Independence Empowerment Center

PRINCE WILLIAM AREA AGENCY ON AGING
7987 Ashton Avenue, Suite 231
Manassas, Virginia   20109

MEDIA RELEASE

DATE:  April 24, 2008              CONTACT:  Daphne Van Tiem
For Immediate Release             PHONE:      (703) 792-7662

CONVERSATIONS ON AGING
TO BE HELD THROUGHOUT PRINCE WILLIAM AREA

The Prince William Commission on Aging (COA) will host Conversations on Aging to be held in the Prince William area throughout the month of May.  Also in attendance will be representatives from the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC).

Conversations on Aging are opportunities for residents of all ages to listen, discuss and share ideas about issues concerning older adults and provide feedback as to the types of services needed that will assist older adults to live as independently as possible.  The COA and PRTC seek public input about issues such as transportation, nutrition and wellness programs, affordable housing, centers for active older adults, in-home services and adult day care.  Caregivers are encouraged to attend and present concerns that are unique to the caregiving experience.  The Conversations on Aging are public forums where participants can share ideas as to what will make the Prince William area a community where everyone can empower, enhance and enjoy aging.

There are four opportunities to participate in the Conversations on Aging:

May 5 at 7:00 p.m. at the Lake Ridge Baptist Church located at 12450 Clipper Drive in Woodbridge;

May 6 at 10:00 a.m. at the Manassas Senior Center located at 9320 Mosby Street in Manassas;

May 8 at 7:00 p.m. at the Manassas City Hall located at 9027 Center Street in Manassas; and

May 14 at 10:00 a.m. at Dr. A. J. Ferlazzo Building located at 15941 Donald Curtis Drive in Woodbridge.

The month of May is traditionally celebrated in the Prince William area and throughout the United States as Older Americans Month.  The Conversations on Aging will afford residents of all ages opportunities to participate in that celebration.  For additional information, please call the Prince William Area Agency on Aging Office of Information and Assistance at 703-792-6374.

With just over 300 days left before most TV stations must switch from analog to digital television broadcasting, consumers should start paying attention to any choices they must make.

After February 17, 2009 all full-power television stations will broadcast only in digital.  If you use rabbit ears or a rooftop antenna with your analog TV, you are going to need to take action to continue watching TV.

You have three options:

1. Buy a converter box that will plug into you analog TV;
2. Buy a TV with a digital tuner; or
3. Connect your analog TV to cable, satellite or other pay TV service.

If you decide to buy a converter box, the federal government will provide you with up to two $40 coupons to help pay for the cost of certified converter boxes.  These certified TV converter boxes are available at participating retailers and are expected to cost between $40 and $70.  They convert digital television signals back to analog so your analog TV will receive pictures and audio.

To request your coupons:
Toll free call 1-888-388-2009 or TTY 1-877-530-2634
Fax your request 1-877-388-4632
Go to the government website (or in Spanish)

Coupons are in limited supply, with 9 million already mailed out of the total 33 million available.  We encourage you to share this information with a friend who doesn’t know about this but who you know watches TV for free using rabbit ears.  AAPD has also launched a Consumer Alert website with all this information and more.

So sign up, apply, and buy!  Keep your old TV!

-Item provided by Jenifer Simpson, Telecommunications and Technology Policy Initiative, Justice For All

Come join us for our 2nd Annual ADA Fair on Saturday, July 19, 2008, from 10:00am to 2:00pm, at the Harris Pavilion in Manassas.  Visitors and Vendors welcome.  For more information, contact Stephanie George at 703-257-5400 (Voice/TTY) or sgeorge@ieccil.org.

Virginia is one of 31 states participating in a five-year, $1.75 billion Money Follows the Person (MFP) Demonstration project designed to create a system of long-term services and supports that assist individuals to transition from certain long-term care institutions into the community.  This project supports Virginia’s Olmstead initiative and complements the efforts of the recently awarded Systems Transformation Grant that aims to improve the infrastructure for community-based long-term supports.  Virginia’s MFP project, administered by the Department of Medical Assistance Services (www.dmas.virginia.gov) , will make over $28 million in federal Medicaid funds available to support Virginia’s seniors and individuals with disabilities.  For more details and the most current information on the MFP project, please visit http://www.olmsteadva.com/mfp.

The DBTAC National Network of ADA Centers are collaborating to bring you a series of distance learning opportunities.  The ADA Audio Conference Series provides in-depth information on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and other related topics.  This is a great low-cost solution for your training needs.

Topics include:

• Employment
• Issues associated with the Built Environment
• Transition from school
• Customer Service

Conferences are held the third Tuesday of each month, 2:00-3:30pm EST

Participate by phone or webcast 

Winter Quarter, 2008 Schedule

• March 18, 2008 - The Nature and Scope of Discrimination in Hiring Under ADA Title I

To receive 4 sessions at NO COST to you, contact 1-800-949-4232 (V/TTY).

For more information and to register go to:
www.ada-audio.org

DISABILITY LAW LOWDOWN PODCAST LAUNCH

January 9, 2008 - On January 9, the first episode of the Disability Law Lowdown Podcast series will be available for free download on both iTunes and the Disability Law Lowdown website at http://dll.ada-podcast.com.  The Disability Law Lowdown podcasts will deliver the latest in disability law information every other week.  Listeners can subscribe to the podcasts to have shows automatically delivered to them.  The podcasts are also available on the DLL website, where transcripts of the shows are simultaneously available.

The hosts for the Disability Law Lowdown are Lex Frieden and Jacquie Brennan.  Reporters from around the country will bring listeners the latest information about disability rights, disability case law updates, obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act, and other disability-related topics.  You can subscribe now and listen to a preview podcast with information about upcoming shows.  During 2008, Disability Law Lowdown will begin offering podcasts in both Spanish and American Sign Language.

Disability Law Lowdown is brought to you by the national network of Disability Technical Assistance Centers (DBTACs).  All ten Centers are funded by the National Institute on Disability Rehabilitation and Research to provide technical assistance and training in the Americans with Disabilities Act and other disability-related laws.  Find out about the resources your regional center offers by calling 1-800-949-4232 (V/TTY).

To subscribe, look for the Disability Law Lowdown podcast on iTunes, or go to our website at dll.ada.podcast.com.

For information contact:
Jacquie Brennan
DBTAC Southwest ADA Center
713-520-0232, jbrennan@bcm.edu

http://EasyLivingHome.org is the premier site for information about a voluntary program that encourages easy access to homes for everyone.  Our unique certification program brings builders and home buyers together with homes that are easy to build, easy to live in and easy to sell.