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

Friends, Advocates & Consumer Empowered Stories
PAGE 1
Wheelchairs
Experience
PAGE 2
DCA Day
Thanking BB
Prints
PAGE 3
Accessible
Thermostats
Available
Federal Benefits Go Electronic
Disability Resource Agency for Independent Living
V O L U M E
2
I S S U E
3
S U M M E R
2 0 1 2
Experiencing Hardships First Hand!
towards making the
-whether it be drivstreets safe, city em- ers, pedestrians or
ployees spent nearly wheelchair users.
two hours negotiating
Instead of
downtown Modesto
intellectualizing on
PAGE 4
in wheelchairs.
the hardships or
Join the DRAIL
Spearheading the problems that
Board
idea were
wheelchairs users
Bowling Fun
Michael
PAGE 5
Sacuskie and
Low Cost
Brad Wall
Showers
Modesto City Staff
from the City
of Modesto’s
PAGE 6
Wheelchairs
Planning
Success Story
Save your Date whirred around
Department
downtown Modesto along with
PAGE 7
on May 16.
DRAIL’s
Staff SpotlightCrossing
streets,
Systems
Angelo Clay
maneuvering side
Change
Negotiating curb sides
walks, tilting over
Advocate,
uneven curbsides,
George Sharp.
the staff of City of
Simply called, the
find on the streets,
Modesto, all in
“Wheelchair
the staff decided that
wheelchairs, were
Experience,” this event a first hand
experiencing it first
was a fact gathering
experience while
hand!
exercise and also a
using wheelchairs
In an exercise that tool to inform people of would help them find
was geared
the need for safety on
the streets for all users Continued on Page 4
PAGE 2
Disability Capitol Action Day
“One in six, you
might need ADA
some day,” so said
one of the many
placards at the rally
on
Disability Capitol
Action Day.
Sacramento was DRAIL participates in Capitol Action Day
the seat of
disabled ‘power’ as
They participated in
agencies from all over the the march to the
state gathered to
Capitol, the education
celebrate Disability
rally, the Disability Action
Capitol Action Day at the
Coalition Resource Fair
state capitol on May 30.
and also visited with
DRAIL Systems
legislators.
Change Advocate
DRAIL staff and
chartered a bus and took
consumers were able to
other advocates to
meet with Senator Tom
Sacramento to participate
Berryhill and Kristin
in the event.
Olsen’s staff.
Thanking BB Prints
BB Prints is one
such sponsor who provided banners free of
cost to DRAIL for two
of its
Recognizing BB Prints
No event is possible
without the generous
support of sponsors that
donate cash or in kind.
events-Black History
Month and Cesar
Chavez Day. In honor
of their contribution,
DRAIL staff, Ignacio
Chavez and Angelo
Clay, presented an
appreciation plaque to
Marjorie Owens, owner
of BB Prints.
Support Group
Vent frustrations,
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
enjoy the company of
others who share familiar
experiences.
The 1st Thursday of
every month, 10:00
am-12:00 pm at DRAIL,
Modesto.
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
am-12:00 pm at DRAIL,
Modesto.
I choose not to place
"DIS", in my ability Robert M Hensel
I
PAGE 3
Accessible Thermostats Available
Accessible
Thermostats are still
available for DRAIL
consumers who reside in
Modesto.
The program, which is in
force through the
collaboration with the
Modesto Irrigation District,
provides grants to
install these thermostats
free of cost in homes of
eligible consumers.
DRAIL consumers who
have disabilities and are
low income may apply for
the grant.
The two types of
thermostats that are
available include the Lux
model that has a touch
screen and digital
display the VIP talking
thermostat that can be
used by persons with
visual impairment.
In addition to the
accessibility feature, the
thermostats can
contribute to saving on
the utility bill by
controlling the
temperature in homes.
The thermostat is
available through
Norquist, a vendor that
works with DRAIL.
Please contact
Assistive Technology
advocate Kris Rowe if
interested in the
program.
Federal Benefit Going Electronic
All Federal
beneficiaries will need to
switch to electronic
payment option beginning
March 1, 2013.
A release from the US
Department of
Treasury said that this
would apply to Social
Security, Supplemental
Security and other federal
beneficiaries as well.
Beneficiaries who are
now receiving paper
checks have two options to
switch over to electronic
payment. They can opt for
direct deposit to a
checking or savings
account or the Direct
Express® Debit
MasterCard® card.
The switch can be
made online free of
charge at
www.GoDirect.org or by
calling the U.S. Treasury
Electronic Solution
Center at (800) 3331795. For direct deposit,
people can also sign up
at their bank or credit
union.
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
MEMBER
Hannah Boxell
(Student, Modesto
Junior College)
F.A.C.E.S OF DRAIL
Published Quarterly
Volume 2, Issue 3
Printed and published by
DRAIL-Modesto
920 12th Street,
Modesto, CA 95354
Edited by
Anuradha Gajaraj
PAGE 4
Wheelchair Experience
across the nation on how
to develop local
solutions to help their
communities grow in
ways that benefit
families and businesses
while protecting the
environment and
preserving a sense of
Pow wow on the streets
place.
Under this, the
better solutions.
‘Complete Streets’
Recommendations will
be made use of in the US policies ensure that all
future street projects
Environmental
respond to the needs of
Protection Agency
technical assistance grant everyone using the
roadway.
to Construction
Wheelchairs for the
Equipment Department.
exercise were
The grant is used to
donated by Premier
provide direct technical
assistance to communities Medical.
Continued from Page 1
Join The DRAIL Board
DRAIL is accepting
applications for the DRAIL
Board of Directors.
