September 14, 2010
Borealis Room, Wedgewood Resort
212 Wedgewood Dr.

Anchorage

September 15, 2010
Wendy Williamson Auditorium (UAA)
Corner of Lake Otis Parkway & Providence Drive

Free Admission (but donations welcome)
6:00pm Reception/Light Refreshments
6:30pm Event Begins
8:00pm Pictures & Autographs

Co-sponsored by University of Alaska Anchorage with help from Paula Harrison and Dr. Dirk Craftt, 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....

Questions? Call Access Alaska at 800-770-7940
Sign Language Interpretors will be available at both events]]> http://www.accessalaska.org/whats_hot/#000367 http://www.accessalaska.org/whats_hot/#000367 Whats Hot Wed, 25 Aug 2010 14:22:52 -0900 12-4 PM
Fun, food and door prizes

Mr. Jim Beck, Exec. Director and Robin Siverson, CDPCS Director, will be attending we hope everyone comes out to meet them and to visit with our Kenai staff.

Location is 33880 Community College Drive (Across from the food bank in the Jay's Painting / Access Alaska building off of K-Beach Rd.).]]> http://www.accessalaska.org/events/#000366 http://www.accessalaska.org/events/#000366 Events Mon, 09 Aug 2010 12:31:04 -0900 Applicants must have a working knowledge of various local and statewide health and social service programs and resources; excellent written, verbal and customer service skills; and ability to represent the organization at community events. College degree + 2years related experience or a minimum of 3 years experience in related field. Great work environment! Competitive salary & benefits package; excellent training and development opportunities; requires reliable transportation.

Access Alaska is an agency that promotes the independence and integration of Alaskans with disabilities and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Open till filled. Submit resume and cover letter to the address below, Attn: Enterline or email: venterline@accessalaska.net; Job description available at www.accessalaska.org

We strongly encourage persons who experience a disability to apply!]]> http://www.accessalaska.org/about_us/employment/#000365 http://www.accessalaska.org/about_us/employment/#000365 Employment Fri, 06 Aug 2010 13:06:24 -0900 here.

We strongly encourage persons who experience a disability to apply!]]> http://www.accessalaska.org/whats_hot/#000363 http://www.accessalaska.org/whats_hot/#000363 Whats Hot Thu, 05 Aug 2010 13:19:04 -0900 We strongly encourage persons who experience a disability to apply!

We seek a resourceful and energetic individual to fill a Full Time Consumer Advocate position - Help persons with disabilities to develop independent living plans, acquire life skills & achieve physical & emotional independence. Provide various types of vocational, educational, housing and transportation information, referrals & follow-up; coordinate goal development, services & advocacy. BS/BA or equiv. preferred + 2 yrs. in health or human services field or combination of applicable experience. Great work environment! Competitive salary ($16-$18 to start DOE) and good benefit plans; requires reliable transportation. Send resume & application letter to Access Alaska, 121 W. Fireweed Ln. #105, Anch. AK 99503 Attn: Consumer Advocate; or e-mail: info@accessalaska.org, and put “Consumer Advocate Applicant” in the subject line. ]]> http://www.accessalaska.org/about_us/employment/#000362 http://www.accessalaska.org/about_us/employment/#000362 Employment Tue, 06 Apr 2010 13:16:07 -0900

We strongly encourage persons who experience a disability to apply.

The Assistant Comptroller, comparable to an Accountant III or Accounting Supervisor, assists the Comptroller with bookkeeping, accounting, record maintenance, and other finance duties. Supervises accounting clerks, and monitors purchasing, payroll processing, and cash flow; may perform detailed data entry, monthly bank reconciliations, and account transfers. Supports Comptroller in managing and tracking grants and contracts, budgeting, reporting, and other financial functions. Helps prepare audit schedules and facilitates the annual audit and year-end closing. May help plan and complete special projects including financial analysis, cost accounting, and analyses to support other departments.

BS/BA in finance or accounting plus five (5) years of progressively responsible experience, or equivalent mix of education and experience. At least two years of the experience must be in a supervisory or team lead position. Must be highly proficient using accounting and finance software & MS Office; experience with MAS-90, ACCESS, and Excel preferred.

