The legal stuff: Copyright is owned by MCIL--Making Choices for Independent Living, 2003. You are encouraged to copy and reprint or distribute any of these stories free of charge providing the entire story as printed is included along with the following statement: "The events described here are true stories of successes of disabled persons working with staff members at MCIL--Making Choices for Independent Living, a non-profit disability advocacy organization in Baltimore, Maryland. For more information visit our website at www.mcil-md.org.

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THE STORIES--

2004

HOMEOWNERSHIP

George Rice

I would like to share some recent success stories with you to motivate the people who are thinking about becoming a home owner.

The first consumer is a young man with limited income and raising his son by himself. He faces challenges with his disability that made the buying process more complex. But through perseverance this gentleman is now a proud home owner. The second consumer is a young lady that is one of the first Baltimore City residents to utilize the Home Choice Voucher Home Ownership Program.

If you would like more information on the home buying process call us and ask for George Rice.

Michael Benelli

A person who I met in a nursing home in Anne Arundel County wanted to get out. We applied for Section 8 for people with disabilities. He was denied several times by Annapolis because of his misdemeanor. Then, Lawrence Hawkins, my co-worker, came on board. The three of us dis-
cussed possible strategies. One day, I found out that Anne Arundel County would give him a voucher after all. Still his application has been rejected by many apartment buildings. A friend of mine gave me two addresses of apartment buildings to try. Three hours later he had an apartment ready for him. He and another person both are not having their own apartments. Both are happy where they are because they are OUT OF THE NURSING HOME. This is a good way to help people to get what they are looking for.

TRAVEL TRAINING SUCCESS STORY
Marvin Bailey

Dear MCIL,

The reason why I like travel training is because I got to learn where every bus goes and how to get there. I also learned about what routes to take to get to certain places that I need or want to go. I have been everywhere on the bus and I enjoyed it. I have not been taking it to school because I don’t like the idea of having to catch one bus, a train, and another bus to get to school every day. I don’t mind the school bus taking me to school. I still catch the MTA to work and back and I like it. Though I am tempted, I have no desire to retake travel training. I did enjoy it though and I thank MCIL for it.

Your friend,

Daron Burrell

A Real Winner!!

That’s what I think about when I think of Anthony Smith. If any young person needs to have a role model for overcoming adversity Anthony is a good resource. Anthony is a 25 year old paraplegic (due to a gunshot wound). Anthony refuses to be classified as a victim and his persistence and determination helped him to be placed in his own apartment. When Anthony and the Nursing Home Transition Grant coordinator met the dialogue was confrontational. With time and patience the relationship became one of mutual respect.
Once Anthony was transitioned into his own apartment in the community, the next obstacle that he faced was learning and assuming his role as parent and father. This is a gigantic obstacle for an able bodied person so having to adjust to the community and with a new disability the task was daunting. Once again, Anthony faced the challenge and did everything in his power to be a successful and responsible parent and father.

With determination and persistence all obstacles can be overcome,
just ask Anthony!

Way to go Anthony!!

ANOTHER SUMMER '04 SUCCESS STORY
Cheryl Randall

The lack of affordable, accessible housing continues to be a challenge in the community. As disability advocates, we receive calls on a daily basis from consumers who are faced with the difficulties of finding housing. It takes patience, perseverance, and more patience. That is why it is so heartening when we are able to assist someone with a housing issue.

I received a call one Friday afternoon from Marie who stated, “I need some assistance. I just signed myself out of a Nursing Facility so that my grandsons wouldn’t go into foster care. We are homeless. I am staying with family now, but there is not enough room and we can only stay temporarily.” Marie explained that she had made many telephone calls trying to find housing. Marie and I continued to make calls that day to various agencies seeking assistance. I was fortunate enough that day to come in contact with Mr. DuBard from the Homeless and Environmental Service Unit. Mr. D. became a part of our team that day.

We continued to make more calls, but all the transitional housing was full. Mr. D. met with Maria but things were moving at a slow pace. Finally, things stated to look up. Mr. D. called me and said that he thought he may have found an apartment. Marie and the boys went out and took a look at the apartment and they loved it! I would like to extend many thanks to all organizations that help make Marie’s dream of moving into her home become a reality - especially Mr. DuBard.

2003

2003 SUCCESS STORY 1
by Laura Beth Rosen

As I stand in the front of the classroom, waiting for Lee, images begin flowing through my mind. This is a serious moment, yet I can't help but crack a smile when I think back to our first time riding the bus from school to her home. Although Lee was looking somewhat timid, I was full of confidence, especially when she signaled the driver, as our stop approached. As we began walking, I looked over at Lee and saw a face so confused, it was almost painful. It was then that I realized that we had spent a half an hour walking down a road that would not lead us to our destination; Lee lived three blocks over, to the right. It was time to turn around and try again.

