Access Alaska

• Youth who receive benefits can and should have career goals, explore employment, and earn an income!
• Getting started, resources, benefits planning, and special provisions for youth between 14-22 years old will be discussed.

December 8th
11am—3pm

Access Alaska
526 Gaffney Road
Fairbanks, AK

Call 479-7940 ext. 108 to sign up

Sponsored by Access Alaska

Presented by
Josetta Cranston, M.Ed.
Employment Service Coordinator and Nationally Certified in SSA Benefits Counseling (CWIC)

Funded through University of Alaska Anchorage Center for Human Development and Governor’s Council on Disabilities and Special Education

See also Events

Please join us in Celebrating the Anniversary of the ADA!

Fairbanks - August 5, 7 - 10 PM Princess Riverside Lodge - Jade Room

Anchorage - August 6, 7-10 PM Snow Goose Theater

Come help us celebrate with fun, food, fellowship and Jonathon Mooney!

Bring a friend, no charge, donations accepted

Please forward this email to your friends!

Questions? Call Doug Toelle at Access Alaska, 479-7940 or 800-770-7940 

Sponsors and supporters include:

Access Alaska, Fairbanks North Star Borough School District,  Dr. Dirk Craft, Anchorage People First, UAA Disability Support Services, Disability Law Center, The ADA Partners Project, The Governor's Council on Disabilities & Special Education, Assistive Technology of Alaska (ATLA),  Alaska Center for the Blind, State of Alaska ADA Coordinator's Office and more....

About the ADA

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is the most comprehensive civil rights legislation adopted to prohibit discrimination against people with disabilities. The ADA was signed into law by President George Bush on July 26, 1990, extending civil rights protections to individuals with physical or mental disabilities.This is our 'Independence Day'!

About Jonathon Mooney

Jonathan Mooney is a dyslexic writer and activist who did not learn to read until he was 12 years old. He is a graduate of Brown University’s class of 2000 and holds an honors degree in English Literature. Jonathan is founder and President of Project Eye-To-Eye, a mentoring and advocacy non-profit organization for students with learning differences. Project Eye-To-Eye currently has 20 chapters, in 13 states working with over 3,000 students, parents and educators nation wide. He wrote the book The Short Bus: A Journey Beyond Normal.

Tags: event, anchorage, fairbanks, ada

See also Events, Whats Hot

8:30 - 4:30 both days
Video Conferencing Sites - Friday, July 31, 2009
Anchorage Marriott Downtown - Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Download more information.

See also Events, Whats Hot

See also Events

The goal of the ride is to compile and present the finding to MACS and Van Tran in the hope we can make MACS an option to some Van Tran users currently have accessibility issues in using the public buses.

Bus Passes will be given the survey riders.

For more information or to participate contact Art or Cassie at 479-7940.

Tags: publictrasportation, ADA, paratransit, Fairbanks, Alaska

See also Events, Transportation, Whats Hot

Cancer is a scary thing. It’s scary for those who have it, and it’s scary for those who know someone dealing with the disease. Artist Kim Myers has found a unique way to come to terms with her recent bout with cancer, one that she hopes will help other survivors and patients at the same time.

Myers’ “Cancer Killers” are brightly colored masks hand-painted with her “spirit people” reaching for sun- and moon-filled skies, or wrapped with the more haunting “dead trees.”

Each one is unique, painted depending on the emotions Myers grappled with at the moment she was inspired. Some have backgrounds of concentric circles of multiple colors, while others have solid colors or sport a two-tone look with the nose as the facial dividing line.

All utilize a paper mache technique utilizing old bed linens (for a more realistic “skin-like quality”) and are molded from the radiation treatment mask Myers, 33, wore everyday for 4 and a half weeks during her therapy for Hodgkin lymphoma. Myers also had eight chemotherapy treatments.

Read more in the NewsMiner here.

