Bay Area Center for Independent Living, Inc.

Where Everyday is Independence Day

909 Progress Circle

Salisbury, MD 21804

(443) 260-0822

In This Issue

• Spotlight on Donors

• Partnership with Habitat for Humanity

• Meeting with the Legislators

• New Assistive Technology and Vocational Lab

• Salisbury Christian School Visit

“We appreciate your sponsorship and your continued interest to support those who choose to live independently.”

On January 26, 2017, Bay Area CIL traveled to Annapolis to support Independent Living Awareness Day

and to advocate for legislation that would improve the quality of life for individuals with disabilities. The

Maryland State Independent Living Council (MSILC) designates one day a year when Maryland Centers for

Independent Living are given the opportunity to meet with their Delegates and Senators to discuss house

bills that that may influence the lives of their consumers.

Dr. Katherine L.R. Jones stated, “As a CIL, we supported the tax credit bill for assistive technology and the

creation of an “Overseer” to make sure Maryland technology systems are accessible for those with

disabilities. Furthermore, we voiced our thoughts on the Physician Assisted Suicide Bill that lacked protec-

tion for those with disabilities.”

Bay Area CIL staff successfully met with State Delegates and Senators throughout the day, encouraged

many Delegates to visit the Center and most importantly left their presence behind showing full support for the Independent Living (IL) movement.

MEETING WITH THE LEGISLATORS

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Message from the Executive Director

Thank you for supporting Bay Area Center for Independent Living, Inc. Our dream began in 1974 and today we are providing resources and support for people with disabilities, and their families, through programs which offer choices, preserve dignity and increase independence for an improved quality of life across the nine counties of Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Our future is bright as we increase our services in Assistive Technology, Vocational Development, Benefits Counseling, Independent Living and Supports Planning. We appreciate your sponsorship and your continued interest to support those who choose to live independently. With great pride, we will continue to serve others. Thank you for making our dreams come true.

~ Katherine Dr. Katherine L.R. Jones, Executive Director

Left to Right– Rose Carey, I.L. Program Manager, Dee Still, Independent Living Specialist, Jennifer Rooney, Supports Planner, Delegate Mary Beth

Carozza, David Yockey, A.T. Program Manager and Dr. Katherine L.R. Jones, Executive Director

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

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Abresch, Sarah

Bailey, J. Lee

Baker, Penny

Beattie, Dr. & Mrs. Alfred

Bounds, Margaret

Bradley, Melvin

Bunting, Millie

Burton, Mr. & Mrs. Joseph

Bush, Ruth

Dalto, Michael

Dean, Roland

Elliott, Marcia

Foster, Michael

Frombach, Diane

Gallagher, Mr. & Mrs. James

Goslee, Charles

Hager, Mr. & Mrs. Ronald

Hall, Mr. & Mrs. Allan

Hearn, Louise

Hunt, Brooksie

Johnson, Mr. & Mrs. Rick

Thank you to our sponsors for preserving Bay Area CIL’s mission to

provide support for people with disabilities.

Koehler, Katherine

La Tolteca Restaurant

Law Firm of George Strott

New Life Sanctuary

Ocean Pines AARP #4507

Owens, Alda Mae

Perdue, Mitzi

Perunko, Mr. & Mrs. Paul

Rubenson, Mr. & Mrs. George

Smith, Mr. & Mrs. Earl

Smith, Mr. & Mrs. William

Snavely, Mr. & Mrs. William

Sterling, Rebecca

Talbot American Legion Post #70

Tyndall, Mr. & Mrs. Merrill

VFW Post #10159

Wiles, Linda

Zimmerman, Mr. & Mrs. Daniel

Family Fun at the Bowling Alley

Appearing on Front Cover:

Evan Harcum and Andy

Ambriz

FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER

All meetings are held at Bay Area CIL, Inc., unless a trip

is planned and advertised in advance. All meeting dates

are on Saturdays and last from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

2017 Schedule

April 15th, May 27th, July 15th, August 15th, September 26th,

October 21st, November 18th and December 16th.

The Bay Area CIL Family

Resource Center offers children

and young adults opportunities

for engaging activities with

friends and families. Bowling

is scheduled for Wednesday

evenings and Bocce on Friday

nights. The Voyagers Club

meeting is held once a month

on Saturdays.

For more information on the

Family Resource Center, please

contact Pat Lewis at

plewis@bayareacil.org or

(443) 260-0822. Thank you to

South Bend Alley for opening

their doors to our community.

Megan Hopkins and Tracey Zlock

FREE COMPUTER SKILLS TRAINING

VOYAGERS CLUB MEETING DATES

Bay Area CIL welcomes youth and

seniors to work with our Vocational

Trainer, Lucille Hayward, to learn

free basic computer skills. The

Assistive Technology and Vocational

Lab is open to residents of the

Eastern Shore who are living with a

disability. The computers in the lab

are equipped with touchscreen monitors and a variety of adaptive

technologies to accommodate those with disabilities. Thank you to the

United Way, Maryland Technology Assistance Program and Rural

Maryland Council for making this lab possible. 4

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

James Michael,

President

Russell Endicott,

Vice President

Kaye Holloway,

Secretary

Eric Brumbley

Michael Dalto

Helen Johnson

Office Hours

Mon.– Fri.

8:30 a.m.

until

4:30 p.m.

Welcome

“This unique partnership continues to benefit residents from all 9 counties of the Eastern Shore.”

Habitat for Humanity partnered with Bay Area CIL to

build a wheelchair ramp for a Cecil County resident.

Habitat for Humanity provided the volunteers and

logistics while Bay Area CIL paid for the supplies. This

unique partnership continues to benefit residents from all

9 counties of the Eastern Shore.

