VAIL Center for Independent Living

VAIL was honored to collaborate with Partners Resource Network as a host for their Camp Ability 2024. In this workshop, participants put to practice a variety of independent living skills such as communication skills, self-advocacy, social skills and cooking skills. We had so much fun and we hope to continue collaborating with PRN!

VAIL se sintió honrado de colaborar con Partners Resource Network como anfitrión de su Camp Ability 2024. En este taller, los participantes pusieron en práctica una variedad de habilidades para la vida independiente, como habilidades de comunicación, autodefensa, habilidades sociales y habilidades culinarias. ¡Nos divertimos mucho y esperamos seguir colaborando con PRN!

Queríamos recordarles sobre nuestra celebración anual ADA.

Como quizás ya sepa, la Asociación del Valle para la Vida Independiente (VAIL) es un centro para la vida independiente que ayuda a personas con discapacidades de todas las edades a ser independientes e integrarse en sus hogares y dentro de la comunidad. Brindamos una variedad de servicios esenciales que incluyen, entre otros, capacitación en habilidades para la vida independiente, asesoramiento, información y referencias, esfuerzos de abogacía, servicios de transición de la escuela secundaria a la universidad, modificaciones en el hogar, modificaciones de vehículos, tecnología de asistencia, equipo médico y mucho más.

Pero, ¿qué es la ADA y por qué es importante celebrarla? La Ley de Estadounidenses con Discapacidades (ADA) es una ley que prohíbe la discriminación de las personas con discapacidades en muchas áreas de la vida, garantizando la igualdad de oportunidades y acceso a la educación, el empleo y las áreas públicas. Puede obtener más información sobre la ADA si accede al siguiente enlace: https://adata.org/learn-about-ada

Nuestro evento sera el dia 25 de Julio del 2024 desde las 10 am a 1 pm en el Hidalgo Pct2 Indoor Sports Park en la ciudad de Pharr.

¡Esperamos su participación en nuestro próximo evento ADA!

We wanted to remind you about our annual ADA celebration.

As you may already know, the Valley Association for Independent Living (VAIL) is an independent living center that helps people with disabilities of all ages become independent and integrate into their homes and within the community. We provide a variety of essential services including, but not limited to, independent living skills training, counseling, information and referrals, advocacy efforts, high school to college transition services, home modifications, vehicle modifications, assistive technology, medical equipment and much more.

But what is the ADA and why is it important to celebrate it? The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in many areas of life, ensuring equal opportunity and access to education, employment, and public areas. You can learn more about the ADA by visiting the following link: https://adata.org/learn-about-ada

Our event will be on July 25, 2024 from 10 am to 1 pm at the Hidalgo Pct2 Indoor Sports Park in the city of Pharr.

We look forward to your participation in our next ADA event!

Texas Governor's Committee on People With Disabilities statement on:

Replacing Durable Medical Equipment and Assistive Technology Lost in Disasters

In response to recent storms in Houston and East Texas, and in anticipation of the upcoming Atlantic hurricane season, GCPD shares resources to help Texans with disabilities stay safe and prepared. Part of your preparation should include knowing what to do if your durable medical equipment (DME) or assistive technology (AT), sometimes called an adaptive aid (AA), becomes lost or damaged in a disaster. For a more in-depth resource, please see GCPD's full report.

Texas Department of Insurance
If you received your DME or AT through your insurance, the Texas Department of Insurance recommends these steps when recovering from a disaster.

Call your insurance company to report damage.
Take pictures and video of the damage. Don’t throw anything away until your insurance adjuster tells you.

Make temporary repairs to prevent more damage. Remove standing water. Cover broken windows and holes to keep rain out.
Keep a list of the repairs and save receipts. Don’t make permanent repairs before the insurance adjuster sees the damage.
For company phone numbers, use the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) Company Lookup or call TDI at 800-252-3439. For more information, see GCPD's full report.

FEMA
Assistance from FEMA may help you and members of your household affected by a disaster take care of necessary expenses and serious needs that cannot be met through insurance or other forms of assistance. FEMA can provide medical/dental financial assistance to pay for medical or dental expenses or losses caused by the disaster. This includes, but is not limited to, hospital and ambulance services, medication, and the repair or replacement of medically necessary assistive devices or technology.

For specific details on how to apply for FEMA assistance, see GCPD's full report.

Vocational Rehabilitation
Any equipment purchased with Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) funds can be repurchased if damaged or lost during a disaster if the customer still has a VR goal. For individuals who have purchased DME out of pocket or through a funding source other than VR, VR funds can be used to replace the DME if the individual is working or would like to work.

For more information, please see GCPD's full report.

Medicare
A physician’s order is needed to reaffirm the medical necessity of the item.

There should be documentation in the supplier’s records detailing the incident, e.g., police report, insurance claim report, or beneficiary statement.