What: 'Survival Mode' open house

Who: Artist Kim Myers displays her 'Cancer Killers' masks and more

WHen: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday

Where: 3410 College Road

Information: 457-2110 or redskullstudio@yahoo.com

Tags: events, fairbanks, alaska, cancer, art

See also Alaska, Brains, Events

What to Expect of the ADA Amendments Act of 2008

Anchorage - 1/5/09 - Two Sessions: 8:30 to 10:00 or 1:30 to 3:00

Effective January 1, 2009, this new law will expand coverage to at least 15 percent of Alaskans and promote greater access and reasonable accommodation in employment. A wider variety of people will qualify under the broader definition which will be further delineated in 2009. This briefing will outline decision making in advance of regulations, using pertinent guidance from the US Department of Justice and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Participants may include ADA Coordinators, state and department leads, legal professionals, human resource professionals, and business owners.

Prior to the briefing, participants should review the Amendments Act overview, ADA “Building Blocks” basics web course and an overview of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act. State employees  should also review Administrative Order 129.

Registration (no-cost and open to the public)

State Employee Online Registration: https://dop.state.ak.us/trainalaskav2/. Select ADA-R for the Amendments Act.

Members of  the Public may contact Kathy Rado at 465-2814, Toll-Free Voice/TTY at 1 (800)478-2815 or E-mail at kathy.rado@alaska.gov. When registering, please provide name, organization, address, and telephone number.

Location

BP Energy Center, 900 Benson Blvd, Classroom C: Click for link to map

Equal opportunity employer/program.

Auxiliary aids and services available upon request to individuals with disabilities.

Tags: AnchorageAlaska, ADA, training

See also ADA, Events, Whats Hot

Tags: AIDS, Fairbanks, Anchorage, Alaska, events

See also Events, Whats Hot

Call Loraine at Access Alaska, 479-7940 to participate by teleconference.

The DART Team (Disability Abuse Response Team) was established in Fairbanks to better assist individuals with disabilities or otherwise vulnerable adults with abuse situations. The DART team is comprised of multiple interested agencies in the interior that can help with intervention in a time of need or safety.

Please Bring Any information to start planning the tri-fold Card for the Fairbanks Police.

Please join us on Thursday. See you there!

See also Events, Whats Hot

The San Francisco-based Family Caregiver Alliance describes caregivers as "family, friends and neighbors who stand by those they love as they face chronic illness, disability, or death. Caregivers are a diverse group of people of all ages and from all walks of life - some new to caregiving, some just anticipating becoming caregivers, and others for whom providing care has become a way of life." All caregivers/carepartners are invited to this meeting, professional caregivers are also invited to attend.

Peer support groups are a place for people to give and receive both emotional and practical support as well as to exchange information.

The group is facilitated by Erica Gronenthal of Access Alaska and Fred Bongiovanni a carepartner and retired school counselor.

If you can not attend and wish to be informed of future meetings please let us know.

Questions? Give Erica or Doug a call at 479-7940.

See also Events

October 31, 2008

BP Energy Center
900 E. Benson
Anchorage, AK

10am - 3:30pm

For more information call Jim Hollibaugh
907-271-4196

Sponsored by Anchorage People First
www.pfanchorage.org

See also Events, Whats Hot

Voting equipment will be available to try out.

For more information, please contact
Jill Coddington at 248-4777.

October 27, 2008
4:30 – 6 PM
Access Alaska
121 W. Fireweed Lane Suite #120

See also Events, Whats Hot

Know your rights as a parent. Learn how to ask for accommodations in the general classroom.

Learn how to participate in an effective Individual Education Plan meeting.

The Parent Advocacy Group sponsored by Access Alaska is teamed with Fairbanks North Star Borough School District Special Education Department to provide the two-hour workshop.     

The workshop runs from 10 am to noon, this Saturday, September 20th.

Childcare will not be provided.

