A Barrier-Free Northwest Missouri Serving Since 1994
Winter 2015 Volume 7 Issue 4 Chair
Dr. Robert Bush
messenger
Vice-Chair
Jaren Pippitt Secretary
Wayne Crawford Treasurer
Hands Around the Capitol By Craig Aslin Community Independent Living Specialist Imagine hundreds of people holding hands around the State Capitol Building in support of individuals with disabilities. This task was accomplished on Tuesday, October 6, 2015 at the Hands Around the Capitol celebration. October is recognized as Disability History and Awareness Month. In addition to recognizing Disability History and Awareness Month, the Hands Around the Capitol event was also held to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. I went to the Capitol to represent MERIL at this joyous celebration organized by the Governor’s Council on Disabilities. As I drove around the Capitol looking for a parking space for my car, I knew that many people had traveled to Jefferson City to show their support. Representatives from independent living centers across the state, schools, Missouri Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, among others were there. Some people spoke on topics related to disabilities and the ADA. Two of those speakers were youth who had attended the 2015 Missouri Youth Leadership Forum! After listening to the incredible speakers, we lined up around the Capitol to see if we could achieve the goal to hold hands. It was a success and the University of Central Missouri’s Aviation Department sent a plane over to capture a photo of all of us uniting hands around the building! This task showed that if we were able to hold hands around the Capitol, anything is possible!
Kent Allen Members
Kent Ahrens Dr. Susan Bashinski Dr. Terry Robertson Acting Chief Executive Officer
Steve Bartlett
A Calendar of Events appears on our website. Please check this calendar frequently for meeting dates and special activities. www.meril.org
Did you know...
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The street between our two offices off of South 40th Street in St. Joseph, is now known as “Ability Way!” MERIL held a contest among employees to name the street, and the winning name was submitted by Maria Brandt, Community Independent Living Specialist. Maria explained her thoughts about the name she submitted, “The path that someone with a disability lives on, contains many obstacles. We help everyone to find a path over those barriers and onto ‘Ability Way’.” While the official mailing and street address on maps will remain 4420 S. 40th Street, visitors and guests can now also watch for the “Ability Way” street sign to guide them to MERIL for help and support.
Did you also know... Angels Home Health now provides services in 9 counties, including: Andrew, Atchison, Buchanan, Caldwell, Clinton, DeKalb, Holt Nodaway, and Platte!
Don’t forget...
816.364.0900
MERIL’s computer lab is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 pm. There are four computers available for use by any member of the community.
Adventure Awaits... MERIL’s Geocache is Now Active! MERIL’s first geocache is now active and has been found! The FTF (First To Find) left the following message, “Regarding GC66PM4: Barrier-Free – thank you for placing this! I saw the email come in that a new cache was out. I'm not one to jump on FTF, but my friend texted me and said I needed to go because she wasn't able to. She likes to be FTF. When she told me it was at MERIL it was a no brainer I had to go!!! ” If you already enjoy geocaching, or would like to learn more, visit https://meril.org/resources/recreation and click on the Geocaching link to create a profile and start exploring!
