TACID
"Promoting The Independence Of Individuals With Disabilities"
Network News
February 2008
TACID’s NEWSLETTER & INFORMATION CHANGES
As part of TACID’s drive to use our income most efficiently to meet our mission to promote independence, we will discontinue this hard copy newsletter after this edition . We invite you to choose between two options to continue to receive information on, events, services and news at TACID.
Request future text editions of this newsletter by e-mail: Please notify tacid@tacid.org We will send the e-mail newsletters bcc (blind copy) to protect the privacy of your e-mail address.
You can access the full version with pictures and graphics on TACID’s website: www.tacid.org click on “About” and then on “Newsletter” We plan to update the electronic TACID Network newsletter at least four times each year.
SAVE
THE DATES 
Please save the dates for these upcoming TACID Events:
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING GARAGE SALE FUNDRAISER:
March 29/30, 9:00 AM – 4:00PM, TACID Center . Contact Mary Beth for more details: 253-565-9000 x 14 or
Unveiling OF TACID SERENITY GARDEN & ART DISPLAY BY Northwest Creative Arts Center :
April 2, 2:00-3:30 PM, TACID Center . Contact Sam for more details: 253-565-9000 x 10 or sam@tacid.org
HIGH TEA AT TACID :
April 30, 5:00-6:30PM, TACID Center . Tea, biscuits (cookies), cucumber sandwiches, entertainment, door prizes, and tours of TACID. High Tea is designed to be high fun. Contact Chris for more details: 253-565-9000 ext. 12 or chrise@tacid.org
INDEPENDENCE BREAKFAST :
Sept. 23, 7:30-8:30AM Hotel Murano (formerly Tacoma Sheraton) . This is TACID's largest event and fund raiser to support programs for clients with disabilities . This year our theme is Bridges. Our program features Al Foxx, who fought devastating head injuries and has become an entertaining and motivational speaker . If you are interested in attending, or would like details of sponsorship opportunities, please e-mail: sam@tacid.org
Please check TACID’s website for more information on these events: www.tacid.org
PARTNERS WHO SUPPORT TACID
We wish to thank all the foundations and corporations that made grants to support TACID’s work in 2007: Ben B Cheney, Gottfreid and Mary Fuchs, Gibney Family, Greater Tacoma Community,
Florence Kilworth , Puyallup Tribe of Indians, Russell Investment Group, Sequoia, Tacoma Rotary 8, and Target . Between these sources TACID received over $68,000: $28,000 for program services and $40,000 for board training and capacity building.
TACID Executive Director Chris Ensor receives a $10,000 check
from Lean Landry, Chair of the Puyallup Tribe of Indians Charity Trust Board.
In addition, we wish to thank the United Way of Pierce County for it’s financial support in 2007 and the government agencies that provided contract funds for our services: the cities of Lakewood , Tacoma and University Place , Pierce County and the Washington State Dept. Services for the Blind.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE &
DISABILITIES: UNTOLD STORIES 2008
The City of Lakewood is now one of our partners in Domestic Violence and Disabilities . After a successful year in 2007, the Planning Committee is organizing the first workshop for 2008 which will be in April in Lakewood . The topic will be Healthy Sexuality. The date is yet to be fixed but people can sign up now bycalling 253-565-9000, ext. 20 ore-mail to laurie@tacid.org
MHRC (MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCE CENTER )
Last year, the MHRC served 891 different consumers who participated in the support groups, computer room, employment counseling, educational activities, and social activities . There are now 27 mental health support groups, a computer lab, and a large mental health library. We have 12 workstations in our computer lab, and the computers are up to date. The support groups are effective because there are a group of facilitators with basic training, guidelines for the support groups, and a wide variety of support groups to meet most needs of mental health consumers.
Please contact Laurie Teeter, 253-565-9000, x 20 laurie@tacid.org or check our website at www.tacid.org for more information.
DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING SERVICES
Deaf and hard of hearing groups continue to meet at the TACID Center . A VP (Video Phone) is available for use at the TACID Center in Room #19 Monday to Friday from 9 AM to 8:30 PM (excluding holidays).
Anyone seeking assistance for c lient services for the deaf and hard of hearing communities should please contact the Hearing, Speech and Deafness Center ( HSDC ), 47 th Park Place Building , 3516 S 47 th St Suite 200 , Tacoma , WA 98409 . 253-475-0782 (Voice), 253-474-1748 (TTY), 1-866-698-1748 (Toll Free) E-mail: tacoma@hsdc.org
DEVELOPMENT
We invite your one-time cash gifts, recurring pledge payments, in-kind donations, gifts in tribute to loved ones, and your bequests to help support TACID’s services for people with disabilities. Call TACID’s Development Assistant at (253) 565-9000, ext. 36 or e-mail sam@tacid.org for details on how you can give.
DONATIONS REQUESTED!
If you like what you read and approve of the work we do, please make a donation ! TACID is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, so donations are tax deductible . Our Federal Tax ID# is 91-1125538 . Please make your check out to “TACID” and mail to: TACID, 6315 So . 19th Street . 19 th Street , Tacoma WA 98466 . We also accept credit card donations and you can donate on-line through our website: www.tacid.org Thank you!
VOLUNTEER PROGRAM :
Last year TACID’s GREAT team of volunteers put in 8,664 hours of volunteer work: over 2,000 more hours than were recorded in 2006 . TACID volunteers are talented in many areas . You did everything from reading to the blind, yard work, painting, help with the movie, work with the Achivas , provide group facilitating, work with blind clients in their homes, help in the computer lab, and board activities and meetings just to name a few. Thanks for all the hard work you give to TACID. You all are a great group of volunteers.