For information:Contact Erin Atwood at 347-7549,  or Art Delaune at 479-2838 or 479-7940.

See also Events, Whats Hot

Call Loraine at Access Alaska, 479-7940 to participate by teleconference.

The DART Team (Disability Abuse Response Team) was established in Fairbanks to better assist individuals with disabilities or otherwise vulnerable adults with abuse situations. The DART team is comprised of multiple interested agencies in the interior that can help with intervention in a time of need or safety.

Please join us on Thursday. See you there!

See also Events, Whats Hot

See also Events, Whats Hot

Saturday, September 6th Learn to:

Understand and exercise your legal rights as a parent under the federal law: Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act.
Understand and work with an Individual Education Plan (IEP)

Saturday, September 20th Learn to:

Envision and ask for accommodations that work effectively in the general class room
Learn to participate in an effective IEP meeting

These free workshops are provided by Parent Advocacy Group in partnership with Special Education Department from Fairbanks North Star Borough School District.

When: Saturday, September 6th and September 20th, 2008
Time: 10 a.m. – noon
Location: FNSB School District Board Room, 520 5th Ave Fairbanks, AK 99701

Coffee and refreshments will be provided.

Parent contacts:
Art Delaune, 479-2838 or 479-7940
Erin Atwood, 347-7549
Melody Kinlaw, 388-2420

See also Events

The Arc of Anchorage is marshalling people with intellectual disabilities, their families, self-advocates, members and other stakeholders to establish a presence around the movie theaters where the film is being shown. “We are urging the general public not to spend their hard-earned money on this film because of its deplorable and demeaning view of a person with intellectual disabilities,” said Gwen Lee, Executive Director of The Arc. “This is an opportunity to educate our neighbors about the rights of people with disabilities – most importantly to live with the same dignity afforded every ordinary American,” added Gwen Lee.

Fay Peace, a self-advocate, said, “As a person with an intellectual disability, I have been called the R-word in my life. I live and work in the community and treat everyone I meet with respect. I deserve that same respect. Movies that disrespect me and my rights should not be supported. ‘Tropic Thunder’ is supposed to be a comedy, but there is nothing funny about putting down people with disabilities.”

A Rally for Respect will happen on Saturday, August 16 at 1 pm at the Anchorage theaters currently screening the movie (Century 16 and Totem Theater). Organizers and advocates will be distributing flyers on the R-word and hate speech, along with other educational materials.

Get the press kit here.

Tags: tropicthunder, hate speech, Rally for Respect, disability

See also Advocacy, Events, Whats Hot

Please join special guest, the Honorable Olegario "Ollie" D. Cantos VII, Esq., Special Counsel to the Acting Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Justice, for an evening of conversation, friends and good food to celebrate the passage of this important civil rights act.

This event is sponsored by Access Alaska, UAA Disability Support Services, UAA Center for Human Development, The Disability Law Center, The Alaska Center for the Blind & Visually Impaired, The State of Alaska Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinator's Office, Assistive Technology of Alaska, The Govenor's Council on Disabilities & Special Education, Stone Soup Group, Municipality of Anchorage - ADA Commission and Frontier Community Services.

For more information, contact Doug Toelle at Access Alaska (800) 770-7940.

See also Events, Whats Hot

Disaboom, the premier online community and resource for people touched by disabilities, today announced that it will webcast the National Forum on Disability Issues, a historic, nonpartisan forum held in Columbus, Ohio, which allows the presidential candidates to present their visions for the future of disability policy in America. The forum will be webcast live on disaboom.com Saturday, July 26, 2008, from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.Alaska Time. To view the live webcast, prior registration is required at http://www.disaboom.com.

A video of the forum will also be available for download at http://www.disaboom.com following the live webcast. The event, organized by the American Association for People with Disabilities (AAPD), offers a unique opportunity for the presidential candidates to reach voters with disabilities. Presumptive presidential nominees, Senator Barack Obama and Senator John McCain, have both been invited to participate and present their disability policy plans individually. Presentations will be followed by a moderated question and answer session, which will cover such topics as employment, healthcare, long-term community-based support, transportation, education and more.