Original Medicare

If Original Medicare already paid for durable medical equipment (DME) (like a wheelchair or walker) or supplies (like diabetic supplies) that were damaged or lost due to an emergency or disaster, in most cases Medicare will cover the cost to repair or replace your equipment or supplies, but only when you get them from a supplier that Medicare approves.

If your equipment is damaged and needs to be repaired, generally Medicare will cover the cost of rentals for items like wheelchairs. For more details, see GCPD's full report.

Medicare Health Plan

Contact your plan to find out how it replaces DME or supplies damaged or lost in an emergency or disaster. Generally, you can find your plan's contact information on your plan membership card. Or you can search for your plan's contact information. You can also call CMS at 1-800-MEDICARE.

This will be similar to the process for replacing DME/AT through private insurance.

Medicaid Waivers
The current Medicaid medical policy allows for replacement of durable medical equipment (DME). Texas Medicaid & Healthcare Partnership (TMHP) and the 10 managed care organizations (MCOs) impacted by disasters follow the Medicaid medical policy for replacing DME that states that purchased DME is anticipated to last a minimum of five years, unless otherwise noted, and may be considered for replacement when the time has passed, or the equipment is no longer functional or repairable. Replacement of equipment is also considered when loss or irreparable damage has occurred.

Community Living and Support Services (CLASS), DeafBlind with Multiple Disabilities (DBMD), Home and Community-based Services (HCS), and Texas Home Living (TxHmL) Medicaid waivers each have a section in their rules regarding replacement or repair of adaptive aids or minor home modifications due to a declaration of disaster. For more in-depth information on how to replace DME and AT through each waiver or through your MCO, see GCPD's full report.

Replacing Durable Medical Equipment and Assistive Technology Lost in Disasters Whether it is a hurricane or a winter storm, it is important to be prepared. Part of your preparation should include knowing what to do if your durable medical equipment (DME) or assistive technology (AT), sometimes called an adaptive aid (AA), becomes lost or damaged in a disaster. Below are instru...

Disabled advocates held a 44-hour vigil to speak to Gov. Abbott. He wouldn't meet | Grumet "We've waited a couple of years" for Gov. Greg Abbott's response, said a disabled advocate during their 44-hour vigil. "What's a couple of hours?"

Join us in this webinar discussing what centers for independent living do! Wednesday 5/22/2024 at 12 p.m.

THANK YOU TO OUR PANEL OF CENTERS FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING! On May 22 at noon Central, Consolidated Planning Group hosted a webinar titled, "What is "A Center For Independent Living?" What Can They Do For My Family?" This is a panel webinar with representatives from several Independent Living Centers explaining their services.

Consolidated Planning Group is so pleased to bring another important webinar to you!

WATCH IT HERE: https://youtu.be/R_Zjk8gSaAw

Save the Date, For our Annual ADA Celebration! We are celebrating the anniversary of an important law that promotes accessibility, inclusion, and equal opportunities for people with disabilities. The Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law on July 26, 1990. This law continued the efforts of the independent living movement to eliminate discrimination against individuals with disabilities.

Date: July 25, 2024
Time: 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Location: 3600 Athol St, Pharr, TX 78577

For more information, please contact VAIL at [email protected] or
via phone (956) 668-8245 ext. 308

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¡Reserve la fecha para nuestra celebración anual de la ADA! Estamos celebrando el aniversario de una importante ley que promueve la accesibilidad, la inclusión y la igualdad de oportunidades de las personas con discapacidad. La Ley de Estadounidenses con Discapacidades se promulgó el 26 de julio de 1990. Esta ley continuó los esfuerzos del movimiento de vida independiente para eliminar la discriminación contra las personas con discapacidades.

Fecha: 25 de julio de 2024
Horario: 10:00 am a 1:00 pm
Ubicación: 3600 Athol St, Pharr, TX 78577

Para obtener más información, comuníquese con VAIL en [email protected] o vía teléfono (956) 668-8245 ext. 308

Thank you Harlingen Sunburst Rotary Club for putting this together!!

Vail staff enjoyed putting the buddy's together!

Our UTRGV - The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley interns have successfully completed their UTRGV - College of Health Professions practicum/internship requirements with our center this semester. We congratulate them on their accomplishment and wish them well as they graduate this weekend and move forward in their future endeavors!

Thank you UTRGV - The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley for recognizing VAIL Center for Independent Living with the Community Partner Apprecaition Award! We enjoy working with the UTRGV - College of Health Professions and their students!

We are so grateful to all of our drop off locations for choosing to shine hope in our community! Thank you to VAIL Center for Independent Living for volunteering to be a drop off location for the Rio Grande Valley Community Shoe Drive!

To find the drop off location nearest you or to see how you can get involved, visit https://www.buckner.org/shoe-drives/shoe-drives-rgv-shoe-drive

VAIL is participating in the 2024 Buckner Shoes for Orphan Souls Drive, running May 1st to 31st.

