Enabling News

FALL 2012 VOLUME 61

2NDANNUAL ART SHOW IS A SUCCESS!!

Access II held its 2nd Annual Art Show on August 17th and 18th. The event was a huge success!The Art Show featured many forms of art from our 8-county area artists. We are looking forward to next year and want to double the amount of entries. For more details, see page 7 of this newsletter. You can check out photos from this year’s event on our website at

Brandy Gannan CDS/ILS Dawn ErnatCDS/ILS Angela Hogan Intake/ILS

Good day, my name is Brandy Gannan. I started with Access II in August 2012 as a Consumer Directed Services Specialist. I am originally from Central Missouri and moved to Gallatin three years ago.I have a wonderful husband, Kyle, and three beautiful children: Ashley, Kelsey, and Kirk.I am excited to be working with individuals in Ray County, Carroll County, and Mercer County. I truly look forward to learning new things and meeting new people.

Greetings! My name is Dawn Ernat. I am so excited to be serving Caldwell and Livingston counties as the Consumer Directed Services Specialist. I have had the pleasure of meeting some of my consumers thus far and look forward to meeting everyone in the next few months. I may have a familiar face as I have lived in Caldwell and Daviess counties all my life. I have two beautiful daughters ages 16 and 11 who are very active in academic and sport activities. You are likely to see us at any school function several times a week. They consume my after-work hours and we are on the go to activities quite often. Access II serves an important function in our community and I am excited and proud to be a part of this fantastic team!

Hello! My name is Angela Hogan. I started with Access II in August 2012 as the Intake Specialist. I also coordinate the Transportation program that loans out our two wheelchair-accessible lift vans, and the Durable Medical Equipment 30-day loan program. I am originally from Delaware, but I have lived in the Midwest since 1987. I have three sons, who are 25, 23, and 14 years old, and two stepdaughters from my marriage to Ron who is a Gallatin native.I am excited to be here at Access II! Call or come by and say “Hello!”

Changes are afoot!

In addition to our three new employees, we have had some movement in the ranks.

Tanya Farrell, who had been doing a terrific job as one of our Consumer Directed Service Specialists, has taken on greater responsibilities and is now our Program Manager. You can reach her at her new extension number 228.

Amy Corzette, whom you met in the last newsletter, is now our Transitions Coordinator, Home Modifications Specialist, and a certified TAP telephone agent. She can be reached at her new extension number 232.

~ Check out what we’ve been doing! ~

AUGUST 2012:

Back to School Bash

On August 2, Access II hosted a Back to School Bash for Daviess County students and their families.

Over 150 Daviess County elementary students were helped with school supplies bought with donations from area businesses. Fifteen vendors of children’s services offered information and resources, as well as some additional supplies.

Legislative Forum

Access II and RAIL (Rural Advocates for Independent Living, Kirksville)co-hosted this event which was held on August 22 at the Trenton Rock Barn. In attendance (from left to right) was Kyle Yarber, Rebecca McClannahan, Harry Wyse, Nate Walker, and Matt Berry (representing Sam Graves).

OCTOBER 2012:

6TH Annual DisABILITY Resource Fair

We held our annual disABILITY Resource Fair on October 26. We had a wonderful response from the community and the vendors. We were proud to be hosts for Missouri Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, Modern Medical Mobility, NW MO Area Agency on Aging, Active Aging Resource Center, NW Region AgrAbility, Department of Mental Health, American Cancer Society, and the Social Security Administration. All of our staff were onhand to provide information and assistance with our various programs.

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Cancer Awareness Fund Raiser

Access II would like to thank everyone who purchased a ticket for the Cancer Awareness Fund Raiser held in October.Access II raised $565.00. These funds will be used to assist individuals with the financial burden of being diagnosed with cancer. The money raised will be distributed at Access II’s discretion, to individuals in need of assistance. The winner of the Cancer Awareness fundraiser was Vickie Tolen!! She received a Gift Basket containing gift cards and prizes worth $150.00. Access II received an anonymous donation for the funds to purchase gifts for the Cancer Awareness Gift Basket. All proceeds from Cancer Awareness fundraiser will be used to help save a life.

Thank You,

Marina Beebe~ Benefits Specialist-Independent Living Specialist-TAP T & I Agent

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Our Executive Director, Heather Swymeler, and our Employment Specialist, Licha Kelley-King, were in the Halloween spirit and dressed as witches to welcome the 130 children that visited us on Halloween night!

It was fun to see all the children dressed up in their fabulous costumes and a little scary when some of the adults turned up in their costumes! Fun was had by all!!!

Feel the Magic of the Holiday Season

Access II-ILC

2nd Annual Festival of Trees Fundraiser

Friday, November 30th

5:00pm-8:00pm

101 Industrial Parkway, Gallatin

All Proceeds to Benefit Access II Consumers

in our 8 county Service Area

(Caldwell, Carroll, Daviess, Grundy, Harrison, Livingston, Mercer, Ray)

Visit Us Online:

Or call 660-663-2423 for additional information

2012 Festival Of Trees Schedule of Events

Hidden Jewels Silent Auction: Bidding to end at 7:00pm

How can you be a part of the tradition? Simply decorate a holiday item of your choice (Christmas tree from 24” to 7 feet tall, Holiday Wreath, Holiday Centerpiece, or any other Holiday Decoration) submit to Access II by November 21st.

