disabilities

Press release:

The legal rights of people with developmental disabilities who are seeking appropriate housing and some practical techniques to secure it will be explored in a FREE Accessible Housing Education Seminar. It takes place on Monday, Nov. 9, 2015, from 1:30 to 3 p.m., at Independent Living of the Genesee Region (ILGR), 113 Main St. (near Center Street), Suite 5, Batavia.

In addition to explaining the Fair Housing Act and other measures that bar disability-based discrimination, presenters will provide information and resources for navigating a provided regional list of housing options and other opportunities, advocating for reasonable accommodations and environmental modifications, and securing referrals and promising locations.

Housing specialist Robin Arnold-Scott of ILGR, and Todd Vaarwerk, director of Advocacy and Public Policy at Western New York Independent Living, Inc., will make a PowerPoint presentation as part of the seminar.

Anyone who is interested in attending should register by calling Donna at (585) 815-8501, ext. 411; or by e-mail at dbecker@wnyil.org.

“Developmental disabilities” encompasses a number of central nervous system impairments that occur before age 22, including: cerebral palsy; epilepsy; autism; spinal cord injury; traumatic and acquired brain injury; learning disabilities such as dyslexia (reading disabilities), dysgraphia (writing disabilities), and visual tracking disorder; cognitive disabilities, Down Syndrome, and others.

ILGR is an agency dedicated to the mission that people with disabilities deserve true independence and equality, including at the workplace: the right to live their lives as they choose; a philosophy the Agency carries out by providing individuals the skills and resources to do it themselves. ILGR’s services include independent living skills training, advocacy, peer counseling, transportation, Braille transcription, a loan closet of medical equipment, housing assistance, information and referral, and many more.

Press release:

A focus group on Monday, Oct. 19th, will enable New Yorkers with disabilities in Buffalo, Niagara Falls, New York City and Batavia to have their voices heard on which programs most deserve Federal Independent Living funds allocated for the Empire State in the next three years.

The entity designated by the federal government to oversee this process, the New York State Independent Living Council (NYSILC) has been gathering consumers’ input on the statewide plan for Independent Living (SPIL) for 2016-2019.

In our region, Western New York Independent Living, Inc. (WNYIL), is facilitating this effort by holding the focus group from 2 to 4 p.m. at its 3108 Main St. facility near Hertel Avenue, in Buffalo’s University District. However, video conferencing will permit participation by those at Independent Living of Niagara County, 746 Portage Road, near Pine Avenue in Niagara Falls, and at Independent Living of the Genesee Region at 113 Main St., Suite 5, in Batavia.

Funding ideas presented for past SPIL three-year plans that bore fruit include: the Statewide Self-Advocacy Network (SSAN) in which community-change advocates across New York work collaboratively to help localities become more disability-accessible; development of programs, such as Consumer-Directed Personal Assistance Services (CDPAS), which give individuals control of their own Home Care Attendants; plus research into an array of disability issues, and training to enhance the quality of local services.

Those who wish to register can call Johanna at (716) 836-0822, ext. 120. Additional information is available from Todd Vaarwerk at (716) 836-0822, ext. 101.  Space is limited.

WNY Independent Living, Inc. is Western New York's largest cross-disability, consumer-directed, non-residential organization for persons with disabilities. At WNYIL, individuals of all ages and all types of disabilities learn to exercise their freedom of choice to take control of their own lives in order to live more productively in, and contribute to, the community.

Press release:

Purple Pony Therapeutic Horsemanship, Inc., is seeking volunteers to be leaders and side-walkers for our Therapeutic Horsemanship Fall lesson session, beginning
Friday, Sept. 11, until Tuesday, Nov. 3rd.

Purple Pony, located at the Double G Ranch in Bergen, is a volunteer-based nonprofit organization that provides equine opportunities to people with disabilities
or diverse needs. 

We offer our lessons from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays. We will hold a training session on Tuesday, Aug. 25th at 6:30 p.m.

For more information, contact Gail Ehmann, volunteer coordinator, at gail.ehmann@gmail.com or 585-721-9080.

Further information can be found at our Web site purplepony.org under the Volunteer tab.

The Sprout Film Festival will be held this Saturday, March 19, at Batavia High School. It showcases films by and about people with disabilities.

Anthony DiSalvo, the director of Sprout, from New York City, will be the host. It is sponsored by Genesee County ARC.

Showings are at 2:30 and again at 6 p.m. The event is free, but donations are gladly accepted.

There will also be raffles and Sprout merchandise for sale. Concessions will be available from Friends for the Future.

Also, at 2:25 p.m. Genesee County ARC will be recognized with a Spotlight Award for March from GO ART!

The high school is located at 260 State St. in the City of Batavia.

UPDATED: Here's the lineup of movies, and their time length, to be shown at the Sprout Film Festival.

Program One -- 2:30 p.m.

"Be My Brother" -- 7 mins.

"King of Camp" -- 42 mins.

"Hands Away" -- 3 mins.

"Sheri and Paul" -- 11 mins.

"Street Anthem" -- 3 mins.

"Rudely Interrupted" -- 9 mins.

"Close My Eyes" -- 2 1/2 mins.

"Dreams" -- 4 mins.

"How Do I Feel About That?" -- 2 mins.

Program Two -- 6 p.m.

"Beyond Brothers" -- 20 mins.

"Jimmy" -- 2 mins.

"The Other Child" -- 13 mins.

"Dancing with Downs" -- 8 mins.

"Cocktails with Ben" -- 11 mins.

"Fathers' Voices" -- 14 mins.

"How's Your News? On the Campaign Trail" -- 27 mins.