Tags: AmericanAssociation for People with Disabilities, disability, Obama, McCain

See also Events

A long time friend of the disability community, the Obama campaign cites Senator Harkin as Obama's closest disability policy advisor, noting that before Obama released his "Plan to Empower Americans with Disabilities," he and Harkin discussed the policy, and Harkin made specific suggestions for edits. Senator Obama's staff regularly consults with Harkin's lead disability staff on key disability policy pronouncements from the campaign.

From jfactivist.typepad.com

Tags: obama, mccain, senator harkin, National Forum on Disability Issues

See also Campaign 08, Events

Date: Wednesday, July 23
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Location: Tanana Chiefs Board Room (6th Floor)
122 First Avenue

Teleconference and other information available by calling Loraine at Access Alaska at 907-479-7940

The DART Team was established in Fairbanks to better assist individuals with disabilities or otherwise vulnerable adults with abuse situations. The DART team is comprised of multiple interested agencies in the interior that can help with intervention in a time of need or safety.

See also Events

See also Events

WHEN:  Tuesday, July 8, 2008

TIME:  1-3pm Central (11am-1pm Pacific, 12-2pm Mountain, 2-4pm Eastern

TITLE:  Ask DOJ: Proposal to Revise ADA Regulations under Title II and Title III

DESCRIPTION:  On June 17, 2008 the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division published the long awaited proposed regulations to revise the Department's ADA regulations for State and local governments and public accommodations and commercial facilities, including its ADA Standards for Accessible Design.  This special 2 hour session provides individuals an opportunity to learn more about the proposed regulations and direct specific questions to the U.S. Department of Justice.  This session will be recorded and a written transcript will become part of the public record for consideration as the U.S. Department of Justice moves forward with the rulemaking process.

SPEAKERS:  Representatives from the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division

FORMATS:   Telephone, Streaming Audio via the Internet and Real-Time Captioning via the Internet

COST:  $25.00 per connection for Telephone; $15.00 per connection for Streaming Audio via the Internet; $15.00 per connection for Real-time Captioning via the Internet

REGISTRATION:   On-line at www.ada-audio.org (Follow links to ADA Audio Conference Series)

QUESTIONS:   Contact your regional ADA Center at 800-949-4232 (V/TTY) or the DBTAC-Great Lakes ADA Center (Program Host) at 312-413-9319 (V/TTY) or by email at gldbtac@uic.edu

This session will be recorded and a written transcript will be created and both will be posted within 10 business days of the completion of the program to the archives on www.ada-audio.org

Tags: ADA, U.S. Department of Justice, Events

See also Events, Whats Hot

ALASKANS SPEAK UP!

Awareness Training on Domestic Violence and Abuse for People with a Disability

• Recognizing Domestic Violence and Abuse
• Personal Safety and Reporting
• Screening Providers

Thursday, June 12 and Friday, June 13
Time: 1:00 - 5:00 pm
At Access Alaska 526 Gaffney, Suite 100
Fairbanks, AK 99701

This Free, two day training is designed for consumers…family members and care providers will also benefit and are encouraged to attend.

To Register Contact Lorraine Trask or Cassi Berry (907) 479-7940

If you require a reasonable accommodation, please let us know no later than June 10, 2008 so we may be able to fulfill your request.

This training is sponsored by grant funding awarded to the State of Alaska, Governors Council on Disabilities and Special Education from the Department of Justice, Office of Violence Against Women (Grant #2004-FWAX-K033).

