OSWEGO COUNTY EDITION Director: Sabine Ingerson
January 2014 What’s Inside:
Happy New Year!
ARISE Groups
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Hab. Dept.
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Advocacy
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MSC Blog
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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.
With the arrival of a new year our thoughts turn to resolutions. Yet those who keep track of these things tell us that the odds of keeping these resolutions are slim. I believe that – in spite of these odds – it’s important to reflect on our lives and the positive changes we can make. The New Year provides us this opportunity, like a painter who is given a blank canvas. What will 2014 look like? As much as I would like to change the world and bring peace and happiness to everyone, I know I will not be able to achieve this. But I hope that I will make a difference in the lives of my family members, friends and all of you. My hope is that the dedicated staff with whom I have the pleasure of working will be able to touch your life by offering a kind word, support, and the assistance you need. I am also hoping that you will step forward and share your ideas, volunteer your time and support our efforts at ARISE. We are stronger when we work together. There are still many barriers and challenges to overcome in our society but if we work together we can make our county a better a place to live. As 2014 brings with it new opportunities and much to celebrate, I am also aware that pretty much all of us will be facing new challenges, health issues, loss and disappointments. Our coordinators and advocates will try their best to be there to support you. An article written by George Carlin, a comedian who passed away in 2008, ends with the following sentences: “Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind. Remember life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but those moments that take our breath away”. May 2014 bring you many experiences that will give you inner peace and joy. Sabine Page 1
ARISE Groups Oswego Social Club
Self-Advocacy Group
Friday, January 24th
Friday, January 24th
1:30 pm - 3:00 pm
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm
We will be playing Winter BINGO. 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.
Community Connections
Central Square Social Club
Wednesday, January 15th
Friday, January 3rd
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
11:00 am—1:00 pm
Community Connections will be meeting to discuss and start the planning process for the formal dance. We will be having pizza for dinner. Please contact Vicki Affinati at 342-4088 ext. 225 or vaffinati@ariseinc.org.
Central Square Social Club will be going bowling at Green Acres in Central Square. This event includes two hours of bowling, shoes, two slices of pizza and soda. More information will be mailed out soon! Please contact Vicki Affinati at 342-4088 ext. 225 or vaffinati@ariseinc.org, if you have any questions!
Winter Storm Emergency Preparedness Living in Oswego County makes it extremely important to plan ahead for cold weather every winter. Take time to think about these suggestions that are listed below, and prepare a winter weather plan.
Winter Survival Kit
Emergency Supplies List
Keep several days’ supply of these items:
Blankets
Food that needs no cooking or refrigeration, such as bread, crackers, cereal, canned foods and dried fruits. Remember baby food and formula if you have young children.
Matches
Water stored in clean containers, or purchased bottled water, in case your water pipes freeze and rupture.
Battery powered radio
Medicines that any family member may need.
Snow shovel
If your area is prone to long periods of cold temperatures, or if your home is isolated, stock additional amounts of food, water, and medicine.
Multipurpose, dry-chemical fire extinguisher First-aid kit Flashlight with extra batteries Non-electric can opener Rock salt Diapers Hearing aid batteries Medications
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Habilitation Department News
To: CIS Staff From: Lee, Darcy, Elizabeth and Ann ____________________________________________________ Don’t get hurt…. Be Safe in wintry weather! ____________________________________________________ I would like to thank staff, family and individuals in our program for being patient as we make the transition to replace Bonita. If you have any questions regarding services, please feel free to contact me– Lee Sullivan at 342-4088 ext. 224 ____________________________________________________ REMINDER FOR STAFF Mileage sheets have been updated to reflect the reimbursement change to .56 per mile. ____________________________________________________ Check your E-mail Accounts weekly. This is how you will be notified about required trainings, benefits information, important messages from our Human Resource Department and the Department Manager. Page 3
Advocacy Department News
Written by: Jen Stanard
The only time that I was thin was actually when I was born. I weighed in at 5lbs 13 ounces. Growing up, I was always larger than my classmates and siblings. I hated gym, as we were either playing games, or running around the track, which was very hard for me to do! When I was in fourth grade, my mother took me to see the doctor, to see if there was an underlying cause of my weight problem. I left the doctor’s office that day on a mission: to go on a diet and lose my extra weight! The craziness began. I was given permission to use the school refrigerator to store my prescribed lunch of salad and a diet Tab. I certainly felt different than my peers. So, months turned into years, diet after diet, nothing seemed to work. I eventually accepted that I was raised with bad eating habits, paired with loving food. I figured that I was destined to be heavy. When I married my first husband, I was diagnosed with an eating disorder. I had bulimia. I would hide my binging and purging from the world. I felt that I may finally get skinny. I went for counseling to help me push past my eating issues, although I don’t know if you ever completely heal from such trauma. I went through life being heavy and unhappy. I had diabetes and high blood pressure. I had to do something! Over the winter, I was watching TV and saw a show regarding Gastric Bypass surgery. I thought about it, and eventually had the surgery. I lost about a hundred and twenty pounds! I was finally thin. But in my mind, I still felt heavy. I continued to struggle emotionally, as I was now remarried, had two small children and didn’t know what to do! I ended up gaining back ninety pounds within five years of having my gastric bypass. I was so ashamed of myself. I was depressed and hated seeing people because they knew that I failed at my goal to stay thin. Then in February of 2013, my doctor told me that my diabetes was out of control, and I needed to do something quick. I had a heart to heart talk with myself, and decided that this would be the year to concentrate on ME. I bought a gym membership, lots of healthy food, a scale and I was on a mission! Weight started coming off me so quickly. I kept doing what I knew best for me, and pushed through the pain. I will not lie; this whole journey has been extremely difficult! But I walked and walked and walked some more. I weight trained, and ate only what I prepared for myself, and I succeeded. I was able to lose a little over 100 pounds, and I am continuing to live a healthy lifestyle. I am still adjusting, as I had to replace my whole wardrobe, and am not quite used to the reflection in the mirror yet, BUT I am doing it. I am no longer a diabetic, and I am the healthiest I have ever been. I am very cautious about what I consume, but I can accept that. So, if you are facing a struggle of any kind, look deep within. You will be amazed at what you can accomplish!
