PA Link Needs Your Input!
  Your input is needed! I was asked to obtain feedback from our network. The Administration is working on improving the behavioral health (mental and substance abuse) system. We would like your informal input on the question below: What is your biggest challenge with the behavioral health system involving older adults? Please respond as soon as possible but no later than the end of the week to nhabecker@berksencore.org Your voice matters! Your input is valued and appreciated! Nicki Habecker M.Ed. ADRC Link Coordinator SA 13 2144 Weavertown Rd. Douglassville, PA 19518 Office: 610-582-1603 NHabecker@berksencore.org blllink.com Working together, we make the difference! |
PA Assistive Technology Foundation
  Just Released!Cents & Sensibility: A Guide to Money Management(7th Edition), and Educator Companion Manual (2nd Edition) We are excited to share that we have released two brand new editions of our fully accessible financial education guides – Cents and Sensibility: A Guide to Money Management, 7th Edition and theEducator Companion Manual, 2nd Edition. We published Cents and Sensibility (left in photo above) to address the financial education needs of people with disabilities, while providing comprehensive strategies, activities, and resources for anyone who wants to have control over their money. The book provides the tools people need to make informed financial decisions and tackles financial topics like how to save for the future without losing benefits that impact individuals with disabilities. Download the Free Guide Our Educator Companion Manual, 2nd Edition,(right in photo above) aligns with chapters from Cents and Sensibility, and provides educators and instructors with strategies for addressing the unique financial education needs of students with disabilities. Each section in the Manual includes topic objectives, key terms, and essential questions, which provide guidance for teaching the lessons included in Cents and Sensibility. The Educator Companion Manual helps anyone taking on an educator’s role to engage all students in financial education. The Manual includes financial education topics such as earning, saving, credit, and decision making. The instructional materials correlate with the National Standards for Financial Education and Pennsylvania Academics Standards. Download the Free Manual CEO Ben Laudermilch says PATF’s education efforts can help anyone make better decisions when it comes to money matters. “If you want to have more control over your personal finances and financial future, our curriculum is a one-of-a-kind resource that can provide you with insights into organizing your money, borrowing money, and saving it safely. People with disabilities have distinct financial needs and our mission – with this education program – is to help close the wide knowledge gap that keeps this underserved community from fully meeting their goals,” said Ben. PATF helps Pennsylvanians of all ages, all disabilities and health conditions, all income levels, and all communities and cultural backgrounds. We offer information about acquiring assistive technology (AT), funding resources, financial education, and financial loan programs. For more information, call 484-674-0506 or visit www.patf.us. Check out our Financial Education Website StudyMoney.us  StudyMoney.us is a companion website to Cents and Sensibility: A Guide to Money Management. This website is designed to help people with disabilities, their families, and advocates learn about managing money. In addition to the information covered in Cents and Sensibility, the website also includes interactive versions of all the activities with end-of-topic quizzes. Visit StudyMoney.us  Money Talks: A Webinar Series on Financial Empowerment for People with Disabilities Learn about money, get answers to your money questions, and find ways to make sound money choices. Go to the webinar series Coming in 2023!  Parents and professionals are helping PATF create the Family Guide for families to be able to help their children learn about managing their money and gain lifelong financial skills to make informed decisions about money. Our goal is for children to live in a world where they will have equal access to financial services and products offered by banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions. Support Our Work Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation (PATF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1998, that provides financing opportunities, education, and advocacy for people with disabilities and older Pennsylvanians, helping them to acquire assistive technology devices and services that improve the quality of their lives. Donate |
Bulldog Community Closet – Wilson High School – Saturday, December 2, 2022 8:00am – 11:00am
Wilson Education Association (WEA)
BULLDOG COMMUNITY CLOSET
When: Saturday, December 3, 2022 (8 AM-11:00 AM)
Alt. Weather Date: Sunday, December 4, 2022 (9 AM-11 AM)
Where: Wilson High School Lower House Cafeteria (enter via the back
door of the LH cafeteria with the ramp by bulldog field.
(303 Dwight St., West Lawn, PA 19609)
Who: This invitation is for adults. All items are FREE.
What: The clothes and toy items available were generously
donated by staff of the Wilson School District community.