Tags: DomesticViolence, Abuse, sexual abuse, personal safety, DART, training

See also Events, Whats Hot

• Recognizing Domestic Violence and Abuse
• Personal Safety and Reporting
• Screening Providers

Thursday, March 27th and Friday, March 28
Time: 9:00 - 1:00 pm
Access Alaska
526 Gaffney, Suite 100
Fairbanks, Alaska

This Free, two day training is designed for consumers…family members and care providers will also benefit and are encouraged to attend.

To Register Contact:
Lorraine Trask or Cassi Berry (907) 479-7940

If you require a reasonable accommodation, please let us know no later than March 21, 2008 so we may be able to fulfill your request.

This training is sponsored by grant funding awarded to the State of Alaska, Governors Council on Disabilities and Special Education from the Department of Justice, Office of Violence Against Women (Grant #2004-FWAX-K033).

See also Events

More here.

See also ADA, Events, News, Whats Hot

On Tuesday August 28  Access Alaska is pleased to sponsor the Anchorage stop on The Road to Freedom Tour. The Road to Freedom, a project of ADA Watch and the National Coalition of Disability Rights, is a year long, cross county bus tour and multimedia exhibit, highlighting the history of the ADA. The exhibition vividly reveals the struggle for disability rights, past and present.

What’s Happening and Where?

All events are at Out North, 3800 DeBarr Road, Anchorage.

4 PM – 10 PM Films and Photo Exhibit

• Films from the UAA Disability Support Services Lending Library and the the Reel Eyes Showcase of Films running continuously in the theater (films are captioned)
• The Photos of Tom Olin, social documentarian and photojournalist, in the gallery

The late disability rights pioneer Justin Dart had the highest praise for Olin and his work. Dart said, “Tom Olin is a great, dedicated patriot and photographer of our movement. His contributions will live long after the pyramids of the pharaohs have crumbled to dust.”

6 PM Press Conference

• With Jim Ward, Tom Olin and others in the gallery

The landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) – passed with overwhelmingly bi-partisan support in Congress over 15 years ago – was created to ensure that people with disabilities could access the same services as those without disabilities. For the most part, the ADA has been a success, resulting in greater community integration of people with disabilities and further protections against unlawful discrimination.

 

With all of its successes, court decisions have resulted in stripping many of the protections Congress intended the ADA to provide. Barriers to equal access to places of business and public services remain more than 15 years after passage of the ADA. The Road to Freedom tour seeks to alert Americans to these problems and the need for Congress to pass ADA Restoration, effectively returning the protections that have been eroded over the years. Congressman Don Young has co-sponsored the ADA Restoration Act 2007 H.R. 31915.

7 PM – 8:30 PM Social

• Join Access Alaska, Jim Ward, Tom Olin and our other sponsors; Out North, AARP and UAA Disability Support Services in the gallery for an evening of fine wine, conversation and amazing photography.

That's 4 PM to 10 PM - Tuesday August 28 at Out North, 3800 DeBarr Road, Anchorage. Education, Art, History, Film, Good Friends and Fun, what more can you ask?

Please let us know if you have any special or disability-specific requirements so that we can make your evening as enjoyable as possible.

For more information contact:

Doug Toelle

Access Alaska

800-770-7940

See also ADA, Advocacy, Events

On Monday, August 6th, join us at the Alaska Native Heritage Center for a night full of Alaskan experiences. From 7:00 to 9:30 pm, there will be a silent auction, with proceeds going directly to benefit people with disabilities around the state and assist to offset celebration costs. The night will begin with entertainment by the Alaska Native Dancers, music, dancing, drinks and the entertaining speaker, Ryan Knighton that is sure to captivate the audience with his comical and amusing flair.