December 2013
July 2010
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MSC Blog
Written by: Brittany Kelly
2014 is a new year. Many of us will be making New Year’s resolutions to make this year even better than the last. Whether your wish is to make it to the gym more often, go back to school, or make a career move these helpful tips can help you to make your change.
7. Treat yourself. When making your plan, a vital feature should be the rewards and treats you will give yourself at those all-important milestones. But be warned, don’t fall into the trap of putting your goal in danger – it’s too easy for a dieter to say “I’ve been so good, I deserve a few candy bars”, or a saver to throw caution to the wind with a new purchase. One slip and it could all be over.
1. Keep your resolutions simple. Sometimes people find themselves aiming for an overhaul of their entire lifestyle, and this is simply a recipe for disappointment and guilt. The best approach is to focus clearly on one or two of your most important goals.
8. Receive support. It is at such times, when you’ve temporarily fallen off the wagon, that your support network is crucial. Carefully choose those people around you who have shown themselves to be trustworthy, supportive friends and explain your plans. Let them know of ways they can help when the going gets tough, and if they’re truly caring they’ll know the right things to say during the hard times.
2. Choose carefully. You might like to concentrate on those that will have the greatest impact on your happiness, health and fulfilment. For example, giving up smoking will obviously improve your health, but it will also give you a sense of pride and will make you happy (although perhaps not immediately!) 3. Don’t aim too high and ignore reality. Remember, there will always be more opportunities to start on the next phase, so set realistic goals. If you don’t want to hold back, set clear short-term goals on your way to a big achievement. 4. Break goals down to manageable chunks. This is perhaps the most essential ingredient for success, as the more planning you do now, the more likely you are to get there in the end. The planning process is when you build up that allimportant willpower which you will undoubtedly need to fall back on along the way. 5. Plan a time-frame which is vital for motivation. It is your barometer for success, the way you assess your short-term progress towards the ultimate long-term goal. Buy a calendar or diary so you can plan your actions for the coming weeks or months, and decide when and how often to evaluate. 6. Make notes. Having made a note of your timeframe, you will have a physical reminder of what you’re aiming for. Now go further and write down the details of your resolutions in a notebook, remembering to add your motivations.
9. Don’t give up! Do bear in mind that a slip-up is almost inevitable at some point, and you must not let this become an excuse to give up. When it happens, you will need to draw on your reserves of self-belief and strength, so build these qualities as often as you can. 10. Put yourself in charge. These achievements are under your control – other people can advise and support you but it’s your actions that need to change to see the results you want. Having a strong sense of control over your life is necessary to stick with your plans. Those who blame everyone and everything apart from themselves will not have the resources needed to change. Making a change can be difficult. Some of us need to see immediate results or we may lose interest or focus. These tips can help you to keep your New Year’s resolutions and help you succeed. These tips were provided by Collingwood, J. (2005). 10 Sure Ways to Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions. Psych Central. Retrieved on December 16, 2013, from http:// psychcentral.com/lib/10-sure-ways-to-keep-yournew-years-resolutions/0005.
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Fun Page
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Wed 1 New Year's Day
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C.S.S.G. Bowling Trip See pg 2 for details
Office
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Sandy Creek UM Church 3:30 pm
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8 Fresh Food Giveaway Pulaski Park United Methodist Church 3:30 pm
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25 SibShops Oswego ARISE 12pm—4pm
Liverpool St. Joseph The Worker 1001 Tulip St. 2:00 pm
15 16 Community Connections Formal Dance Meeting See pg 2 for details
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24 Social Club 1:30pm— 3:00pm SelfAdvocacy 12:30—1:30
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Martin Luther King Jr. Day Office Closed 26
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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 (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 call (315) 428-4180 to register for an information session or to receive an application.