FACES of DRAIL

S P E CI A L
E ST :
P O IN T S
OF
I N T E R-
F.A.C.E.S of DRAIL
HIGHLIGHTS

PAGE 1
Video Phone
For All
Ramp Reinstalled
PAGE 2
SSI & Summer
Jobs
Wheelchairs
For $150
Reaching Out
Friends, Advocates & Consumer Empowered Stories
Disability Resource Agency for Independent Living
V O L U M E
2
I S S U E
2 0 1 2
Video Phone For All
PAGE 3
Ramp Reinstalatrons of the
lation Contd.
Modesto-Stanislaus
Video Phones
public library can
Application For
now enjoy a video
DRAIL Board
P
PAGE 4
Black History
Month
S P R I N G
1
phone.
This feature was
the result of the sustained efforts of
PAGE 5
DRAIL Resources
PAGE 6
Cesar Chavez
Day
PAGE 7
Staff SpotlightKristy Gillen
Micro Loans
For Emergencies
DRAIL Independent
Living
Specialist
Lisa Archibeque.
The
service is Consumer enjoys the video phone at the library
free of
charge and
SVRS interpreter.
available to
The call is then conanyone for
nected to the party
use.
who is called. The
Persons
caller can watch the
with hearing
interpreter and reimpairments
spond through the
can make
video phone.
calls to the
Continued on Page 3
Jail Ramp Reinstalled
The ramp at the
accessible to visitors. DRAIL, in association with Disability
Rights California,
approached Stanislaus County Coun-
Stanislaus County
men’s jail has finally
been completed after months of delays.
DRAIL was one of
the major players in ensuring that the jail is Continued on Page 3
PAGE 2
SSI And Summer Jobs
Are you a
student on
Supplemental
Security Income (SSI),
thinking about
a summer
job? If you
are below age
22 and are
regularly attending school, Social Security will not count up to
$1,700 per month as income from work when
they figure your SSI payment amount.
The maximum yearly
exclusion is $6,840.
That
summer job
is a great
idea!
Talk to the
Work Incentives Planning and Assistance
(WIPA) staff
for more in-
break free from feelings of
isolation, share coping
strategies and triumphs,
get answers directly from
people involved in the organizations you receive
services from, relax and
formation!
enjoy the company of othIn San Joaquin Coun- ers who share familiar exty, call Alex at 866-256periences.
9408.
The 1st Thursday of
In Stanislaus, Alpine, every month, 10.00 amMariposa or Tuolumne
12.00 pm at DRAIL, ModCounty, call Ignacio at
esto.
866-256-9409.
Wheelchairs For $150
DRAIL refers consumers to Danville
based Wheelchair Foundation to help provide
wheelchairs for consumers.
A donation of $150
from donors allows consumers to get brand new
wheelchairs worth $500.
Manufactured in China, these wheelchairs
are shipped in large containers and stored in
warehouses around the
world.
The foundation has
Support Group
Vent frustrations,
its’ warehouse in
Stockton,
California.
Nonprofit organizations that
partner with the foundation
around the world, act as
the distribution centers for
these wheelchairs.
DRAIL AT Advocate
Sandra Graham finds this
is one of the better options
for consumers who need
wheelchairs but cannot afford to pay the full price for
them. DRAIL consumers
are referred to them.
Goals Group
Bring specific problems, questions and issues that are impacting
your life. Chances are another group member has
dealt with the issue themselves and can provide
firsthand insight into solutions that did, and didn’t
work for them.
The 3rd Thursday of
every month, 10.00 am12.00 pm at DRAIL, Modesto.
Knowledge is love
and life and vision
Helen Keller
PAGE 3
Free Video Phones
Continued from page 1
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PRESIDENT
Terry Gray
VP-HR,
Emanuel Medical
Center
VICE PRESIDENT
Vacant
TREASURER
Bob Williams
(Retired Counselor,
Modesto Junior
College)
SECRETARY
Mona Martinez
(Retired, Modesto
Junior College)
YOUTH
LEADERSHIP
Vacant
Applications Invited
MEMBER
Hannah Boxell
Applications are in(Student, Modesto
vited for the DRAIL Board
Junior College)
of Directors.
Sam Jones
DRAIL provides comprehensive services that
(Retired)
Everything
was solved
In case both the caller and now the
video phones
and the receiver are hard
of hearing, they can direct- are up and
ly communicate with each running, reports Lisa.
The video phones are
other with sign language.
especially useful for perLisa first approached
sons who are hard of
the Library
Manager and proposed the hearing and do not have
computers at home.
installation of video
Incidentally, Sorenson
phones to help persons
VRS, the company that
with hearing impairments
provided the Video
use the facilities at the liphone, also offers free
brary as well.
video phones to persons
Once approved, the
who are hard of hearing
video phone project hit a
snag for two months, while and use sign language.
For more information
computer technologists
please visit their website
tried to figure out issues
connected with the firewall. www.sorensonvrs.com.
Ramp Contd...
cil last summer requesting
that a power door and
ramp be installed in the
visitors area.
