I LinaÕla-ta Our Life
April 9, 2015
Vol. 9, Issue 2
Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Tri-Agency

Page 1
Article title: Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month Highlights! By Sean Lizama
Three photos above the article.
Top photo: Large group shot with a total of 30 adults, eight sitting at the head of a conference table, a man and woman holding up two sheets of paper while the remaining 22 adults stand in the background for a group shot.   Caption: Lt. Governor Ray Tenorio, Acting Governor, signed a proclamation declaring the month of March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month on Guam. Attending the event were representatives from the Guam Tri-Agency, comprised of the Guam Developmental Disabilities Council, Guam Legal Services Corporation - Disability Law Center and University of Guam CEDDERS. Also attending were members of GuamÕs state recognized self-advocacy group Si–A: Self-Advocates in Action as well as agency representatives from the Department of Integrated Services for Individuals with Disabilities, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, and Division of Support Services. 

Bottom left photo of four adults wearing light blue t-shirts, three male, one female, holding up a banner while grocery cart pushers walk by. Caption: The Guam Developmental Disabilities Council held a Celebrity Bagging Event on March 14 at the Pay-Less Market located at the Micronesia Mall. Left photo (left to right): Andrew Tydingco, Si–A, Vice President, Senator Dennis Rodriguez, and Senator Jim Espaldon greet customers as they leave with their groceries bagged by local celebrities in the disability community and government. 

Bottom right photo: Two women smiling holding up plastic grocery bags. Caption: Right photo (left to right): Megan Boswell, Self-Advocate and Christine Calvo, First Lady of Guam, assist each other in bagging groceries for a customer. 

Article: 
March was Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month! The Tri-Agency along with Si–A collaborated to host a series of events to celebrate and promote public awareness of developmental disabilities. The events included the annual GSAT Conference & Fair, a Celebrity Bagging at Pay-Less Supermarket, and the Guam Developmental Disability Council Family Fun Day, which took place this year at the Sinaja–a Community Center. Self-Advocates, families, and advocates joined together to celebrate accomplishments, talk about future activities, and most of all, to establish or renew friendships.

Page 2
Article title: DD Awareness Month Highlights continued
Collage of three photos. 
Top left photo of four men standing in front of a small group of children sitting on the floor. Caption: Children laugh excitedly as the Guam Community College American Sign Language (ASL) class performs popular childrenÕs cartoon themes in a very animated and entertaining form of ASL during ChildrenÕs ASL Story Hour at this years Assistive Technology (AT) Fair at the Micronesia Mall on March 7.

Top right photo of a woman showing an iPad towards a male and female. Caption: Carla Torres (right), Assistive Technology (AT) and Special Projects Program Coordinator, demonstrates an AT device during the GSAT AT Fair on March 7 at the Micronesia Mall.

Bottom photo: Panoramic view from the back of the room of an audience looking at the image on the projector screen at the front of the room. Caption: Carla Torres (at podium), Assistive Technology and Special Projects Program Coordinator, presents an overview of Assistive Technology and how to become a wise AT consumer to a room full of conference-goers.

Page 2-3
Article title: Increasing Housing Choices In Planning Stages By Ginger Porter
Article:
Most people like to have choices to think about when making important decisions. This is especially true when it comes to living arrangements if special supports and services are needed. To address this issue, two new developments have taken place. 

Sub paragraph title: No Wrong Door Project 
Article: Most people like to have choices to think about when Guam CEDDERS has joined the Division of Senior Citizens (DSC), Department of Public Health and Social Services in facilitating their one-year ÒNo Wrong DoorÓ grant to develop a three-year plan to improve access to information for long term services and supports (LTSS) for all persons and all payers. 

