JACIL Connections for September 2017
Article 1:
Ryan Croke new INCIL executive director
JACIL has had a long and valuable association with the Illinois Network
of Centers for Independent Living based in Springfield. INCIL is one of Illinois’ leading statewide
disability advocacy organizations and has partnered with JACIL in many
successful efforts.
INCIL’s Founding Executive Director Ann Ford recently retired, leaving
this vital position open. INCIL’s Board of Directors recently announced that it
has hired Ryan Croke as its new executive director following a four-month
search.
Ryan was the associate chancellor for Public Affairs at the University
of Illinois Springfield where he has served since 2015. He began in his new
role with INCIL on August 16.
“We are thrilled to have found a new Executive Director with Ryan’s
leadership, poise and commitment to disability advocacy,” said Daisy Feidt,
INCIL’s Board President. “This is a pivotal time for the disability rights
movement in America and we are confident that Ryan can build on our past
victories in order to protect and advance the goals of Centers for Independent
Living throughout Illinois.”
“As the son of deaf parents, this work is personal. INCIL stands for
equal opportunity, dignity and inclusion for people with disabilities and I
cannot wait to devote my full energy to its mission,” said Ryan. “It will take
a relentless effort to confront and overcome today’s obstacles to decent
healthcare, housing, education and employment, but our association has the right
tools to help lead the charge and I’m honored to be a part of it.”
“Ryan Croke has the background and experience needed to make real
progress on issues important to people with disabilities,” said Ann Ford. “He
has the vision and leadership skills that can make a significant, positive
difference – to continue the important work of maximizing independence for all
people.”
Mr. Croke earned a master’s degree in Communication from the University
of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he also did his undergraduate work in
Political Science and Communication. He lives in Springfield with his wife
Brook and their two young sons, Jonas and Henry.
JACIL offers its congratulations and best wishes to Ryan as he takes
the reins at INCIL as executive director.
We also extend our boundless gratitude to our dear friend Ann Ford for
her years of service and tireless efforts on behalf of the people with
disabilities in Illinois.
Article 2:
JACIL offers orientation courses for prospective personal assistants in
Morgan, Cass, Scott and Mason Counties
by Roger Deem
One of JACIL's primary goals as provided in our Mission Statement is to enable persons
with disabilities to gain effective control and direction of their own lives
and to stimulate and promote a growing sense of personal dignity through
individualized programs designed to maximum independence and community
participation.
One important program we offer is the orientation and referral of
personal assistants to serve in the homes of our consumers.
We offer an orientation course on a monthly basis that will help
prepare prospective P.A.s to assist people with disabilities gain and maintain
independence in their lives.
Among the topics covered during an orientation session include
Independent Living Philosophy, Rights of People with Disabilities, Disability
Etiquette, Money Management, Confidentiality, Harassment, Fraud and Working
with the State of Illinois Home Service program.
JACIL does not hire personal assistants. We maintain a referral list and anyone who
comes to us seeking candidates for personal assistants is given copies of the
applications filled out during our orientation.
The consumers seeking the personal assistants are the one responsible
for hiring.
Our next orientation will take place on Tuesday, September 26, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. in Havana,
Illinois. Pre-registration is required
for all orientation sessions.
The orientation is approximately three hours in length and is free of
charge.
Anyone interested in becoming a personal assistant or interested in
attending our orientation course may contact Roger at JACIL by calling (217)
245-8371.
Article 3:
JACIL CLOSED LABOR DAY
MONDAY, SEPTember 4
Did YouKnow?
Did you know that, according to the 2010 Census, on average, one out of
every five adult, USA, citizens has a disability? The ratio is actual closer to one in four in
JACIL’s service area due to the presence of the schools for the deaf and the
visually impaired.
Article 4:
Smart Phone apps for people with disabilities
by Roger Deem
JACIL's monthly KIP Café is scheduled for September 28 from 11:30 a.m.
to 1:30 p.m.
The guest speakers will be Roger Deem and Dan Thompson, both affiliated
with JACIL. Roger writes the monthly
smart app column for this Connections newsletter. Dan is a retired technology instructor from
the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired and teaches computer classes
through JACIL.
The speakers will demonstrate a variety of smart phone apps for Android
users including programs to identify denominations of U.S. currency, allocate
and receive directions for the nearest public bathrooms, translate spoken words
to text and how to use your phone as a Global Positioning System (GPS)
General questions about smart phone use and problem solving will also
be covered.
A light lunch will be available and an American Sign Language
interpreter will be present.
Call (217) 245-8371 by September 27 to make reservations.
Article 5:
Gallegos to lead Autumn self-advocacy webinar sessions
The Statewide Independent Living Council of Illinois & The Illinois
Network of Centers for Independent Living will host a series of webinars
designed to enhance patient advocacy for persons with disabilities at hospitals
and other healthcare facilities.
Attorney Andrés Galle-gos will lead monthly webinars on the rights of
people with disabilities to accessible healthcare, teaching participants to
"Act B-A-D," a three-phase patient advocacy strategy.
