World Of Possibilities Online Magazine Sample

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Welcome...

We are pleased to bring you the fourth edition of World Of Possibilities Magazine™. Our goal is to bring you an informative, easy to read magazine written for the entire disabilities community. The challenge was to offer both helpful features that focus on specific disabilities issues unique to certain readers and articles that highlight topics most persons with disabilities, their families and service providers would find of interest.

World Of Possibilities Magazine is arranged in color coded departments to give the reader an easy job of finding features that interest them. Here’s what you can expect in this and every issue:

Living In A World Of Possibilities: Stories of hope, persistence, and determination. Features to help you live better, more fully.

At Home: Support for you and your family, modifications, equipment you need or want to live independently.

Education: School, after-school, adult education. Early intervention to transition to the world of work. Work Matters: Finding and keeping the right job, starting a business, workplace issues and who can assist you.

Free Time: Sports, recreation, travel and vacation. Trends: What’s new in the disabilities community. Advocacy issues, laws and lawmakers.

Health: Issues and topics affecting your physical health and well-being.

Published Annually by: Caring Communities in collaboration with Milestone Media Group, Inc. 1341 W. Liberty Rd., Sykesville, MD 21784

410-549-5707 • E-mail: info@caringcommunities.org

Website: www.caringcommunities.org

OUR STAFF

Mona Freedman, RN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR / PUBLISHER

Jay Freedman EDITOR

Around Our Office: The latest news from Caring Communities’ office. Something is always in the works!

Agency Highlights: News from local agencies supporting persons with disabilities and their families.

Directory Of Services: Alphabetical list of Advertisers who made it possible for World Of Possibilities MagazineTM to reach you! Please support them and tell them you saw their ad here.

Books & Resources: Books and other resourses of interest within the disabilities community.

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Hayley Forman PRODUCTION MANAGER

Scott Bacula PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

Cecilia Huang PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

Sharon Ihde SALES ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Lori Barnard EXPO COORDINATOR Bizmarquee.com WEBSITE DESIGN

Copyright 2024 Caring Communities, Inc. All rights reserved. Caring Communities does not endorse any product or service listed or advertised in this publication. We reserve the right to reject any advertisement or listing that we feel is not in keeping with the publication’s standards. The publisher has made every attempt at accuracy. We do not assume any and hereby disclaim any liability to any party for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions in this publication. Reproduction of any part of World Of Possibilities Magazine™ is permitted only with written permission of the publisher.

Publisher’s Acknowledgement: Caring Communities would like to thank the agencies and individuals for their editorial submissions:

Aimee Murray, Mac's Team

Anna Renault

Bill Davis

Dean Suhr, President: MLD Foundation

Dr. Errol Gray, EX N’ FLEX International

Ford C. Waggoner, Easter Seals

Harvey Levy, DMD, MAGD, LLSR

Jim Hasse, GettingHired.com

John Martindale, Brothers Services Company

Joseph L. Romano, Attorney at Law

Judith Scott

Karen Simmons

Liz Water, Aquatic Access, Inc.

Maryland Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS)

Maryland Rx Card

Maryland State Department of Education

Maryland Transitioning Youth

Maryland Department of Disabilities

Sharon Gardner

Stephen L. Crowder

The American Music Therapy Association

The National Sports Center for the Disabled

The Arc of Frederick County

Wendy Goldband Schunick

Marcia Callan

Consider the Benefits of a Special Needs Camp

Byline: Ford C. Waggoner, Easter Seals Camp Fairlee Manor

Swinging high over the trees on a zip line, walking the high ropes, or canoeing are examples of activities that children and adults of all ages and abilities enjoy. The benefits are numerous for anyone, but even more so for children and adults with cognitive or physical disabilities. In addition to enjoying all the fun activities of a summer camp, persons with disabilities gain numerous benefits from attending a special needs camp for children and adults. For persons with disabilities, summer camp is the one time of year when they break out of a routine. A week of summer camp is an opportunity to relate to other individuals with similar needs, often building lasting friendships and easing a sense of loneliness and isolation. Camp typically provides opportunities for outdoor activity and exercise which is beneficial and often hard to obtain in other settings. While all camps are accessible to some degree, special

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NEW PERSPECTIVES ON GAINING JOB EXPERIENCE

Career Tips for the Perfectly Able

By Jim Hasse. Find his blog Career Tips for the Perfectly Able, a regular feature at GettingHired.com. You can read more at www.gettinghired.com, the largest and most comprehensive on-line community for talented job seekers who happen to have disabilities.