If you do not get E-Mails from me during the month and would like to please send me an E-Mail with your request.
Contact Georganna at: 565-9000 Ext. 21 or georganna@tacid.org for more information on volunteer opportunities with TACID.
TACID Success Story:
This story is from TACID’s Supportive Housing Project ( SHP ).
“Terri” came into the SHP after being homeless with her severely disabled daughter for a few months . They were able to find transitional housing until our family unit was available . We had not had a baby in our program for long time, and we all were very excited to see her . One of our volunteers was able to get a business in the community to sponsor the baby and they bought a beautiful crib, blankets clothes and decorations for the baby’s room . Terri was overwhelmed when she moved in . She knew our apartments were furnished but she expected old, used items . Instead, she got beautiful new furniture and she really loved her new house!
Not one to sit around, Terri soon got to know several people in the apartment complex, and got busy helping by giving away the clothing she no longer needed, and giving rides to people without cars . She got her own apartment moved into immediately, and then started looking around for what she could do for others . She helped with various projects, our garage sale, our emergency preparedness boxes, all this with a baby who could not yet walk . She put lots of energy into everything she did, including jumping through all the hoops the state required to get back full custody of her 5-year-old son, and keeping up with all her daughter’s medical needs . When a temporary part-time job came open at TACID, she took it, and did a great service to TACID and the other clients of the SHP . She lost her babysitter, and was not able to continue the job, but she still helps whenever she can.
It is amazing to see someone go from homeless to a helpful, useful member of society in less than a year.
(Picture is a group of Davita Volunteers working on the Serenity Garden)
Unveiling OF TACID SERENITY GARDEN & ART DISPLAY BY Northwest Creative Arts Center
April 2, 2:00-3:30 PM, TACID Center . Contact Sam for more details: 253-565-9000 x 10 or sam@tacid.org
ADVERTISE IN TACID NETWORK
Thank you to Kersey Mobility Systems and Catholic Community Services for advertising in this edition . There are opportunities to promote disability products and services on TACID’s website: www.tacid.org Please call Chris Ensor: 565-9000 x12 or e-mail chrise@tacid.org for more details.
HELP: HOUSING AND EMPLOYMENT LINK PROGRAM.
The Housing
and Employment Program offers help to people with disabilities to find
housing and employment. Housing is difficult to find, but we do have
some resources, and can often help people find appropriate and affordable
places to live.
The
Supportive Housing Project is working to enable homeless people with
disabilities to find permanent mainstream housing and to live safe and
comfortable lives. We are planning a garage sale/fundraiser. This will
be held at TACID on March 29 and 30. We already have many wonderful
donations, so you might want to plan to come shopping.
Section 8 applications will be opening up in February for The Tacoma
Housing Authority. Hopefully, TACID will be one of the distribution
spots for the applications. They will probably be available on March
12,13 and 14.. Watch the newspaper for more up-to-date information.
HELP
provides information and assistance to find housing and employment for
people with disabilities in Tacoma and Lakewood and throughout Pierce
County. Call HELP Manager Mary Beth on 253-565-9000 X 14 (voice) or
253-565-3486 (TTY) to find out more.
DISABILITY INFORMATION AND REFERRAL
For disability information
and referral call 253-565-9000 ext. 14 (V) or 565-3486 (TTY),
e-mail to: Marybeth@tacid.org or visit our website: www.tacid.org
TACID CENTER
Over 50 different disability
groups and organizations meet and run activities at the TACID Center:
from “A” for Achivas (our daily mixed ability activities
group) to “W” for Women’s
Issues support group. Contact TACID Reception for the current full list:
253-565-9000 ext.10, (voice), 253-565-3486 (TTY), e-mail: sam@tacid.org
or visit our website: www.tacid.org.
BLIND/INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAM
CCTV:
We are often able to provide CCTVs (closed circuit televisions), a very
expensive electronic magnification device, to many Independent Living
program participants. If you or someone you know has blind and/or low-vision
equipment in good condition that is no longer being used, please consider
TACID. People with low vision are able to demonstrate a CCTV at the
TACID Center with our Independent Living Specialist to see if this aid
works for them.
Descriptive Video:
TACID is building partnerships to strengthen our connection to the blind
community. The PCAB (Pierce County Association of the Blind), a local
affiliate of the WCB (Washington Council of the Blind), meets at the
TACID Center the fourth Sunday of each month from 2-4 pm. The PCAB and
the Tacoma Downtown Lions Club are developing a descriptive video library
to be housed at the TACID Center. Descriptive video makes feature films
accessible to persons with vision loss by providing professional narration
of key visual elements that a blind person would ordinarily miss.
Blind Peer Support:
The Blind Peer Support Group meets from 10 AM to 12 Noon at the TACID
Center on the first Wednesday of the month. Education on different topics
of interest is covered each month and there is an opportunity to socialize
over coffee and snacks.
If
you would like more information about any of these services or need
independent living training, please contact Laura at (253) 565-9000
Ext. 24.
or laura@tacid.org
CONTRIBUTE TO THE TACID NETWORK NEWSLETTER:
Please send your contribution for the next e-mail and website edition by February 28, 2008 to the editor (chrise@tacid.org) the next edition will be available in March 2008
Copies of this newsletter are available in large print, Braille and tape upon request to: TACID, 6315 South 19th Street , Tacoma WA 98466 . It is also posted on our website : www.tacid.org
Copies of TACID Network are available in large print, Braille and tape upon request to:
TACID
6315 South 19th Street
Tacoma, WA 98466.