This year, we have invited a national speaker, the star of the best-seller book Cockeyed, Ryan Knighton, to travel to Anchorage to share his message of success with his own unique motivational, candid flair. Ryan Knighton will make you forget any stereotype you may have of the “disabled motivational speaker.” He’s not a mountain climber, rodeo rider, long-distance swimmer or hang-glider. He’s a creative writing teacher. And it is that gift for storytelling, drama and clarity of communication that makes his speeches so compelling, entertaining and uplifting. In his talks he shares the story of his progressive and irreversible descent into blindness. His story is one that engages both the hearts and the minds of his listeners, allowing them to laugh at the seeming frailty and unpredictability of the human condition, while at the same time offering a message of hope, courage, and a first-hand account of the extraordinary power of curiosity and humor in surviving, succeeding, and traveling beyond our own expectations.

TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW!!

$10.00 FOR PRESALE
$15.00 AT THE DOOR
UAA Students and Faculty 50% off
To purchase tickets
or for more info email: mystie@atla.biz

More on Ryan Knighton
Ryan Knighton home page
Documentary about Ryan Knighton
CBC interview
Written by Ryan Knighton about his wife

See also Events

SeniorCare provides $120 a month to low-income seniors (singles over 65 with annual incomes of less than $16,133 and couples with annual incomes of less than $21,641). Most recipients use the benefit for utilities, food, rent, or medications. Recipients of the assistance program as well as senior advocates are expected to make comments. Legislators have also been invited to attend.

WHAT: Public rally in support of the SeniorCare program
WHERE: Access Alaska Offices, on the corner of “A” and W. Fireweed
WHEN: Thursday, June 14, 2007 from 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
WHO: Seniors and senior advocates

Download file

See also Advocacy, Alaska, Events, Legislative Advocacy, Politics, Seniors

By Kathy Fitzgerald
When: April 27, 2007
Time: 9:30 until 2:30
Where: FRA Library Room
805 Airport Rd
Fairbanks, AK

Advocacy skills help you resolve your issues and make things better! This workshop is for individuals who wish to strengthen their advocacy skills and improve the lives of Alaskan Trust Beneficiaries.

Presenter: Kathy Fitzgerald
RSVP: Heather Hwang at 272-8270 or Noel Murray 456-8901
Funded by the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority

See also Events

Open to the general public. Community providers from both disability and victim advocacy fields, as well as individuals with disabilities and their family members are strongly encouraged to participate.

Our first video viewing and group discussion will be at:

Date and Time:
April 5, 2007 from 11:30am-1pm
Agency:
Victims for Justice
1057 W. Fireweed, 1st floor conference room
Videos:
“Serving Crime Victims with Disabilities: Meet Us Where We Are” AND "End the Silence"

If you have any questions or would like to request a reasonable accommodation to fully participate, please contact Christine King at 264-6241 (V), 264-6206 (TTY), or by email at anckk@uaa.alaska.edu. Pre-registration is not required. If you would like to receive a certificate of attendance, please contact Christine King.

See also Events

See also Events

There will be sign language interpreters and volunteers to help Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deaf-Blind enjoy the programs and events. There will also be golf carts or wheelchairs to help people who might have trouble walking over all those paths. The Zoo’s gift shop and coffee shop will be open. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will staff an information table and kid’s tent.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Accessibility Team, with help from the Alaska Zoo, Access Alaska, and the Assistive Technologies Library of Alaska (ATLA), hope this will be a Mother’s Day you, your family, and your friends will never forget. Bring your cameras and come relax and enjoy International Migratory Bird Day at the Zoo. For more information, e-mail karen_laubenstein@fws.gov or laura_whitehouse@fws.gov

See also Events, News

WITH SHARON MIRANDA

Saturday, March 31, 2007 8:30a.m. – 4:30p.m.

Does the sound of fingernails on a chalkboard set your teeth on edge? Learn what gives deaf people that same feeling while they watch interpretations transpire. Join this humorous, relaxed session to learn about the annoying errors that are commonly perpetuated during the production of American Sign Language. Participants will focus on the clarification of miscues that occur with concepts/context, subject and objects, locatives, verb inflections, numbers, classifiers and more. We will observe, discuss and improve translations from English to ASL. Certified interpreters, pre-certified interpreters, ASL 201/202 students and deaf people are invited to attend. Registration, at the door, will begin at 8:00a.m.

