News & Events

 ARISE Oswego Newsletter — August 2008

[NOTE: This page contains internal links to help you navigate the newsletter content.]

Oswego County Edition
Oswego County Director: Sabine Ingerson

 WHAT’S INSIDE:

Our mission is to work with people of all abilities to create a fair and just community in which everyone can fully  participate. 

Open House a Big Success

On July 8th the Oswego Office celebrated the move to 9 Fourth Avenue with a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house. In attendance was Dan Young, from Governor Patterson’s office, Oswego County Legislators Kim Seager, Paul Santore, Morris Sorbello, Kevin Gardner, Susan Sweet, Common Council Member of the City of Oswego, Jennifer Hill, President of the Chamber of Commerce, members of local businesses and agencies, members of the ARISE Board of Directors, the ARISE Oswego Advisory committee, consumers, their families, and staff.

The food, prepared by Aimee Finnan, consisting of pulled pork, macaroni salad, hummus, pita bread, trifle and peanut butter cream pie was delicious.

Artists who had previously been featured in the Unique Magazine loaned us their artwork for the open house. A big thank you goes to Jeff Crouse, Luanne Constanza, Vivian Golding and Derek Grindle.

It was exciting for the staff to be able to talk about the programs they are involved in. Many interesting questions were asked by our visitors. If you missed the open house, please call to make an appointment to visit. We are glad to give you a tour.

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 ARISE Support Groups

Central Square Social Club

August 5

We meet in Central Square but the group is for anyone. You don’t have to be a Central Square resident to attend. The group is for youth 13-25. If you would like more information please call 668-4231 extension 2108 or email vaffinati@ariseinc.org . This month the group will go on a picnic and boat ride. Reservations are required, so please let Vicki know if you are coming.

Hearing Loss Support Group

No Meeting This Month
This is a support group for individuals with hearing loss. It is a place to meet others, share experiences, and learn about new technologies and medical advances. For additional information, please contact Sabine Ingerson at 342-4088 extension 210.

Self Advocacy Group

August 11 - 12 - 1:00 p.m.
This group is open to anyone with a disability who likes to advocate. Please note the new meeting location (at our new office) and new time for the summer months. We are always looking for new members, so please come to the meetings if you have any interest in advocacy! At each meeting we discuss accessibility issues in the area and plan how to advocate for change. For additional information or if you have an issue you would like the group to advocate for, please contact Ken Skillen at 297-4149 extension 201.

Social Club

August 27 - 12 - 3:00 p.m.
This is a group for people with any type of disability to get together to socialize. We will be having our summer Social Club picnic on Wednesday, August 27th from 12:00-3:00 p.m. at Breitbeck Park in Oswego. It will be games, fun and activities. Please RSVP to Melissa Reeves no later than August 22nd, at 342-4088 extension 207.

SPECTRUM Support Group

No Meeting
The parent support group covers all disabilities and is open to parents, caregivers or professionals. If you would like more information please call 668-4231 extension 2108 or email vaffinati@ariseinc.org.

Teen Group

Date To Be Determined
This group is open to any teen (ages 13—21) who has a developmental disability. This month the group will be going on a picnic. For additional information, please contact Heather Lee at 342-4088 extension 243.

Depression Group

Every Thursday - 11:00 am - 12:00 p.m.
This new group is open to any individuals who experience depression. For more information please contact Pat McMahon Monday - Friday between 8-4:00 p.m. at 342-3928, or Rhiannon Mulverhill by email at rmulverhill@ariseinc.org.

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 Upcoming Events and News

Integration Specialist Trainings

Date: Thursday, August 14
Time: 1-2:30 p.m.
For: All OPTS staff
Place: Oswego ARISE

Date: Friday, August 22
Time: 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Topic: History of Independent Living
For: All Integration Specialists
Place: Oswego ARISE

Date: Monday, August 25
Time: 2:30 - 4:00 p.m.
For: All DayHab staff
Place: Oswego ARISE

***Please note that all trainings and meetings are mandatory*** Please remember to tell your consumers that you can’t make it and if possible make arrangements to see them at other times.

Fresh Food Giveaways

Date: August 4, 2008
Place: Sandy Creek—Sandy Creek United Methodist, 2031 Harwood Drive
Time: begins at 4:00 p.m.

Date: August 8, 2008
Place: Williamstown - The Amboy Center United Methodist Church, Route 69 and Route 183
Time: begins at 3:00 p.m.

Date: August 13, 2008
Place: Fulton—Fulton Catholic Charities, 57 Pierce Drive (Elks Club)
Time: begins at 4:00 p.m.

For more information and to find out other dates of food giveaways in the Central New York area please call toll free 1-800- 444-1562, press 5. All giveaways are free. You must bring your own bags or boxes.

