| OCR Text |
Show = ___The Salt Lake Tribune UTAH Sunday, January 14. 1996 B5 Utahns Committed to Caring For Those With Disabilities Legislative Coalition, Others Ensure That Needs Are Met By Mary Ann verre K R NEWS SERVICE Utahis a state of vast rural expanses, yet people with disabilities have seento it that no point of the compassis without a citizens’ group to serve thedisabled community One of the most effective things we haveis our Legislative Coalition for People With Disabilities. says Cathy Chambless, executive director of Utah’s Govenor’s Council for People With Disabilities in course, during 5: sit and eventually suction her son State leaders and he people se this up close Eventually, a waiver was appropr ted and things changed. She could take him home. estimated 50 to 70 children also v That y impacted. She had the passion; what the coalition showed her was the process The state council also has a project innovation programunder the federal Developmental Disabilities Civil Rights Act. Chambless says under this. mostly federal money goes to programs that ap proach problemsin a unique. common-senseway Wehavea family service voucher program, and this one program was developed to help support Salt LakeCity. “It’s madeupof peoplefromall over families in the rural southeast.” It started in the 1970s first as an informal group who tried to educate people about the legislative process them. This maysound radical, but what we did was ask the parents themselves what they needed and Todayit helps people learn about everything from the processof state budgetingto policy-making. I'd say wehave about 800 members from every wherein Utah . Other groups that haveagrass-roots base include the Utah Independent Living Center in Salt Lake City, Options in Logan, Active Re-Entryin Price and the Southern Utah IndependentLiving Center in St George. All of these organizations welcome new members and volunteers Another programwehave at the council is Part- ners in Policy-making.” shesays. “It’s in its second year and is a training program where for nine months, a weekend a month, people learn how and what their state government does for people with disabilities or for parents who have children with disabilities. We have people who can show them how to influence their communities. Chamblesshasareal-life example of how an indi=vidual changedthesystem in Utah working with one “Of thestate's activeprograms as an ordinary person. a motherwho, on the of thelegislative session, came pushing her stroller. The son was then 18 months and was -fechnically dependent, that is he needed a ventilator and a respirator and had to be suctioned. The son wassignificantly disabled . “At the time, Utah did not have a waiver under State Medicaid so she couldn't have her son at home to care for, even though she had learned how to do -€Vverything, all the equipment. herself and could do -it cheaper. Thesonprimarily had tostay in a skilled “Bursingfacility. Linda Smith, our coalition director. ~sawher at the Legislatureandgot together with her ~fo teach her about the legislative process. Every day Zfkat mother, her name w phanie, went to committee meetings, met officials; she was there. Of she says. “There were children there with no support systems behind HOBBY & CRAFT SUPERSTORES children One family wanted a well for water. Another needed the money to build a special-access bathroom. With thehelp ofa neighbor, one familybuilt a fence around the yard and yet another bought his child a special bike and helmet. And, one family had a childwith a disability who took a great deal of care andtime. Theotherchildren beganto feel neglected because ofthe time takenfor the one child. What did they do” They used the moneytot a small vacation to bring the family closer together. Theother children needed to feel they belonged, too. All of these thi SPECIAL 4°30% OFF ANY SINGLE ITEM YOU CHOOSE! then gave them [and not an agency] the moneydirectly. It worked out to approximately $3,000 a fam ily, but still they knew what they needed for their YOU PICK THE ITEM...WE YOU 30% OFF THE PI URCE A Applies to Regular priced merchandise in stock Good thru | 16/96 workedbecause the families knew what they neededdirectly Utah also has a self-advocacy program called People First and a starting project to help train child-care providers who are asked to serve children with disabilities The council, Chambless says. been in existence since 1971. Not only have the pr rams grown, but theyarestill lookingto bring inall the esidents of Utah with disabilities so they can a changein their quality of life Our council has more thanhalf its members made of people withdisabilities or parents of children with disabilities,” Chambless says. “The other half directors of different state agencies. We m times a year. We've got some great progra hopefully they're making a real differ If you wouldlike to know moreabout anyof these programs andgroups, or have a question or problem about your owndisability andreside in Utah, you can get in touch with Chambless at 555 E. 300 South Salt Lake City, UT 84102 FISKARS™ PAPER EDGERS PAINTING BOOKS BEESWAX Lots of designsto choose. All in stock. Make your own candles, SHEETS ‘Trojan Proposes Plan to Clean Mapleton Well THE ASSOCIATED PRESS MAPLETON — Trojan Corp.'s roposal to removeexplosive con“taminants found in Utah ‘ounty city’s main culinary well touldget the well upand running again +:The contaminants are thought 40 belinked toan accident at Trojan's Spanish Fork explosives ruptured spilling nitrates into ‘Be SoH While a number of options have been considered Trojan’s pro posal seemstobe the most prom ising. Mapleton Mayor Richard Maxfield has told the City Coun cil Under the plan, filtration sys: tems will be installed to remove explosive particles from thewell Trojan will payto install the addi tional water lines, a holding tank and other equipment needed to implement the plan Officials believe if the explo- sive contaminants are removed, Andif the planis approved and later fails, 7 'rojanwill be respon the well water could be mixed water trate content. That could assure residents safe drinking water for replacing Bint a decade ago whena lined sible fpond holding contaminated water source, Maxfield said the with safe water to dilute its ni- CANDLE WAX WalnutHill™ 10 Ibs. Ceramic Packageoffen. Slipping on a pair of shoes or taking a walk doesn’t have to be an exercise 4 in torture andfoot pain. Let us put the spring back in your step with same-day surgery on foot problems such as /uniiertoe Call 261-3141 to 7 ke your appointment ts to Paul. Also, call for information about for a free consultation, and leave the bt our hernia, carpal tunnel, breast, and cosmetic clinics P SALT LAKE SURGICAL CENTER “QUILTING: FRAME Q-Snap™ Easy to assemble. IhNTERTAINVENT ‘CENTERS 40% off STAMPS & 2. SUPPLIES! ' CERAMIC ‘ORGLASS | | VASES \* sgt SO Gooo! 696 me ee ee ME ce eS A ee Se a ne ea ol -MACGS ACCEPTS ALL COMPETITORS COUPONS AND:WILL MEET OR BEAT. ANY ADVERTISED PRICE! SEE STORE FORDETAILS. Retaue WEST JORDAN Ning AyUeaelad 2135S-ORCHARD DR. 7046 $. REDWOOD RD. 725 EAST 10600 SOUTH. 2334-EAST 7000 SOUTH Cla Pn) ee nh Pai Or |