Gain work experience during high school or college. It is essential in competing effectively in today’s job market because it gives you an opportunity to hone the “soft” work skills every employer now seeks in a job candidate.

That recommendation comes from Jennifer N. Kemp, Youth Policy Team Leader, Office of Disability Employment Policy, U.S. Department of Labor.

“I’ve had a dozen jobs -- from fudge maker and baby sitter to editorial assistant,” says Kemp, who has cerebral palsy.

“I’ve never really faced the situation where I couldn’t get a job when I wanted one,” she adds, looking back on her career of more than 20 years.

Kemp was a featured speaker at the 25th Annual Careers Conference in Madison, WI, January 26, 2011. She’s showing today’s youth that the old “Catch 22” some individuals with a disability like to repeat (“How can I gain the required work experience for a job when no one will give me a chance to work?”) may still be comforting but not necessarily relevant.

Kemp got her first “real” job in 1988 -- two years before the ADA. She credits her soft skills as her key to successfully landing her jobs.

She’s been a Senior Policy Advisor for the U.S. Department of Labor and Special Assistant to the Chairman of the President’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities. She

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Choosing The Right Contractor For Home Accessibility

Remodeling and ADA Compliance Renovations

By John Martindale, www.brothersservices.com

Selecting a reliable home improvement contractor can be one of the most important decisions a homeowner makes. Couple that with finding a contractor that is knowledgeable about the unique requirements to accommodate wheelchair access and overall accessibility in a home, and consumers can be left with limited choices in remodeling companies.

By following a few simple suggestions, you can find the right company to trust with the renovation of your home.

When making a home accessible for individuals with disabilities, look for a contractor that fully understands the existing challenges to accessibility. Is it difficult to reach kitchen faucets, cabinets and appliances? Does the bathroom present safety concerns? Do doors swing the right way, and are the home’s doorways and halls wide enough to accommodate wheelchair access?

The answers to these questions and others allow a contractor to develop a plan that specifically addresses the needs of individuals with disabilities or those seeking an “aging in place” lifestyle. A universal design process to retrofit a home for greater accessibility must take a broader focus on improving the quality of life for everyone in the home. While there is no doubt those with disabilities would prefer to live in their own home, the fact

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is traditional home design and architectural

standards rarely consider the needs of those with disabilities. Any renovation plan presented by a contractor to address greater accessibility should account for the requirements of today, and plan for needs of tomorrow.

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Of course, retrofitting a home or commercial building for greater accessibility should not be confused with making a home ADA compliant. It’s not just a matter of meeting the minimum accessibility requirements or selecting the right products to use. Whether it’s a walk-in bathtub, adjustable kitchen countertops, or even simple grab bars, all of these products require installation by a contractor that is experienced in the specialized work of accessibility remodeling.

Accessibility remodeling may be a specialty, but that doesn’t mean a contractor shouldn’t have the same qualifications and certifications as any other company performing construction

services on a home. Seek companies that are licensed and insured, have an “A” rating from the Better Business Bureau, and who have a track record of satisfied customers over many years of business.

Finally, ask your contractor for information about payment options for a home remodeling project. There are various remodeling loans, financing tools, and often government grants that can assist in the financing of accessibility remodeling projects.

For those with disabilities and limited mobility, living at home should provide the maximum independence possible. A home improvement contractor should understand this, and every part of the plan should be to ensure that goal is met.