Winter 2015
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(Be sure to check our website for updates and details at http://meril.org/news-events/calendar-of-events)
December 8 Tue disABILITY Voters Task Force 15 Tue People First Support Group Meeting Maryville Chapter 17 Thu TBI Support Group Meeting NWMO Brain Injury Association 24 Thu All MERIL Offices Closed for the Christmas Holiday 25 Fri All MERIL Offices Closed for the Christmas Holiday
February 2 3 11 15
Tue Wed Thu Mon
Great Northwest Day at the Capitol Great Northwest Day at the Capitol People First Support Group Meeting All MERIL Offices Closed for the President’s Day Holiday 16 Tue People First Support Group Meeting Maryville Chapter 18 Thu TBI Support Group Meeting NWMO Brain Injury Association
January 1 Fri
All MERIL Offices Closed for the New Year’s Holiday 18 Mon All MERIL Offices Closed for the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday 19 Tue People First Support Group Meeting Maryville Chapter 21 Thu TBI Support Group Meeting NWMO Brain Injury Association
March 8 Tue disABILITY Voters Task Force 10 Thu People First Support Group Meeting 15 Tue People First Support Group MeetingMaryville Chapter 17 Thu TBI Support Group Meeting NWMO Brain Injury Association
SATURDAY, APRIL 30TH 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM ST. JOSEPH CIVIC ARENA RESOURCES - TOOLS - KNOWLEDGE
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Payroll Period
Due by 5pm
Pay Date
Payroll Period
Due by 5pm
Pay Date
12/19/15 - 1/1/16
1/4/16
1/15/16
7/2/16 - 7/15/16
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A Directory For Individuals Who Are Deafblind By De Linda Kelly Director of Communication and Transition Services
Most people would agree that Sight and Hearing are two of the most important senses. Most individuals can adapt easily without one of the five senses. For example, a Deaf person adapts by relying on their vision to communicate when they cannot hear, or a blind person relies on their hearing to hear and listen when they cannot see. Individuals with different types of hearing loss and vision loss face a greater challenge maintaining their independence. Since they cannot see or hear, they rely on other resources to assist them. One of the resources available is called a Support Service Provider, known as an SSP. An SSP is someone who works with an individual who is Deafblind, by providing guidance when walking to their destination (store, work, etc.), transportation, and giving environmental information, such as who are the people in the room, what are the colors of the merchandise, how much is the total at the check-out, etc. Being an SSP is a voluntary role, and the Deafblind individual pays their mileage. There are approximately 500 Deafblind individuals in the State of Missouri, with 50 in the northwest, including the Kansas City metro area. One of the challenges they face is finding someone who has been trained on safe techniques to guide Deafblind individuals around on a flat surface, ramps, stairs, and elevators. Most often, individuals with Deafblindness rely heavily on their family or close friends since they do not have access to information about available SSPs in their area. One of MERIL’s goals is to find ways to empower individuals with Deafblindness to seek and receive services from an SSP themselves. MERIL will be creating a web-based directory, listing all trained SSPs in the states of Missouri and Kansas. This would allow the individual to access the directory, find an SSP who resides in the city where they need an SSP, as well as those that have a specific hobby or enjoy activities similar to those enjoyed by the individual performing the search. For example, if this individual wants to go to a Kansas City Chiefs football game at Arrowhead, he/she would search the directory for SSPs who enjoy football. The advantage of finding someone who shares the same hobby or interest is that the SSP would be able to better communicate using specific words or language relative to that hobby or interest. “The linebacker rushed the ball and stopped at the 23rd yard line, now it is 3rd down with 5 yards to go,” would be the language the Chief’s fan would like the SSP to use when sharing the environment information during a Chiefs game. There is a cost for developing this SSP directory. MERIL has received two gracious donations, $2,002 from the Ozark Mountains Deaf Camp and $1,000 from Kim Snelling. However, MERIL has not yet reached the fundraising goal to get started. If you are interested in contributing, or to learn more about SSPs or the directory, please contact De Linda Kelly, Director of Communication and Transition Services, 816.396.0234 or delindab@meril.org.
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Remember MERIL’s fundraiser with GoodSearch. A donation is provided to MERIL just for searching on the Internet using GoodSearch.com. When you search, choose MERIL as the donation recipient. When you actually shop through GoodShop, MERIL will also get a percentage of the purchase. Thank you for considering this option for “surfing and shopping the net.”
Contact your State Legislators:
Caring for others with kindness.
I am greatly appreciative for all you have done, not only concerning accommodations, but also for simply existing. Up until now, I was the only deaf person I knew. I knew of course that there were other deaf people out there, but that's where they were, out there. Now I feel so much more motivated and connected to the world simply because I met you.
Katelyn Vernon : Empowering people to live life fully.