Free Golf Clinic

Date: August 19, 20, and 21, 2008
Time: 10 - 11:00 a.m.
Place: The Elms Golf Club, 2 Country Club Lane, Sandy Creek

If you have any questions, for more information and to register please call Kathy Mahar at 298-5726 extension 204.

Acting Classes

Ann Raynor is interesting in starting acting classes for individuals with disabilities. If you are interested or want more information please contact Ann at 343-7262.

Video Presentation

Date: Friday, August 29
Place: Oswego ARISE
Time: 10:00 a.m.

The Transition Coordinators will be showing another DVD on learning disabilities. This video is the follow up to the video that was presented in April. The training is open to everyone. For a detailed description of the video please see the ‘Transition Corner’ section of the newsletter.

Thank You

By: Kim VanPatten

We had a wonderful turnout at the Everyday Heroes training last month, so thank you to all the staff that attended I would like to especially thank all of the Integration Specialist that attended Gilian Smith, Benjamin Townsend, Erin Houppert, Ginny Ahart, Arin Stout, Amy Wallace, Melissa McNitt, Rachael Montemurro, Amy Penfield, Jon Singer, Kerrianne Thomas, Rae Ann Breckenridge, Richard Buck, Kim Dusharm, and Jessica Nicolucci.

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 The Transition Corner

Transition Service Coordinators
Vicki Affinati - Central Square High School
668-4231 extension 2108

Sue Pirrera - Mexico High School
963-8400 extension 5135

The Transition Program will present the Rick Lavoie DVD entitled:
Beyond F.A.T. City, A Look Back, A Look Ahead

F.A.T -- Frustration, Anxiety, Tension -- three all-too-familiar feelings for the families of children with learning disabilities. It is the basis for a 1987 workshop simulating the children's daily experiences. Richard Lavoie, creator of the original F.A.T. City Workshop, (previously shown at ARISE in April 2008) reviews the history & philosophy of the project, the major trends & issues in the field of learning disabilities since 1987, and the challenges ahead for parents & educators. Beyond F.A.T. City, A Look Back, A Look Ahead, is filled with powerful insights and practical strategies on coaching and teaching, building self esteem, creating individualized education plans, imparting accountability, home schooling, parental responsibility and much more.

Viewing the initial video (F.A.T. City Workshop, How Difficult Can This Be?) is not essential to follow this sequel video.

The video will be shown in the main conference room at ARISE in Oswego on August 29th from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Refreshments will be served.

For any questions or for more information please contact Sue Pirrera in the Oswego office at 342-4088 extension 225.

Summer Events in Oswego County
By: Rhiannon Mulverhill

Summer in Oswego County has almost come to an end. Now is a great time to get out and enjoy some wonderful activities in your community. Here is a list from the Oswego County Tourism website of some great opportunities available to all.

On August 3rd, the Town of Scriba hosts an Ice Cream Social at Scriba Town Park from 1pm-4pm. Admission is free but there is a small fee for the ice cream.

Also on August 3rd, the Town of Mexico hosts their Ice Cream Social at Mexico Point Park from 2pm-5pm. Admission is free however there is a charge for the ice cream.

Enjoy fun outdoors on August 28th through the August 31st, Family Camp at Camp Hollis for the entire family. Admission is free.

For more information on these events and many others visit www.oswegocounty.com.

Happenings in Day Habilitation:
By: Jon Gilmore

I apologize for not having an article in the Newsletter last month due to a death in the family, but I am glad to be back and ready to move ahead. It was nice to have some consumers attend our open house on July 8th. Those who did come in were able to get the opportunity to see the board game “Money Manners”. If you are interested in playing this game, please call me at 342-4088 exten 213 so I can make a list of who wants to play and set this up. Integration Specialists are more than welcomesion to come along too.

There are other social events coming up this summer that you may be interested in and should try to attend. They are listed in the upcoming events section, and in the monthly calendar of this newsletter. Talk these over with your Integration Specialist to arrange to go to them. It is alright for you and your integration specialist to contact your coordinator in order to adjust your schedule to allow you to attend these.

Jon Singer and I would like to work with you and your Integration Specialist to help you to meet with others in the Day Hab program to do activities you both have an interest in. We are hoping to help you develop new friendships. Please talk more with Jon Singer, your Integration Specialist or me if you are interested in doing this. If your Integration Specialist talks to you about a chance to meet another consumer, please give it a try.

Report on Habilitation for Life

Because I was out unexpectedly, our first group meeting never happened. I will send a letter out to you and your Integration Specialist to remind you of this month’s meetings. I look forward to seeing many more of you this month. Remember that this program is for helping you to improve on your socialization and life skills. That means we have to work together to improve these, so plan on attending. Read the Newsletter with your Integration Specialist to learn about what activities are planned and post the calendar on your refrigerator so you will remember to attend planned events.