About The Author: John Martindale is CEO of Brothers Services Company, a company that specializes in construction solutions and remodeling for accessibility and independent living. Brothers Services is a proud corporate sponsor of Caring Communities. Visit

Choosing The Right Contractor (Continued from pg. 14)

MOVEMENT FOR LIFE !!

Daily Exercise for the Physically Compromised

By Dr. Errol Gray, EX N’ FLEX International, Ottawa, ON Canada

On going Scientific research continually provides studies regarding the benefits of passive/active exercise.

CONSIDER THE ADVANTAGES AND CONVENIENCE of being able to set up your own exercise program at home. Range of motion exercise every day will stretch muscles, tendons and retain lubrication in the joints, all essential components to prevent atrophy’ increase bone strength and provide Long Term Maintenance.

Your personal passive/active exerciser allows you to exercise daily from your wheelchair or scooter; on the deck, by the window, watching television or reading. Transportability and small size in a machine make it ideal for taking anywhere for short outings or long trips. Passive/active exercisers provide the user with

Long Term Body Maintenance through movement therapy. This type of exercise is beneficial for individuals with a wide range of physical disabilities including Para and Quadriplegia, Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy, Brain Trauma, Stroke, even Arthritis and Diabetes. Individuals have reported benefits such as increased circulation, flexibility, strength and endurance, better bowel and bladder control. Users find a reduction in spasm, spasticity, edema, stiffness, skin breakdown and pain. The ability to exercise anytime brings a sense of freedom and well being. A Range of Motion device can provide predictable patterned exercise for as long as you want, whenever you want.

For additional information please visit: www.exnflex.com • email: info@exnflex.com

AN AQUATIC PRESCRIPTION

BY MARCIA CALLAN AQUATIC SPECIALIST and USA SWIMMING CLUB COACH

FAIRPORT SWIMMING, FAIRPORT, N.Y.

The story begins with an 88 year old WW 2 Marine Veteran, who resides in Augusta, Ga. Her name is Agnes Caviston and served in San Diego when Pearl Harbor hit, manning the switch board for Generals. She has lived a full life of giving, raising four children and some grandchildren. Agnes is in fragile health and has her health care through the Veterans Administration (VA) and Medicare. Her son is her full time caregiver and has given up his career to care for her. In doing so, they live just above the poverty level. Agnes happens to be my mother and is royalty to me and my family.

After a visit the end of August 2010 and seeing my mother bedridden, medicated and with no quality of life, I said to my brother, we need to get her in the water immediately. With our swimming background we had a complete understanding of the physiological and biological effects vertical immersion can have on the body. We made a commitment to get my mother in the water within 30 days, so now we need a pool. The follow through was going to be massive. The process began by looking online for a soft hot tub to get her started. In the meantime, I was doing follow up calls to help my brother, as he had his hands full with Mom’s daily care. One such call was to the Wounded Warrior Division of the Marine Corps. In the conversation, there was a recall of an email that had been received about a therapy prototype pool that was designed for wounded warriors coming back from war. The

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AN AQUATIC PRESCRIPTION (Continued from pg. 27)

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premise of the pool was to provide privacy, personal rehab and to be home with family ASAP. They didn’t respond because they had no need or formulary for such a device. I asked if she still had the information, and 2 days later she sent it to me. I immediately made a phone call to Peter Hold the innovator and designer of “The Vertical Pool”. After a 45 minute conversation, explaining my mother’s history, the VA, and her current fragile condition, and passion for my mother’s health, he was donating/loaning the pool to my mother. He drove it all the way from Cortez, Colorado to Augusta, Georgia and installed it. After 3 months of Aquatic Therapy, my mother has been taken off BP meds that she has been on for years. When we started the process of bringing Mom back to life, she was on 19 different medications (over 30 pills per day) putting her in a bedridden, vegetative intoxicated state. The VA said no to the pool because of a urinary catheter and colostomy as a result of 2 surgeries,

her family said yes to the pool and they would design her comeback program. Mom is now off four meds and four more medication doses reduced and 1 as needed basis. We continue the long journey that goes day to day. Some days mom is with it and great, other days she seems to be in a far away land that can’t be reached. It isn’t over until it’s over, and she’s making a come back. She was interviewed in February by General Jan Hicks for the WW 2 Historical Society to reside in the Library of Congress. For more information on “The Vertical Pool’ contact Peter Hold holdpg@yahoo.com or contact me marci_callan@fairport.monroe.edu

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE!