Senator Dan Hegeman District #12 573.751.1415 dan.hegeman@senate.mo.gov Senator Rob Schaaf, District #34 573.751.2183 rob.schaaf@senate.mo.gov _______________________ Representative Allen Andrews District #1 573.751.9465 allen.andrews@house.mo.gov Representative Pat Conway, District #10 573.751.9755 pat.conway@house.mo.gov Representative J. Eggleston District #2 573.751.4285 J.eggleston@house.mo.gov Representative Galen Higdon, District #11 573.751.3643 galen.higdon@house.mo.gov Representative Delus Johnson, District #9 573.751.3666 delus.johnson@house.mo.gov Representative Jim Neely, District #8 573.751.0246 jim.neely@house.mo.gov Who is your legislator? Not sure? Check at: http://www.mo.gov
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Will Nyle DiMarco Be America’s Next ˄ Top Model? By De Linda Kelly Director of Communication and Transition Services First of all…WHO IS NYLE DIMARCO???? According to his website, Nyle DiMarco is Deaf, 4th generation of a Deaf family (parents, grandparents, great-grandparents were Deaf). Originally from Queens, New York, he and his family moved to Texas and then settled down in Maryland. After graduating from Maryland School for the Deaf, he went to Gallaudet University in Washington D.C. After he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, he began traveling around the world doing many things. He now lives in Washington D.C. He originally had a goal of becoming a math teacher, with hopes of moving up to an administrative position. But life took him on a different path. He found himself as an actor for an independent film by ASL Films, then acting for a national TV show called Switched at Birth (a TV show about two teenage girls, one of them is Deaf, who discovered that both were switched as newborns in the hospital by accident). There are several leading Deaf actors and actresses. For more information go to www.ABCFamily.go.com/shows/switched-at-birth. It was during that time that he was told by his friends, fans, and supporters that he should try modeling. After getting an agent, he started taking some modeling pictures and sent them to different modeling agencies, hoping someone would take notice. Someone did! America’s Next Top Model (ANTM), Cycle 22 accepted him to join in the competition. Nyle came on board with 33 other aspiring models. He gets to work with a famous model, Tyra Banks, creator, host, and executive producer for ANTM. Week by week, Nyle competes against other models, trying to get high scores to remain in the contest. The person with the lowest score is sent home. The winner will get a career-launching prize package that includes new luxury fashion partner Zappos Couture as well as Nylon and Next Management. The winner will receive prizes including: $100,000 from Zappos Couture as well as being the face of their national luxury brand re-launch in 2016, a fashion feature in Nylon, as well as being offered a modeling contract with Next Management. Wow- what a big prize! Ever since ANTM Cycle 22 started, Nyle has been getting noticed, all over the world! For the most part, it is because of his Deafness and his ability to thrive in the difficult modeling world. He has been advocating for the Deaf community, showing the hearing community that Deaf people CAN do anything they set their heart on! As of November 20th, Nyle is one of the four finalists for America’s Next Top Model, with 3 other models, Mikey, Mame’, and Lacey. The grand finale will be December 4th at 8:00 p.m. on CW. De Linda Kelly, Director of Communication and Transition Services, will be hosting a “Nylebration” party at MERIL (4420 S. 40th Street, St. Joseph, MO) for the Deaf, hard of hearing and Deafblind to get together and cheer for Nyle as he tries to seize the prize. If he wins, this would be a big, pivotal moment in the history of our own Deaf culture, as well as the modeling world (which is predominately hearing). Come and watch with us!
