PA Link Service Area 13 YouTube series interview: Pat Lally
Earlier this month, the Pennsylvania Link to Aging and Disability Resources Service Area 13 launched its YouTube channel.
One facet of the initiative was to highlight and introduce Service Area 13 partner entities to educate viewers to the array of services and programs available for persons in Berks, Lancaster and Lebanon Counties.
“Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRC) are a nationwide effort to take a seamless approach in the way we assist seniors and adults with disabilities who need help with activities of daily living. The ADRC in Pennsylvania is known as the Link.
“How can the Link assist you and/or your family?
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- Easily connect you to local services/supports through any Link partner agency
- Explore existing options to ensure a secure plan for independence
- Assist consumers with applications to determine funding eligibility
- Help consumers remain or return to their community because of a disability, an illness or accident, or to transition from an institution back to the community
“There is no charge for information and assistance provided by any Link or Link partner agency.”
The first partner interview was conducted yesterday. Link project interviewer, Margie Pizarro, chatted with Pat Lally, Program Manager of the Pennsylvania Link to Aging and Disability Resources about the Aging and Disability Resource Center. Click here to see that interview.
If you are a Link partner agency/organization and would like to be a featured interview in this series, let us know.
Call or text: 717.380.9714 or email blllink@mail.com to get on the schedule.
Saturday webinars | Link Service Area 13’s second “Let’s get Tech Savvy” webinar video on Windows 10 is here.
“In the USA, only 59% of people over the age of 65 use the Internet daily, as opposed to 86% of all adults under 65.”
That’s the entire reason the Pennsylvania Link to Aging and Disability Resources’ Berks-Lancaster-Lebanon Service Area scheduled the Saturday morning (March 6 and March 27) webinars. These are the first two in a series of planned webinars that are designed to erase and lessen the fears that many people may have about using digital technology.
It’s tough trying to deliver taking training about how to use a smart phone, a tablet or a computer to persons who may not have the technology, the experience or the connectivity. It’s also tough to not have internet access and technological skills needed to find a Covid vaccination site. Or to file an online unemployment claim. Or to schedule a medical appointment.
But the intent of this series of webinars is to lessen the trepidation and the uncertainty of the technology in small bite-sized blocks of 30 to 40 minute online webinars. The Link coordinator hopes that caregivers, family members and agency resources who interact with persons with low or no digital savvy will share the webinar information with them.
Here are the video recordings of the first two Saturday’s “Baby Steps” Webinars: https://1drv.ms/v/s!Agtzmyc10ssBgxni4YdAzYOFpFiO?e=Sdb3wR
The next Webinar will be scheduled for Saturday morning, April 17 and will be announced at the Link Website and hopefully in local media. For more information about upcoming Webinars, send an email to blllink@mail.com or call / text: 717.308.9714.
Those who’ve ventured into owning a smart phone know “how many times a day your phone, computer, tablet, watch and other gadgets buzz or ding. It gets annoying and distracting.”
Upcoming webinars will deal with smart phone questions, but here’s a Kim Kommando column that’s especially topical: “How to stop junk text messages and spam for good.”
VA and Department of Labor releases high demand occupation list for the Veteran Rapid Retraining Assistance Program
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is preparing to launch the Veteran Rapid Retraining Assistance Program (VRRAP) as part of its continued effort to support Veterans seeking retraining and economic opportunities in response to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
VA in partnership with the Department of Labor published a list of high-demand occupations. The list is available here and includes healthcare, education, media, engineering, and high tech opportunities.
The new program, part of the American Rescue Plan, will allow qualifying Veterans between the ages of 22 and 67 to receive up to 12 months of tuition and fee and monthly housing allowance payments, based on Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. VA will provide further information soon on how Veterans can apply for this program.
The week of April 4th, VA will release a participation agreement and begin to work with educational institutions interested in participating in VRRAP. VA will require educational institutions to commit to a participation agreement that will outline VRRAP requirements and specify which training programs are covered under VRRAP. Once reviewed and approved by VA, a comprehensive list of VRRAP educational institutions and programs will be published and made available.
For a program of education to qualify for VRRAP, it must meet the following criteria:
- Be approved for GI Bill or VET TEC
- Not lead to a bachelors or graduate degree
- Provide training for a high-demand occupation
The payment model for VRRAP tuition and fees (paid directly to the VRRAP education institution) is milestone based:
- 50% when the Veteran begins the program
- 25% when the Veteran completes the program
- 25% when the Veteran finds employment in the field of study
The program is limited to a maximum of 17,250 participants and up to $386 million.