Why: On behalf of WEA and the entire school district, we are
pleased to be able to help district residents during this time!
http://www.WilsonEA.org
NEW! The 2nd Edition of Your Guide to Smart Home Technology
 Smart Homes Made Simple: Your Guide to Smart Home Technology, 2nd Edition We are excited to announce the release of the brand new edition of our guide, Smart Homes Made Simple: Your Guide to Smart Home Technology, 2nd Edition. This guide was written to help people with disabilities, older adults, and their families learn to successfully integrate smart home technology into their homes and their lives.   “Smart home technology is one of the best resources for people with disabilities so they can live safely and more independently in a home of their own. These devices also help people perform everyday activities, thrive in employment, school, and in their communities,” says PATF’s CEO, Ben Laudermilch. Smart home technology can help with:· Connecting with friends and family· Turning on and off the lights· Setting reminders and alarms· Checking in with a caregiver· Locking and unlocking the door· Using telehealth services and health monitoring· Changing the TV channel or turning on music· And more! We hope this new edition of our guide will help you explore smart home technology, develop a framework to choose your technology, and build a team who can support you in achieving your goals. In addition to the digital version in English (508-compliant PDF), the guide is also available as a printed booklet. You can request a printed copy of the latest edition of our guide at https://patf.us/contact/. Download the Guide   What’s inside: · What Is Smart Home Technology and How Can It Help? · Determining Your Goals and Preparing for a Smart Home · Choosing Your Smart Home Technology · Developing a Funding Strategy· Setting Up Your Smart Home Technology · Maintaining and Troubleshooting Your Smart Home Technology · Security and Privacy This project is supported by a grant from the Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council; in part by grant number 2001PASCDD-02 from the U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects with government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL policy.  Also available:Self-Assessment Tool Not sure where to begin with smart home technology? This self-assessment is a good starting point as you consider what smart home technology might work for you This tool is useful for individuals with disabilities, family members, and support team members. Download the Self-Assessment Check out the Website! Go to our Smart Homes Made Simple website: SmartHomesMadeSimple.org Our great website provides an interactive experience where users can explore how smart home technology can help and which types of devices might work for them. Próximamente ¡2nda edición en español!  Hogares Inteligentes de Forma Sencilla: Guía para la tecnología de hogar inteligente, 1era edición · Spanish digital (508-compliant PDF) Descargar 1era edición New Video About Smart Home Technology  Garland and Caroline Tell Us About Their Smart Home Devices In this brief, captioned video, Garland (on the left) and Caroline (on the right) talk about the smart home devices they both use as people with hearing loss. Garland and Caroline are using total communication, which is the practice of simultaneously incorporating all means of communication, including speech, sign language, fingerspelling, lipreading, gesture, amplification, writing, gesture, and pictures. Watch the Video About Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation (PATF), founded in 1998, is a statewide non-profit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and Alternative Financing Program under the Federal Assistive Technology Act. PATF provides financing opportunities, education, and advocacy for people with disabilities and older Pennsylvanians, helping them to acquire assistive technology devices and services that improve the quality of their lives. Contact PATF at (484) 674-0506 or patf@patf.us. To learn more, visit www.patf.us. Support Our Work |
Access and Mobility Webinar
 Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility Webinar on Newly Adopted Strategic Plan The Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility (CCAM) is a federal interagency council that coordinates funding and provides expertise on human services transportation for people with disabilities, older adults, and individuals of low income. Last week, the council adopted the 2023-2026 CCAM Strategic Plan . The plan prioritizes expanding safe access to transit and providing affordable mobility options. The plan also sets a framework for collaboration among CCAM grantees at all levels and across jurisdictions.The Federal Transit Administration will be hosting a webinar on the CCAM Strategic Plan Wednesday, November 30, from 2:00 to 3:30 pm ET.During the webinar, FTA will discuss:The importance of transportation coordination,How the Strategic Plan was developed,The Strategic Plan’s impact on CCAM grantees and stakeholders,Next steps for implementation and avenues for public involvement, andQuestions and comments from participants.Register for the webinar. |
Consumer Voice – quality long term care
| View this message on our website. In this Issue:Staffing in Nursing Homes and How It Affects Residents See the Agenda for the Virtual Consumer Voice Conference Save the Date: Virtual Office Hour on Visitation During the Holidays Inadequate Staffing in Nursing Homes and How It Affects Residents Chronic understaffing has been a serious problem in nursing homes for decades and has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. While there are numerous factors contributing to this problem, one major cause is the lack of adequate minimum staffing standards at both the state and federal levels. Consumer Voice has continued to focus on staffing in nursing homes as an advocacy priority.Report: High Staff Turnover: A Job Quality Crisis in Nursing Homes – Our report sheds light on how nursing homes with higher staff turnover perform poorly in a variety of measures. It examines how staff turnover harms residents, the causes of high turnover, and offers solutions to this endemic problem.Last Spring, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) that included requests for information regarding the implementation of a minimum