JACIL Connections for September 2018
Article 1:
Veterans eligible for free
hearing-amplified phones
by Lisa Viles
In speaking with veterans who have come to
JACIL in the past year for services, we have identified a need for amplified
phones for the older veteran population who are currently experiencing hearing
loss.
JACIL is a selection center for ITAC amplified
phones, a free program for those who are no longer able to hear satisfactorily
on a standard telephone.
We are holding a series of demonstration
sessions aimed at veterans in our
four-county service region. Attendees
will have the chance to try out several different models of amplified phones as
well as two cell phone amplifiers that are portable and can be used for hands
free phone conversation while driving.
The next scheduled demo will be on Tuesday, September 25, from
3:00-6:00 p.m. at the Golden Age Center, 111 West Third Street in Beardstown.
We also can demonstrate our ITAC offerings
through a pre-arranged appointment here in the JACIL office.
Potential users will need to bring a photo
ID and copies of landline and cellular phone bills. All ITAC services are free to Illinois
residents with active phone service.
Hearing and vision loss can sometimes go
hand in hand so we would also like to make people aware of some of the other
services JACIL offers. For example, our
Older Blind Program can purchase items and provide training to help people live
more independently in their homes.
As with the ITAC phones, there are no out
of pocket costs to participate in this program. We would be glad to answer any
questions about our organization. Feel
free to call us anytime at (217) 245-8371.
Please share this information with anyone
you know who might benefit from participating in this program, partcularly those
with veteran status.
Thank you so much for your military
service!
Article 2:
JACIL begins search for new Executive
Director
by Jean Jumper, JACIL Board President
JACIL Executive Director Becky McGinnis
has announced her retirement effective December 31, 2018.
JACIL Board Chairman Jean Jumper and Vice
Chairman Larry Whewell addressed the staff on August 7 to discuss the process
of replacing Becky.
“The Board’s desire is to have a new
Executive Director on board by December 1 so that he or she will have the benefit
of working with Becky for a few weeks to take advantage of her experience and
knowledge of the organization, policies, programs and the community,” Jean
said..
The Board of Directors formed a Search
Committee whose sole purpose is to seek out and hire the best available
candidate for the position of JACIL Executive Director. The Board's goal is to recruit and hire an
individual who will support and build upon current successful programs, bring
new ideas and identify additional funding sources all the while utilizing the
strengths and expertise of current staff and volunteers thereby moving the
organization to the next level of service for residents of Morgan, Scott, Cass
and Mason Counties.
“The goals we have set for the search
committee are aggressive, but doable,” Jean said. “The position opening,
requirements and application procedures will be announced in early
September. Our plans are to accept
applications through late September and begin the interview process in
mid-October.”
Article 3:
Red Cross smoke detectors
The Red Cross has available free smoke
detectors which they install for individuals who can't afford a smoke alarm or
can't physically install one. There are
also bed-shaker alarms for those who need them.
Contact Susan or Crystal at JACIL at (217)
245-8371 and we can help you apply to see if you qualify.
Article 4:
ISD Glow & Go 5k fundraiser
The Illinois School for the Deaf , along
with Nestlé and various sponsors, is hosting a Glow & Go 5k Fun Run/Walk on
September 21 at 6:30 p.m. as a fundraiser for the out-of-state travel costs for
athletics.
The event will start and finish at the
corner of Webster and College Avenues. A
registration form can be found at www.illinoisdeaf.org,
https://goo.gl/forms/qxaKnXNai9vohmX82, or by e-mailing desa.johnson@illinois.gov.
Registration deadline is September 5 to
guarantee a shirt on event day.
Article 5:
Justice League & the Importance of
Voting
by Crystal Román
KIP Café & The Justice League advocacy
group are partnering up for a special presentation on Thursday, September 27,
from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at JACIL's office at 15 Permac Road.
Independent Living Advocate Crystal Román
will be doing a presentation on the Justice League and will be discussing what
the Justice League is about and the benefits of joining the e-mail advocacy
group.
She will also share how being part of the
Justice League will allow a person to be informed and take active steps in self
and systems advocacy from the comfort of the home.
Guest speaker, Morgan County Clerk Jill
Waggener, will also be speaking about the importance of voting, voting methods,
voters with disability day at the Morgan County Courthouse, and other voting
related topics.
A light meal will be served. If you are interested in attending the
September 27 KIP Café, please make a reservation by calling JACIL at
217-245-8371, no later than September 26
Please let JACIL know by September 21 if you
need an alternate format of any printed recources that may be handed out during
the session. An ASL Interpreter will be provided.
