JACIL Connections for October 2017
Article 1:
JACIL schedules strategic planning effort
by Becky McGinnis
Lots of people consider "strategic
planning" almost like a four-letter word - something you'd get in trouble
for if your mom heard you say it.
I'm actually excited to say JACIL has
embarked on a strategic planning process!
Many of you will remember the QUILS review, or Quality Indicators of
Independent Living Services review JACIL had last winter. (Several of you met with reviewers at that
time, and we are grateful for your help.)
JACIL has a very dedicated and mature
staff, we bring a lot of experience and a good work ethic to our jobs. The downside is that we are all getting
closer to retirement, and it is important for us to do some thinking and
planning to be sure JACIL stays vital and vibrant in the future.
This fall, we will be offering several
opportunities for you join in a focus group to give us feedback on how we are
meeting the needs in our service area.
We have invited students from Illinois College to help us in our
process. Please participate in a group
when you are invited! Your feedback will
help JACIL continue to be a positive influence in our community.
Thank you!
Article 2:
JACIL plans trip to IATP Expo October 24
The Illinois Assistive Technology Project
is hosting a Disability Expo on October 23-24.
The time on Monday is 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., and Tuesday from 8 a.m. to
noon. It will be held at the Prairie
Capitol Convention Center in Springfield.
It is free to the public.
There will be over 120 booths (including a
double booth sponsored by JACIL!).
You'll be able to see some of the newest aids and devices: an enormous amount of information to benefit
people with disabilities and their families.
Questions about the Expo? Call
IATP (800) 582-5110.
JACIL has scheduled West Central Mass
Transit to provide free bus transportation for anyone who would like to attend
this event on Tuesday October 24. We
will leave from JACIL at 8:00 a.m. and return at 1:00 p.m. Seating is limited, so you need to contact
Larry at 217-245-8371 no later than the end of the day on October 16 to get
your name on the list.
Article 3:
KIP CAFE - Jacksonville Police volunteer
chaplain
by Becky McGinnis
JACIL has been sponsoring our successful
KIP Café series (KIP stands for "Knowledge is Power", and Café
because, well, we serve a light lunch!) for several years, and we are amazed at
the variety of topics we have been able to present.
Our October 26 KIP Café will give us a
chance to learn about the new volunteer Chaplain with the Jacksonville Police
Department. Our presenter will be Alan
Bradish, who is no stranger to human services, having most recently worked for
the Salvation Army.
Alan has recently volunteered his services
with the JPD because he is committed to helping to strengthen the relationship
between the local police department and the community. The chaplain program is new, and Alan will be
sharing his vision for the benefits it will bring to the Jacksonville
community.
The October 26 session will meet from
11:30 - 1:30. A light lunch will be
provided, and our ASL interpreter is reserved.
Please call by October 25 to let us know you will be coming.
Article 4:
White Cane Safety Day Oct. 15
White Cane Safety Day is a national
observance celebrated on October 15 of each year. The date is set aside to
celebrate the achievements of people who are blind or visually impaired.
President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the
first White Cane Safety Day proclamation in 1964. In 2011, White Cane Safety Day was also
recognized as Blind Americans Equality Day by President Barack Obama.
Article 5:
Hearing loss happens - have yourself
examined
by Cyndy Benton
Many people experience hearing loss and
don't realize it; others do recognize it but don't know what to do about
it.
Hearing loss often develops
gradually. Speech sounds mumbled and
song lyrics are hard to hear & often misunderstood. Sometimes hearing loss is mistaken for
cognitive disability.
Gradual age-related hearing loss in both
ears is called Presbycusis. One in three
adults age 65 and older has hearing loss.
High-pitched noises, such as cricket sounds, are affected more often
than low-pitched sounds.
Conversation may become difficult
especially when background noise is present.
Many sounds seem loud, and
ringing noise (Tinnitus) may be present in one or both ears. Since the symptoms of hearing loss may be
similar to other conditions, it is important to consult a health care
professional for a diagnosis.
Primary health care professionals to
consult include your family physician, an ENT (ear, nose, throat specialist) or
an audiologist.
The doctor would be able to do an ear exam
to see if there is some physical problem or to rule out ear wax buildup and
make a recommendation about correcting the problem.
The audiologist would complete a hearing
test to determine what kind of hearing loss you might be experiencing. This would include testing for word
understanding and high and low pitch sounds.
An important factor is the amount of loss in decibels. Once you have a diagnosis of the kind and
amount of hearing loss then it is time to start looking for a device that will
help you utilize the hearing you have left.
The hearing loss is usually described as
one of the following: mild, moderate, moderate severe, severe or profound. Each of these refers to a level of loss. The analysis will also include information
about the potential part of the ear that may be involved. These kinds of losses are called conductive,
sensorineural or a mix of the two.
Article 6:
WCMTD to add evening hours
The West Central Mass Transit District
announces the addition of evening hours to the public transportation service
within the Jacksonville and South Jacksonville city limits beginning Monday,
October 2.
Expansion hours will run Monday through
Thursday, 6:30 - 9:45 p.m. and Friday, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. Cost for these rides will be $2.00 per person
per ride. Passes will not be honored
during extended hours.
Article 7:
Who Hears a Hoot?
by Mary Little & Susan Nolls
There are numerous devices to assist with
hearing loss: hearing aids either in the ear or behind the ear, amplified
phones or a cell phone amplifier, personal amplification systems, and signaling
systems for the home.
Before seeking a solution, we recommend a
thorough exam by a health care professional.
The problem may be as simple as ear canals being filled with wax which
can be easily treated. Other causes need
to be addressed by a hearing professional.