DRAIL provides
comprehensive services
that empower and
improve the quality of life
for persons with
disabilities.
If your values subscribe
to our mission, and you
would like to serve persons with disabilities
through your valuable
guidance to the agency,
please send in your
application to DRAIL
Executive Director Barry
Smith at the DRAIL
Modesto Office 920 12th
Street, Modesto, CA.
Giving Back To The Community
Barry Smith
sets an
example to
staff by
participating
in community
events
benefiting
other
agencies as
Executive Director Barry Smith with family and well.
Accordingly,
staff
he headed
for an afternoon of fun at
It is not all work at
DRAIL. Executive Director McHenry Bowl to
participate in the benefit
event supporting United
Way and their partner
agencies.
Barry and other DRAIL
staff, Ignacio Chavez
and Ruben
Villalobos, accompanied
by their families
participated in the event
on May 19.
Find us on
FACEBOOK
PAGE 5
Low Cost Portable Showers
Russell Simpkins shows the unit
and does not require any
remodeling of the house.
Water is pumped out
of the shower pan back
into the sink or shower
drain with an electrical
pump.
Made from durable
fiberglass panels, the
unit can be set and
locked in place.
It also has an easily
reachable hand-held
shower head that can be
placed anywhere it’s
most convenient in the
unit.
Established by a
brother-sister team in
Santa Cruz-Monterrey
area, the company offers
installation and training
on using the unit.
For more
information and to view a
demo video, visit www.
Showerbay.com.
Shower Bay, a
newly established Santa
Cruz company, has
designed affordable and
accessible portable roll-in
showers.
The shower that costs
less than $4,000 and can
be easily assembled without any tools. Other models cost anywhere from
$5,000-$10,000.
Among the features that
make this shower easy to
install is
that it
only
requires a
faucet for
the water
supply and
can be set
up
anywhere
within reach
of a faucet Russell Simpkins and Alanna Harvey explain its features
DRAIL STAFF
MODESTO
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
SYSTEMS CHANGE
ADVOCATE
George Sharp
STOCKTON
CENTER COORDINATOR
Jeff Vierra
INDEPENDENT LIVING
SPECIALIST
Eileen Preciado
AT ADVOCATE
Sandra Graham
SONORA
CENTER COORDINATOR
Jema Padavana
PAGE 6
Social Security Approval: Third Time Lucky!
It looked like chance had
slipped by Sam Rolicheck
when he was
denied Social Security. Not
only that, he failed to
appeal within 60 days as
rules required. When Sam
heard about DRAIL
services, he decided to try
his luck once more. He
approached DRAIL and
Independent Living
Specialist, Ruben
Villalobos, took up Sam’s
case.
Ruben helped Sam file
another application for
social security in June
2011, however it was
denied again. But Ruben
did not give up. He had
Rolicheck appeal once
again in December that
year. By May of 2012
Sam received the good
news that his application
had been finally
approved!
Sam who is
bi-polar, also has ADHD
and Asperger Syndrome.
With the approval of
Social Security, Sam has
found hope in his life
again. He plans to start
building his life, going
back to school and
paying his rent. “I have
received nothing but
exemplary service from
DRAIL. They were
tremendously helpful and
made the application
process much easier and
much clearer.”
Good luck Sam! We are
happy for you!
Save Your Date: Disability Information & Awareness Day
Join DRAIL for a day of
information and
awareness on October 20
in Salida.
The event will feature demonstrations
on
Assistive Technology
devices and equipment.
In addition,
information on resources
to empower people with
disabilities to live more
independent lives will also
be disseminated at the
event.
Organized in
collaboration with Anthem
Blue Cross, Health Net
and Dynavox, the event is
part of the activities slated for October-Disability
Awareness Month.
Consumers, friends,
care-givers,
family members and
community
are all invited
and encouraged to
come. Organizations
and agencies that cover
health-care, support
services and more will
also have booths at the
event.
The event will start at
10am and go on till 4pm
at the Salida Library
Community Room, 4835
Sisk Road, Salida.
For more
information contact
DRAIL’s AT Advocate
Sandra Graham at
(866) 344-3614 or email
sandra@drail.org.
THUS SPAKE:
Robert M . Hansel
PAGE 7
Staff Spotlight: Angelo Clay, Independent Living Specialist
Since then, Angelo
worked as a public
service worker at the
Alameda Police
Department and then at
the NAS Alameda Air
Rework facility.
During that time, a
shoot-out in front of his
daughter’s pre-school
Angelo Clay: Serving people and later a vehicle
accident that killed a
child in the school
All his adult life,
premises, made Angelo
Angelo Clay has worked
decide to move.
in positions that have
He relocated to Ceres
something or the other to
and continued to work in
do with serving people.
different
It was during his first
positions serving people.
stint as a district worker
He has worked with
for the Alameda County
Carefilled Homes as the
Social Services that
Program Director of an
Angelo realized he
Independent Living Proenjoyed working with
gram for a large
people and felt that his
population of chronically
work touched their lives.
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.
mentally ill adults.
He then worked as a
Supportive Living
Specialist with
Community Re-Entry
Program (CRP) at the
University of the Pacific
providing housing
services assistance,
training and monitoring of
the mentally disabled.
He was later given a
more specific
responsibility that
required the provision
and management of a
system of clinical
services. After working
there for six years, he
applied for the position of
Independent Living Specialist for DRAIL and has
been working with DRAIL
since 2007.
Juneteenth
Celebration
DRAIL booth at event
DRAIL Modesto
920 12th Street
Modesto, CA 95354
NON –PROFIT ORGANIZATION
US POSTAGE PAID
MODESTO, CA
PERMIT NO 520
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Current Resident or
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.