World of Possibilities disAbilities, Healthy Aging and Independent Living Expo.

Caring Communities, a small yet powerful, non-profit 501(c)3 organization based in Eldersburg, Maryland, began in February of 1997 when a group of parents of children who had disabilities met to address the need for comprehensive respite care services and the lack of trained respite care providers in Maryland. In the last decade, Caring Communities has grown into a well-known and widely respected organization offering disability-related activities, publications and events for thousands within the entire disabilities community in Maryland and beyond. We are an impassioned organization, with a staff whole-heartedly dedicated to seeing that all people, no matter what their ability may have access to all that life has to offer.

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Caring Communities is hosting its 8th Annual World of Possibilities: Disabilities, Healthy Aging and Independent Living Expo. This world-class event is being held on May 6th, 2011 and is conveniently located at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium, Maryland. This Expo is the biggest and best event of its kind in the region and is rapidly becoming the area's major forum for disability and senior-related resources. Thousands are expected to attend. You do not want to miss out!

This year Caring Communities is proud to partner with Brothers Service Company www.brotherservices.com, a leader in home construction and remodeling, to present its biggest and best event to date. Brothers Service Company has recently connected with

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY LOAN PROGRAM

Helps Individuals with Disabilities Live

More Independently

www.mdod.maryland.gov

Karenna and Ken Jones saw their lives change forever when their two-year-old son, Kenny, fell into a swimming pool and nearly drowned. Kenny spent a year in hospitals in Baltimore –130 miles from his Salisbury, MD, home – and his parents watched their finances crumble as they missed work to stay by his side. The couple wanted to bring their son home but needed to build an accessible addition on their house to accommodate Kenny and the roundthe-clock nurses he required. Because of the damage to their credit, no lender would consider giving them financing, except for the Assistive Technology Loan Program (ATLP), offered through the Maryland Department of Disabilities (MDOD), Technology Assistance Program.

Their loan was approved. They built the addition and Kenny was able to return home. Several years later, the Jones family applied for and received another loan to buy a van with a wheelchair lift. Having access to these loans made it possible for this family to independently care for and support their son. After successfully repaying their first home modification loan, they applied for a second loan to modify their home again, as Kenny turned 10 and needed additional modifications to make his life easier.

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Eight years ago, April Garlitz had an accident that left her with a spinal cord injury and limited mobility. At the time, she was a high school student preparing for graduation and the life ahead of her. But April wasn't going to let this stop her from accomplishing everything she had planned. With a fierce determination, she used braces and a walker to walk across her high school graduation stage. She also learned to drive an adapted vehicle. Six months ago, April and her family applied for a low-interest loan through the Assistive Technology Loan Program (ATLP) to finance the cost of an adapted vehicle when no other option seemed possible.

"The van helps me a lot. I can get my power chair in it and go to the doctors, the store or wherever," said April, now 26 years old, of her new, adapted 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan. We couldn't get a loan through any other bank." For April, the ATLP loan and the new van have made access to her community far easier, "I do

stuff on my own. I'm completely independent."

The Assistive Technology Loan Program helps Maryland residents with disabilities and their families qualify for low-interest loans to buy equipment that will help them live, work, and learn more independently. Applicants can borrow from $500 to $50,000 in order to purchase assistive technology (AT) that helps a person with a disability live more independently and productively. The AT could include: wheelchairs, motorized scooters, Braille equipment, scanners, hearing and vision aids, telecommunications devices, augmentative communication systems, computers and adaptive peripherals, building modifications for accessibility and motor vehicles and vehicle modifications.