On November 25, 2014, DSC and Guam CEDDERS kicked off an Orientation Meeting to ÒNo Wrong DoorÓ at the GovernorÕs Main Conference Room that was attended by 27 individuals representing various partners and stakeholders. That activity was followed by an exploratory site visit on January 14-17, 2015 by the partnership team of the DSC, Department of Integrated Services for Individuals with Disabilities (DISID), Medicaid, and Guam CEDDERS. The team visited the Hawaii State Office on Aging to observe models of effective service and learn from the experiences of others. 

Ginger Porter, Guam CEDDERS faculty, facilitated focus groups with Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center (GBHWC), DISID, the DSC, and Medicaid as they met in February and March to assess their structures for intake and referral and to further identify what structural change would make the processes more effective. These processes are being mapped for identification and reduction of overlapping roles and responsibilities and to provide guidance for the development of the ÒNo Wrong Door Three-Year Implementation Plan.Ò The plan, scheduled for completion in September, will lead into the next steps of grant planning: preliminary operations plan and financing plan to achieve sustainability, conducting gaps analysis, documenting outreach strategies, and drafting a marketing plan. 

Sub paragraph title: Legislative Round Table Discussion 
  A roundtable meeting of stakeholders, chaired by Senator Dennis Rodriguez, addressed GuamÕs need for Assisted Living facilities this past March. Often directed to individuals who are ailing and/or elderly, assisted living facilities can also provide an opportunity for individuals with disabilities to plan for residential living with long-term services and supports provided when needed. 

  A task force is presently working on a framework to support the creation of a facility, which involves building codes, regulations for assisted living, and elderly care guides. 

ItÕs important for persons with disabilities to stay in touch with policy development in our local community. If individuals with disabilities and their family members believe that assisted living should reach beyond senior benefits and extend beyond a physical facility, now is the time to act and speak up. Benito Servino, DISID Director, Sam Illesugum, Acting Executive Director of Guma Mami, and Ms. Porter, all spoke to the need to expand community supports to enable individuals with disabilities to age in their homes, recognizing the benefits of happier and healthier lives. Assisted living facilities might best be planned together with more vibrant programs of home supports. Keep watch on this important topic as it develops towards legislative action and talk to your senators and DD network partners.

Photo of six adults, three women and three men posing outdoors for a group shot. Caption: Representatives from the Guam No Wrong Door Project include (L-R) Ginger Porter, Mel Cruz, Ben Servino, Arthur San Agustin, and Janet Cruz. The Guam team met with Debra Stone-Walls (far right), County Executive of the Maui County Office of Aging.

Article title:  Sen. Underwood Introduces Disability Registry Legislation By Ginger Porter
Article: Senator Nerissa Underwood recently introduced a bill to establish a voluntary registry to effectively address the needs of persons with disabilities where immediate action is performed by law enforcement personnel and first responders. The billÕs intent is to promote effective and appropriate interactions and communication between law enforcement personnel, first responders, and individuals with disabilities and their families in emergency situations. 

The Registry is to be a voluntary program under the Department of Integrated Services for Individuals with Disabilities. All information about routines, communication, other special needs, and contact information will be confidential and only given to government agencies and departments that employ first responders. After registration, each individual will be issued an ID card that may be carried by the person. 

For more information, go to the 33rd Guam Legislature website and search for Bill 70-33. Stay tuned for more developments on this bill as it goes through committee.

Page 4 Ð Full page advertisement.
Photo of two women, one smiling and holding a cane in front of her while climbing up stairs.
Ad:
Think College!
Self-Advocacy: Skill Training for Students Needing Accommodations 
Guam CEDDERS invites you to learn more about self-advocacy and practice the skills to become a good self-advocate. This just might be a lifechanging event. We think youÕll be glad you chose to come.
FREE!
Attend all three sessions: 
Saturday, May 2, 8:30am - 12:00pm 
Saturday, May 9, 8:30am - 12:00pm 
Saturday, May 16, 8:30am - 12:00pm 
Location: GSAT, House 19, Dean Circle University of Guam 
Facilitators: Leah Rassier, Maria Bontogon, Lynn Tydingco 
For more information and reservations, contact Ginger Porter at 735-2478 or email at ginger.porter@guamcedders.org. 
Logos of SinA, University of Guam CEDDERS
Funding for this activity is provided by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Grant No. 90DD0014-01-00, facilitated by the University of Guam Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research & Service. 

