The Derby City Chapter of the National Spinal Cord Injury Association Network- Serving Kentuckiana.
Message From the President
Dear Members & Friends-
At this month’s meeting, August 16 at 6:30, we will have a speaker from Paws with Purpose. They are a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals with disabilities by providing professionally trained, highly skilled service dogs.
Pizza and soft drinks will be provided. September’s meeting will be held at Frazier Rehab, 4th floor dining room. Social hour: 6:30; speaker at 7:00 p.m. Refreshments provided.
- David Allgood
NEWS FROM THE NATIONAL STATLER CENTER
The National Statler Center for Careers in Hospitality Service is a 13-week program that prepares adults with disabilities for jobs in the hotel and tourism industries. The Statler Center, a program of the Dr. Elizabeth Pierce Olmstead Center for the Visually Impaired, is funded through a variety of foundation partners, including the Statler Foundation and the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. There is no cost to attend the program. There are three classes per year (January, May and August) held in Buffalo, NY. For information on either applying or recommending someone for the Statler Center program, contact Michael Hill at mhill@statlercenter.org.
The Statler Center’s job placement rate averages more than 80%. An application can be obtained for the Statler Center @ www.statlercenter.org/applicationform/appform-form.htm. There are still openings for the August, 2004 class. The Statler Center can also be reached at (716) 882-5690.
The following articles are from NewMobility.com-ed
EASY LIVING PROGRAM EXPANDS
Builders are paying the Atlanta-based EasyLiving Home program for the privilege of making their homes meet basic access standards. “Instead of trying to legislate ‘visitability’, we thought we’d try a volunary program,” says Mettina van der Veen, EasyLiving project director. “So new builders can get their homes certified if they meet certain criteria — visitability plus a few extra things.” EasyLiving Homes is an offshoot of Concrete Change, the group that created the visitability concept.
Founded in 2001, the program is now expanding beyond Georgia. “I’m getting a lot of calls and e-mails from people around the nation who are interested in doing this,” says va der Veen. “People like Disability rights advocate groups, builders, designers, some cities...so there’s definitely a need for this program.”
Participating builders’ plans are reviewed by EasyLiving to ensure the criteria are met. A registration fee is also required. “We go over the plans to make sure the builders qualify, and if they don’t, we show them how they can make changes. Then when the building is done, an EasyHomes rep does an inspection to make sure everything is done according to the criteria,” says van der Veen. For more information contact EasyLiving Homes, 404/723-5503; www.easylivinghomes.org.
