New AmeriCorps Members

The National Ability Center is a host site for the AmeriCorps program. AmeriCorps is a volunteer service organization that partners with programs throughout the country. There are six new AmeriCorps volunteers joining the National Ability Center for this coming year. They started the first day of October and will be here for a solid year. They will be working in various programs that the National Ability Center has to offer. Take a few minutes to read about the new AmeriCorps individuals. They are all from different backgrounds, but they are bringing experience and passion to the programs that they will be working with.

Andrea will be the Peer Partner Coordinator and ski instructor at the Ski and Snowboard Center. She is from Fenton, Michigan. She studied Therapeutic Recreation at Central Michigan University and is a licensed CTRS. She finished her degree with her internship in the winter of 2009 at the NAC and fell in love with it. She stayed on as an AmeriCorps member and is excited for a second great year of AmeriCorps at the NAC! She loves the power of recreation to enrich peoples lives.

Her favorite quote is: "You gain strength, and courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face...You must do the thing you think you cannot." Eleanor Roosevelt

Erin in from the great state down south of Tennessee and she wishes y'all a good day. She will be working with the equestrian program and at the ski and snowboard center this winter. She loves rock climbing and staying active in the outdoors. She has completed two years of college at the University of Tennessee and is very excited about AmeriCorps and the opportunities at the National Ability Center.

Erica will be the Ski & Snowboard Program Volunteer Coordinator at the National Ability Center. She will be coordinating the volunteers at the ski and snowboard center. Her hometown is Marinette, Wisconsin and she is a Badger, graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Bachelors of Science in Kinesiology: Exercise and Movement Science. She was in a dance academy for 12 years growing up. She still has some skills.

Laura is originally from the frozen tundra (aka, North Dakota) and is excited to live in the mountains this year. She will be working with a little bit of everything this year including: aquatics, ski and snowboard center, volunteer coordinating, and outreach. A recent graduate of the University of Minnesota Duluth, Laura loves to go trail running, climb rocks, and bike in her spare time.

Michelle is originally from Napa, California. She was able to do an Equine Internship through the National Ability Center in the summer of 2009 and came back the following summer to teach Camp Giddy Up. She went to college at Feather River College in Quincy, California where she majored in Equine Studies. She concentrated her studies in Pack Skills and Stable Operations. She graduated with an Associates Degree in the spring, and decided to take a break from school and come out to the National Ability Center to participate in AmeriCorps.

Teaching therapeutic horseback riding has always been a dream of hers, and through the NAC she has been able to live that dream to the fullest. While being here, she hopes to push her boundaries and try something outside of the equine world. In reaching that goal she will be volunteering in the NAC's ski and snowboard program this winter as well as being in the barn.

My name is Ben. I am originally from South Bend, Indiana. I have a Health, Fitness and Recreation Degree and recently finished going back to school to receive my teaching certification in Health and Physical Education. I love to participate in all things sport. I have participated in seven marathons and about thirteen half-marathons in my racing wheelchair. When the snow flies you will find me on the slopes. I will be working this year with the National Ability Center in the marketing and outreach department, the ski and snowboard center, and the sled hockey programs. I am looking forward to meeting some great individuals and learning many new things in my year as an AmeriCorps member.

If you would like more information on AmeriCorps and the different programs they are currently working in Utah and nationally, you can click on the link below.

www.AmeriCorps.gov

Utah Insurance Opportunity

Primary Care Network is open now for all adults of low income who do not have other health insurance. See www.health.utah.gov/pcn for more information. See the attached flyers and distribute extensively in your networks. Print and post!

“It’s a good preventive care plan,” said Utah Health Department spokeswoman Kolbi Young, who estimates 100,000 uninsured adults are eligible. Currently, enrollment stands at 13,000, down from a yearly average of 18,000.

Applicants must meet the following requirements (please visit the state's website for full list of requirements):
» Age 19 through 64.
» U.S. citizens or legal residents.
» Not covered by other health insurance.
» Meet income guidelines (for example, a family of four must have an income that does not exceed $33,075 a year).
» Not qualified for Medicaid.
» Have no access to student health insurance, Medicare or veterans benefits.

Applicants can apply online at www.health.utah.gov/pcn or can call the PCN hot line at 1-888-222-2542.

Carol Ruddell
Project Director, Work Ability Utah
Utah Department of Health Division of Medicaid and Health Financing
c/o Office of Rehabilitation
1595 West 500 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84104
phone: (801) 887-9388
fax: (801) 887-9389
cruddell@utah.gov
www.workabilityutah.org

*The National Ability Center (NAC) is not affiliated with Primary Care Network, Work Ability Utah or the Utah Department of Health. This information is passed on strictly as information that may be beneficial to those involved with the NAC's programs. Any concerns about the posting of this information should be sent to info (at) DiscvoerNAC (dot) org.

25 years in one 'Starry Night'

25 years in one 'Starry Night'

National Ability Center to celebrate achievements at gala benefit on Oct. 1

Alisha Self, Of the Record staff
The Park Record

Posted:09/24/2010 04:12:16 PM MDT

(reprinted with permission from The Park Record)

Twenty-five years ago, the National Ability Center (NAC) started with the vision to help veterans with disabilities get on the slopes. Co-founders Meeche White and Peter Badewitz ran operations out of their living room with an electric typewriter and not much else.

With funding from Disabled American Veterans, the pair taught about 50 ski lessons that first winter. In the summer, they shifted to riding bikes. "We started with what we knew," says White. "We were just mom and pop."