This workshop will be presented in American Sign Language. No interpreters provided. Please contact us if you need other accommodations

PLACE: Access Alaska Fairbanks 526 Gaffney, Suite 100, Fairbanks, AK

COST:
$30.00 AKRID Member
$55.00 Non-Member
$10.00 ASL Student & Deaf AKRID Member
$35.00 ASL Student and Deaf Non-Member

RID CEUs have not been processed for this workshop. Interpreters who wish to earn 0.7 RID CEUs are encouraged to contact Julie Simon julie.simon@thelanguagedoor.net The paper work and a check ($10.00) are due one (1) week PRIOR to the workshop to complete a PINRA.

CONTACT: Peggy Dargan PDargan@accessalaska.net or Anne Dawson dawson@asdawson.com

See also Events

It is vital that developmental disability service agencies in Alaska maintain adequate funding to support the individuals who rely on them for support. In recent years drastic cuts to base grants and the elimination of critical programs have weakened the system and diminished the minimal safety net that remains for crisis and emergencies. Today, a majority of community agencies are facing another year of rate freezes whiles costs such as heating fuel, housing, worker’s compensation, health benefits and supplies continue to grow.

The Key Coalition, which has been advocating through the Key Campaign for 20 years and is dedicated to working for all individuals and families who experience disabilities; developmental, physical or complex medical conditions. The Coalition is committed to preserving the current community service system as it pertains to quality, adequate funding and consumer choice. It is also dedicated to eradicating he statewide waitlist for all community supports.

This year, the Key Coalition of Alaska’s platform for Key Campaign XX focuses on four issues. These issues are maintaining and enhancing our Medicaid community disabilities system, enhancement of early intervention/infant learning program, reducing the wait list and identification and diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders.

More than 300 people will speak to Alaska legislators in Juneau, asking them for assistance. Another year of reductions or rate freezes will clearly jeopardize the remaining infrastructure of community supports, bringing them to a critical point of irrevocable erosion. They will remind the legislators that their budget is not only numbers, but people lives.

What can you do? Contact your legislators and tell them how important it is to keep families together; to help children grow toward self-sufficiency and independence; and provide meaningful work and recreational opportunities for individuals who experience a disability. Community members can contact legislators by sending a Public Opinion Message (POM) via the internet at http://legis.state.ak.us.poms/, or by calling or mailing them. Or you can join in person and rally. Simultaneous rallies will occur throughout Alaska on March 7, 2007. Rally and contact information for each area is provided below.

Juneau

Hope Community Resources
Barb Nath (564-7451/227-8169)
bnath@hopealaska.org
Dinner/Candlelight Vigil: March 6, Centennial Hall, 6:00 p.m.
Rally: March 7, steps of the legislative offices, Noon

Fairbanks

Fairbanks Resource Agency, Nancy Tarnai (456-8901)
nancy@fra-alaska.net
Dinner/Candlelight Vigil: March 6, Fairbanks Lutheran Church, 1012 Cowles, 6:00 p.m.
Rally: March 7, Fairbanks Visitor Center Log Cabin, 11:30 a.m.

Anchorage

Hope Community Resources, Kris Jez (564-7434)
kjez@hopealaska.org
Rally: March 7, Town Square, 5th & E Streets, Noon
Luncheon: March 7, The ARC of Anchorage, 2211 Nichols Street, 1 p.m.

Wasilla

Hope Comunity Resources Inc., Rebecca Marinelli (357-3750)
rmarinelli@hopealaska.org
Rally: March 7, meet at Pizza hut, Parks Hwy & Crusey St., Noon
Luncheon; March 7, Pizza Hut, noon

Kenai/Soldotna

Hope Community Resources, Lynece Knutson (260-9469)
lknutson@hopealaska.org
Rally: March 7, Soldotna City Hall, Noon

See also Events

For more information, contact Mike Mitchell at 258-0465.