If you are aware of any GI Bill Beneficiaries who require assistance, please have them contact the Education Call Center at 888-442-4551 between 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. Central Time, Monday-Friday to speak with a representative.
To learn more about the program and for updates, go to our website, or visit our Facebook page.
“Rewild your kids: why playing outside should be a post-pandemic priority” – The Conversation
by John J. Reilly and Mark S. Tremblay
“This generation of children will face a range of challenges, including the impacts of climate change, increasing globalisation, and the consequences of rapid technological change. They will need to become habitually physically active in order to grow into healthy, resilient adults who can survive and thrive in a changing world.
T”he Global Matrix initiative on physical activity
“As nurseries and schools begin to reopen across the UK, there is much concern about the impact of this very difficult year on children. One aspect of normal childhood which many have missed out on in the last 12 months is the simple fun of playing outside. England’s Children’s Commissioner Anne Longfield believes we should prioritise youngsters’ wellbeing as part of our recovery from COVID-19.
“Our latest research suggests that during lockdown most children spent less time outdoors, became less physically active and spent more time in front of screens. As a result, this may now be the least fit generation of children in history. In England, children have even been scolded by police for playing outdoors. And school and nursery closures have inevitably reduced opportunities to play with friends.
“Our behaviours are formed and reinforced by habit. Some children may have lost the habit of playing outside over the past year, replacing it with sedentary screen time, while others might not have had the opportunity to develop the habit at all.”
Click here to read this article at The Conversation in its entirety
Online learning and connecting | several articles for digital users of all levels
The Internet and meeting platforms as Zoom have provided exceptional ways for people to stay connected over the past year. Perhaps going forward, digital conferencing computer applications and programs will be the connection of choice for so many reasons.
On March 6, the Berks-Lancaster-Lebanon Link partners’ network will be offering this free Webinar that’s geared for persons who may need a little boost and confidence building in getting started on digital highway.
March 06 – A webinar especially for seniors and others who may be a little skeptical about digital devices and the Internet: “BABY STEPS #1: Let’s Get Tech Savvvy!
Here are a few articles that may be of interest for you:
- Stanford study into “Zoom Fatigue” explains why video chats are so tiring
- One Lesson, Three Lives – A story about how “newwbies” find a whole new world by opening up to learning how to use digital devices. “With newbies, I start with the basics – things like what an app or a link is, how to open them – all the beginning things.”
- Meet and Make Friends Online – An article about finding and connecting with friends of all kinds online.
“Vaccine Signups Cater to the Tech-Savvy, Leaving Out Many” – Stateline
“Mary Christian, 71, spent hours on both her cellphone and iPad trying to arrange an appointment online for a COVID-19 vaccination through the Mississippi State Department of Health website and on its listed registration phone line. Older adults across the country who can’t easily navigate online technology are finding it difficult to sign up for appointments.” Rogelio V. Solis – The Associated Press
by Jenni Bergal
“Like millions of older adults across the country, Allan Potter and his wife, Vicki, are eager to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
“The Potters, who live in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, are prime candidates. They’re both 73. He suffers from a neuromuscular disorder. She has multiple myeloma. They hoped to sign up for the shots and get them quickly.
“But they don’t have a computer or a smartphone. And, as in many states and counties, that’s a problem because most of the registration and appointment-setting is being done online.
“’Not all of us have a computer or are on the internet,’ Allan Potter said. ‘We’re old-school. We’ve got a landline and that’s it. It’s very frustrating.’
“While many older adults have access to the internet and are tech-savvy, others are not. And even some of those who are used to going online are having a hard time navigating complicated registration websites. Others who are being left out include low-income residents who may not have the technology and people in rural areas with poor internet connections.
“Many older people are turning to adult children, other family members or friends to help them. Others are just left out.”
Continue reading this article at Pew Trusts, click here.
Click here to register for a Special Link Webinar:
“BABY STEPS #1: Let’s Get Tech Savvvy!”
Download Black Disabled History Month Lessons here.
Disability Equality in Education (DEE) Black History Month Lesson
This month DEE is celebrating Black Disabled history in America by providing schools and educators with a collection of projects and lessons for Black History Month. Our Black Disabled History collection includes 2 lessons about important historical figures in America that are a part of Black Disabled history. The collection also includes 2 projects that can be assigned to students to have them research an important black and disabled historical figure or artist. The goal of these lessons is to bring disabled representation into your Black History Curriculum. These lessons and projects are best suited for students in grade 8 or above and can be done in a classroom or adapted to be done virtually. All 4 of our lessons can be found by downloading the “DEE Black History Month Collection” by following this link: DEE Black History Month Collection Download Link.
