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NEWS about disability issues and assistive technology

2009 College Scholarships for Students Whose Parents have Disabilities

All application materials must be completed and postmarked by Monday March 16, 2009.

Through the Looking Glass and its National Center for Parents with Disabilities and their Families are pleased to announce new scholarships specifically for high school seniors and college students who have parents with disabilities. These scholarships are part of Through the Looking Glass’ new federal grant (New National Center for Parents with Disabilities and their Families). Please note that these are new awards and have different application procedures than in the past. There are two separate scholarship awards, and each has separate eligibility requirements:

1. High School Seniors
To be eligible, a student must be a high school graduate (or graduating senior) by Summer 2009, planning to attend college in Fall 2009 and have at least one parent with a disability. Five separate $1000 awards will be given out in Fall 2009. Individuals may submit only one application per award period.

2. College Students
To be eligible, a student must be currently enrolled in a college or university, be 21 years of age or younger as of March 16, 2009, and have at least one parent with a disability. Five separate $1000 awards will be given out in Fall 2009. Individuals may submit only one application per award period.

Selection criteria for all scholarships include academic performance, community activities and service, letters of recommendation and an essay describing the experience of growing up with a parent with a disability.

These Scholarships are also part of a research study on young adult children of parents with disabilities. As explained in the Consent Form in the Application, you may choose to participate in an optional survey about young adult children of parents with disabilities. The additional information you submit on this survey will not affect your scholarship chances and will not be disclosed to anyone outside the project researchers; all identifying information will be removed. If you consent to participate in this optional survey, Through the Looking Glass will email you the survey after they have received your completed application.

For further information, contact Through the Looking Glass Scholarships Coordinator, at the address below.

The National Center for Parents with Disabilities and their Families
2198 Sixth Street, Suite 100
Berkeley, CA 94710
Phone numbers: 800-644-2666 (voice) / 800-804-1616 (TDD/TTY) / FAX: 510-848-4445
Website: http://www.lookingglass.org

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AutismCares Offers Emergency Grants

AutismCares is a consortium of leading autism organizations who have come together to support individuals with autism and their families during natural disasters and other catastrophic life events. AutismCares understand that families living with autism often need additional and specialized support in recovering from critical life-challenging events. Leading autism organizations, along with committed individuals in the community have come together to support families in their time of need.

How Does AutismCares Help Families?

AutismCares assists families who meet the eligibility criteria to cover costs associated with housing, automobile repair, insurance premiums, medical care, prescriptions, daycare, funeral expenses, and other items on a case-by-case basis. In most instances, payments are made directly to the vendor providing the services and not directly to the family. Assistance provided cannot exceed $1,500 per family.

AutismCares supports families who meet one or more of the following criteria:

1. Have one or more children diagnosed with an autism spectrum diagnosis
2. Have a combined family income of less than $65,000
3. Have, within the previous 90 days:

How Do I Apply?

1. Complete an online application

2. Applications are reviewed on a monthly basis. Deadline for an application is the 15th of the month. Applications received after the 15th of the month will be reviewed the following month. Download the application form from www.autismnortheastohio.org. Call or email Andrea Pattison with any questions at 216-544-1231 or apattison@autismnortheastohio.org.

3. Families are notified of the results of their application by phone or e-mail.

Contact Info:

autismcares@autismspeaks.org

Source: National Autism Association — Northeast Ohio Chapter (NAA-NEO)

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Independent Living Council seeks new members

The Ohio Statewide Independent Living Council (OSILC) is recruiting new Council members. The Council is an eleven-member body whose members are appointed by the Governor for three-year terms on a voluntary basis. The majority of the members must be people with disabilities.

SILCs were established in federal law in 1992 as part of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. They are committed to promoting a philosophy of independent living. This includes a philosophy of consumer control, peer support, self-help, self-determination, equal access, and individual and system advocacy in order to maximize the leadership, empowerment, independence, productivity of individuals with disabilities, and the integration and full inclusion of individuals with disabilities into the mainstream of American society.

One of the roles of OSILC is to recruit, nominate, and recommend candidates to the Governor for appointment. By law, the eleven appointed Council members must meet specific membership categories that include:

The Council meets six times per year on the third Wednesday and Thursday of every other month. Application packets are available from the OSILC office. For additional information, visit the OSILC website at www.ohiosilc.org , or contact:

Kay L. Grier
Ohio SILC
670 Morrison Rd., Suite 200
Gahanna, OH 43230
800/566-7788, 614/892-0390,
or email:kgrier@ohiosilc.org

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A Word or Two About Digital TV

Brought to you by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

On February 17, 2009 all full-power broadcast television stations in the United States will stop broadcasting on analog airwaves and begin broadcasting only in digital. Digital broadcasting will allow stations to offer improved picture and sound quality and additional channels. To find out more about whether or not you will be impacted by the digital TV (DTV) transition, go to http://www.dtv.gov/whatisdtv.html.

The U.S. government is offering a $40 coupon that you can request online at: https://www.dtv2009.gov/. Once you receive your coupon, you MUST use it within 90 days (Your coupon will have an expiration date on it.) Converter boxes can be purchased at any of these national retailers currently participating in the program:

You can find one of these retailers near your area by filling out a form at: https://www.dtv2009.gov/VendorSearch.aspx. Can't get to a bricks and mortar store? You can also find a list of online retailers selling the converter box on the same website. Because it may take a couple of weeks to receive your coupon, don't put off requesting one for very long. February 17, 2009 is right around the corner, and you don't want to miss any new episodes of Desperate Housewives, do you?

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Medicaid Buy-in: You in Yet?

Medicaid Buy-In for Workers with Disabilities (MBIWD) MBIWD is an Ohio Medicaid program that provides health care coverage to working Ohioans with disabilities. Historically, people with disabilities were often discouraged from working because their earnings made them ineligible for Medicaid coverage. MBIWD was created to enable Ohioans with disabilities to work and still keep their health care coverage. The MBIWD program officially began April 1, 2008.

Who is eligible?

To qualify for MBIWD

For further information and application forms, visit the Ohio Jobs and Family Services web site at http://jfs.ohio.gov/OHP/mbiwd.stm.

Source: Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services

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AT Ohio Contact information

Assistive Technology of Ohio
1139 Dodd Hall
480 Medical Center Drive
Columbus, OH 43210
Phone: 800-784-3425 / 614-293-9134 (voice) / 614-293-0767 (TTY)
E-mail: atohio@osu.edu

OSU logo Assistive Technology of Ohio is a sponsored program at The Ohio State University.

This page was updated on December 29, 2008. For questions about this site, E-mail: atohio.



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