Thursday, May 16, 2019
www.berlincitizen.com
Volume 22, Number 13
Panel discusses programs for disabled adults By Devin Leith-Yessian The Citizen
Catherine Zabrensky, third from left, stands with volunteers with HomeFront, a Stamfordbased nonprofit which renovates homes for those in need and unable to do the work themselves. Dozens of volunteers visited Zabrensky’s East Berlin home on May 4, to make it more accessible. Devin Leith-Yessian, The Citizen
Volunteers help local woman stay in her Main Street home By Devin Leith-Yessian The Citizen
A flurry of power tools and paint brushes recently transformed the home of one elderly Berlin resident. “I could never have done these things,” said Catherine Zabrensky, whose home at 44 Main St. was fixed by dozens of volunteers earlier this month. “It makes my home look more like a home.” Volunteers removed a shed
from her backyard, cleaned up the exterior, repainted the walls inside, replaced the baseboard heaters and traded her bathtub for a walk-in shower. “To me it was a danger getting in and out of the tub,” she said. “Taking the cast iron tub out was no small feat, let me tell you,” said Joan Baker, the Rob Hansen repaints a door volunteer coordinator for while renovating the home the work done at Zabrenof Catherine Zabrensky.
See Volunteers, A21
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Devin Leith-Yessian, The Citizen
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Transitioning to the “real world” is an exciting time for many high school graduates, but it can be an uncertain time for families with disabled children who age-out of support systems they’ve grown up with.
with Czepiga Daly Pope & Perri, said “fire drill planning” is best avoided, using the example of a family trying its best to help their child by saving every dollar for them only to have those assets counted against them when applying for benefits.
“They've taken all the holiday gifts and all the A panel of experts in social birthday gifts and they've services for the disabled got it all in an account bemet at Berlin High School cause they're saving up on Wednesday, May 8 to for their child. Then their give some guidance child turns 18 and they've to those who are navigatgot $10,000 in the bank. ing – or who are preparing They've done such a great to navigate – this potenial- job. But they're not eligily fraught time. ble for anything because they have $10,000 of asBerlin Director of Special sets," she said. Education Linda Holian told attendees that it’s Nancy Ansman, a case important to start planmanager with the Departning for their children’s ment of Developmental future as early as possible, Services, provided some noting that many parents details on what certain in the audience were there programs require and for children still in elehow the requirements mentary school. change as a child reaches adulthood. Colleen Masse, a special needs planning attorney
See Disabled, A17
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