Community Resources for the Disabled By Brian Bergstrom Mental Health Awareness Team

What does it mean to be disabled? Focused on abnormalities and physical limitations Focus has shifted on what the body is capable of doing relative to the demands placed upon it. The World Health Organization defines a person who has a disability as: “an umbrella term, covering impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. An impairment is a problem in body function or structure; an activity limitation is a difficulty encountered by an individual in executing a task or action; while a participation restriction is problem experienced by an individual in involvement in life situations. Thus disability is a complex phenomenon, reflecting an interaction between features of a person’s body and features of the society in which he or she lives” (2013).

Examples of Difficult Tasks Making a phone call Attending appointments Unable to cook for one self Express Needs to Others Waking up on time Maintaining Structure Budgeting/Money Management Hygiene Inability to access resources

What Resources are Available? Safelink - https://www.safelinkwireless.com/ Food pantries People’s Resource Center Medicaid Non-Emergency Transportation Benefit Access Program Community Center

Safelink – FREE Government Phone Obama Phone 1 per household 500 free minutes & texts for 4 months 350 free minutes every month + unlimited texting Cheap quality phone  http://www.safelinkwireless.com

Food Pantries Free food Serves people with low income Many exist within DuPage County Promotes Healthy Eating Usually can go once a month Proof of residency Income based Utility Bill GREAT Volunteer Opportunity

Food Pantries in Dupage County

Food Pantries in DuPage County http://www.communityhungernetwork.org/AreaPantries/area.pantries.html

People’s Resource Center (PRC) Food Pantry Rental Assistance Financial Assistance Computer Training Job Assistance Clothes Closet

People’s Resource Center Westmont Wheaton People’s Resource Center 104 Chestnut Avenue Westmont, IL 60559 Phone: (630) 682-5402 http://www.peoplesrc.org/ People’s Resource Center 201 S. Naperville Road Wheaton, IL 60187 Pantry Hours Monday 8:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. 1:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Tuesday 8:30 a.m. – 11: 15 a.m. Wednesday 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Thursday Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. Pantry Hours Tuesday 8:30 a.m – 11:15 a.m. 1:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Wednesday 8:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. Thursday 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Saturday

People’s Resource Center

People’s Resource Center Attend classes = free computer + repair for life Classes: Intro to Computers Windows Fundamentals Word 1 Word 2 Excel 1 Excel 2 Microsoft Office Specialist Certificate

People’s Resource Center Clothes Closet Must be a PRC Client and live in DuPage County Decent Selection “Each month, PRC client families receive 5 points per person to use in the Clothes Closet (A family of 5 would get 25 points.) Clothes typically cost 1 – 2 points. Clothes Closet points do not ‘carry over’ from one month to the next. All of the clothing provided comes from community donations.  We do our best to offer high-quality, seasonal clothing throughout the year.”

Medicaid Non-Emergency Transportation Call three days in advance For all medical appointments, you will be picked up one hour in advance. Please be fully dressed and ready at pick-up time. If needed, an aide or family member can accompany you. The driver is only required to wait 10 minutes for you. The drivers are not allowed to accept any tips. The driver is not allowed to take you to any location other than your home on the way back from medical appointments.

Benefit Access Program Illinois Department of Aging Must have a permanent disability Apply online http://www.illinois.gov/aging/ Click Benefit Access Based on income (tax returns) Process takes a while

Benefit Access Program Apply on the Benefit Access Application if you meet the following requirements: Note:  Use of the word spouse also includes a civil union partner. Age you must be 65 years of age or older by December 31 of the current year; or  you must be 16 years of age or older and totally disabled before January 1 of this year. Residency you must live in Illinois at the time you file your application Income Limit Eligibility for the License Plate discount and/or Ride Free Transit Card: Your total income last year must be less than $27,610 for a 1 person household (yourself only); or $36,635 for a 2 person household (yourself and your spouse, or yourself and one Qualified Additional Resident); or $45,657 for a 3 person household (yourself, your spouse and one Qualified Additional Resident, or yourself and two Qualified Additional Residents). Expiration Eligibility is good for two years under the Benefit Access Program. The two-year period starts at the time your application is approved. You may file again beginning 90 days before your eligibility expires.

NAMI DuPage Community Center 115 County Farm Rd. Wheaton, IL 60187 630-752-0066

Community Center

Community Center Living Room Safe and Peaceful Place Alternative to ER room Calm relaxing environment No one will be turned away due to financial circumsatnces Run by people personally impacted by mental illness Hours 3 P.M. – 10 P.M. Daily

Resource Links Safelink – http://www.safelinkwireless.com DuPage Pantries - http://www.communityhungernetwork.org/AreaPantries/area.pantries.html People’s Resource Center - http://www.peoplesrc.org/ Benefit Access - http://www.illinois.gov/aging/ Community Center - http://www.namidupage.org/resources/living-room/