Monthly Meetings for Integration Specialists

Integration Specialist’s; It has been some time since we tried to get together to meet to talk about what is going on in our program. It is a great opportunity to make a connection with our peers. Please make every attempt to attend these meetings. Talk with Jon Singer and myself so we can assist you in rescheduling with your consumer(s) to make these meetings. In the long run it should help us and our consumers. It was great to see so many of you at the “Every Day Heroes Training” in July and I want you all to know that you are all Heroes and your work is truly appreciated. Sitting in that training I could look at each one of you and think of a person in the program which I know you have personally touched in some way. Thank you!!!!

Become Part of a Virtual Bowling League

We have the Nintendo Wii which has not been played much. There were no scheduled times in July and I am sorry about that. Let’s work together to get the most of this opportunity. If you are interested in using the Wii, please contact me.

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 Federal Parks Access Pass
By Sabine Ingerson

There is a Federal Access Pass available similar to the one you use for NYS parks. This pass never expires for those that have a permanent disability. In order to receive the pass you must provide a letter from one of the following individuals or organizations: your physician, Veteran’s Administration, Social Security Disability Income, Social Security Income, or state vocational rehabilitation agency. The pass allows the pass holder along with 3 other adults to enter the park for free when there is a fee charged per person. For all other amenities such as boating, and camping, only the pass holder will receive 50% discount off those fees. You can only get the pass at a Federal park that charges an entrance fee. Some Federal Parks near Oswego County are:

Fort Stanwix National Monument
112 E Park Street
Rome, New York 13440
315-338-7730

Saratoga National Historical Park
648 Route 32
Stillwater, New York 12170
518-664-9821 extension 224

Martin Van Buren National Historical Site
1013 Old Post Road
Kinderhook, New York 12106

Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural -
**closed for renovations until late 2008**
241 Delaware Avenue
Buffalo, New York 14202
716-884-0095

If you have any questions feel free to call me at the office at 342-4088 extension 209.

Source: http://www.nps.gov/state/NY/

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 North Country Access 2008

On July 19, the first North Country Access program was held in Clayton, New York in the Thousand Islands. This gave individuals of all abilities the opportunity to participate in various water sport activities such as kayaking, canoeing, fishing, sailing, and speed boating, just to name a few. There were also several exhibits with information on accessible recreation opportunities. In addition, individuals were able to take a ride on a Segway. They can give those with mobility challenges more independence. For more information on the North Country Access program, go to the website http://www.ncaccess.org/.

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 August Calendar of Events

August 3
Ice Cream Social
1 - 4:00 p.m.
Scriba Town Park

Ice Cream Social
2 - 5:00 p.m.
Scriba Town Park

August 4
Fresh Food Giveaway
Sandy Creek — Sandy Creek United Methodist Church
begins at 4:00 p.m.

August 5
Central Square Social Club
Boating Event

August 7
Depression Support Group
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

August 8
Fresh Food Giveaway
Amboy Center UM Church
begins at 3:00 p.m.

August 11
Self Advocacy
12—1:00 p.m.

August 13
Fresh Food Giveaway
Fulton Elks Club
begins at 4:00 p.m.

August 14
Depression Support Group
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

IS OPTS Meeting
1-2:30 p.m. in Oswego

August 19 - 21
Free Golf Clinic in Sandy Creek 10 - 11:00 a.m.

August 21
Depression Support Group
11:00 - 12:00 p.m.

New York State Fair Begins
Fairgrounds in Syracuse

August 22
IS Training
11-1:00 p.m.
in Oswego

August 25
IS Day Hab Meeting
2:30 - 4:00 p.m.
in Oswego

August 27
Social Club
12-3:00 p.m.
Breitbeck Park, Oswego

August 28
Depression Support Group
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

August 28 - 31
Family Camp at Camp Hollis in Oswego

August 29
Transition Video Presentation
10:00 a.m. in Oswego

 Do you want to make a difference?

Have you ever considered working for ARISE as an Integration Specialist? Permanent part- time positions are available working with individuals with disabilities in their homes and/or community, in our Residential and Day Habilitation Programs throughout Oswego County. As an Integration Specialist your job would be to assist people with disabilities learn to live a more independent life.

Required: High School diploma (or equivalent). Associates degree or experience working with individuals with disabilities is preferred. Must be 18 years of age with valid driver’s license; and be willing to work flexible hours in the late afternoon, evenings. A background check is required for employment. Persons with disabilities and/or minority status are encouraged to apply.

Forward resume to:
ARISE
Attn: Community Services Manager
113 Schuyler Street, Suite 1
Fulton, NY 13069
or e-mail to lsperino@ariseinc.org; or fax to (315) 297-4164.

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ARISE
Hillside Commons
9 Fourth Avenue
Oswego, New York 13126
Phone: (315)342-4088
Fax: (315)342-4107
TTY: (315)342-8696