To learn more about the Assistive Technology Loan Program, visit www.mdod.maryland.gov or call 410-554-9233, 1-800-832-4827 toll free, or 1-866-881-7488 (TTY - toll free).

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ASK THE LAWYER

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

Nationally recognized attorney/advocate Joseph L. Romano, answers questions on the effects of the New Healthcare Reform Law for patients with serious illnesses and injuries

Why is the New Healthcare Reform Law important legislation for people with disabilities?

Meeting the healthcare needs of a patient with a serious illness or injury requires extensive coordination of both private insurance benefits and governmental benefits. The New Healthcare Reform Law has provided greater access to the benefits and services that patients need.

What are the most important changes to private insurance benefits under this law?

I consider the most important change the ban on lifetime limits of coverage for private health insurance contracts. Most insurers, prior to this legislation, had a 1 million dollar lifetime cap on benefits. Families, who have a loved one who has suffered a serious injury or illness know that a million dollars is often inadequate coverage. The second most important change is that private health insurers can no longer drop coverage for a person after a serious illness or injury. We purchase health insurance in order to have coverage when it is most needed and to have your insurer drop you when this event occurs is an unfair practice.

Other important changes which have been made through this legislation are:

• Insurance companies cannot deny coverage for children with pre-existing conditions

• Unmarried adult children can remain on their parent’s policy until the age of 26

Custodial Care denials. When an insurer decides that a patient is custodial they will no longer cover any additional therapies or treatments. Often times this occurs before the patient is given an ample opportunity to show that they can make rehabilitation gains. Whenever a patient is denied benefits based on a custodial care denial, families should seek the assistance of an advocate or an attorney to challenge the denial.

Is there any help for patients who are uninsured and have a pre-existing condition?

Each state is required to have an interim, affordable health insurance plan for patients who lack health insurance and have a pre-existing condition.

Are there any changes to the health insurance appeal process under this law?

My experience with the health insurance appeal system is that it is a biased system to protect the fiduciary interest of the health insurer and fails to give due consideration to the opinion of the patient’s treating physician. Under the new act, an external appeals system will be implemented, and the request for services will be decided on the potential benefit a service or treatment holds for the patient. I have always advocated for this type of decision making process.

Home & Community Based Services (Waivers) have proven to be a key benefit for people with disabilities. Will these be expanded under the New Healthcare Reform Law?

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• Establishes an internet site that an insured can view or download their Master Insurance Contract (the key document which identifies the patient’s coverage).

Does the new law prevent insurers from denying benefits?

No, unfortunately the New Healthcare Reform Law will not prevent an insurer from denying benefits. One of .the most common reasons for denial of benefits that patients encounter are

I agree that Waiver services have proven to be an essential benefit for patients and their families and under the new law each state will be offered additional funding to expand their Medicaid services to include attendant care as a benefit under their state’s Medical Assistance Plan. Under our present system, waivers are limited benefits and when funding is exhausted, patients are put on a waiting list to receive those services. If attendant care is added to a state’s Medical Assistance plan, it would make these services an entitlement.

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Everyone Needs to Consider Preparedness Plans

Under the Emergency Preparedness project, the Maryland Department of Disabilities has worked diligently to help people with disabilities prepare in advance for natural or man-made disasters or emergencies by being able to handle their basic needs for a minimum of three days without formal emergency assistance. Individuals, provider agencies, employers and emergency personnel have been encouraged to be prepared for all major issues related to disasters. Fire and police departments may be overwhelmed in a major emergency; therefore, everyone needs to be as self-sufficient as possible so as not to put undue strain on first responders and emergency resources in the early stages of disaster recovery.

In advance of any emergency, individuals should plan how to communicate with family and friends, gather supplies (see box) and work with family, friends, provider agencies

and/or employers to know what to do in an emergency situation. It is an individual’s responsibility to assess how much assistance he or she will need.

For further information regarding preparing for an emergency, please contact the Maryland Department of Disabilities at 410-767-3660 v/tty or 1-800-637-4113 v/tty.

Preparing for DISASTER

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