If you wish to donate, you may drop off your donations at our McAllen office. We have a collection box in our lobby.

Things you should know:

- All of the shoes collected will support the ministries of Buckner Shoes for Orphan Souls, serving vulnerable children around the world.
- Shoes must be new and closed toed.
- We accept boys and girls shoes of all sizes.
- Financial donations can be made Rio Grande Valley Community Shoe Drive (idonate.com)

VAILs April outreach events and activities.

Attention! Valley Association for Independent Living is assisting with a project conducted by the School of Social Work at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV). We would like to invite you to participate in a research study entitled; “Investigating knowledge gaps of Primary Care Providers when serving Pregnant Women with I/DD”

This research study has been reviewed and approved by the UTRGV Institutional Review Board for the Protection of Human Subjects (IRB).

Participation in this research is completely voluntary, you may choose not to participate without penalty.

To participate in this study, you must be one of the following:
1. You are a person with intellectual or developmental disability and is pregnant, or who gave birth in the last five years and received prenatal care.
2. You are a support person to a person with I/DD (who is pregnant, or who recently gave birth and received prenatal care);
3. You are a primary care provider who provides prenatal care to pregnant people.

As a participant, you will be asked to complete a short demographic survey and be interviewed by the researchers. The interview will be audio recorded. The interview information from you will not be labeled in any way that will link it with other information about you.

For more information and/or to participate in this research, please contact VAIL at 956 668 8245 or email Genesis G Lezama at [email protected] or Dr. Lidia Fonseca at [email protected]

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¡Atención! La Asociación del Valle para la Vida Independiente está ayudando con un proyecto realizado por la Escuela de Trabajo Social de la Universidad de Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV). Nos gustaría invitarlo a participar en un estudio de investigación titulado; “Investigando las lagunas de conocimiento de los proveedores de atención primaria cuando atienden a mujeres embarazadas con I/DD”

Este estudio de investigación ha sido revisado y aprobado por la Junta de Revisión Institucional para la Protección de Sujetos Humanos (IRB) de UTRGV.

La participación en esta investigación es completamente voluntaria, usted puede optar por no participar sin penalización.

Para participar en este estudio, debe ser uno de los siguientes:
1. Es una persona con discapacidad intelectual o del desarrollo y está embarazada, o ha dado a luz en los últimos cinco años y recibió atención prenatal.
2. Es una persona de apoyo para una persona con I/DD (que está embarazada o que recientemente dio a luz y recibió atención prenatal);
3. Usted es un proveedor de atención primaria que brinda atención prenatal a personas embarazadas.

Como participante, se le pedirá que complete una breve encuesta demográfica y los investigadores lo entrevistarán. La entrevista será grabada en audio. Su información de la entrevista no será etiquetada de ninguna manera que la vincule con otra información sobre usted.

Para obtener más información y/o participar en esta investigación, comuníquese con VAIL al 956 668 8245 o envíe un correo electrónico a Génesis G Lezama a [email protected] o a la Dra. Lidia Fonseca a [email protected]

VAIL attended the 2024 South Texas All-Hazards Conference. Congratulations to our Program Director, Dr. Lidia Fonseca on receiving the Emerging Leadership Award. We also want to compliment Brooke Hernandez from IL-Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services, Dr. Matthew Atterberry our Public Health Instructor, and Jorge Villarreal on successfully presenting on the inclusion of people with disabilities in emergency preparedness.

VAIL staff receiving Mental Health First Aid USA training. It is important to recognize signs and symptoms that suggest a potential mental health or substance use challenge, be able to listen without judgement, give reassurance, and know how to provide proper referrals and resources (MHFA USA, 2020).

GE Access Kit brings Braille and tactile labels to appliances Feel empowered to use your kitchen and laundry room

Monday, March 25, it's our next Raise Your Voice! call, on Zoom at 2 pm CT! Join our advocacy team for a review of our work on dental care for people with disabilities, including funding for a dental benefit in Medicaid and an insurance coding issue that has become a barrier to care.

Free. CARTS provided. More info & registration: https://txdisabilities.salsalabs.org/2024-ryv-sign-up/index.html

Mark your calendar! 📅 You're invited to the Brownsville Meet & Greet Open House! Network with faculty, students, and professionals in the field. Don't let this chance slip away! See you there! ✌️

For inquiries regarding research-related questions, please reach out to Maricela Rosales at (956) 414-4333 or [email protected]
Survey Link: https://utrgv.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9LHYUEp7AGzfvRc

We're thrilled to announce our Summer II 2024 program focused on Service Dog Advocacy and Education. This is your chance to explore the world of service dogs, learn about their vital roles, and become a champion. Can't wait to see you there! 🐕‍🦺

Enjoying an outdoor lunch after a long day of Travel Training sessions. VAIL Center for Independent Living staff and interns learned how to teach persons with disabilities how to use public transportation in the RGV!