Disability Action Center NW, Inc.

Table of Contents & Introduction
It is our pleasure to bring you our newsletter in an electronic and (hopefully) user-friendly format. This area of our site features the full content of past newsletters as well as a sneak peak at certain upcoming articles. However, we realize that, since upcomin content has not yet been printed, and not everyone has access to the web, we are more than happy to provide a preliminary printed copy of "preview" material for anyone upon request.

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ARTICLE: A Reluctant, but Fond Goodbye

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In June of 1992, I had the pleasure of meeting a soft-spoken woman by the name of Carolyn Jensen. Luckily, I had the good sense to hire her as a DAC Independent Living Specialist. Over the next 12+ years, I gained a great deal of respect for Carolyn’s abilities to work effectively with an array of people. I’ve come to marvel at the quiet strength that has carried her through many conversations in which she has stood firmly in defense of rights for people with disabilities, never ruffling the feathers of people that might disagree, yet ultimately swaying, winning them over to her way of thinking...

FEATURE: PSYCHIATRIC FOOTNOTES

By By Sheila Batey, A contributing writer

It seems to me that we, who have a mental illness, have a great and good responsibility to be as clear and honest about our lives and how we cope with our symptoms.

This clarity must be, to my mind, shared with the professionals who help us not only for our own sakes, but also to help the workers on our team to know how best to help us.

There are also other reasons: in our clarity and honest sharing, we help the professionals to become better educated about mental illnesses. Doing so will lead to new and better understandings of those who are at risk of becoming one who may be diagnosed. “With knowledge can come a cure.”

Peer counseling, education, and advocacy are very important. Programs such as In Our Own Voice are excellent ways to educate others concerning mental illness.

Also, a dynamic group of professionals and people with psychiatric disabilities can help change, for the good, policies made by state and federal agencies.

“We’ve got to keep on keeping on.” How about a support group? All power to the people. <>

CORRECTION: Psychiatric Footnotes in the last DAC newsletter was submitted by Mark Weeks, not Sheila Batey.

ARTICLE: DAC is Now Online

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Disability Action Center NW, Inc. is proud to announce the deployment of DacNW.org. With numerous types of resources and tools, DAC expects the site to become an invaluable and state-of-the-art medium for people with disabilities...

ARTICLE: What's Up, DAC?

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Wow! What a fall it has been! DAC has held two major outreach/education events, and, oh yeah, there was this election thing, too. DAC got involved in that whole process by co-hosting a local candidates’ forum in Moscow. As always, I was impressed by the quality of individuals who were willing to put themselves and their beliefs up to public scrutiny for positions that are certainly not going to make anybody wealthy! The candidates’ expressed interest in disability issues bodes well for us on the local level...

FEATURE: A MESSAGE FOR THIS YEAR...

BY JANESTA CARCICH, FROM ALL DAC STAFF

Wishing all of you a bright and sunny spring, filled with compassion for the past, courage for the present, and promises of success for the future...

It is our sincere desire that your quest for independence and health will be met with blessings of continued self-determination, and that your every path will lead to success.

We look forward to assisting you in meeting your goals this year!

- Your Friends at DAC

ARTICLE: Mel's A.T. Corner

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In my experience, I have noticed when most people think of assistive technology, they think of $8,000 communication devices or $10,000 computer access systems. They do not think about the possibility that there may be low-tech (or at least cheaper) options. Some low-tech alternatives can be purchased for a minimal amount or even made with PVC pipe, Velcro and duct tape...

ARTICLE: A Defender of Independence

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Janesta Carcich, the newest member of DAC's staff, wants to stay in control of her life and be able to help others do the same. Reproduced with permission from the Moscow-Pullman Daily News (www.dnews.com).

ARTICLE: What's New With Dac

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Here’s an outline of some of DAC’s upcoming events and announcements. If you have any questions, would like more information, or to get involved, contact Janesta Carcich at the DAC office in Moscow. Janesta’s email email address is Janesta@DacNW.org...

ARTICLE: DAC Event Update

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DAC hosted two great events in October that were developed to provide the public with information on options for living at home. The event on October 9th in Moscow was a day of education and music that included bands, songwriters, dancers, representatives for in-home care agencies, and informational presentations. The Palouse Mall provided a stage, the use of a storefront, and not to mention patience with our decorating ideas...