Resource of the Week

We recently learned about a new tool available from the U.S. Department of Labor website: Disability Nondiscrimination Law Advisor (DNLA) from the Human Solution blog, Disability Facts. The DNLA is designed to help employers determine which federal disability nondiscrimination laws apply to their business or organization.  

It also helps recipients of federal funding understand their responsibilities under these laws, which probably includes anyone reading this. Employees, job applicants and participants in programs that receive federal funding can also use it to learn more about their rights under these federal nondiscrimination laws. 

Resource of the Week

The U.S. Department of Justice Disability Right Section offers an excellent resource on accessibility for people with disabilities when planning meetings: Expanding Your Market: Accessible Information Exchange - Meeting on a Level Playing Field.

Meetings between businesses and people with disabilities – whether related to researching customer preferences, developing a business education curriculum, or discovering effective ways to comply with the ADA – can result in innovative ideas and powerful collaborations that bring greater access to customers with disabilities and attract new customers to businesses.

As meeting organizers, it's our job to ensure complete accessibility at all meetings. 

This extremely informative website focuses on three areas of concern: where the meeting is held, how the meeting room furniture is arranged, and how the meeting information is communicated. Thanks to Lisa Jordan of Human Solutions for posting this important resource to the Human Solutions' Disability Facts Blog.

Resource of the Week

The Campaign for Disability Employment is a collaborative effort to promote positive employment outcomes for people with disabilities by encouraging employers and others to recognize the value and talent they bring to the workplace.

The web site offers a range of education and outreach tools, all designed to engage employers, people with disabilities, family and educators, and the general public. These include on-line forums which offer users the opportunity to express their commitment to disability employment efforts and share what they “can do”; grassroots tools and tangible ideas for supporting the Campaign’s goals; links to trusted resources that provide disability employment related information; and video public service announcements (PSAs).

Resource of the Week

BenifitsSF.org is one website to bookmark immediately! Simple to use, yet packed with key and straightforward information, you can use this as a reference for reliable information about these public benefits available to San Francisco residents:

• Food stamps
• Medi-Cal
• School meals
• WIC (Women, Infants and Children)
• Earned Income Tax Credit
• Working Families Credit

Want to know if you qualify for food stamps or Medi-Cal? Use the eligibility tool (10-minute process). You can also apply for benefits from the website, and also re-certify your benefits.

Information available in English, Spanish and Chinese.

Residential Wheel Chair Elevator Available

The DPN is all about resource sharing and mutual support. That's why we love it when fellow disability community members share important news and/or resources to share with our blog readers.

Stephen Beard, of The Beard Realty Team, Keller Williams Realty -- whom we have highlighted as a Resource of the Week -- recently contacted the DPN to announce the availability of a residential wheel chair elevator for best offer or charitable donation.

If you know of anyone looking for a wheelchair lift, please call (415) 798-0481. 

This is what Stephen Beard shared with us about the Wheel Chair elevator:

A residential Wheel Chair Elevator is available for best offer or charitable donation.  This elevator allows a person in a wheel chair to travel independently between floors in a two story house.  It can be installed inside the house or outside.  Outside installation requires purchase or construction of housing for the assembly.  Pre-fabricated outside housing is available for purchase from retailers separately.  

Elevator is made by Trus-T-Lift and has an Open Sesame remote controlled gate opener.  The gate opener allows the person in wheel chair to open the gate by push of remote button on their wheel chair.  We mounted the remote button next to other wheel chair controls when we used it.  

Only one gate of the elevator is unlocked when reaching the top elevation.  Both gates are unlocked when reaching the bottom elevation.  It was used for only one half year and is in "like new" condition.  It is battery operated, so the user will not be stranded during power outages.  Batteries are recharged continuously using standard residential electrical power using a standard residential power outlet.  

We will leave it in place, so anyone who wants it can see how it works before dis-assembly and removal.

Resource of the Week

Ever wish there was a yellow pages directory where you could find all the information on free food, shelter, medical and mental health resources in San Francisco?

Look no further!

Freeprintshop.org can be your one-stop shop for printable directories with information in English and Spanish on all these topics.

Charts available for:

• Food pantries
• Shelters
• Medical services
• Mental health services
• Neighborhood repairs

Resource of the Week

California Relay Service
http://www.ddtp.org/california_relay_service/

California Relay Service (CRS) provides specially-trained operators to relay telephone conversations back and forth between people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech-disabled and all those they wish to communicate with by telephone. This CRS page offers useful information about how to use the relay service, relay service providers, 711 Choice and Customer Profiles.

Simply dial 7-1-1 to reach CRS. 

CRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to assist with calls. You can make as many calls as you wish and talk as long as you like. There is no extra charge to use the relay service. All operator services, including directory assistance, are also available via CRS.

Resource of the Week

Project Read
www.projectreadsf.org

Project Read is the adult literacy project of the San Francisco Public Library. This is a truly extraordinary and inspiring project that provides basic instruction in reading and writing to English-speaking adults.

Each year, professionally trained volunteer tutors provide over 10,000 hours of one-on-one literacy instruction to adult learners through Project Read.

Continuing support is available through support groups, workshops, group events, consultations with specialists, teaching resources and more!

Contact Project Read at (415) 557-4388.

Resource of the Week

Deaf Services Center (DSC)
San Francisco Public Library
http://sfpl.org/index.php?pg=0200002001

Did you know that San Francisco Public Library has been providing specialized services for the deaf or hard of hearing since 1977?

The Deaf Services Center (DSC) is located on the 1st floor of the Main Library of San Francisco Public Library at 100 Larkin St.

It was specially designed, constructed and furnished to make it possible for individuals to communicate effectively using sign language or speech reading. Bilingual staff is available to assist those using the DSC resources and can make referrals to appropriate agencies.

There are fiction and non-fiction books, magazines, videotapes, and other materials on American Sign Language (ASL), sign language study, deafness, Deaf culture and related topics of interest to people who are deaf or hard of hearing, their families and associates.

Open Tuesday - Saturday. See DSC website for hours.

Resource of the Week

Real estate services for people with disabilities

The Beard Realty Team, Keller Williams Realty

www.accessiblehomesforyou.com

There are very few realtors who specialize in services for people with disabilities and their families, and The Beard Realty Team offers expertise in this area. Check out their website for a wide range of real estate and financial planning resources for people with disabilities, including:

• Online listing of available accessible properties in the Bay Area
• Lenders who offer special financing programs for people with disabilities
• Contractors with experience in accessible home modifications 

Consider attending a Free Accessible Home Ownership Workshop in Walnut Creek, organized by the Beard Real Estate Team and MetLife!

DATE: Saturday April 17th, 2010

TIME: 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

LOCATION: MetLife, 2001 N. Main Street, Suite #380, 
Walnut Creek, CA

Light refreshments will be served.

For more information, contact:

Stephen Beard, Real Estate Consultant & Accessibility Specialist
The Beard Realty Team, Keller Williams Realty
4341 Piedmont Avenue, Oakland, CA 94611   DRE #: 01432150
510-899-8163