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Wellness 4U Program Helps MERIL Achieve Healthy Goals By Maria Brandt Community Independent Living Specialist
MERIL’s Wellness 4U Program was recently featured in a case study completed by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). MERIL formed a Wellness Team in late 2012. Early in 2013 we were invited to apply and were approved for participation in the National Healthy Worksite Program. Different communities across the USA were selected to join. With 51% of MERIL employees experiencing life with a disability, we had our work cut out for us. It has been our endeavor to find ways of inclusion for everyone. Our team consists of Deann Young, Maria Brandt, Jayme Voss, Paul Bergonzoni, Mark Miller and Andria Salmons. We utilize a small budget to provide resources, incentive items, and speakers to run the Wellness program. We completed baseline assessments in 2013 followed by the evaluation of results and setting of goals for our employees. Each year, we conduct health risk assessments. After the results are received, new goals are set, and we work on those through the year. We were successful after the first 2 years reaching goals of reducing high blood pressure, increasing fruit and vegetable intake, and increasing activity levels for all persons. We also tripled our score in Organizational Supports, which reflects the committee’s work. Our employees have participated in activities and competitions including Office Olympics, Checklist Challenges, Electronics Free Family Fun, Hydration Project, and Healthy Potlucks. Recently we had a Stone Soup luncheon, an event where staff bring in a healthy ingredient to place in a soup. Starting in January there will be “A New Year, A New You” contest as we work on our goals for reduction of stress and increasing health benefits. We are moving forward to reduce stress by including healthy presentations, community meals, sharing of recipes, and ways to exercise for people of all abilities. The CDC team shares ideas with us and they in turn MERIL employees enjoy Stone Soup. support our cause. Our mission is to empower everyone, employees and all participants on our services to become more mindful of their health.
MERIL Staff Anniversaries Kaila Waller - 8 years De Linda Kelly - 7 years Deb Powers - 7 years Lyndsey Knadler - 6 years
Pam Schneeflock - 6 years Jayme Voss - 4 years Stan Wilson - 4 years Angie Garr - 3 years
Reba Moore - 3 years Laurie Coffelt - 2 years Christopher Matthews - 1 year Ashley Nichols - 1 year
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Bridge Interpreting welcomes Michelle DeMartino to our full-time team!
Bridge Interpreting Workshops Thursday, December 3rd, 2015 – Interpreters of the Round Table – Part One 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm Harrison Jones, Location: The Whole Person Thursday, January 7th, 2016 – 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Interpreters of the Round Table – Part Two Harrison Jones, Location: The Whole Person
Saturday, April 16th, 2016 – 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
Mental Health First Aid De Linda Kelly, Location: Northland Deaf Church
For more information, or to register, visit: http://meril.org/interpreterworkshop.
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The Rides of Life! “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness!” These famous words from the Declaration of Independence sum it up nicely for me. To have the liberty to live and to be happy in life is the American dream. Nay, it is the dream of everyone. I see life as an Amusement Park! Full of scary and yet exciting unknown rides and games. Games and rides we are at liberty to experience. We experience some that leave us disappointed and afraid. Yet, many that leave us happy and thrilled and wanting to “go again.” It is the trial and error in life which defines the bitter from the sweet, and sometimes blends them, to produce the feelings and memories that fill us with the happiness we all pursue in life and the sorrow that helps to know the difference. It is the ups and downs, twists and turns, over and under, back and forth and winning and losing of life that teaches us, elates us, overwhelms our senses, and makes us know we are living. While I, like my fellow men and women, relish the rides we take in life, there is one thing I relish even more… that is the joy of excitedly sharing that happiness; that fear; that life experience with others. Because, the only thing better then living life is…reliving the ride with your family, friends, neighbors and even complete strangers at the end of the ride. Therein we find the real happiness in life… sharing “The
Rides of Life!” Martin Anthony, 2015
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Ways to Give There are many ways you can make a difference through a gift to MERIL. Will or Revocable “Living” Trust - A bequest contained in a person’s will or revocable “living” trust is the most common form of planned gifts.
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Bridge Interpreting 816.244.0834 The MERIL Messenger is a free monthly publication. While articles and stories submitted for publication are always welcome, MERIL reserves the right to reject or to edit all items for content, clarity and length. Braille, large print, and Spanish copies are available on request. The MERIL Messenger is also available online at www.meril.org. Please send articles, suggestions, comments or subscription requests to: Editor, MERIL Messenger, 4420 South 40th Street, St. Joseph, MO 64503. Or call 816.279.8558 voice or toll-free 800.MERIL4U. Or you may email us at newsletter@meril.org. Midland Empire Resources for Independent Living is a not-for-profit organization.