The first ramp was installed on February 20th,
but the handrails were
bent, concrete was unfinished, and did not meet
county standards reports,
our Systems Change Advocate George Sharp.
The new ramp not only
meets county standards,
but meets Federal access
standards.
empower and improve
the quality of life for persons with disabilities.
If your values subscribe to our mission,
please send in your application to DRAIL Executive Director Barry Smith
at the DRAIL office,
Modesto.
F.A.C.E.S OF DRAIL
Published Quarterly
Volume 2, Issue 1
Printed and published by
DRAIL-Modesto
920 12th Street,
Modesto, CA 95354
Edited by
Anuradha Gajaraj
PAGE 4
DRAIL Celebrates Black History Month
This is the
second annual
black history
month celebration by
DRAIL.
The event
held at the
Poignant video on the struggle...
King Kennedy
King Kennedy Board
Memorial Center at Modesto Member John Ervin deCleopathia Moore-Bell and DRAIL Executive
Director Barry Smith
scribed the history of the
on February
King Kennedy Center,
24, was reCharlotte Mills from
The video on 100
Center for Human Seryears of African Amerivices and Seren Grace
can Struggle -Freedom
from Project Sentinel proSong, set the mood for
vided information on their
the Black History Month
agencies and services.
celebration on February
Informational booths
24.
were also set up on the
About 120 people
occasion. Friends Are
gathered to participate in
Good Medicine, Anthem
Information galore at the venue
the celebration by
Blue Cross, CTAP, diabeDRAIL, in association
tes testing, Stanislaus
plete with inspirational
with King Kennedy
Recovery Center, Project
Board and King Kennedy speeches, songs, inforYes, Project Sentinel, and
Neighborhood Collabora- mation booths and deliCenter for Human Sercious food.
tive.
vices were among those
Cleopathia Moore-Bell
– President of the West who had booths at the
Modesto Neighborhood venue.
The audience was latCollaborative weler treated to a sumptuous
comed the gathering.
fare by Vanessa Brown
Jeremiah Williams
sang the Negro Nation- catering.
al Anthem and
Kamau Tariq Brown
Find us on
sang “Wake Up EveryFACEBOOK
body” by John Legend.
Sumptuous food was available too
PAGE 5
DRAIL Resources: Assisted Living Facilities
DRAIL STAFF
Bel-Air Lodge Convalescent Hospital:
180 Starr Avenue, Turlock, CA ;
Phone: 209-632-1075
Bethel Assisted Living:
2345 Scenic Drive, Modesto, CA 95355;
Phone: 209-577-1901
Brandel Manor: 1801 N. Olive, Turlock, CA 95382;
Phone: 209-667-5600
Casa De Modesto: 1745 Eldena Way, Modesto, CA
95350, Phone: 209-529-4950
Covenant Village of Turlock:
2125 N. Olive Avenue, Turlock, CA 95382;
Phone: 209-632-9976
Dale Commons: 3900 Dale Road, Modesto, CA 95356;
Phone (877) 217-7414
Davis Guest Home 1: 1878 E. Hatch Road, Ceres, CA
95307, 209-538-1496
Davis Guest Home 2: 1628 Nadine Avenue, Modesto,
CA 95351, 209-538-1346
Davis Guest Home 3: 2405 Mauna Loa Drive, Ceres,
CA 95307, 209-556-9204
Davis Guest Home 4: 1552 Ohio Avenue, Modesto,
CA 95351, 209-549-0772
Fairmont Residential Care:
802 Fairmont Avenue, Modesto, CA 95350,
Phone: 209-915-1713
Georgia’s Guest Home of Empire:
102 S. G Street, Empire, CA 95319;
Phone: 209-521-5350
Hale Aloha Convalescent:
1711 Richland Avenue, Ceres, CA 95307;
Phone: 209-537-4581
Hospitality House:
5400 Kiernan Avenue, Salida, CA 95368;
Phone: 209-543-9275
Kiernan Village:
5412 Kiernan Avenue, Salida, CA 95368;
Phone: 209-545-0317
Res-Care: 3408 Gatewood Drive, Modesto, CA; Phone:
209-578-1385
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Barry Smith
PROGRAM MANAGER
Leng Power
ADMIN. ASSISTANT
Morre Bento
BOOKKEEPER
Leona Hollingshead
AT ADVOCATE
Kris Rowe
INDEPENDENT LIVING
SPECIALISTS
Lisa Archibeque
Angelo Clay
Ruben Villalobos
LEAD COMMUNITY WORK
INCENTIVE COORDINATOR
Ignacio Chavez
SYSTEMS CHANGE
ADVOCATE
George Sharp
MODESTO
STOCKTON
CENTER COORDINATOR
Jeff Vierra
INDEPENDENT LIVING
SPECIALIST
Eileen Preciado
COMMUNITY WORK
INCENTIVE COORDINATOR
(CWIC)
Alexandra Queen
AT ADVOCATE
Sandra Graham
SONORA
CENTER COORDINATOR
Kristy Gillen
INDEPENDENT LIVING SPECIALIST
Jema Padavana
PAGE 6
Celebrating Cesar Chavez Day
Art work by Peer Recov-
Scott Monday,
who was also a guest
ery Support Group, informaspeaker spoke about
tional booths, speeches by
Measure T which
prominent personalities
deals with the
sales tax that
funds libraries.
