Weekly IA Newsletter
Resources and Updates from
Independence Associates
|
April 23rd | Issue 5
Issue 1:
Issue 2:
Issue 3:
Issue 4:
|
We hope everyone had a nice weekend and Patriots Day! Our day off threw us off a bit, but we are back at it!
With updates coming out less often, and our work picking up full steam ahead, we've decided to switch our weekly updates to bi-weekly. This will allow us to focus on long form explanations and analysis so we can explain how the current events, policies, and decisions made at the White House and the State House might be affecting you and those in our community.
We hope everyone is staying safe and clean out there. Please reach out to your skills trainer or our wonderful admin Carol with any questions you might have!
|
Independence Associates Social Events!
|
Our groups are growing! Everyone is having a blast and we're so happy to be able to get together and see everyone again!! If you haven't been joining in then get in touch with your skills trainer and RSVP already!
All are welcome, though some events are suggested for youth while others are for 22+! Stop on by and say hello!
Email social@iacil.org to RSVP or ask any questions.
|
IA Weekly Games Group: Wednesdays at 3:30PM (22 & younger)
Last week we played some rousing games of Quiplash and Fibbage. We had a full house (or should we say Zoom room?!) of funny answers and trivia questions! Want to sign up or need tech support? Email social@iacil.org.
Parents/Adult Social Group: Friday, April 24th at 11AM (adults)
This group is available to parents and adults to discuss anything relevant to their lives during this crisis. Whether it parenting techniques, work-from-home ideas, or navigating the minefields of benefits - anything is up for discussion. Olga and Christina are both parents and will help lead this group and facilitate conversation. In these stressful times, having a support system is very important. For information on joining this video chat group and free tech support to set it up, email social@iacil.org.
Youth Social Events: Friday, April 24th at 3:30PM (22 & younger)
Last Friday we had a blast playing Uno online. We had so much fun we're making it a weekly event!! We're hoping to make this weeks get together even better! Come hang out with IA! To sign up or for help setting up the technology to join, email social@iacil.org.
Have an idea for a group event that you would like IA to host? Let us know, we would love to discuss making it a reality!
All groups are free and IA can help you with the technology set up, just shoot us an email at social@iacil.org! We will be adding new groups so always check iacil.org for changes to our schedule! Hope to see you soon!
|
|
How our Transition to Adulthood Program Can Help You During Covid-19
Independence Associates understands the current challenges that youth, teachers, and parents are facing. During this time, our youth services are still open for business! We've been meeting with consumers virtually to ensure that no one is getting left behind!
If you are not part of our TAP program already then give us a call! Our youth department works with you one on one. We focus in on any challenges and barriers you're up against and any of your current personal goals. We can help with permit test practice, cooking skills, budgeting, self-advocacy, and a whole host of goals that you may want assistance with.
Isolation and a lack of routine can also be very burdensome for individuals living with disabilities. Because of this, IA has taken several steps to create a weekly routine and schedule of events. Every week we are hosting an online watch party via Netflix Watch party. We will also be hosting an online gaming night where we will be playing online games like Uno, Jackbox and many others. We also have been floating other ideas like online art nights, and yoga! All ideas are welcome! We hope to hear from new and old consumers alike!
So if you're between 14 and 22 give us a call at 508-583-2166 or an email at social@iacil.org and we'll get you set up with a skills trainer!
|
|
Off the Press
Click title to go to articles
|
|
Massachusetts residents who are not eligible for regular unemployment benefits can now apply for the new Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, the Baker-Polito administration announced Monday.
|
|
State legislators have approved a temporary statewide moratorium on evictions and foreclosures during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The legislation would provide protections to renters, small businesses and homeowners experiencing financial hardships. Because of the emergency situation, the bill will take effect once the governor signs it.
|
|
The changes are in response to an uproar from many in the disability and minority communities who worried they would be penalized for ailments that are the result of health disparities or issues that don’t affect their chances of long-term survival. This might include someone who has been living a productive life while on oxygen support for decades, or a black patient with asthma made worse by where they live.
|
|
With COVID-19 cases skyrocketing, nurses inside a state-run facility in Danvers for people with developmental disabilities tell 5 Investigates help is urgently needed to stem the tide of infections.
|
|
A Win for Many SSI Recipients: Automatic Economic Impact Payments!
|
|
Last week we sent an alert
about the Economic Impact Payments in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. We noted that for many people who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Veterans Affairs (VA) Disability Compensation or Veterans Pension, there was not a clear or easy process to receive economic impact payments. Commissioner Saul’s previous statement clarified that the Social Security Administration (SSA) was working with the Treasury Department to address questions regarding SSI recipients and other people who are not required to file taxes but do not receive SSA-1099s.
Yesterday, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Treasury Department, and SSA announced that
SSI recipients will automatically receive their payments
. Payments will be received by the same method they usually receive their SSI benefits, and they should be received by early May. This is a big victory that will ensure millions of people can access much-needed payments to help during this crisis.
