June 2017 Newsletter
Sonoma County SCI in Action! June 2017 Newsletter
This newsletter is intended to bring relevant, up to date information about spinal cord injuries and related topics to a broad spectrum of individuals in Sonoma County. The Sonoma County SCI Support Group meets the 3rd Monday of each month but many people with SCI cannot attend meetings at this time and in this place. This newsletter will hopefully communicate useful ideas within a two-page structure to those who cannot make it to meetings.
Local Resources
Medical Equipment Recycling in Sonoma County – (at Careful Moving and Storage) – 812 Donahue Street – Santa Rosa – open Monday-Friday – 10 am – 2 pm – 707-347-9618 – http://www.sonomacountysoa.org/medical-equipment-recycling-in-sonoma-county/ – medical equipment available free of charge –
hospital beds, commodes, walkers, crutches and shower chairs, diapers and under-pads
HomeCARES (also known as Marin Medical Equipment Recyclers) – 3100 Kerner Blvd – San Rafael – 415-388-8198 – open Wednesdays only – 11 am - 2 pm – gently used medical equipment and supplies available free of charge to individuals in the community who need them – program attempts to reduce needless environmental waste while increasing access to medical equipment and supplies that provide safety, mobility, and independence
Max’s Home Care – 11 am -3 pm Thursdays only (or by appointment) – 3820 Bodega Avenue
– Petaluma – (707) 364-0305 – Max’s Home Cares accepts donations of clean, gently used durable medical equipment and unused home health care supplies which are then made available to people in the community who need them.
Other News
It’s not too late! The Disability Services and Legal Center (DSLC) is sponsoring a fundraiser on Friday, June 9th from 6-10 pm at Mary Agatha Furth Center, Windsor. There will be live big band music from the 30’s to the 60’s, wine and gourmet food, and a Silent Auction & Raffle. http://mydslc.org/events/dslc-annual-fundraiser-dslc-changing-lives/
The State Auditor has released a 70-page report on illegal use of parking placards. The people hurt the most are those who truly need convenient parking because of their disability. Legitimate users are often shut out because a cheater has stolen the spot.
www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-sac-skelton-disabled-parking-placards-20170501-story.html
A pair of advocacy groups and two people with disabilities have filed a lawsuit against BART alleging that it discriminates against people with mobility disabilities, effectively excluding them from the regional mass transit system. http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/04/05/lawsuit-barts-filthy-broken-elevators-violate-civil-rights-for-people-with-disabilities/
Traveling anywhere this summer? A portable shower wheelchair is one of the most valuable pieces of medical equipment you can have. Don’t give up on visiting family and friends or traveling to that dream destination. The chairs are lightweight and compact enough to take just about anywhere you’d want to go. https://goesanywhere.com
The ADA Is Under Serious Attack! Here is an update: the DREDF website (below) reports on a letter that over one hundred groups (including the Sonoma County SCI Support Group) have sent to the eight members of the California delegation who signed on as co-sponsors to this extremely damaging (potentially) bill:
https://dredf.org/2017/05/25/letter-california-house-co-sponsors-hr-620/
It’s back! The full exhibit of Patient No More, the story of the 1977 Sit-In that led to the first disability civil rights law, is opening this week at the Main Branch of the San Francisco Main Public Library. The exhibit will run from June 10 – September 3.
http://longmoreinstitute.sfsu.edu/patient-no-more