HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL MEMBERS & THEIR FAMILIES!
A LOT OF NEWS TO SHARE - This is a long message.
The Alliance moves into its 6th month and membership is constantly rising. Many thanks to ALL members. We have received our Tax ID# & hopefully our Non-Profit status will be completed by summer. We have currently filed for membership with "Society For Disability Studies." The fundamental purpose of The Society is "to exchange information relevant to the experiences of individuals with disabilties and to promote the FULL participation of persons with disabilties in society." Another organization...OF, BY & FOR the disAbled.
We would like to remind all of our members that this Alliance has NO political affiliation. We neither back nor are promoted by any political party. The disAbled are our only "party". Any members political affiliation is their own private business.
************************************************* GOOD NEWS - For those of our members who have disabilties where typing is a problem, we have been talking with AOL about reduced or package membership rates. We are happy to announce that AOL will be presenting a new plan in the near future that will enable, after medical verification, many of AOL's disabled community the means to stay online longer, making use of the Internet & WWWeb more affordable.
NETCOM1 - A new online service that offers mega hours of Internet & Web use for $19.95/month. For those interested dial: 1-800-NETCOM1.
MDA - For members of the Muscular Dystrophy community there has been quite a bit of concern about MDA cutting power chair battery and repair aide. Thankfully, MDA has reviewed this policy and have decided that they WILL continue providing these services. Contact your local MDA office for more information.
SAFETY - We would like to remind all power chair & scooter users to be very careful when out and about. Please be sure you are highly visible, especially where cars and trucks are concerned. If you are out at night, be sure your chair or scooter has reflective devices attached & is lighted. There are helmets (miner type) that come equipped with battery powered lights. Please try not to go out, especially at night, unaccompanied. ALWAYS BE ON THE ALERT!!!!
For those of you who sent letters of condolence for Paul Hutter to Weefiend and NAOTD, these were forwarded to his family.
Many of you know, some may not. Tim, APALS, passed away last Monday night. He is at peace.
BATH TUB safety is important. WAL-MARTS has begun to carry a type of bath mat that covers a large portion of the bottom of your tub. It is very light weight & spongy. It is not only comfortable to put your feet and other parts of your anatomy on, but it also provides a slip, skid free surface. I got 1 for Christmas and am very pleased. I call mine, "The Foot", as it is in the shape of a big foot. :)
LAS VEGAS - Thank you so much, Luv Sparks, for all the time and effort you have put into this trip. NAOTD/AccessHOPE will be respresented at the AOL DisAbilities Vegas trip in March. AOL has been very helpful with this endeavor and at the request of the Alliance, have sent a truck load :D of AOL t-shirts to LuvSparks. The Alliance will be represented by moi, aye...Weefiend. Looking forward to meeting many of you there.
CHRONIC CONDITIONS CHATHOUSE - Thank you, DAC Lilly for making this chat group one of the best online. CCC meets Wednesday night in the EAC @ 11PM Eastern time & again on Sunday night. Since many of us have chronic conditions that go hand in hand with our disability, this group is super informative, helpful and very friendly.
************************************************* AN APPEAL FOR HELP FROM AccessHOPE - NAOTD's counterpart is AccessHOPE. This organization was formed by Jim Heida Jr. One of the purposes of AccessHOPE is to help disabled members with obtaining ad- aptive technology and aids in an effort to help keep us as independent as possible when other organizations cannot or will not help. For many people one of these aids is a "Service Canine". These dogs are specially trained and become the hands, legs, and eyes for many who have diminished or lost mobility & sight. They are not only "working" dogs who provide very necessary care, but for many disabled, they are the only family and company some have.
A few months ago, one of our members approached us seeking financial aid for Vet bills for her service canine, Abel, who has developed an allergy and muscular atrophy problem. AccessHOPE was able to help this member thru donations many of u sent. YOUR HELP IS NEEDED AGAIN. Our member has been using the money she has set aside for Attendant Care, to pay for Abel's shots & medication....Abel is the ONLY family Ellyn has.
The Alliance has been in touch with the Veterninary Center that takes care of Abel and an account has been set up. Any amount of money that you donate to this worthy cause is TAX DEDUCTIBLE and can be sent directly to the clinic. Money is tight for everyone and we all live on budgets, but please help Ellyn and Abel out. All contributions will be strictly accounted for and made available to any donating member who requests it. You may contact Jim Heida at screen name JAMINATOR@aol.com for the Vet's name, address & phone number and for information on Abel's progress.
disABILITY EXPO - NAOTD/AccessHope are thinking of & working on the possibility of promoting a disAbilities Expo in October 96, 2 take place in Michigan. This Expo will be run primarily by disAbled 2 raise money 4 the Alliance. ALL exhibitors & artists will be disAbled. Will keep you updated & any members interested in participating, please contact JAMINATOR.
With the many cuts that all disabled are facing to Medicare, Medicaid, and to their individual state rehab services, we will have to turn to each other more and more for not only the monetary help we need, but for emotional support too. So many other doors have been closed to us... LET US NOT CLOSE THE DOOR ON EACH OTHER. Perhaps one or two or ten or twenty can't make much difference BUT we are now over 200 and WE CAN do something. WE MUST DO THAT "SOMETHING".
Several members have contacted us over the weeks, seeking a more active part in the Alliance, wanting a more active part. This is wonderful. Only as a united front; OF, BY and FOR, can we hope to bring about change. We are seeking members who would like to become a part of the Board of Directors, our goal, to see each disability represented in some way. Both Jim & I would like to see more feedback from our members. So if you have any ideas, would like to become more active, have something 2 criticize, e-mail either Jim or me. Your opinion & input is important...no matter how trivial you may think it is.
Stay well, ALL.
Victoria Brown-Nalley/Weefiend
James Heida, Jr./Jaminator