Disability Equality in Education Website
webinars: Understanding Decisional Capacities of Older Adults and Exploring Male Caregiving for People Living with Dementia
Understanding Decisional Capacities of Older Adults
Capacity assessments of older adults is steeped in the fundamental tensions between two core ethical principles: autonomy (self-determination) and protection (beneficence). Adult Protective Services caseworkers must often consider the impact of cognitive functioning on a person’s risk for elder abuse, exploitation, and neglect.
In this webinar hosted by ACL’s Adult Protective Services Technical Assistance Resource Center, Dr. Sheri Gibson of the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs will address the very complex topic of decisional capacities in older adults, which involves knowledge of medical and psychological syndromes, clinical assessment, ethics, and the law. Attendees will learn a conceptual framework used by psychologists to assess a person’s ability to make decisions or perform tasks as they pertain to legal standards, and methods to enhance the referral process for a formal capacity evaluation.
This webinar will be held on Thursday, February 25, 2021, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET.
REGISTER HERE
Exploring Male Caregiving for People Living with Dementia
Effective Alzheimer’s disease and dementia caregiving requires skills and understanding that are not entirely intuitive. For many men, these challenges are heightened because they are not socialized to be caregivers. This does not mean that males aren’t eager to be caregivers. However, because of the ever-changing nature of dementia disease, caregiving cannot be approached as a problem to be solved. This webinar will discuss burdens specific to male caregivers, including skill-building, asking for and receiving help, and self-care. A male caregiver will join the presenter to provide a first-person perspective.
This webinar will be held on Tuesday, February 9, 2021, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET.
REGISTER HERE
Disability Webinar Series
We would like to invite you to an upcoming series of webinars for healthcare providers on accessible healthcare for people with disabilities. While the webinars will focus on information for healthcare providers, the information will also be valuable for people with disabilities and those that support them. All are welcome to attend.
This series is part of the Rural Healthcare Access Project, an initiative funded by the PA Developmental Disabilities Council to improve healthcare access for people with disabilities in rural PA
Session 1: Core Competencies on Disability Part 1 – Thursday January 14, 1pm
This session will be a presentation of Disability Core Competencies by Dr. Susan Havercamp, Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at the Ohio State University Nisonger Center.
The Core Competencies are skills and attributes that enable healthcare professionals to provide quality care to consumers with disabilities. They were developed by the Alliance for Disability in Health Care Education in partnership with the Ohio Disability and Health Program at the Ohio State University Nisonger Center using a consensus process which included people with disabilities, disability experts, health educators, and health care providers.
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85023183980
To join by phone call (646) 876-9923 and enter meeting ID 850 2318 3980
Session 2: Core Competencies Part 2 and Stakeholder Panel – Thursday January 28, 1pm
This session will include a recap of the Core Competencies along with people with disabilities and other community leaders from the Rural Healthcare Access Project discussing their care experiences and answering questions.
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88196288579
To join by phone call (646) 876-9923 and enter meeting ID 881 9628 8579
Session 3: Provider Panel – Tuesday February 9, 1pm
In this session we will hear from a panel of healthcare providers about their experiences treating people with disabilities, challenges, best practices, and how providers can help improve access to care.
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82116341873
To join by phone call (646) 876-9923 and enter meeting ID 821 1634 1873
Click here to register for sessions.
Abilities in Motion Joins PA VOTES Nonprofit Collaborative
“We want to ensure that people with questions or concerns about voting in this year’s election have access to factual information,” Stephanie Quigley, Abilities in Motion’s Executive Director, emphasized. “Not only are we assisting people with registrations and making sure their information is up to date, but we are also providing resources and information on voter rights and accessibility to ensure that everyone is able to cast their vote with their own individual ability.”
“Through a collaborative grassroots effort, Abilities in Motion has partnered with PA VOTES to encourage and advocate for local voter participation ahead of the November 2020 general election.
“The PA VOTES program is a nonpartisan initiative of Nonprofit VOTE and the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania to support and evaluate the role of nonprofit service providers doing voter engagement. Its goal in recruiting nonprofit organizations is to increase the capacity of service providers to do voter engagement work and improve models for nonprofits to register and engage voters in the course of ongoing activities.
“The initiative will highlight the value of nonprofits conducting voter participation with their constituents and community through evaluation data and case studies.
“According to a report from the U.S. Census Bureau on voting and registration in the November 2018 election, about 40% of individuals with independent living difficulty were represented in the electorate compared to almost 50% of those with no disability. Even more disparities in voting exist between participation of different races and income levels, as accessibility extends beyond factors related to disability.”
Click here to continue reading this article at BCTV.org.
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