088 ext. 225 or vaffinati@ariseinc.org by February 10th at noon to sign up.
We are going bowling at Lakeview Lanes in Fulton! Please watch your mailbox for more information regarding this event! Please call 342-4088 ext. 225 and leave Vicki Affinati a message if you are attending. You can also send an email to vaffinati@ariseinc.org.
Community Connections
Central Square Social Club
Saturday, March 1st 7:00 pm—End of game
Thursday, February 13th 4:00 pm—7:00 pm “Footloose: The Musical” at Central Square High School
We will be going to a Syracuse Crunch Game! Please watch your mailbox for more information regarding this event! Please call 342-4088 ext. 225 and leave Vicki Affinati a message if you are attending. You can also send an email to vaffinati@ariseinc.org.
Please let Vicki Affinati know if you are attending the play. Please call Vicki at 342-4088 ext. 225, and leave a message, or email Vicki at vaffinati@ariseinc.org by February 10th.
Self-Advocacy Group
Written By: Ken Skillen
At the beginning of the New Year, this is often the time to look back at the accomplishments of last year and make plans and changes for this year. At ARISE, one positive change last year, was to stop using the word “Consumer” to refer to individuals who receive services from ARISE. In October, Tom McKeown, the Executive Director at ARISE, announced that the staff will be making these changes when speaking about us, as well as changing agency forms and other printed or online material. We the members of the Self-Advocacy Council would like to thank Tom McKeown, the Board of Directors, and all the staff who work at ARISE, for making these changes, and for referring to all of us as “individuals” and not as “consumers”. This shows that you are concerned about us as a person, or people that you serve, and not just as someone in one of your programs. Most services offered at ARISE have always been Individualized or person-centered, instead of group based, but these changes show that the people who work for ARISE care about us as individuals. We are always looking for new people to join our group. If you are interested in our Self-Advocacy group, you can call Ken Skillen at 342-4088 ext. 226, or Jim Cronk at 342-4088 ext. 211, or come to one of our meetings. This month, our meeting is on Friday, February 7th, at 1:30 p.m. -Ken Skillen, Self-Advocacy Council President Page 2
Habilitation Department News Happy
From: The Hab. Dept. (Lee, Darcy, Elizabeth, Tina, and Ann) Help the Hab. Dept. Welcome Tina Hartigan! The Hab. Dept. would like to welcome Tina Hartigan, our new Habilitation Department Coordinator. Tina previously worked as a Habilitation Coordinator in our Syracuse office. We are happy to have Tina’s knowledge and experience in providing Hab. Services. Tina Hartigan can be reached at 342-4088 ext. 228.
Wear RED, raise your voice! Go RED on National wear Red Day!
Did you know that heart disease kills more women than ALL forms of cancer combined? The Habilitation Department is happy to raise awareness about women’s heart health, and support National Wear Red Day on February 7th! Page 3
MSC Blog
Written By: Missy Hull
Dealing with change is never easy. Many of us react “Why should I deal with change?” The answer is …because change is coming. I recently read Who Moved my Cheese? by Spencer Johnson. The story is a short book that reveals profound truths about change. It is a funny story about four characters: two mice, "Sniff" and "Scurry," and two humans, "Hem" and "Haw." They live in a maze, a symbol of one's environment, and look for cheese, a symbol of happiness and success. For the mice and the humans their daily routines were always the same and the cheese was always plentiful in the same station. Then one day Sniff and Scurry arrive at Cheese Station C to find no cheese left, but, they are not surprised. They noticed the cheese supply dwindling; they were prepared for the inevitable task of finding more cheese. Leaving Cheese Station C behind, they begin their hunt for new cheese together. When Hem and Haw arrive at Cheese Station C, they also discovered to find the same thing — no cheese. Hem and Haw were angered and annoyed. Hem demands, "Who moved my cheese?" The humans have counted on the cheese supply to be constant. After deciding that the cheese is indeed gone they get angry at the unfairness of the situation and both go home starved. Each character handles change differently; however, they come to see “The Handwriting on the Wall” and how to deal with change.
The Handwriting on the Wall Change Happens They Keep Moving The Cheese Anticipate Change Get Ready For The Cheese To Move Monitor Change Smell The Cheese Often So You Know When It Is Getting Old Adapt To Change Quickly The Quicker You Let Go Of Old Cheese, The Sooner You Can Enjoy New Cheese Change Move With The Cheese Enjoy Change! Savor The Adventure And Enjoy The Taste Of New Cheese! Be Ready To Change Quickly And Enjoy It Again They Keep Moving The Cheese. Dealing with change is never easy. Many of us react “Why should I deal with change?” The answer is …because change is coming.
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Oswego ARISE RAMP Program
All Proceeds from this fundraiser will go directly to the Oswego ARISE RAMP Program
Help Support
Buy your meals at Canale’s
Tuesday, February 18th And Canale’s will donate 20% of your purchase to ARISE. Canale’s 156 West Utica Street Oswego 343-3540 7421 Oswego Rd (Glenn Crossing) Liverpool 701-4323 Just bring this coupon with you, And leave it with your server. Valid on Dine In, Take Out, Delivery or Frozen Dinners! Lunch or Dinner Not valid with any other discounts or promotions. Must have coupon to qualify. Copies are fine. Bring your friends! Circulation of coupons at the restaurant, or in the parking lot not allowed on day of event. Page 5
Fun Page
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**12th** Fresh Food Giveaway Park United Methodist Church Pulaski 3:30 pm
**17th** Fresh Food Giveaway Believer’s Chapel Fulton 4:00 pm
**18th** Teen Group 10:00am12:00pm See page 2
3 Fresh Food Giveaway United Methodist Church Sandy Creek 3:30 pm
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Groundhog Day
President’s Day Office Closed 23
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Self Advocacy 1:30-2:30pm See page 2 National Wear Red Day!
18 ARISE RAMP Program Fundraiser At Canale’s
12 13 Community Central Connections Square Social Club 5:00pm7:00pm 4pm-7pm See page 2 See page 2
14 Social Club 1:30pm3:00pm See page 2
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See page 5 For information and coupon
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Coming Up: Sibshops March 15
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NON-PROFIT US POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 25
ARISE 9 Fourth Avenue Oswego, NY 13126 Phone: Fax: TTY:
OSWEGO, NY 13126
(315)342-4088 (315)342-4107 (315)342-8696
ariseinc.org Address Service Requested Mailing Address Goes Here
Employment
ACCES-VR Works! ACCES-VR (Adult Career and Continuing Education Services-Vocational Rehabilitation) is an agency in the New York State Education Department that has helped many individuals with disabilities find and keep employment. You may know the agency from it’s previous acronym: VESID. Over the past year, ACCES-VR has helped over 900 people in Central New York (including 80 in Oswego County) succeed in careers ranging from customer service to information technology. Services to help eligible individuals reach their employment goals may include but are not limited to: job coaching, employment counseling, advocacy, and financial assistance with training, equipment, and work uniforms. If you or someone you know has a barrier to employment and is interested in applying, please contact (315) 428-4180 to register for an information session or to receive an application.