The selected candidate will be motivated, creative, collaborative, and able to supervise and delegate to staff. Due to the processing nature of the Department, must be able to remain patient and calm, and not be impacted by minor irritations or frustrations, while completing tasks. Must have strong communica-tion, problem solving, and decision-making skills, and able to work well under time constraints. The duties require a very high degree of confidentiality and professional judgment.

The starting salary is in the $41k - $45k (DOE), and the position will remain open until April 23, 2010.

MAILING ADDRESS:
P.O. BOX 484
KENAI, ALASKA 99611

Find us here.]]> http://www.accessalaska.org/whats_hot/#000360 http://www.accessalaska.org/whats_hot/#000360 Whats Hot Tue, 23 Mar 2010 15:36:06 -0900 Wasilla office has moved to 1075 Check Street, Suite 109 http://www.accessalaska.org/whats_hot/#000359 http://www.accessalaska.org/whats_hot/#000359 Whats Hot Mon, 01 Mar 2010 13:00:18 -0900 A series of informative sessions for parents of youths transitioning to adulthood. Learn about tools, resources, and assistance.

Every Tuesday and Thursday evening in March, 6-8 pm
Location: 526 Gaffney Rd, Suite 100

March 2 2010
Mark Martenson on housing options for youths
A local expert presents information on housing options and resources.

March 4 2010
University of Alaska Fairbanks Office of Disability Services
On-campus resources to help overcome barriers and succeed in college.

March 9 2010
Stevie’s Place and Resource Center for Parents and Children (RCPC)
Help youths learn to address harassment or abuse in the workplace.

March 11 2010
Adult Learning Programs of Alaska
GED, a credential opening doors to employment. Also learn about math for the trades and other empowering adult learning programs.

March 16 2010
Fairbanks Job Center
Job Center, key to job searches, links to employment, workshops on resume writing, interviewing, dressing for success and more.

March 18 2010
Fairbanks Domestic Violence (Dart)
Youths venture into new living and social situations. Prepare them to respond and know resources if they encounter abuse or violence.

March 23 2010
Self Advocacy workshop
Ken Weber teaches effective ways to help youths communicate, to assert their interests and needs.

March 25 2010
Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
DVR helps youths to discover their interests, providing work experiences, job placement and vocational guidance.]]> http://www.accessalaska.org/whats_hot/#000358 http://www.accessalaska.org/whats_hot/#000358 Whats Hot Thu, 25 Feb 2010 13:29:16 -0900 The ADA is an antidiscrimination statute passed by Congress and signed into law by the President in July 1990. The EEOC is responsible for enforcing Title I of the ADA, which prohibits employment discrimination against individuals with disabilities. The ADA requires employers to make reasonable accommodations to employees and job applicants with disabilities.

"We encourage the public to submit comments directly to the EEOC." "People with disabilities will be the winners when the new regulations are fully implemented and extensive public comment will ensure they are the best that they can be."

The ADA Amendments Act, which went into effect Jan. 1, 2009, and the regulatory revisions embedded in the proposed rule now available for public comment, makes it easier for an individual alleging employment discrimination based on disability to establish that he or she meets the ADA's definitions of "disability." The ADA Amendments Act also modifies the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibits employment discrimination in the federal workforce on the basis of disability.

The regulatory changes in the proposed rule emphasize that the definition of disability-an impairment that poses a substantial limitation in a major life activity-must be construed in favor of broad coverage of individuals to the maximum extent permitted by the terms of the ADA, and should not require extensive analysis.

The regulatory changes expand major life activities to include "major bodily functions, and clarify that mitigating measures, such as medications and devices that people use to reduce or eliminate the effects of impairment, are not to be considered when determining whether a person has a disability. They also clarify that impairments that are episodic or in remission, such as epilepsy, cancer, and many kinds of psychiatric impairments, are disabilities if they would "substantially limit" major life activities when active.

Finally, the regulation revisions provide a more straightforward way of demonstrating a substantial limitation in the major life activity of working, and implements the ADA Amendment Act's new standard for determining whether someone is regarded as having a disability.

