> > > Subject: FW: CIL's Fraser dies; NYSILC assistance for disabled needed > > > i thought everyone should have this info... catherine > > NCIL Family, > > Among the many tragedies associated with the terrorist attacks on > Tuesday, > NCIL is particularly saddened by the loss of Colleen Fraser, Executive > Director of the Progressive Center for Independent Living in Ewing, NJ. > > Colleen was killed on the plane that crashed in PA. She was headed to the > NCIL Grantwriting Seminar in Reno. Our hearts go out to her family, > friends > and associates. She was a dynamic advocate, most recently delivering > passionate testimony about the value of independent living and our CILs > at > the New Freedom Initiative Listening Session in Washington, DC, last > Wednesday. We will all miss her tremendously. > > I am sure that you will not be surprised to learn that people with > disabilities in New York City have been especially hard hit by the > aftereffects of the attack. In a report from Brad Williams, NCIL Board > Member and Executive Director of the New York Statewide Independent > Living > Council, the following information is known: > > * The CILs are very understaffed at this point because of difficulty > moving > through the city, a lack of available accessible transportation, > individual > family needs of staff, etc. > > * Personal assistance services are not being provided adequately for > similar reasons, and the ability to assess individual unmet needs is > seriously compromised. > > * The deaf community is unable to communicate their needs due to > TTY/phone/internet service being out, interpreter services being > unavailable, etc. > > * In addition to the needs of people who already had disabilities on > Tuesday morning, it has been projected that an additional 2500 people > have > newly acquired disabilities in New York City. They will require > assistance > from the CILs immediately and long-term. > > *The CILs are uniquely qualified to provide the kind of peer counseling > services that can meet the additional mental health needs of the larger > community, but this will require tremendous additional service ability. > > In response to the real and potential needs of the Progressive CIL and > the > New York City CILs, the National Council on Independent Living has > established a fund to offer some help in addressing a myriad of > unbudgeted > expenses. > > The fund is being established by NCIL until such time as the affected > CILs > tell us they would like donations handled differently. Monies received > will > be distributed, as available, based on the CILs assessment of their need, > or as directed by a donor. > > If you would like to make a donation to the fund, please specify on your > check and/or accompanying letter. You can also use Visa or Mastercard. > All > funds received will be held in a separate account specifically > established > to receive these donations. > > Please send donations to: > The National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) > 1916 Wilson Boulevard Suite 209 > Arlington, VA 22201 > (703) 525-3406 > (V) (703) 525- 4153 > (TTY) (703) 525-3409 (F) > > For further information or to offer local assistance, please contact Brad > Williams, Executive Director, at the New York State Independent Living > Council (NYSILC): > > Brad Williams, Executive Director > New York State Independent Living Council > 111 Washington Avenue, suite 101 > Albany, New York 12210 > Phone: (518) 427-1060 > email: mailto:[log in to unmask] > > Thank you. In Solidarity! > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > Marcie Roth > Director of Advocacy and Public Policy > The National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) > 1916 Wilson Boulevard Suite 209 > Arlington, VA 22201 > (703) 525-3406 (V) > (703) 525- 4153 (TTY) > (703) 525-3409 (F) > [log in to unmask] (E) > www.ncil.org (W) > > "There is nothing in all the world greater than freedom. It is worth > paying > for; it is worth going to jail for. I would rather be a free pauper than > a > rich slave. I would rather die in abject poverty with my convictions than > live in inordinate riches with the lack of self respect." -Martin Luther > King Jr.- > > ----------- END --------------