Is the disability community represented on this committee?

See also Events, Our Blog

Print out the flyer and registration form from www.uaa.alaska.edu/resourcesolutions. Fax the completed registration to 786-1700. For more information, contact Jane Oakley at 907-786-6374 or Meg King at 907-786-6372 or email Jane at janeo@uaa.alaska.edu.

See also Events

The Midnight Sun Assistive Technology Conference will provide the opportunity to see first hand the latest in assistive technologies (AT), practices, and services for people with disabilities. The conference will serve as a unique opportunity for vendors, professionals, private individuals, and service providers to exchange and gather information on the world of AT. Whether you are an AT supplier, service provider, or are just interested in seeing the latest in AT, you’ll want to join us in the land of the Midnight Sun for this one of a kind opportunity, all while visiting the beauty of Alaska.

Website link: http://www.akatconf.com
Email: information@akatconf.com

Questions: Coordinators Inc. (907) 646-9000

See also Events

For more information, contact 907-382-6623 or sue@akcenter.org.

See also Events

For more information or to register, contact Dora Wainwright at (907) 786-6319, FAX: (907) 786-6312, or fndew@uaf.edu.

See also Events

Call Access Alaska to inquire about transportation.

See also Events, Fairbanks Services, Support Groups

Call Access Alaska to inquire about transportation 479-7940, TTY 474-8619.

See also Events, Support Groups

The ADA Partner’s Project is the Alaskan affiliate of the Disability & Business Technical Assistance Center (DBTAC Northwest). The ADA Partners Project’s mission is to provide technical assistance and training on the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other disability related laws and regulations. Services are directed and available to all entities covered by the ADA – individuals with disabilities, employers, businesses, state and local governments, and other interested citizens.

TO REGISTER: Space is limited, you must register to attend. Please contact Mike Friend at the address below to reserve a seat. Please include your name, address, phone number or email address, and the title of the session you would like to attend. Please include any accommodations you may need to access the session or materials at least 7 days prior to scheduled session. Every attempt will be made after this date, but cannot be guaranteed. Late registrations will only be accepted as space allows. Prior to sessions, you are invited to submit questions to: dbarton@accessalaska.org

Mike Friend
Access Alaska
121 W. Fireweed Lane, Suite 105
Anchorage, AK 99503

Email: mfriend@accessalaska.org
Phone: (907)248-4777
Fax: (907)248-0639
TTY: (907)248-8799

See also Events

Presenter: David Barton, ADA Partners Project Coordinator - Access Alaska

THURSDAY, January 25, 2007
3:00PM - 4:45PM
BP Energy Center
900 East Benson Boulevard
Anchorage, AK 99503
Spruce/Willow Room

The ADA Partner’s Project is the Alaskan affiliate of the Disability & Business Technical Assistance Center (DBTAC Northwest). The ADA Partners Project’s mission is to provide technical assistance and training on the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other disability related laws and regulations. Services are directed and available to all entities covered by the ADA – individuals with disabilities, employers, businesses, state and local governments, and other interested citizens.

TO REGISTER: Space is limited, you must register to attend. Please contact Mike Friend by FRIDAY, January 18, 2007 to reserve a seat. Please include your name, address, phone number or email address, and the title of the session you would like to attend. Please include any accommodations you may need to access the session or materials at least 7 days prior to scheduled session. Every attempt will be made after this date, but cannot be guaranteed. Late registrations will only be accepted as space allows. Prior to sessions, you are invited to submit questions to: dbarton@accessalaska.org

Registration contact:
Mike Friend
Access Alaska
121 W. Fireweed Lane, Stuite 105
Anchorage, AK 99503

Phone# (907)248-4777, Ext. 216
Fax# (907)248-0639
TTY# (907)248-8799
Email: mfriend@accessalaska.org

See also Events