Dan The Senator will not receive your letter if it is mailed only to this list. >To Senator Malkuski: > > My name is Dan Keplinger and I have Cerebral Palsey. First of all I want to >thank you for the support you have given me in the past. With your help I was >able to receive the service that lets me live independently. I am currently >26 and live in Towson, I also just started graduated school this past spring >at University of Baltimore for a Master's in Art. > > I am writing to let you know how important the Work Incentive >Improvement Act is to me and to tell you that other bills like this are >needed. Being a visual artist I'm discoving a way to market myself. I'm not >only a painter, but also skilled on the computer to work as a print media >designer. These skills will only improve as I proceed through the program at >U.B. Being able to market myself is letting me start small, for example >doing flyers and pamphlets for family and friends. I also recently started >doing paintings for commissions. The issue with doing these thing is -if I >get paid it is considered as income and will effect my health care benefits >and other services that I receive. At some point in my life I plan to be self >supporting, but not at this time. > > My goal at this point would saving up for a van. This would let me be more >involved in family activities. I have already talked with my counselor at the >Division of Rehabilitation Services, if I am able to buy a new van they would >make it accessible for me. > > I understand that the Act being discussed this week only deals with health >care issues, but it is a start. I am sure you will do the best to see the >Work Incentive Improvement Act through. If there is something more that I can >do, please tell me. > > Sincerely, > Dan Kelpinger > >P.S. >The best way to reach me is by e mail >[log in to unmask] > > >Bobby Greer wrote: > >> Beth asked me to post this to the list. >> >> Bobby >> >> > From: [log in to unmask] >> > To: [log in to unmask] >> > Subject: Work Incentives Stories >> > Date: Thursday, June 24, 1999 5:13 PM >> > >> > In February, I sent out an email soliciting stories about how people >> would >> > benefit from enactment of the Work Incentives Improvement Act. I >> received >> > a number of stories, and now want to request additional stories. >> > >> > As you all probably know, we have great momentum building behind the >> bill, >> > thanks to your efforts and incredible teamwork. The bill passed the >> Senate >> > Floor 99-0, and was voted out of the House Commerce Committee >> unanimously. >> > Currently, the bill is under consideration in the House Ways and Means >> > Committee. The President has said repeatedly, as Labor Secretary Herman >> > and SSA Commissioner Apfel said today as well, that he wants to have the >> > bill passed by Congress in time for a July 26 signing ceremony, on the >> > ninth anniversary of the ADA. >> > >> > If you are interested in finding more information on the bill, try >> visiting >> > the Library of Congress website. The following address will take you to >> a >> > screen where you can enter a bill number: >> > http://thomas.loc.gov/home/thomas2.html. Enter S.331 (the Senate bill >> that >> > passed) or H.R. 1180 (the House bill that most closely resembles the >> Senate >> > bill) or H.R. 1091 (a second House Bill that does not include the more >> > comprehensive health care provisions in the bill passed by the Senate and >> > endorsed by the President). >> > >> > As we move forward, it will be important to document stories of >> individuals >> > who would benefit by implementation of this legislation. Ideally, I'd >> like >> > to have on record at least one real-life example from every state--to >> show >> > that the legislation will benefit individuals with disabilities >> throughout >> > the country. >> > >> > If you or someone you know would benefit from the Work Incentives >> > Improvement Act, please consider sending me a brief paragraph that: 1) >> > summarizes the current personal situation; 2) specifically explains how >> > WIIA would help in obtaining employment. I will also need a mailing >> > address, phone number, and basic demographic information. >> > >> > Thanks for your help. You can reply via email (much preferred) or fax me >> > at 202-456-6218. >> > >> > Jonathan Young >> > >> > > >Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; x-mac-type="54455854"; >x-mac-creator="4D535744"; > name="Malkuski" >Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit >Content-Description: Unknown Document >Content-Disposition: inline; > filename="Malkuski" > >To Senator Malkuski: > > My name is Dan Keplinger and I have Cerebral Palsey. First of all >I want to thank you for the support you have given me in the past. With >your help I was able to receive the service that lets me live >independently. I am currently 26 and live in Towson, I also just started >graduated school this past spring at University of Baltimore for a >Master's in Art. > > I am writing to let you know how important the Work Incentive >Improvement Act is to me and to tell you that other bills like this are >needed. Being a visual artist I'm discoving a way to market myself. I'm >not only a painter, but also skilled on the computer to work as a print >media designer. These skills will only improve as I proceed through the >program at U.B. Being able to market myself is letting me start small, >for example doing flyers and pamphlets for family and friends. I also >recently started doing paintings for commissions. The issue with doing >these thing is -if I get paid it is considered as income and will effect >my health care benefits and other services that I receive. At some point >in my life I plan to be self supporting, but not at this time. > > My goal at this point would saving up for a van. This would let me >be more involved in family activities. I have already talked with my >counselor at the Division of Rehabilitation Services, if I am able to buy >a new van they would make it accessible for me. > > I understand that the Act being discussed this week only deals with >health care issues, but it is a start. I am sure you will do the best to >see the Work Incentive Improvement Act through. If there is something >more that I can do, please tell me. > > Sincerely, > Dan Kelpinger > >P.S. >The best way to reach me is by e mail >[log in to unmask]