The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking containing the regulatory changes is posted on the EEOC website, http://www.eeoc.gov/ada/amendments_notice.html along with a question-and-answer guide about the proposal and instructions for submitting public comments to the Commission.

You Can Submit Comments by Mail, Fax and Electronically, Here's How:

Written comments should be submitted to Stephen Llewellyn, Executive Officer, Executive Secretariat, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 131 M Street, NE., Suite 4NW08R, Room 6NE03F, Washington, DC 20507.

Comments submitted by fax. As a convenience to commenters, the Executive Secretariat will accept comments transmitted by facsimile (``FAX'') machine. The telephone number of the FAX receiver is (202) 663-4114. (This is not a toll-free number.) Only comments of six or fewer pages will be accepted via FAX transmittal to ensure access to the equipment. Receipt of FAX transmittals will not be acknowledged, except that the sender may request confirmation of receipt by calling the Executive Secretariat staff at (202) 663-4070 (voice) or (202) 663-4074 (TTY). (These are not toll-free telephone numbers.)

Comments submitted electronically You may also submit comments and attachments electronically at http://www.regulations.gov , which is the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Follow the instructions online for submitting comments.

Copies of comments submitted by the public will be available for review at the Commission's library, 131 M Street, NE., Suite 4NW08R, Washington, DC 20507, between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. or can be reviewed at http://www.regulations.gov. ]]> http://www.accessalaska.org/our_blog/#000353 http://www.accessalaska.org/our_blog/#000353 Our Blog Wed, 30 Sep 2009 09:50:14 -0900 For more information call the Taoist Tai Chi Society at 456-8827 or Access Alaska at 479-7940 ]]> http://www.accessalaska.org/#000352 http://www.accessalaska.org/#000352 Tue, 29 Sep 2009 13:30:16 -0900 For current information go to www.facebook.com/AccessAlaska]]> http://www.accessalaska.org/whats_hot/#000351 http://www.accessalaska.org/whats_hot/#000351 Whats Hot Fri, 28 Aug 2009 15:48:15 -0900 Access Alaska pushing for more booths at fair to comply with law

Kathy Luchsinger made her booth of Alaska crafts a little more wheelchair friendly to Alaska fairgoers by screwing a piece of indoor-outdoor carpet into the ground, then smoothing things out with a few strips of duct tape.

It cost her about $5.

Read more in the ADN here.]]> http://www.accessalaska.org/whats_hot/#000350 http://www.accessalaska.org/whats_hot/#000350 Whats Hot Fri, 28 Aug 2009 15:35:32 -0900 ADA Celebration

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

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service (CMS) reviewed the state of Alaska programs in May, as a result State of Alaska Senior and Disabilities Services stopped accepting applications for four Medicaid waiver programs and Personal Care Assistance program.

Important Links:

CMS Review letter
Senior and Disabilities Services CMS Review Website
ADN Opinion July 17
ADN Story July 14
Alaska Public Radio broadcast July 10

Contacts:

US Department of Health and Human Services

The Honorable Kathleen Sebelius
Secretary
Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Ave., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 2020 I

Ms. Cindy Mann
Director
Center for Medicaid and State Operations Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services
7500 Security Boulevard
Baltimore, MD 21244-1850

Ms. Barbara Richards
Associate Regional Administrator Division of Medicaid and Children's Health Operations
Region 10
2201 Sixth Avenue, MSIRX 43
Seattle, Washington 98121

Have your representative pressure CMS

Email Senator Murkowski
Remind her that this probably wouldn't happen if the Community Choice Act was passed

Email Senator Begich
Senator Begich has sent a strongly worded letter to Secretary Sebelius of the Department of Health and Human Services and Governor Palin.

Contact Congressman Young
Representative Young is a co-sponsor of the Community Choice Act.

Office of the Governor
(907)465-3500

Bill Hogan, Commissioner, Department of Health and Social Services - william.hogan@alaska.gov
(907)269-7800

Rebecca Hilgendorf, Director Senior and Disabilities Services - rebecca.hilgendorf@alaska.gov
(907)269-2083

And your local state representatives.

Other info:
Learn about Olmstead v. L.C.
The Community Choice Act

Tags: olmstead, alaska, civil rights, home care, nursing homes, health care