According to the Cecil County resident, the ramp has

changed the quality of her life. She can now move in and

out of her home safely and independently. Bay Area CIL

would like to thank Habitat for Humanity for preserving

the quality of life for those on the Eastern Shore.

Kelly Mann, Voyagers Club member, visited

the Salisbury Christian School to share her ex-

periences of working and being fully engaged in

the community while living with Down Syn-

drome. Kelly talked about her many friend-

ships, her talents as a swing dancer and her ad-

venturous trips around the world.

She shared her message of overcoming barriers

and being a champion for those with disabili-

ties. Her active social life includes bowling,

bocce and the Voyagers club at Bay Area CIL.

Despite her busy schedule, she actively

works as a nanny for 4 children.

Thank you to the United

Way and the Salisbury

Christian School for

hosting this special event.

PARTNERSHIP WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

SALISBURY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL VISIT

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“Mr. Day expressed his vested interests in serving his community and learning more about the programs that keep individuals in their homes.”

PATHWAYS TO SUCCESS NIGHT AT WOR-WIC

Bay Area Center for Independent Living partici-

pated in the Pathways to Success Night at

Wor-Wic Community College. Pathways to Suc-

cess Night provides students, with disabilities, the

opportunity to learn about the available resources

for their transition into higher education. Juniors

and Seniors, from the lower counties, were given

the opportunity to learn about financial aid, dual

enrollment, benefits counseling and employment

opportunities.

Michelle Parker and Kim Payne, Bay Area CIL

Benefits Counselors provided a workshop on the

benefits associated with receiving SSI and SSDI.

Most importantly, they encouraged students and

their families to consider employment while

receiving these benefits.

Pat Lewis, Family Resource Coordinator, provided

families and youth information on Bay Area CIL

activities and advocacy resources.

Michelle Parker, Kim Payne and Pat Lewis

Salisbury’s Mayor, Jake Day, visited Bay Area

CIL to learn about the many innovative programs

that are available to assist individuals, with

disabilities, to live independently in the communi-

ty. Mr. Day expressed his vested interests in

serving his community and learning more about

the programs that keep individuals in their homes.

Executive Director, Dr. Katherine Jones and Inde-

pendent Living Program Manager, Rose Carey,

were pleased to continue their partnership with the

city of Salisbury.

Bay Area CIL was also visited by Delegates Chris

Adams and Mary Beth Carozza. They too were

interested in the Independent Living Philosophy

and visited the Center to learn more about the

many resources offered by Bay Area CIL. They

were particularly interested in listening to our

concerns about finding affordable and accessible

housing on the Eastern Shore.

For more information about advocacy opportuni-

ties, please contact our center. (443) 260-0822

Dr. Katherine Jones, Mayor Jake Day and Rose Carey

ADVOCACY IN ACTION

Bay Area CIL received a grant from the Rural

Maryland Council to create a vocational lab for

young adults, with disabilities, for lower shore and

Dorchester county residents. The lab is open to

individuals, under the age of 25, who are in need of

assistance for vocational services. No appointment is

necessary and it’s free of charge to the community.

The center is open Monday-Thursday 8:30– 4:30

p.m., for those who need vocational assistance, and

on Fridays 8:30-4:30 p.m. for those who can work

independently.

The lab is equipped with large touch screen

computers uploaded with the latest technologies to

accommodate a variety of disabilities. For example,

screen reading applications are available for those

who are blind, Dragon can assist individuals with

limited mobility and Kurzweil helps those with

learning disabilities.

Some of the services provided by the lab include:

• Career assessments;

• Job searches;

• Cover letters; and

• Resume design

Mr. Phil Linz, from Atlantic Low Vision, visited the

Bay Area CIL Assistive Technology Lab to present

the latest devices designed to assist individuals with

low vision. One of the most popular devices was a

Merlin Ultra HD video magnifier (shown below)

that has the capability to enlarge the print of reading

materials. The video magnifier can improve the

quality of life for an individual who loves to read or

needs to read in order to pay bills or read

appointment cards. These particular devices magnify

the material placed under the camera as well as read

the print to the consumer. Mr. Linz provided hands-

on demonstrations so the participants were

comfortable in operating the devices independently.

For more information about our assistive technology

lab or loan program, please contact David Yockey

for a personal demonstration. (443) 260-0822

ASSISTING THOSE WITH LOW VISION

NEW VOCATIONAL SERVICES FOR THE YOUTH

BAY AREA CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING,

INC. PROMOTES ACCESS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND

SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABLITIES AND

THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH PROGRAMS

WHICH OFFER CHOICES, PRESERVE

DIGNITY AND INCREASE INDEPENDENCE FOR AN IMPROVED QUALITY OF LIFE ACROSS THE NINE

COUNTIES OF MARYLAND’S EASTERN

SHORE.

GIVE THE GIFT OF INDEPENDENCE

Bay Area CIL is a community

based non-profit organization

who is ever grateful to those

who make private donations to

keep our programs running.

Bay Area CIL would like to

thank Mr. Melvin Bradley for

his generous donation. If you

would like to donate, please vis-

it our website and click on “Donate.” You can be certain that

100% of your donated dollars will be used for direct services. If

you would like to donate items, we are always in need of chap

stick, deodorant, unscented powders, bath sets, fleece throws,

large socks, sweat shirts and unscented lotions. These items are

given to residents of nursing facilities through the Esther’s Wings

Lee Lewis, Rose Carey, Melvin Bradley

and Dr. Katherine Jones

Rose Carey, Conni Speidel

and Tracey Larrimore gathering

supplies for Esther’s Wings.

Salisbury University Volunteers sorting

holiday cards

Tyrone Cooper, Kathy Wright and Tasha King

Supports Planners in Action

Rocio Sarmientou, Volunteer, helps at Basket Bingo