staffing standard in nursing homes. Minimum standards ensure that staffing will not fall to a level that would be harmful to residents. Consumer Voice submitted comments to CMS strongly supporting the proposal for a minimum staffing standard. CMS stated it planned to propose a minimum staffing standard within one year.Report: Staffing Matters – Our report looked at federal data regarding nursing home staffing levels and how it affects outcomes for residents. It found that nursing homes with higher staffing levels have higher overall, health inspection, and staffing ratings. Plus, the data also revealed that as staffing levels decrease in nursing homes, the instances of resident abuse rise. Learn more about our work around staffing in nursing homes on our website. See the Agenda for the Virtual Consumer Voice Conference Join us online December 8-9, 2022 for the virtual portion of the Consumer Voice Conference!Listen to key experts discuss the latest policy updates; Hear the voice of long-term care consumers; Connect with advocates nationwide and learn about best practices;Gain skills relevant to your work; and Get revitalized and equipped with new tools to put your systems and individual advocacy into action!  Plus, view select recorded sessions from the in-person conference. Register for the virtual conference to participate in the live event and to have access to session recordings and materials for 60 days.Save the Date: Virtual Office Hour on Visitation During the Holidays The National Ombudsman Resource Center (NORC) is hosting a virtual open office hour the last Wednesday of each month at 2:00 pm ET for long-term care Ombudsmen representatives. The next call is Wednesday, November 30th. This is an opportunity to ask questions, share information, and have open conversations with your peers and NORC staff. The focus of the November call will be visitation in nursing homes during the holidays. These Zoom calls do not include a structured presentation and are open to all State Ombudsmen and their program representatives. These calls will not be recorded and do not require registration. Use this link to join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85675114259 |
Veterans Family Paint Night – December 10, 2022
Come join the Capital Region Veterans Coalition for a fun night of holiday painting.
This event is sponsored in partnership by Acadia & Pyramid!
Christina Turley with Paint for a Purpose (https://www.artworkbyvendetti.com/) will be facilitating the painting process and teach you all the skills you need to create your work of art.
A children’s table will be available for anyone needing to bring their kids. Snacks and beverages will be available for the adults.
Participants will need 1 ticket per person who is painting. A Children’s table will be set up with activities for the kids. Please select the “Veteran/Military Family” option, unless you are a member of the Capital Region Veterans Coalition. Then you can select the coalition ticket option.
This event is open to Veteran & Military Families (this includes extended family). Tickets can be purchased at this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/veteransmilitary-family-paint-night-tickets-463813908887
Any questions please call 717-756-1004.
Understanding the Cognitive Stages of Development in Young Adults with Physical Disabilities
 Understanding the Cognitive Stages of Development in Young Adults with Physical Disabilities |
 This webinar is made possible through a generous Quality of Life Grant from the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation |
 Zoom Webinar Monday, December 12, 2022 Register Today! 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Audio is available either by computer or phone The link to the webinar will be sent to you within 48 hours COST: $10** 2.5 Social Work CEUs Available* Description The goal of this training course is to offer a broad understanding of the characteristics of the normal stages of cognitive development in young adults; and discuss the challenges they face apart from having physical disabilities. This training will explain the role of the professional, the parent, and the caregiver, and provide effective communication strategies and principles of practice to help diminish conflict, open dialogs, and help with problem solving. Objectives Define physical disabilities and describe self-identity & self-concept in adolescentsDiscuss the challenges faced by young adults, apart from their physical disabilitiesExplain the normal stages of cognitive and brain development in young adultsElucidate the role of the parent(s) and caregiver(s)Understand the use of effective communication strategies Target Audience This training is for professionals who provide care to young adults and especially to those who provide care to young adults living with paralysis, This training can be very useful for nurses, social workers, case managers, housing service coordinators, nursing home administrators, personal care home administrators, aging and mental health workers, as well as for family members who are caregivers. **Special Discount Code**The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation is committed to providing opportunities to individuals with paralysis. In keeping with their mission, webinar scholarships are available for those living with paralysis, their family members and caregivers. If you or a family member is living with paralysis, please enter the following code at check-out to receive a scholarship. Code: SupermanCEUs* “NASW-PA Chapter is a co-sponsor of this workshop. NASW has been designated as a pre-approved provider of professional continuing education for social workers (Section 47.36), Marriage and Family Therapist (Section 48.36) and Professional Counselors (Section 49.36) by the PA State Board of Social Workers, Marriage & Family Therapists and Professional Counselors.”Monday December12 REGISTER NOW  |
 For a full list of upcoming webinars,please click the button below: Webinar Information PennCares can bring this training to your area. We provide training services across the state of Pennsylvania. Call or email us for pricing information. Don’t see a topic you are looking for? Call or email us as we can customize your staffing needs. Contact dallen@penncares.org or 717-632-5552, Ext. 4101 |
Berks - Lancaster - Lebanon LINK Service Area 
Recent Comments