Ask your doctor or nurse practitioner to refer you to a reputable
one. The specialist will test your
hearing and make recommendations, if needed, to help. An audiogram is the printed version of the
hearing test.
There are numerous devices to assist with
hearing loss: in ear and behind the ear hearing aids , amplified land
telephones and cell phone amplifiers, personal amplification systems, and
signaling systems for the home. We
recommend taking time to understand which sounds need amplification.
Most people want to be able to hear
conversations, but conversations differ and so do amplification needs. Think how the sound quality might change when
experienced on the telephone, TV, in a crowded restaurant, or in a quiet living
room.
Several resources provide catalogues that
show equipment and prices or you can go online.
JACIL is also a distributor of several
types of amplified phones through the ITAC program. These phones are free to people with a proven
hearing loss.
Calling to make an appointment to look at
and trying these phones is relatively easy.
We need to see personal identification, an address in Illinois, proof of
a current telephone in the home, and substantiation of a hearing loss. Please call 217-245-8371.
Article 8:
CMS Reveals New Medicare Card Design
Recently, the Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services (CMS) gave the public its first look at the newly designed
Medicare card.
The new Medicare card contains a unique,
randomly-assigned number that replaces the current Social Security-based
number.
CMS will begin mailing the new cards to
people with Medicare benefits in April 2018 to meet the statutory deadline for
replacing all existing Medicare cards by April 2019.
People with Medicare will also be able to
see the design of the new Medicare card in the 2018 Medicare & You
Handbook. The handbooks are being mailed and will arrive throughout September.
CMS has assigned all people with Medicare
benefits a new, unique Medicare number, which contains a combination of numbers
and uppercase letters. People with Medicare will receive a new Medicare card in
the mail, and will be instructed to safely and securely destroy their current
Medicare card and keep their new Medicare number confidential. Issuance of the
new number will not change benefits that people with Medicare receive.
There will also be a 21-month transition
period where doctors, healthcare providers and suppliers will be able to use
either their current SSN-based Medicare Number or their new, unique Medicare
number.
For more information, please visit:
www.cms.gov/newcard
Article 9:
Ask Kathy
by Kathy Price
Each issue Kathy will answer your
questions about anything--from household hints to the price of tea in
China. "
Please e-mail your question to her at
kathy@jacil.org.
This Month’s Question: Everything in my garden is getting choked by
weeds. I also have a lot of green junk growing in the cracks of my sidewalk and
driveway. What do you recommend that will get rid of these unsightly
interlopers without breaking the bank on store-bought weed killers?
Kathy Says: Use vinegar full strength on
weeds or unwanted grass. Simply spray on the weeds and they will soon be gone
Article 10:
Free Rules of the Road review for Deaf and
Hard of Hearing
The Secretary of State’s Office will be
holding a Rules of the Road Review Class on Thursday, October 19, at 2:00 p.m.
in the Administration Building (125 Webster) on the campus of the Illinois
School for the Deaf in Jacksonville.
Sign language interpreters will be in
attendance for participants requiring the service. CART service will be available if requested.
The class will provide information about
the current vision and road test requirements and discusses Illinois’ current
traffic laws to help prepare for the written exam.
The class lasts approximately two
hours. Seating is limited and an RSVP is
required to attend. The TTY phone number
to RSVP for the class is 888-261-5238. A
non-TTY phone number to RSVP is 217-524-1166.
October Calendar of Events
Tue 3 Knollwood
20/20 Support Group - 9:30
Wed 4 Friends
Helping Friends Action Club - 3:45 to 4:45 p.m.
Thur 5 Making
Computers Fun with Dan Thompson - Session 5, 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.
Thu 12 VisAbility Support Group - 10:30 a.m. to Noon
Speaker: Dr. Jason McDowell, International Eye Care
Thur 12 Making Computers Fun with Dan Thompson -
Session 6, 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.
Tue 17 Cass County Vision Support Group - 10:00 to
11:00 a.m.
Wed 18 Visions Support Group in Havana - 2:00 to 3:00
p.m.
Wed 18 People First Aktion Club - 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Thur 19 Making Computers Fun with Dan Thompson -
Session 7, 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.
Thur 19 It’s My Life Training - 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Tue 24 IATP Statewide Disability Expo in Springfield
- 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. JACIL will
provide bus transportation. Reservations
required by Oct. 20
Thu 26 KIP Café - 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Topic: Police & People with Disabilities,
Speaker: Alan Bradish, Jacksonville Police Dept. Chaplain
Thur 26 Making Computers Fun with Dan Thompson -
Session 8, 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.
“JACIL Connections” is published by the Jacksonville Area
Center for Independent Living. JACIL is
organized to serve people with disabilities in Morgan, Scott, Cass and Mason
Counties. JACIL is committed to serving
persons with disabilities to gain control and direction of their lives in the
home, workplace and community. JACIL’s
goal is to stimulate and promote a growing sense of personal dignity through
individualized services designed to provide the tools necessary for maximum
independence and community participation.
We invite your comments and suggestions.
JACIL is a Prairieland United Way Agency
and a proud member of the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce.
Jacksonville Area Center for Independent
Living
15 Permac Road, Jacksonville, IL 62650
Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
217-245-8371 Voice/TTY l
217-245-1872 Fax l 888-317-3287 Toll Free
217-408-0567 Deaf Advocate’s Toll Free
Videophone Line
E-mail:
info@jacil.org l Website:
www.jacil.org
JACIL - Mason County Office
220 West Main Street, Havana, IL 62644
Office Hours: Tuesdays 12:30 to 4:30 & Thursdays 8:00
a.m. to noon
309-543-6680 Voice/TTY, 309-543-6711 Fax,
877-759-2187 Toll Free
E-mail:
jacil@casscomm.com