The next few times went a lot better. Lee knew where to catch the bus on campus and where to get off to go home. She could now get from the bus stop to home too! Everything was going smoothly and soon Lee could ride the MTA bus to and from school independently.

When Lee got hired at a fast-food restaurant, we went back out to learn the new stops. Our last trip together coincided with her first day of work and I met her early in the morning to walk to the bus stop near her home. Lee was nervous and excited. She talked about her job, her hours, bus schedules, when to get up, and when to leave her house. We chatted all the way to our designated stop… We chatted all the way to the restaurant …We chatted in the restaurant…And then it was time for me to leave. I congratulated her on a job well done; she thanked me and gave me a hug… And another… And another… And, well, you get the idea. She was so happy and pleased with herself and I smiled proudly at her accomplishments.

And here I am standing in this classroom; broad smile beaming, she stands next to me as her classmates eagerly watch. I tell her how proud I am, how wonderful she has done with travel training, and how much it means to me to be able to hand her an MTA Award Certificate of Completion. The teacher asks Lee to say a few words about what this award means to her and, even now, my eyes well up with tears, as I recall her words…

"This award means I did it! I can ride the bus indepen-dently. No more yellow bus for me. I can go to work and school on my own. I am independent! I did it!!!"

Then she turns toward me and says," Thank you Laura. I couldn't have done this without your help. You helped me to be independent." And I gave her another hug.

I learned many lessons that day. Lessons about hard work, determination and courage, and about making a difference in someone's life. But more importantly, Lee taught me the greatest lesson of all and one of the most challenging to define… I learned the true value and meaning of the word "freedom."

2003 SUCCESS STORY 2
by Michael Benelli

Sometimes, what seems difficult turns out to be easy when people work together. I had been working with a consumer with a psychiatric disability who was living at the Workforce and Technology Center (WTC) in Baltimore while attending RETS technical school. In addition to his studies he was also looking for a job and an apartment.

When he first started working with me he was unable to use a computer to get on the internet. He was very frustrated with his inability to do so and he also had little patience to learn. He also disliked having to fill out application after application for school, for work, for housing, for services. He found all the "red tape" extremely frustrating. However frustrated, he was persistent and his persistence paid off - in spades.
I helped him fill out the paperwork for Baltimore County's Mainstream Housing Program. Incredibly, he received a Housing Choice voucher in less than a month. In two days he located an apartment and moved in (It's not unusual for people to still be looking for housing after the 180 day period is up.)

He identified several places that would accept vouchers before he actually received it. This took a great deal of initiative on his part. Sometimes people do not do their homework before they receive the Housing Choice voucher and find themselves in trouble. The only thing that he did not do was get the money for the security deposit. Again his persistence paid off because a couple of agencies that we referred him to and that he had contacted helped him with that.

We taught him to how to access the internet and now he feels comfortable using it and being able to access its resources. He is now using it as a tool to help himself find a job.

Four months later his brother came in our office with the same problem and we are helping him, as well. It is interesting that sometimes when you think a case is difficult, it turns out being easy because the consumer is listening to you, learning from you and taking advantage of the tools you give him.

SUMMER 2003 SUCCESS STORY, TRAVEL TRAINING
by Marvin Bailey

When I first met Tegra last year, she wasn't even able to cross a street, let alone ride the bus. She worked with Laura for several months and gained confidence when crossing the streets needed to get to her bus stop. After she finished this basic training, I started riding the bus with her to get her acquainted with the stops she would need. We continued riding for about two months, during which time she learned to identify stops and ride the bus from her new home to school. I am very proud of Tegra's success. She went from not being comfortable with any traveling to not only being comfortable but being able to ride the MTA independently.

Hi, my name is Sean. My experience with travel training and my travel trainer were good ones. I've learned how to get around parts of the city. At first I did not want to do it because I thought it would be hard or I would forget something, but it worked out just fine.

I started a job for the summer that was kind of far away from where I live. First I would have someone bring me and that lasted for a week.

But then I met my drill sergeant, my Travel Trainer - Mr. Marvin Bailey. He taught me a lot about travel training. He told me about the different buses that go to different places. We also took the subway so thanks to him I ride the subway and bus everyday when I'm going and coming from work.

I have to admit that it is way better than getting a ride everyday. See, I have spina bifida so I am paralyzed from the waist down so getting around it was hard if I did not have a ride. But when you ride the MTA you can get anywhere you need to go and you can do it on your own time.

PLEASE COME BACK--MORE STORIES FROM 2003 ON THE WAY!

2002 SUCCESS STORY 1, TRAVEL TRAINING
by Marvin Bailey

Lisa D. Wright writes:
"I am really glad that I was a part of the Travel Training Program. I now know how to ride the bus from school and back home. I even know how to catch the bus to go to the beauty shop where my sister works.