Page 5
Article title: GSAT Program Helps Athlete Get His Game On By Carla Torres 
Photo of a male wheelchair user proudly posing and holding a basketball on his right thigh.
Article: Every now and then, the Guam System for Assistive Technology (GSAT) will receive assistive technology devices by way of donation. These devices become a part of GSATÕs Lending Library (30 day loans) or Reutilization Program (open ended loans). Jude Ogo was a recent benefactor of the Guam System for Assistive TechnologyÕs (GSATÕS) Reutilization Program. Through the program Jude received a sports wheelchair on an open-ended loan which means Jude may use the wheelchair for as long as he needs it. The wheelchair has a manufacturerÕs suggested retail price of $1,995.00, but the open-ended loan was made available to Jude free of charge. 

Jude loves to play basketball but has a hard time doing so in his standard wheelchair. The sports wheelchair Jude received has a lightweight, high-performing frame and an adjustable center of gravity system built for maneuverability and efficiency Jude can get his basketball game on now! 

The Guam Recycling & Equipment Exchange Service (GREES) is a free online and call-in system that may be a source for Òpreviously-ownedÓ assistive devices, usually available at a lower cost than buying new. It is available to people with disabilities, their families, friends, service providers, and other interested individuals who want to find, buy, sell, or donate previously owned assistive technology. GREES helps get used assistive technology devices such as wheelchairs, walkers, commodes, lifts, portable ramps, and other devices out of storage and garages and into the hands of people with disabilities who need them. 

Buyers can view the listings and obtain contact information about the sellers at www.gsatcedders.org. Information may also be obtained by calling GSAT at 735- 2490 (v) or 735-2491 (TTY) to find out what is available.

Page 6 Ð Three quarter size page advertisement.
Deaf Awareness Week 
MAY 1 - 3, 2015
SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES 
May 1st, Friday, WAVE Hands 
Meet at 5:15pm Tamuning Mayor Ôs Office (Tennis Court Sidewalk) 
May 2nd, Saturday, Guam Deaf Expo 
Come and experience sign language culture, find local resources for Assistive technology for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing, Music with ASL, children stories & songs in ASL, Learn Signs for all ages! 
Where: GCC, Student Center Building, Student Lounge & Room 5108 
Time: 10am Ð 2:00pm Only 
May 3rd, Sunday, Deaf Family Picnic & Sign Language Movie 
Where: Adelup Park (GovernorÕs Office) 
Time: 2:00pm LUNCH 
Movie at Sunset: American Sign Language Movie ÒThe HammerÓ 
Bring the family down for some fun! DonÕt forgot swim gear if you plan on swimming. ASL entertainment & ASL games, kids stories & songs with activities. Bring your chairs or blanket for movie at sunset. 

Donations for food/Drinks are accepted. Help Setting up an Breaking down also would be appreciated. Recycle Cans & Bottles please! 

Please note monetary donations for your menu items (Meats, drinks, can be given to Kirsten Bamba, email kbmba2003@hotmail.com or cell 689-0729 or Barbara Johnson, email bjohnsongu@yahoo.com or cellphone 488-6011 text only.