After two years, the organization moved to its first office a 300-square-foot space at Park City Mountain Resort (PCMR). As operations grew, so did activities and opportunities for people with all types of disabilities.

When White and Badewitz lost the lease on their office, the resort granted them use of a doublewide trailer at the base of the mountain. That trailer remains the headquarters for the NAC's adaptive ski and snowboard programs today.

Other activities, including swimming, cycling, waterskiing, horseback riding, rafting and camping trips, challenge course activities and leadership development training have been added and are now based at the Bronfman Family Recreation Center & Ranch, which lies on 26 acres of land donated to the center in 1996.

In 2009, individuals participated in 15,545 lessons and outings, a growth of more than 300-fold since the center's inception.

Kathy Stott's son, David, has participated in NAC programs for nearly 10 years. David has a genetic disease that is considered an autism spectrum disorder. Since the age of five, he has been involved in activities including aquatics, horseback riding, cycling, archery and skiing.

"It has opened a whole world to him," Kathy says. "There has been nothing that has given him a broader spectrum of therapy than being engaged in activities at the NAC. They have allowed him to develop physically, to mature, and to engage in social contact in the context of recreation. For David, that has made all the difference in the world."

Kathy sees the benefit of the programs not only for her son but for the entire family. "For the person who is participating, it's a great transformation, but for the parents and the families, it gives hope that there is a place where these young people feel welcome, feel accomplished and like they're enjoying life. That's so valuable. It's a wonderful program and I would love to see it continue to expand and grow."

On Friday, Oct. 1, the NAC will celebrate a quarter century of promoting self-esteem, confidence and physical development in individuals with disabilities at its annual fall fundraiser, A Starry Night. The gala dinner and auction will be held at the Basin Recreation Fieldhouse at Kimball Junction starting at 6:30 p.m.

"We will be highlighting the achievement of the center and additionally we will be honoring Park City Mountain Resort for its commitment to the Ability Center," says special events manager Jennifer Atkin.

PCMR has been an integral part of the NAC's success on the slopes. "They are a huge supporter with in-kind donations and they make it possible for us to have our ski program," Atkin says. Its employees are trained to handle adaptive equipment and the NAC's competitive ski team trains there as well, she notes.

A Starry Night will be a coming-out party of sorts for the NAC's new executive director, Gail Loveland, who took the helm in June. "It will be a great opportunity to get to know her and her vision for the center," Atkin says.

The event, which is one of the center's largest fundraisers, will feature interactive displays of all NAC programs, a tribute to PCMR, a video presentation showcasing the growth of several longtime participants, and live and silent auctions. Auction items include various recreation and vacation packages, Sundance Film Festival tickets, a two-year lease on a 2011 Subaru Impreza, fine wine baskets and more.

Proceeds from the evening will go toward sustaining the NAC's year-round operations.

Tickets are $250 per person, $125 for NAC participants or $150 for students. Tables for 10 people are available for $2,500 to $4,000. Purchase tickets in advance at www.DiscoverNAC.org . For information about volunteer opportunities, donating auction items and more, contact Jennifer Atkin at 200-0985 or jennifera@DiscoverNAC.org.

Utah Parent Center IDEA Survey

** The Utah Parent Center asked us to share this with our participants, so take a look if this applies to you and your family. **

HELP US HELP PARENTS IN UTAH!

Parents of children receiving services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) are being asked to help provide important information about how Utah is meeting the state's requirements to provide programs and services for children with disabilities in early intervention and special education.

Each year the US Department of Education makes what are called "verification visits" to state education agencies and early intervention lead agencies around the country. Utah has been chosen for a visit on October 12th, 2010. The Utah Parent Center has been asked to collect input from parents by distributing these surveys.

SURVEY DETAILS

Parents who have had children participate in the early intervention programs (Part C of IDEA for infants and toddlers) or special education programs in preschool, elementary, middle, or high school (Part B of IDEA) can provide input in your choice of several ways.
1. First, follow the appropriate link below depending on whether your child is ages birth through 2 (Part C) or is 3 or older (Part B) to a web based survey tool. Click on one of the following links, complete, and submit your responses:


Survey for parents of children ages birth through 2 (Part C)
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/partCbirth-2
OR
Survey for parents of children 3 or older (Part B)
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/partB3older
OR
Access the surveys through the Utah Parent Center's website at: http://www.utahparentcenter.org
2. Second, you may print out the survey that relates to your child's program, complete, and fax (801-272-8907) or mail it in. The links for pdf (printable) versions are here and instructions for submitting your responses are on the form:

PDF Version of Survey for parents of children ages birth through 2 (Part C)
http://www.utahparentcenter.org/partc.pdf
OR
PDF Version of Survey for parents of children 3 or older (Part B)
http://www.utahparentcenter.org/partb.pdf

3. Third, you may call the Utah Parent Center office at 800-468-1160 and complete it over the phone with one of our staff or volunteers. Spanish-speaking families can ask for Julie Moreno or Nancy Rodriguez for help in completing the surveys.


SURVEYS OPEN UNTIL 5pm ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17th.
We will collect responses until Friday, September 17th. We'll then summarize the information for the US Department of Education team that is coming to Utah.

Please help us reach as many families as possible by forwarding or providing this information to parents who would like to provide input.

You may receive this information from more than one source because our many partner organizations are helping us disseminate the information. If so, you are well connected! Feel free to contact us if we can help you complete the surveys or if you have any questions or concerns. Our toll-free telephone number is 1-800-468-1160.
Thank you for your participation!


This information is also available online by visiting: http://www.utahparentcenter.org/surveys.htm.