For SSI recipients with children (or other qualifying dependents under 17), the law allows an extra $500 each. For people who don’t file taxes with qualifying dependents, there is still an extra step to receive the additional $500 per dependent child. Last week,
a tool that serves this purpose
was released. The
press release
has more information.
While this is a major win, there still has not been an automatic process determined for people who receive Veterans Affairs (VA) Disability Compensation or Veterans Pension. NCIL is continuing to follow and advoca0te for this, and the IRS is providing updated information at
www.irs.gov/coronavirus
.
For more updates and information, resources, and past alerts about COVID-19, visit
www.ncil.org/covid-19
.
|
|
IA Presents Jock Talk
A podcast on sports, disability, and everything else. Featuring Bryan and Adam from Independence Associates!
|
|
American Federation for Suicide Prevention
Last Week, Independence Associates staff learned from a great training by the American Federation for Suicide Prevention about suicide. We would like to share some fantastic resources from their website (
https://afsp.org/
) in case you need them!
|
|
We'd also like to share a great article of theirs below
Click the link to go to their site and read it there:
|
|
Taking Care of Your Mental Health in the Face of Uncertainty
10 Mar 2020 — 3 min read
Human beings like certainty. We are hard-wired to want to know what is happening when and to notice things that feel threatening to us. When things feel uncertain or when we don’t generally feel safe, it’s normal to feel stressed. This very reaction, while there to protect us, can cause all sorts of havoc when there is a sense of uncertainty and conflicting information around us.
A large part of anxiety comes from a sense of what we think we should be able to control, but can’t. Right now, many of us are worried about COVID-19, known as the “Coronavirus”. We may feel helpless about what will happen or what we can do to prevent further stress. The uncertainty might also connect to our uncertainty about other aspects of our lives, or remind us of past times when we didn’t feel safe and the immediate future was uncertain.
In times like these, our mental health can suffer. We don’t always know it’s happening. You might feel more on edge than usual, angry, helpless or sad. You might notice that you are more frustrated with others or want to completely avoid any reminders of what is happening. For those of us who already struggle with our mental wellness, we might feel more depressed or less motivated to carry out our daily activities.
It’s important to note that we are not helpless in light of current news events. We can always choose our response. If you are struggling, here are some things you can do to take care of your mental health in the face of uncertainty:
- Separate what is in your control from what is not. There are things you can do, and it’s helpful to focus on those. Wash your hands. Remind others to wash theirs. Take your vitamins. Limit your consumption of news (Do you really need to know what is happening on a cruise ship you aren’t on?).
- Do what helps you feel a sense of safety. This will be different for everyone, and it’s important not to compare yourself to others. It’s ok if you’ve decided what makes you feel safe is to limit attendance of large social events, but make sure you separate when you are isolating based on potential for sickness versus isolating because it’s part of depression.
- Get outside in nature--even if you are avoiding crowds. I took a walk yesterday afternoon in my neighborhood with my daughter. The sun was shining, we got our dose of vitamin D, and it felt good to both get some fresh air and quality time together. Exercise also helps both your physical and mental health.
- Challenge yourself to stay in the present. Perhaps your worry is compounding—you are not only thinking about what is currently happening, but also projecting into the future. When you find yourself worrying about something that hasn’t happened, gently bring yourself back to the present moment. Notice the sights, sounds, tastes and other sensory experiences in your immediate moment and name them. Engaging in mindfulness activities is one way to help stay grounded when things feel beyond your control.
- Stay connected and reach out if you need more support. Talk to trusted friends about what you are feeling. If you are feeling particularly anxious or if you are struggling with your mental health, it’s ok to reach out to a mental health professional for support. You don’t have to be alone with your worry and it can be comforting to share what you are experiencing with those trained to help.
We are in this together, and help is always available. If you’re feeling alone and struggling, you can also reach out to The Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741 or National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK.
|
|
Heroes of Humanity
By Bryan Bjorklund
In this article, our community advocate, Bryan, gives a warm thank you to the people in our community who are giving everything they have to help those that are suffering.
We as an organization thank everyone who is putting their life on the line, no matter what you do, in order to provide essential services to our community.
|
|
With quarantine comes many questions and with many questions come time for reflection. This time of reflection has allowed me, like many others, the time to reflect on what I am thankful for rather than what I am asking for. I find myself even at the age of 34 reverting back to some of my childhood pleasures such as, video games, comic books, adult coloring, and even more appreciation for the limited family interaction that I now have. Within these comic books there are often superheroes whether it be Iron Man, Superman, Fantastic Four, or if you’re old enough to remember Captain Planet.
|
|
Like many of us, I wondered as a child watching cartoons and reading these comics if superheroes existed in real life. Of course thinking back there were the occasional trips to the mall to do a “meet and greet” with the ninja turtles or perhaps the power rangers but in reality they always are actors and actresses that are paid to perform in costume. The reality is superheroes do in fact exist, just not in the traditional way that we have been made to believe. Superheroes in real life do not have or to be honest, do not need capes or superpowers. The real-life superheroes are the ones that we do not necessarily realize or acknowledge on a daily basis, those are the essential employees which I would define as anyone who is currently on the front lines battling against the coronavirus. These people, whether they are doctors, nurses, police, fire, grocery and retail clerks, social workers and personal care attendants, are the ones that need the recognition now more than ever because they are risking themselves every day so that we don’t have to.
