Breaking Barriers… Bridging Paths to Independence
Posted in Disability, Outreach, and Public Awareness
Posted in Advocacy, Disability, and Public Awareness
Early voting starts today in West Virginia! Make your voice heard – get out and vote!
Early voting locations can be found on the Secretary of State’s website, here: Early Voting Locations or in the PDF below.
2020-General-Early-Voting-LocationsPosted in Advocacy, Disability, and Public Awareness
Urgent Call for Stories: How Do Changes to the USPS Impact You?
The United States Postal Service (USPS) has been experiencing drastic changes that have led to major delays in mail service. People around the country are experiencing weeks of delays in receiving mail-order prescriptions, medical equipment, benefits checks, bills, notices, and other necessities they receive via mail. Delays in these critical items and information could result in utility shutoffs, homelessness, food insecurity, sickness, and other dire consequences for disabled people. USPS has also told 46 states and the District of Columbia that it may not be able to deliver mail-in ballots in time for the General Election in November.
Before the coronavirus pandemic, the USPS was instrumental in delivering necessities and information. As the country continues to struggle with the Coronavirus pandemic, many more people rely on the USPS to receive medications through mail-order pharmacies. Millions of Americans plan on voting by mail to exercise their right to vote while maintaining social distance.
The National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) and the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) are asking for your help in collecting stories that we can use to illustrate how the changes to the USPS are impacting people with disabilities. We are looking for:
1. Stories from people who have experienced delays in receiving the following:
Medications
Medical supplies, including durable medical equipment
Basic Necessities
Paychecks or benefit checks
Bills and notices
2. Stories from people who plan to vote by mail in the November election. How do you feel about the changes to the USPS so far, and how have these changes impacted your plans to vote in November?
Our goal is to collect these stories and send them to the House of Representatives prior to the House Oversight Committee’s emergency hearing on mail delays taking place on August 24, 2020.
Please submit stories through the online form or by sending them to sarah@ncil.org by Saturday, August 22 at Midnight. Please include your first name (or initials), your city and state, and two to three paragraphs concisely telling your story.
Posted in Advocacy, Disability, Outreach, and Public Awareness
Elkins and Randolph County officials, together with representatives from the Northern WV Center for Independent Living, joined in a celebration Monday of the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Together at Elkins City Hall, Mayor Van Broughton, Randolph County Commission representatives Chris See and Mark Scott, and Elkins Code Enforcement officer Phil Isner joined Community Integration Specialist Brenda Dasher, Executive Director Willis McCollam, Jeannie Keener, and Denise Jackson to proclaim July 26th, 2020 “Americans with Disabilities Act Day.”
The Northern WV Center for Independent Living wants to sincerely thank these officials not only for recognizing the importance of the ADA, but also contributing financially to NWVCIL. Their generous funding allows NWVCIL to better serve consumers in our community; consumers like Denise Jackson, who volunteers at her local church and once a month participates in “Feed the City” which provides meals to over 300 individuals in the community. Consumers like Jeannie Keener, who is deaf and has grown into a staunch advocate for herself and others. Because of Jeannie’s efforts, Elkins Physical Therapy and Sports Injury Clinic now utilizes masks with clear panels to enable deaf and hard of hearing consumers to participate fully in their therapy.
Read the full article here: https://www.theintermountain.com/news/local-news/2020/07/elkins-celebrates-30th-anniversary-of-ada/
Posted in Disability, and Public Awareness
Posted in Disability, Outreach, and Public Awareness
Due to the National State of Emergency and the global pandemic, the Northern WV Center for Independent Living has made the decision to follow the Center for Disease Control’s guidelines for social distancing. This means that until further notice, NWVCIL staff will not be attending in-person consumer visits, groups, meetings, or conferences. We are also not accepting walk-ins to our office currently. We will constantly monitor the situation and attempt to keep you all informed regarding the timeline for resuming in-person services.
Our goal is to do everything in our power to keep our consumers and community as safe and healthy as possible. NWVCIL will be asking staff to report to the office in shifts to ensure you are able to contact us if necessary. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us for assistance or support we can offer by phone. If you have questions about the Coronavirus, or COVID-19, please contact DHHR’s COVID-19 information hotline 24/7, toll-free at 1-800-887-4304. You can also contact your local health department.
Some basic guidelines for disease prevention are:
Frequently wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. When soap and running water are unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand rub with at least 60% alcohol.
Always wash hands that are visibly soiled.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Please see the following website for more information: https://dhhr.wv.gov/COVID-19/Pages/default.aspx
Posted in Disability, and Group
Posted in Disability, and Group
Posted in Advocacy, Disability, Outreach, and Public Awareness
Posted in Advocacy, Disability, and Public Awareness
From the WV Statewide Independent Living Council:
Interested Persons,
Are you a person with a disability who wants to get involved and make a difference? Do you have a family member with a disability or do you work to improve life for people with disabilities? The West Virginia Statewide Independent Living Council (the Council) is recruiting new members to fill vacancies for terms beginning July 1, 2020 and you should apply!
This federally mandated Council works closely with the Centers for Independent Living and monitors, reviews, and evaluates the implementation of the State Plan for Independent Living.
The Council seeks to maintain diversity of representation including disability, age, ethnicity, and life experiences. If you or someone you know would like to apply for membership on the Council, please return a completed application form by February 14, 2020.
Please feel free to duplicate this notice and the application form and share them with as many individuals as you wish. This information is also available on the SILC Web site and you may complete and submit your application at: www.wvsilc.org/wvsilcapp.htm
Please review the responsibilities carefully and apply only if you are willing to fulfill them.
All applications will be reviewed and considered. Nominations selected by the Council will be nominated for appointment by Governor Jim Justice. This process can be lengthy and new members are not always appointed before the terms begin in July. We appreciate your patience. If you have questions or need further information or assistance, please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
Ann Watts McDaniel
Executive Director
