Home Access Program Blog

Tuesday Toolmen is an innovative volunteer program, introduced through RSVP of Northwest Michigan in 2002, that helps low-income seniors in our community with home health and safety repairs. Since its inception the Tuesday Toolmen program has helped more than one hundred seniors with inspections and small home repairs. We presently serve Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties and plan to expand into Benzie, Antrim and Kalkaska counties in the next two years.

Our Tuesday Toolmen volunteers are connected with income eligible seniors through referrals from the Area Agency on Aging and the Grand Traverse and Leelanau Commission on Aging. An advance team is sent to eligible seniors’ homes to complete a 47-point safety inspection, answer questions, assess needs and provide information. Our Toolmen make minor repairs as needed. Among other items, our Toolmen may install grab bars or other barrier-free devices which give seniors in need improved safety and mobility in their homes. Once repairs are done, seniors are asked to complete a client satisfaction survey. We use the survey results to insure that our program is successfully meeting senior needs. An important benefit of Tuesday Toolman is that senior citizens who participate in the program are able to remain in their homes for a longer period of time thus preventing premature placement in a nursing home.

A complete definition of the program includes:

Tuesday Toolmen

Tues•day-Tool•men (also see Angels)

1: A group of skilled and generous volunteer tradesmen, making a difference working together for a common goal within their community. (The Tuesday Toolman of the small home repair program) 2: Tradesmen performing selflessness acts of kindness that benefit the greater good of seniors (mature adults) on the third day of the week. (Tuesday) 3: A camaraderie of unique individuals, enabling mature adults the dignity and safety which they deserve to feel comfortable in their own homes. (To forgo financial compensation for services, to give of their hearts and sense of humanity, rewarded by inner pleasure, doughnuts, coffee and B.S.!)

Synonyms: vigilant volunteers, / Caring Carpenters, / Helpful Handymen, / Friendly Fixers, / Builders of Hope, / Respected Repairmen, / Boys in Blue, / Team of Tradesmen, / Doers of Good, / And All Around Good Guys

Sponsorships and volunteers are being sought to provide essential funds and manpower for our Tuesday Toolmen activities in the upcoming year – 2008. Funds will be utilized to buy lumber and necessary building materials - such as grab bars – to make required repairs. They will also be utilized to cover program administrative costs such as materials for the 47 point inspections, insurance for a year, mileage for our volunteers and recognition for the Toolmen RSVP volunteers.

This successful program was modeled after a similar program in Kalamazoo sponsored by Senior Services, Inc. under the direction of Annie Morgan, BA, CAPS.

For more information on how you can join the Tuesday Toolmen call the United Way of Northwest Michigan Volunteer Center Director, Susan McQuaid at 231-947-3200 Ext. 20 or e-mail susan@unitedway.tcnet.org

“What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.”
-Albert Pike

Posted by Susan McQuaid under General | No Comments »

Summer is often thought of as the favorite season, but many children and adults look forward to the winter months of December - March. People enjoy winter because of the range of outdoor activities offered such as skiing, sledding, ice skating, and snowboarding. Individuals appreciate these outdoor activities because they are a way to spend time with friends and family while being outdoors doing something they love.

People with limited mobility and disabled individuals find it frustrating because they would like to participate in these sports however their ability to do so is hindered by their disability. There are numerous facilities across the country offering programs making it easier for people with accessibility requirements to participate in outdoor activities. The goal of these programs is to instruct the physically impaired to accomplish the activity independently with their friends and family. Instructors teach adaptive techniques for family and friends so they can assist the disabled person if needed.

These programs allow people with disabilities to be involved in outdoor activities in a safe and enjoyable environment. Teachers work through the physical, emotional, and financial barriers that restrict people with disabilities and special needs from participating in life-enhancing outdoor recreation programs. To best suit individual needs instructors work one-on-one with each individual and their family to provide a program that best suits their needs.

For more information on programs for individuals with disabilities visit:

www.dmoz.org/Sports/Winter_Sports/Skiing/Disabled
www.coloradodiscoverability.org/winter
www.skicentral.com
www.ernalow

Posted by Denise under Fun & General | No Comments »

Are you disabled and looking to book a vacation or spring break trip? Vacationing on a cruise ship is the perfect solution if you are looking to be pampered.

Before you book your cruise, one of the most important things you need to do is to research the cruise line and find out what accessibility features are available. Some of the options found on a cruise ship include: public bathrooms and staterooms large enough for a wheelchair or scooter, Braille-coded elevator buttons, room numbers and menus, guide dogs to assist individuals, and TTY kits. Employees working on the ship are available to assist individuals with embarkation, disembarkation and buffet services.

Things to consider before booking your cruise:

1. Are there accessible accommodations in the cabin such as wider doorways, modified bathrooms with roll-in showers and grab bars, toilets, door handles, light switches and closet rods? Are TTY/TDD kits available upon request?

2. Do the lounges, casinos and dining facilities have specific seating areas for guests with wheelchairs and scooters? Do the automatic doors and ramps provide accessible routes throughout the ship, including to the open decks? Is Braille and large-print located on the signs and menus?

3. Can all public rooms and elevators be accessed with a wheelchair or scooter?

4. Are the ports of call accessible? Does your itinerary include tenders? (small boats used to bring passengers to shore from the ship’s anchor point). These boats are usually not wheelchair accessible.

5. Request to view the ship’s deck plans or visit the cruise line’s website. This way you can see how the ship is laid out and what accessibility features are built in, helping you to reserve a room that meets your individual interests and needs.

Before you book your cruise, talk to a travel agent or look online so you can find out if the cruise ship will meet your accessibility needs.

Posted by Denise under General & Travel | No Comments »

Does your child have a disability? Many parents feel a loss of what to do when they discover their child is disabled. Where and what kind of help is available? One thing to keep in mind is you are not alone and there are tons of resources and support groups to help you along the way. Start by creating an environment of structured normalcy. By providing a normal environment, your child will become more independent.

Here is some advice on how to raise an independent disabled child:

1. Make it a point to communicate with your child.

By communicating with your kid, you can avoid help them avoid depression. Ask your child what is going on with his or her life. Let them know that they can turn to you with their problems or concerns. Disabled children tend to go through periods of depression and by communicating with your kid you can help them overcome their issues.

2. Provide discipline for your adolescent.

Often parents do not provide discipline because they believe that their child does not know any better because of their disability. This is not true. Let your kid learn from their mistakes and know that there are consequences to their actions.

3. Educate yourself about your child’s disability.

Meet other parents, get some books or videos, or take a class. You need to know as much as you can about your kid’s disability to understand what is happening to your child.

4. Once you become educated and your youngster is old enough, teach your child about their dis ability. They are the ones who are disabled so they need a clear understanding. Make your child proud of whom they are instead of being ashamed. Do not pretend the disability is a phase and will go away.

For more information on parents of children with disabilities visit: Exceptional Parent Magazine

Posted by Denise under General | No Comments »