Article 6:
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
stink level during preparation?
Kathy says: Try putting a piece of white bread on top of
the pot when cooking up a batch of "smelly" vegetables. It will
absorb most of the odors.
Article 7:
JACIL CLOSED LABOR DAY
Monday, September 3
Article 8:
Who Hears a Hoot by Susan Nolls
by Susan Nolls
Step Right Up!
The carnival is in town. Are you going? There will be lots to see, hear and smell. If it were not for the noise and lots of
busy, visual noise, then maybe I would be better able to enjoy the event. The carnival or the circus or similar venues
tend to turn me off.
It begins at the gate with buying a
ticket. The sellers repeat their spiel
so often that after a while it begins to sound quite garbled and is not
intelligible for me. I make assumptions
about what they say and they don't care.
Seeing the signs allows me to understand what is needed and to escape
most of the potential embarrassment.
I enjoy the games and the rides. I don't have to talk and no one is trying to
talk to me. Shrieking is the primary
sound with background snippets of music and machines which do not require
communication.
Visual noise at a crowd event is huge. I prefer to go alone because I don't need to
be able to follow my friends' talk which requires I lip read, unless they
sign. In a noisy environment it is
dangerous to be looking at a face instead of the ground which might be
bumpy. When lip reading or signing, I
tend to hold my forearm out to make sure I don't run into things. Watching other people as I walk is imperative
to avoid accidents or spillage of food or tripping over little ones.
Interestingly for me it is better to go to
a carnival at night. There are fewer
visual “noises” to distract me. Yes the
lights are bright and flashing. The
biggest difference is seeing and watching people. They are moving so quickly and those with
children are looking all around to keep track of the kids. I want to know what they are saying and at
night there seems to be less light for that.
Article 9:
One Step at a time
by Roger Deem
Third in a series of articles about from a
JACIL staffer who became an amputee in 2018.
Rehabilitation had been going
exceptionally well and every day I was exceeding the challenges set forth by my
therapist. Per the doctor’s orders the
foot remained wrapped and uninspected but I had every reason to believe healing
was progressing nicely.
When the nurse took off the bandage, she
said under her breath, “Oh my God!” I
was pretty sure this was not a harbinger of glad tidings.
Not only had healing not been
accomplished, it was clear the infection had taken over my foot. By the time I left the office I had been
informed there was about a 95% chance I would lose the whole foot and possibly
the entire leg.
Suddenly my course shifted into
reverse. Rather than a simple life
adaptation and a short stay, I was facing a much more life-altering
scenario. My therapist, Michelle,
refused to accept the bad news and encouraged me to believe and fight for the
best. But the very next day she was
forced to return to the Philippines because problems arose with her visa and
those of several other therapists across this country. Losing my biggest cheerleader made this
heart-wrenching process even more arduous.
After two weeks more therapy and another
visit to the surgeon, my worst fears were confirmed. I would lose my foot, ankle and possibly my
leg. They were unable to determine the
extent until they opened the infected area.
The countdown began until surgery
day. Not only did it feel like waiting
for the other shoe to drop, when it did my foot would fall with it.
(to be Continued in the next jacil
connections)
September Calendar
Mon 3 Labor
Day - JACIL office closed.
Tue 4 Knollwood
20/20 Support Group - 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.
Wed 5 Friends
Helping Friends Action Club - 3:45 to 4:45 p.m.
Wed 5 American
Sign Language Class - 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.
Wed 12 American Sign Language Class - 5:30 to 7:00
p.m
Thu 13 VisAbility Support Group - 10:30 a.m. to noon
Tue 18 Cass County Visions in Beardstown - 10:00 to
11:00 a.m.
Wed 19 Visions Support Group in Havana - 2:00 to
3:00 p.m.
Wed 19 People First Aktion Club - 3:30 to 4:30 p.m
Wed 19 American Sign Language Class - 5:30 to 7:00
p.m.
Thu 20 Peer Mentoring Class - 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Tue 25 ITAC Demonstration - 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Golden
Age Center, 111 West Third Street in Beardstown
Wed 26 American Sign Language Class - 5:30 to 7:00
p.m.
Thu 27 KIP Café - 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
1st
Topic: Justice League Advocacy Group
Speaker:
Crystal Román, JAC
2nd
Topic: The Importance of Voting
Speaker: Jill Waggoner, Morgan County Clerk
Thu 27 Peer Mentoring Class - 4:00 to 6:00 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