While the list of essential employees and the categories in which they fit seem to be growing by the day, what makes these people so extraordinary is not the work that they do, but rather the fact that they do it without any thanks or gratitude needed or to be quite honest wanted. As a person living with a disability I will humbly admit, that I too often have taken for granted the roles that these people in the aforementioned categories, have played in my life. This is because these people had become so routine and so second nature in terms of maintaining my and quite frankly, our, well-being that I don’t even think about it. As I sit here today, writing not only as an exercise of happiness, but also as a therapeutic reflection process in these otherwise difficult times, I choose to self examine my role is not in the world of fantasy, but in the world of reality.
No matter which superhero you aspire to be the goal for superheroes has always been the same, and that is to do the work or save people without being seen or recognized for what they are. You see superheroes have always had a double life one that you see in public, and one that they have privately. Peter Parker doubles as Spider-Man, Bruce Wayne doubles as Batman, Clark Kent doubles as Superman. These same heroic guidelines apply to the everyday people that we know and love and just like the fictitious counterparts they oftentimes wish not to be unmasked but rather to drift off quietly into the shadows.
When we as a society re-write the world history books post pandemic, let us include a section explaining to our children and grandchildren the powers and perhaps the greatest strength of all real-life superheroes that is the power of compassion and fearlessness whether seen or unseen and explain to them that these are the real heroes of humanity. Let us embrace this time not for the negative but for the positive. Show gratitude and not attitude. To the real-life heroes, you have been seen and you have been heard, please let these words represent a world of appreciation and thankfulness that I know is not asked for but well deserved.
|
|
Earth Day at IA
By: Liz
Our Youth Resource Coordinator Liz wanted to share her thoughts on Earth Day as it relates to activism, advocacy, and the disability community. It is an awesome read with great ideas for individual action!
|
|
Today, April 22nd, is Earth day. Earth day is one of the biggest volunteer days; however, the pandemic makes it difficult to physically assemble volunteer events in person, there are still ways we can all stay connected and help. This year Earth day will be completely digital so this gives us the chance to provide the change necessary for the environment. It may even be more crucial during this time of crisis due to the global pandemic.
This year’s theme for Earth day is climate action. This year will mark 50 years since the first day was officially established on April 22, 1970 as a response to the oil spills and smog that plague our Earth. This was followed by protesters shedding the light on corporate ignorance and started a global movement for environmental change. In short, environmental laws were passed for cleaner air and water, as well as endangered species awareness. This helped with other countries in the world to follow suit.
Even though we are practicing social distancing, we are still needed and able to make a huge difference in the world. One way that earthday.org is involving everyone is with he earthly challenge 2020. You will be able to download a citizens scientist app which let you gather information such as air quality. Understanding the air quality is extremely important this time around because there have been studies shown that areas with poorer air quality face more deaths for those with Covid-19. Over-all, understanding poor air quality can help us understand how we become affected because, in general, areas with very poor air quality do face higher mortality rates. Here is a link to see air quality globally. https://aqicn.org/map/world/
What isn’t researched as much is how this impacts those living with a disability.
Some studies show that people with disabilities will have limited access to the resources to lean about climate change and air pollution. It is important that everyone, especially those with disabilities have knowledge and resources because having more information allows for a person to be able to make decisions under extreme events.
Some people with disabilities are more vulnerable to extreme climate events because of underlying conditions that make them prone to infectious disease. During a climate emergency, those with an underlying condition may not have access to evacuate safely to access clean water and sanitation. This makes them most likely vulnerable to water-borne illnesses. People with limited mobility and limited senses may have a harder time evacuating. There are skilled professionals that are trained in evacuation for the disability community; however, there also needs to be better information for the organizations that actually helps them and families.
Pollution issues like poor air quality can affect individuals overall health status. This can be especially detrimental for those with compromised immune systems. Therefore, everyone should have access and knowledge about all aspects of the weather and our air quality.
Fortunately, since we are using less resources because we are inside and traveling less, the air quality in many places has improved. But, as soon as we can return to our normal lives this will change.
Please follow https://www.earthday.org/ for so much more information on how you can be involved. There are many ways we can be involved, we can vote earth, become a citizen scientist, etc. This is why it is crucial we get involved now. We can make a difference from anywhere anytime.
|
|
Here is a link to food pantries in Massachusetts. Click your town to find information. Call your skills trainer if you need further assistance.
|
|
Important Information on Nursing Homes
EOHHS has set up a call in line for families with loved ones in nursing homes.
Massachusetts Nursing Home Family Resource Line:
617-660-5399
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
|
|
Información de desempleo de Massachusetts sobre el virus COVID-19
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