Many
agencies set Students of Kaplan college
up information
Care Center, California
booths at the
Telephone Access Proevent.
They were An- gram, Community
them Blue Cross, Housing and Shelter
Services, Project SentiHealth Net,
nel, Lideres CampesiCareMore, State
Council on Devel- nas California, El Conopmental Disabili- cilio, Stanislaus County
Library, HICAP, ModesDRAIL Executive Director Barry Smith Mayor ties, Diabetes
to Irrigation District, SoMadueno and ILS Ruben Villalobos
cial Security Administration, LEC, and
Delta Blood Bank.
marked the celebration of
DJs and a MariCesar Chavez day on March
achi band provided
30 by DRAIL.
music for the event.
Mayor of Riverbank VirThe celebraginia Madueno was a guest
tions started at 11
speaker at the event.
am and was held in
Astronaut Jose Hernanfront of the DRAIL
dez also spoke on the occaoffice in Modesto.
sion.
Art work on display by Keena Wells of
Jose flew on the 2009
the Peer Recovery Support Group
space shuttle mission to the
International Space Station.
THUS SPAKE:
Consumers were able to get
“Being disabled should not mean beJose’s autograph and pose
for pictures with him as well.
ing disqualified from having access to
It was interesting for them to
learn that he had been a
every aspect of life.” Emma Thompson
farmer in his younger days.
PAGE 7
Staff Spotlight: Kristy Gillen
When the company
that her husband worked
for shut down, Kristy Gillen and her family moved
to Sonora.
It was also at the
same time that Kristy was
diagnosed with multiple
sclerosis.
Though it was a difficult time for the family,
Kristy and her husband
saw it as an opportunity
for new beginnings.
One of those adven-
tures was when
Kristy was nominated to carry
the Torch for the
2002 Winter
Olympics.
She says
she will never
forget the feeling of pride in
carrying the torch just a
few months after the
9/11 attacks.
In 2002 she joined
DRAIL. Kristy who had
never heard of Independent Living Centers before, loves her job as the
Center Coordinator for
the Mother Lode office.
For her, everyday with
her consumers is a learning experience in terms
of perseverance, hope
and compassion.
DRAIL MISSION STATEMENT
Disability Resource Agency for Independent Living,
(DRAIL) is a non-profit, community-based, consumercontrolled, consumer-choice, cross-disability center
for Independent Living serving the counties of Amador, Calaveras, Mariposa, San Joaquin, Stanislaus
and Tuolumne in California. DRAIL is dedicated to
working towards the objectives of the Disability
Rights and Independent Living movement through
the provision of comprehensive services designed to
empower and improve the quality of life for persons
with disabilities.
Micro Loans For
Emergencies
You can now help
consumers of DRAIL get
emergency relief through
micro loans.
The program called
Pay It Forward assists
consumers with short
term emergency loans
that can be used to overcome unusual or unforeseen circumstances.
This could cover anything including money for
food or bill payment.
The program is open
to consumers of DRAIL.
Loans are limited to two
per consumer per year.
All loan applications will
be approved by DRAIL
Executive Director Barry
Smith.
In order that the gesture continues uninterrupted, consumers are
encouraged to pay it back
to DRAIL if and when they
can. Alternatively, they
are asked to pass the
kindness along and help
someone else in need.
Donations may be
made to DRAIL specifying
that the amount should be
used for the Pay it Forward Program.
DRAIL Modesto
920 12th Street
Modesto, CA 95354
NON –PROFIT ORGANIZATION
US POSTAGE PAID
MODESTO, CA
PERMIT NO 520
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Visit us on www.drail.org
SERVICES OFFERED
MODESTO
920 12th Street, Modesto, CA 95354
Ph:209.521.7260, Fax:209.521.4763
TTY:209.576.2409, VP:209.566.0547
Independent Living Services
501 W. Weber Avenue, Suite 200-A
Stockton, CA 95203
Ph:209.477.8143, Fax:209.477.7730
TTY: 209.465.5643
Information & Referral, Personal
Assistance Referral, Housing Referral,
Individual Advocacy, Systems Advocacy,
Peer Support, Peer Support Volunteer
Training, Volunteer Services, Independent
Living Skills, Benefits Advising, Disability
Awareness Sensitivity Training, ADA
Technical Assistance & Evaluation, Motor
Voter Registration, Braille Classes
MOTHER LODE
Assistive Technology
STOCKTON
67 Linoberg Street, Suite A
Sonora, CA 95370
Ph:209.532.0963, Fax:209.532.1591
Visually Impaired Equipment, Dial a Ride
Certification, Interpreters, Utility Assistance
Programs, Equal Access Statements.