"I have learned that I can call the MTA in order to find out what bus routes to take. I was a little scared at first, but now I feel good and now I ride the #77 to school everyday.

"My parents are very proud of me. My mother enjoys riding the bus with me. She has now parked her car and we ride the bus as much as we can.

"Mr. Bailey I just want to say thank you for taking the time to teach me how to ride the bus. You taught me how to ride the bus safely and to ask the bus driver where I need to get off if I am not sure.

"You also taught how important it is to learn the landmarks where you get on and off the bus. I think all students with a disability should be required to take part in this training program.

"I now want to learn how to ride the bus from school to my grandmother's house and I hope you can teach me."

Thank you,
Lisa D. Wright

2002 SUCCESS STORY 2
by Laura Shuey

During the five years that Judy Shipley was in a nursing home she preferred to sit downstairs in the main room to crochet because it was brighter than her room. She also liked to go outside and enjoy the sun. There was an automatic door to the outside, but Judy says "it was never automatic." The electronic eye could only recognize residents that were standing, despite the fact that most residents were in wheelchairs.

"We learned very quickly how to get in just the right spot and push very hard," Judy said.

Much like the automatic door which was ignored for years, the residents in Judy's home did not always receive the attention that they required. Judy was persistent in attempts to get on a "bathroom schedule" to combat her incontinence. Yet each time her request was denied due to the nursing home being understaffed.

Eventually Judy decided she wanted to leave the nursing home and underwent an evaluation to qualify for the "Community Choices Program" provided by the non-profit organization Making Choices for Independent Living, which assists disabled persons in living independently.

PLEASE COME BACK--MORE STORIES FROM 2002 ON THE WAY!

2001

2001 SUCCESS STORY 1
by Lori Baskette

Mrs. M has been trying to get the alley behind her Baltimore City row home paved for several years now. Her deteriorating health has been making it all but impossible to access her home using the front steps. She has a scooter to use on bad days but there is no way to ride the scooter out of the house. She has been working with the City to get the alley paved so she can use it. Every time they sent someone out to begin measuring or doing any work, her neighbors would cause problems, either with her or the work crews, thus halting the work
until things got straightened out.

I have been working with Mrs. M, advocating for her and with her. She has done a great job of advocating on her own behalf, but when phone calls were not returned or promises were not kept, I was able to remind the various agencies that someone was on her side and watching over their shoulder.

One of the biggest obstacles that Mrs. M had to overcome was the ignorance of some of the people in her community. The comment was made that they didn't want that back alley paved because they "didn't want to see a cripple person going up and down the alley in a wheelchair". One neighbor in particular spent much time in making Mrs. M's life miserable. He would wait until the work crews went to lunch and then would throw bricks in the pathway or soak the alleyway with water until it became muddy and impossible to complete the job. It was one thing after another.

Finally, on August 29th, the alley was paved. The police had to be involved, but the alley got paved! Guess who uses it more than Mrs. M does? You got it - the entire neighborhood!

Just recently I received a call from Mrs. M saying that the digging had begun for the additional bathroom and ramp to be built leading to the back alley from her house. Don't worry, her neighbors will probably have something to say about this. But that's okay, we'll get through this too! We're educating the neighborhood as we go!

2001 SUCCESS STORY 2
by Jamey George

Liza L. called us at the Benefits Resource Center because she had a new job and needed to know how it was going to affect her Social Security Benefits. She has a part-time data entry job in Glen Burnie. This is a job that Liza L. has been waiting for, a dream come true. While it is not full-time, it has the potential of being full-time.

Because Liza L. will be making more income than the substantial gainful activity (SGA) regulation allows which is $740 per month, and because she had many small jobs in the past few years, she used up her 9 month trial work period, she was to lose her benefits from the month she began her new job. We were concerned about overpayments. It takes SSA a few months to process the changes. She would not find out about losing her benefits by letter of notification until she had accrued at least three months of overpayment. we learned that she was paying out of pocket transportation costs, which is considered an Impairment Related Work Expense (IRWE). Because of this, she was not meeting SGA, which meant that the costs lowered her income below SGA. (She uses public transportation from home to work, a combination of bus and cab fare each day). IRWE is a work incentive that SSA uses to allow individuals to go to work and keep their benefits until they become more self-sufficient and able to meet SGA. With the new Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act implemented, Liza L. will not lose her Medicare for 81/2 years from the start of her job. However, since she was also receiving SSI, she will lose that benefit. Fortunately, she will not lose her Medicaid until she is making more than $23,000 per year. So, until she becomes full time and self-sufficient and using an IRWE, she will be able to keep her SSDI benefits which will aid in paying for her transportation costs.

PLEASE COME BACK--MORE STORIES FROM 2001 AND PREVIOUS YEARS ON THE WAY!