Tips for Decorators: Be sure all decorations are secured to the tree or holiday decoration. If using lights, be sure to bring an extension cord, if needed. Trees cannot be displayed featuring tobacco, alcohol, or adult material. Live trees are not permitted.

Who can participate? Everyone. Whether you are doing it for fun, to stretch your creative talents, as a family tradition, as a church project, as a class or club project, as a business, or in honor of a friend or family member, your tree or holiday decoration will be a symbol of love and hope to all who see it.

When can bidding for the Holiday Items begin? All Trees and Holiday Decorations will be on display November 26th thru November 30th during Access II business hours 8:00am - 4:30 pm Monday thru Friday.

Hidden Jewels:Tis the season for a little sparkle…. One of the items up for bid at the silent auction will have a little something extra, a hidden jewel. Not only might you walk away with beautifully decorated tree or holiday decoration, but you may find a little hidden treasure in the form of a real jewel hidden on your item. Who couldn’t use a little sparkle this holiday season? So be sure to come and place your bid.

Pictures with Santa(Photography by Kelly Pingleton):5:00pm -7:30pm

Santa and Mrs. Claus will be dropping by for portrait packages again this year. Photographer Kelly Pingleton’s portrait packages are $10.00 each and include 1-8x10, 3-5x7s and 8 wallets. No appointment is necessary. Mrs Claus will have some goodies to hand out to all the good little boys and girls after their picture with Santa.

Horse & Carriage Rides : 5:00pm -7:00pm

Come snuggle up under warm blankets as you take an evening horse & carriage ride along a beautifully lit country road. Horse & Carriage Rides will cost $5.00 per couple/family and include a 5x7 photo. Horse & carriage rides will be provided by Green Acres Riding Center from Jamesport.

New This Year “Light Up the Night Sky” Memory or Wish Lantern Lighting: 7:30pm

This year Access II will have Sky Lanterns for sale ($5.00 each) which can be purchased in advance or the night of the event. Each person who purchases a lantern will have their name entered into a drawing for a precious jewel. Lanterns can be purchased in memory of a loved one or simply to make a wish. These colorful lanterns will be lit at 7:30pm and released to “Light Up the Night Sky”. Come join us to release your lantern or simply see the wonderful display of colors and good wishes being sent into the sky.

Activities for Kids:

Activities for kids will include holiday crafts and coloring. Cookies for Santa plates will be available for $3.00 each. Your child can design their own ceramic plate to set out those special cookies for Santa.

Georgia Jackson works in our Child Advocacy program. This program was developed to assist parents finding resources for their child and to assist parents with becoming their child’s advocate. As the Child advocate at Access II, one of her main priorities is to help families with IEP’s. Every child with a disability is, by state and federal law, promised an education. Georgia can help parents prepare for and attend IEP meetings. Sometimes speaking to a roomful of educators is intimidating. As an advocate, Georgia can advise you of your options. She can help you in getting your thoughts across. Georgia also may take notes so you can focus on listening to the information presented. She can help you gather information about the disability and available resources for children and youth.

Georgia also works with parent support groups. She works with school groups and communities to assist special education classroom with supplies and food for consumers unable to travel to a food pantry. Some of the goals for the Child Advocacy program include forming parent support groups in areas where there are none, developing some social skills classes, and developing a youth advisory committee. If you would like more information on any of these activities, please call Georgia at Access II, extension 230.

Our Transitions Program is really going full steam. During the past six months we have had several successful transitions where individuals from long-term care facilities were able to move back into the community. I think this is a wonderful program and we need to make the public more aware of the assistance and supports available for them. My role as the Transitions Specialist is to help those individuals plan and prepare for the move into the community. I help them put supports into place including service supports, for those needing assistance with their activities of daily living; financial planning which includes preparing monthly budgets; and housing assistance. The most challenging part is finding individuals low-income housing. Many times it requires being on a waiting list for a couple of months. If you know of anyone wanting to move out of the nursing home and live independently, please let me know and I will see if I am able to help them.

Amy Corzette ~ Transitions/TAP-T/Home Mod/ILS ~Ext 232

Partners in Policymaking

Are you a parent of a child with a disability or a person with a disability?
Would you like to see a barrier-free society where everyone is a valued member of their community?
Are you interested in promoting change within your community? Within the state?

If you answered yes to these questions, you might be interested in becoming one of a growing number of Missouri’s Partners in Policymaking Graduates.

Partners in Policymaking is a leadership training program for adults with disabilities and parents of children with disabilities. The program teaches leadership skills and techniques to develop positive partnerships with elected officials, school personnel and other individuals who make policy decisions about services that you and/or your family use.

In monthly sessions, you will have the opportunity to practice new skills in a comfortable and safe environment, build a network of people from diverse cultural backgrounds and life experiences, and learn from national experts.

Partners in Policymaking is about systems change –creating, working toward and achieving a vision of shared values about people with disabilities. This program is based on the belief that the most effective and enduring public policy decisions are made by the people who need and use services in partnership with policymakers.

It’s about becoming confident in yourself, competent in the knowledge and information you’ll receive, and comfortable in sharing the life experiences and expertise you bring to the program.

Applications are being accepted now for the 2013 class.Apply by completing an application. Applications are available online or at Access II (See Angela at the front desk).

Visit their website- for more information and a video that will give you insight to what MO Partners graduates say about their participation in the program.