Two small announcements:
Article title: FY 2015 Guam Developmental Disabilities Council Meeting Schedule
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS 
Venue: Pacific Star Hotel 
Wednesday, June 10, 2015, 11:00am-2:00pm 
Wednesday, September 9, 2015, 11:00am-2:00pm 

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETINGS 
Venue: GDDC Conference Room 
Wednesday, May 20, 2015, 9:00am-10:30am 
Wednesday, August 19, 2015, 9:00am-10:30am

Page 7
Article title:  ABLE ACT: National Legislation Supports Savings By Ginger Porter
Photo of the state capital building with the text: ABLE ACT, Tax-free savings for American with disabilities
Article: 
Do you want to Achieve a Better Life Experience (ABLE)? With the new ABLE Act, signed into law in December 2014, persons with disabilities and their families can now create tax savings accounts that protect eligibility status for Medicaid and other federal benefits. 
The new ÒABLE accountsÓ allow more individual choice and control over spending on qualified disability expenses and limited investment decisions. These accounts are intended to be easy to open and will be available on Guam. Final action by our government should make them available by July of this year. 
Assets in an ABLE account and distribution from the account for qualifying expenses would be disregarded when determining eligibility for most federal means-tested benefits. 
Here are some of the key characteristics of an ABLE account: 
* An eligible individual may have one ABLE account. 
* Any person may contribute to an ABLE account for an eligible person. 
* Annual contributions may not exceed the gift-tax exemption ($14,000 in 2015). 
* An eligible individual is 1) a person who is under the Social Security disability, retirement, and survivors programs, or 2) who submits certification that meets the criteria for a disability certification. An eligible individualÕs disability must have occurred before the age of 26. 
* The eligible individual who established the ABLE account and who is owner of the account is the designated beneficiary. 
 
Qualified disability expenses are those made for the benefit of the designated beneficiary and related to his/her disability, including: education, housing, transportation, employment training & support, assistive technology and personal support services, health, prevention and wellness, financial management and administrative services, legal fees, expenses for oversight and monitoring, funeral and burial expenses, and other expenses upon approval. 
* Earnings on the accounts are not taxable. 
* Assets may be rolled over without penalty into another ABLE account. 

If that is a fit for you, start saving and consider checking this out early this summer.

Text in a box: 
Guam DDC, Guam Legal Service Corporation logos above the text 
I LinaÕla-ta is a newsletter published and funded through an Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AIDD) Tri-Agency partnership comprised of the Guam Developmental Disabilities Council (Guam DDC), Guam Legal Services Corporation - Disability Law Center (GLSC-DLC), and University of Guam Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, & Service (Guam CEDDERS). 
Comments may be sent to: 
University of Guam CEDDERS 
Office of Graduate Studies, Sponsored Programs, & Research 
303 University Drive, UOG Station 
Mangilao, Guam 96913 
Phone: 735-2480/1 
Fax: 734-5709 
TTY: 734-6531 
Email: terrie.fejarang@guamcedders.org 
Guam DDC Executive Director: Rosanne Ada 
GLSC-DLC Director: Harold Parker, Esq. 
Guam CEDDERS Director: Heidi San Nicolas, Ph.D. 
Editors: Ginger Porter, Terrie Fejarang 
Layout & Design: Sean Lizama 
This issue of I LinaÕla-ta was made possible by contributions from the following individuals: Kirsten Bamba, Barbara Johnson, Sean Lizama, Ginger Porter, and Carla Torres. 

Alternative formats (e.g., Braille, large print, audio tapes, or electronic file) of I LinaÕla-ta will be made available upon request. Please contact Margaret Johnson at 735-2477 (v) or 734-6531 (TTY), or email: margie.johnson@guamcedders.org for more information. 

The University of Guam is an equal opportunity provider and employer

Page 8
Full page advertisement with a collage of three photos. Top photo is of a male sitting at a desk with his hands on a keyboard, looking at a monitor. Middle photo is of two large fingers above Braille. Bottom photo is of a pair of hands on a laptop computer.

Are you an individual who is entitled to Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) based on disability or blindness?
Are you interested in returning to work or experiencing a barrier to employment?
For more information, please contact GUAM LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION DISABILITY LAW CENTER (GLSCÑDLC) at 477-9811/2 or visit our website at www.lawhelp.org

SSA has reviewed this publication for technical accuracy. However, this ad should not be considered an official SSA publication.