Each month's webinar is from 1-3 p.m. and will end with a live Q &
A period. Registration is not
necessary. Webinar dates and topics will
be as follows:
September 20: Mobility
October 4: Healthcare Rights for
Deaf and Hard of Hearing
October 25: DD/ID
November 15: Blind and Visual
Disabilities
You can participate from your own computer by logging on to this
link:
https://incil.adobeconnect.com/silcdhh/
The webinars will be captioned, recorded and posted to
www.silcofillinois.org for viewing.
Article 6:
MacMurray’s Samantha Knox begins internship with JACIL
by Samantha Knox
Hello, my name is Samantha (Sam) Knox and I am currently a senior at
MacMurray College in its Social Work Program.
This fall you can find me at JACIL as I am the student intern for the
semester.
I will be moving around the agency learning as I help in any way that I
can. I will be there every Tuesday,
Wednesday, and Thursday until mid-December.
When I am not at JACIL or at work I spend time with my 12-year old son
who keeps me busy chauffeuring him to various activities throughout the year.
When I am able to, I enjoy reading, quilting, and binge watching old
television shows such as The Twilight Zone.
I currently work at a substance abuse treatment center in Springfield
where I help women who want to stop using alcohol and other drugs.
In the past I have served as community support staff and a direct
support person working with individuals living independently or in group homes.
During my experience at JACIL, I would like to learn as much as I can
about working with individuals with disabilities as they establish and/or
maintain personal independence for themselves.
I am scheduled to graduate in December, and plan to continue my work
with individuals with substance abuse disorders. I would also like to continue
working with individuals with disabilities at some point in the future.
I am an open, yet quiet person and I am eager to learn and help. If you
need anything just ask. Thank you.
By the way. I am neither a Cubs nor Cardinals fan. I am originally from
Iowa and I enjoy both teams equally.
Article 7:
What’s a JACIL?
Even after 20 years in the community, we are so often encountering people
who have no idea what JACIL is or what services we provide.
Members of the JACIL staff are available and eager to come to a meeting
of any size to share about all the services our agency has available to benefit
the disability community.
Anyone who is interested in having JACIL provide a program or share
information is encouraged to contact Becky McGinnis at (217) 245-8371.
Article 8:
People First Aktion Club holds flapjack fundraiser
JACIL’s People First Aktion Club held another successful Flapjack Fundraiser at Applebee's Restaurant,
in Jacksonville recently.
The event was staged to help the club meet its goals in community
service and education, advocacy and peer mentoring. A great crowd was on hand to enjoy the
breakfast,
The People First Aktion Club has a long history of helping its
community through its numerous service projects, volunteerism and advocacy
actions.
The People First Aktion Club is co-sponsored by JACIL and the Kiwanis
Club of Jacksonville. JACIL also
sponsors the Friends Helping Friends Action Club which meets monthly in
Beardstown.
Article 9:
APP-HAPPY Smart Phone Services
by Roger Deem
Waze - GPS, Maps, Traffic Alerts & Live Navigation
Available from the Google Play Store at no cost, the Waze Global
Positioning System is a free app (with advertisements, of course) that provides
directions and navigation assistance. Other features:
Automatically reroute around traffic as conditions change on the road.
Get police & speedcam alerts.
Hear road directions by celebrity voices or the average Joe.
Record your own custom voice directions to guide you on the road.
Know how long your drive will take before you start driving.
Find gas stations and the cheapest gas.
Low data usage from your phone.
Waze works anywhere in the world.
Article 10:
JACIL to offer ASL I classes
JACIL will resume teaching
American Sign Language classes
this fall.
Level I focuses on basic ASL
signs, word order and common functional usage of ASL. The class includes making
introductions, exchanging information, talking about family and activities as
well as discussion about the characteristics of the deaf community and deaf
culture.
Classes will be held from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesdays beginning
September 27 and ending November 15.
The course is designed for teens
and aadults. The fee for the eight-class session is $60.00 and includes the
student workbook/DVD. The cost for two
people from the same family is $100.00.
Preregistration is required and class size is limited. Please call JACIL
at 217-245-8371 for more information.
Article 11:
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: I love
eating dishes made with cabbage and broccoli, but the smell that permeates
while cooking is enough to gag a skunk. Is there any way to reduce the stench
level during preparation?
Kathy says: Try putting a piece
of white bread on top of the pot when cooking up a batch of vegetables. It will
absorb most of the odors.
September Calendar of Events
Mon 4 Labor
Day - JACIL office closed.
Tue 5 Knollwood
20/20 Support Group - 9:30
Wed 6 Friends
Helping Friends Action Club - 3:45 to 4:45 p.m.
Thur 7 Making
Computers Fun with Dan Thompson - Session 1.
2:00 to 3:30 p.m.
Pre-registration required.
Contact Dan at JACIL for more info.
Thu 14 VisAbility Support Group - 10:30 a.m. to Noon
Thur 14 Making Computers Fun with Dan Thompson -
Session 2. 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.
Tue 19 Cass County Vision Support Group - 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.
Wed 20 Visions Support Group in Havana - 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Thur 21 Making Computers Fun with Dan Thompson -
Session 3. 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.
Tue 26 Personal Assistant orientation in Havana - 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.
Pre-registration required.
Thu 28 KIP Café - 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Topic: Smart Phone apps for people with disabilities. Speakers: Roger Deem & Dan Thompson, JACIL
Thur 28 Making Computers Fun with Dan Thompson -
Session 4. 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