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April 1995 |
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April 1995 |
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Governor Reappoints Ebberts as Director of the Office for Individuals with Disabilities
Governor Parris N. Glendening has announced the appointment of Diane K. Ebberts to the position Of Director of the Office for Individuals with Disabilities. Ms. Ebberts, a resident of Anne Arundel County, has been the Director since 1991 when she was named by Governor Schaefer. The Office, established in 1977, is the focal point for policy development and program initiatives relative to citizens who have disabilities. Major mandates include: (l) monitoring state government's compliance with laws and policies affecting individuals with disabilities; and (2) fostering coordination of and support for public and private programs and services.
Governor Glendening commended Ms. Ebberts for her commitment to public service and work with individuals with disabilities. "Ms. Ebberts has done an exceptional job as Director of the Office for individuals with Disabilities and I am pleased to appoint her to serve in my administration", stated Governor Glendening.
Prior to joining the office in 1991, Ms. Ebberts was the Executive Director of the State Coordinating Council for Residential Placement of Handicapped Children. Additional state government experience includes Assistant Superintendent, Residential Services Administrator, and Staff Psychologist at Rosewood. Ms. Ebberts earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in psychology at the University of Maryland, College Park and Baltimore County campuses, respectively. She completed post Master's studies in Developmental Psychology and statistics at Howard University.
Ms. Ebberts, noting the progress Maryland has made in assisting people with disabilities expressed her strong commitment to the recognition of people with disabilities as people, first. "Each of us have capabilities and visions for our lives. I look forward to working with Governor Glendening's administration to move Maryland forward in improving the quality of life for people with disabilities he added.
Federal HOME repair money available to Maryland's senior and disabled citizens.
$1,000,000 in federal HOME program funds will be made available to Maryland's senior and disabled citizens who qualify for the state's Senior Home Repair Program (SHRP). HOME, a federal program, provides funding to assist states with expanding their supply of decent, safe and affordable housing for low-income residents. The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awards HOME funds to states for SHRP and other programs.
SHRP is being administered on a first-come-first-serve basis through the Community Development Administration (CDA) of the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). The Maryland Office on Aging will also assist in the promotion and marketing of the program.
With this project, two state agencies are working in conjunction with local and federal governments to provide needed housing rehabilitation assistance to Maryland's older and disabled population. The Senior Home Repair Program is a partnership that will serve eligible Marylanders by helping them to remain productive members of their own communities.
SHRP will provide funding in the form of grants for eligible citizens. Senior citizens and disabled residents who qualify may receive between $1,000 and $5,000 for modest home repairs. If repair costs exceed $5,000, due to the age or condition of the property, additional funds may be available to assist applicants in the form of loans.
Funding provided by SHRP may be used for home modifications such as energy conservation, handicapped accessibility improvements and repairs to meet local housing codes. Specific improvements are expected to range from plumbing repairs, electrical repairs and widening doorways, to installing ramps and grab bars, first floor bathrooms and lowering kitchen cabinets. "Essential repairs such as these are important to improving the quality of life among many disabled and older Marylanders whose desire is to remain in their own homes," said Jacqueline H. Rogers, Secretary for DHCD. "Aging-in-place permits a more independent living arrangement for the individual and is more cost effective for the state than institutionalized care."
"The majority of seniors who own their own homes are living in structures which were built for younger, more independent persons," said Rosalie S. Abrams, Director of the Maryland Office on Aging. "The Senior Home Repair Program enables eligible seniors and disabled citizens to modify their homes into safe and comfortable places to live."
To meet eligibility requirements for SHRP, household income must not exceed 55 percent of the state's median. Currently, all individual's income must not exceed $20,100 to qualify. For a family of two, the household income must not exceed $24,000, while for a four-person family, the household income must not exceed $28,800. In addition to this financial criteria, recipients must also be medically disabled or 62 years of age or older, and candidates must own and occupy the property as their principal residence.
With SHRP, local city and county housing offices, under contract to CDA to administer state housing rehabilitation loan programs, will be responsible for accepting program applications. These local housing offices will also be responsible for working with homeowners to secure all necessary documents, inspecting the property and awarding the grants to eligible applicants, in accordance with procedures established by CDA. Case workers in the local Area Agencies on Aging will be available to assist seniors with completing their applications.
Disabled Marylanders who feel they qualify for SHRP, should contact the local housing office in the jurisdiction where they reside. Eligible senior citizens should call their local Area Agency on Aging for additional information. Calls may also be directed to CDA' s Special Loans Program at 1-800-492-7127.
Join our exploration of the changing work place on Friday, April 28, 1995, at Martin's West . Panels will discuss various alternative work settings, looking at the benefits as well as concerns for employers as well as employees. This is an emerging employment issue, and the impact of technology on the work place can be felt from computers to FAX machines; from modems to E-mail. Work is no longer something we go to, it's something we do.
The cost for the conference and awards luncheon is $35.00. Invitations will be mailed in March and reservations must be received by April 10, 1995. To be placed on the mailing list, contact the Committee by mail at 300 W. Lexington Street, Box 10, Baltimore, MD 21201, or call 410 333-2263.
Reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities will be provided upon request.
Paying Homage to The WIZ
Dr. James Reswick, founder and first president of RESNA, retired from his position as Associate Director of Research Sciences at NIDRR in August, 1994 after more than three decades in the field of rehabilitation. Dr. Reswick holds fifteen U.S. patents, not the least of which is for the pressure relieving mud bed developed at Rancho Los Amigos in Downey, California. He has authored or co- authored more than 90 articles, co-authored ten textbooks and contributed to ten others. Dr. Reswick has received numerous honors for his work including a Masters Design Award from Product Engineering Magazine and the prestigious Order of Yugoslav Flag with Gold Wreath from the Yugoslav government for his work with various Yugoslavian biomedical engineering groups. For Dr. Reswick, retirement will not mean retreat from life. He plans to devote some of his newly freed time developing his artistic interests, including music.
In recognition of his contributions and illustrious career, some of Dr. Reswick¹s "closest friends" put his feet to the fire during a RESNA sponsored "roast" January 30, 1995. Proceeds from the roast will be used to establish the RESNA Research and Education Fund.
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