Item H1
APR-25-2001 12:35
P.01
IIOOS ()yeneu HiP..y
..... Sail..11
.......rada.11 D836
Pbunc. (30S)lS2-O 117
ToU free: (177)335-0187
FIX: (3~)8S2-0121
~/04 '1~ ~{gw"
Of the Florida Keys
April 25, 2001
Mr. Jame8 Robert.
FAX 852-7162
Dear Mr. Roberts:
I would like to request "time certain"
to appear on the Sounding Soard at the
May 18 meeting of the Commission. My
subject will be "The Independent t,!vinq
Plan".
Thank you for your conslderation.
CENTER FOR I"D~PENDENT LIVING
~~ltIjPAL~
Paula Wo19a8t She.
TOTAL P.01
IrHI
O~~Y~o~~E
(305) 294-4641
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
MAYOR Shirley Freeman, District 3
r~.~"'-- Mayor Pro Tern George Nugent, District 2
Nora Williams, District 4
Mary Kay Reich, District 5
Wilhelmina Harvey, District I
Social Services Welfare Program
88820 Overseas Highway (Annex)
Tavernier, Florida 33070
Telephone: (305) 852-7125
Fax: (305) 852-7159
November 6, 2000
The Center for Independent Living
Plaza 88 - Overseas Highway
Islamorada, Florida 33036
Dear CIL:
Your assistance with clients of the Monroe County Social Services has filled the gap in
the continuum of services. Your in depth response has enabled clients of mine to
function more independently, and, in several cases, has prevented disabled individuals
from being institutionalized.
Your center is productive, effective, and efficient. Clearly this is a result of quality staff.
You all, Paula, Freeda and Jane, are the heroes to clients such as the deaf widow who
started a new life in a new home with two new hearing aids. . . thanks to you; the burn
victim (burned over the greater percentage of his body) who was able to maintain his
lifeline/computer... thanks to your assistance; and the family who experienced the death
of two members leaving two severely disabled brothers on their own. . . and functioning
thanks to the Center for Independent Living. In fact, of Monroe County's almost daily
referrals to your office, not one client has ever been dissatisfied with your services. This
is remarkable considering the difficult population we serve.
You have established a new office and managed an overwhelming number of requests
with professionalism, with positive public relations, and with services which have made
the difference in people's lives.
We thank you,
f~i~.t5~~
Edith Zewadski-Bricker
Social Worker Supervisor
ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING
James Gregory McDermott IT was born on April 8 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
James passed away in the early hours of March 13,2001, he was doing what he liked
best, chatting on the Internet. He would have been 43 next month. James may not have
been able to do everything physically that you and I take for granted, but he was the most
incredible person that we have yet to meet, to him ATTITUDE WAS EVERYTIllNG.
When it comes to tenacity James was full of it. He was the most determined person I've
ever met. As he said, "I got it from my dad". On a trip to Marathon to see his doctor,
James talked about his mother and his close relationship with her. After her death it took
almost two years for him to get back down here with his father, James Gregory
McDermott I, stepmother Barbara, and sister, Jami Coffinan, all of Islam or ada. A brother
Kevin in Tampa; sisters Robin, Stacie, and Claudia and one brother Shaun, all in
Missouri, also survive him.
James stated many times that he did not want to be in a nursing home and was so proud
that he was living independent. He would thank us for helping him to achieve this, all we
did was make it possible, and he had the energy and drive to make it work.
When James was a teen he dove off a bridge and broke his neck in three places. He was
in a car accident a few years after that and over the years had acquired a condition called
Syringo Myalgia, which resulted in a shunt in his spine. The shunt and the constant
muscle spasms that plagued him, especially in his legs, caused a tremendous amount of
pain. He had been told that he would never walk again. However, through sheer
persistence and daily exercise he was only just able to move his arms and legs. Even on
his worst days his attitude was undefeated. He was up beat, smiling and didn't let
anything get him down.
When we first met James he was using a lawn chair to scoot across the floor to get from
his wheelchair, which was too big to get through the door, to his bed. The Center for
Independent Living bought him a smaller wheelchair and hired someone to widen the
door to his bedroom. We also put some grab bars in his bathroom and gave him a shower
chair to make it easier for him to shower. One time, after a few days in the hospital,
James mentioned how nice it was to sleep with his knees and head up. The Center had
just received a donation of a Craftmatic bed, we delivered it the next day.
To further his independence, we furnished him with a donated motorized scooter, and he
made good use of it. It was a pleasure to watch him going down the bike path with his
hair blowing in the breeze, and a big smile on his face. He wanted to buy a truck and had
a mend who was going to install hand controls for him.
James was very talented and creative on his lap top computer. He was working on T-
shirts for a mend to sell for him. Although he had many workable slogans for the shirts,
his favorite was "24 hours in a day, 24 cans in a case - coincidence? I think not." He
was also creating business cards for a friend in Missouri where he is from.
James was so very proud of being a published poet. He started the poem when he was 15
and had just recently gotten it published.
Confession
I Love you
And your dreams I've come to cherish
I want you
Without you I am not whole
I need you
Like a child who draws his first breath
Longingfor your touch
In the sweetness of your love
Consumes my soul.
James had written us a letter thanking us for what we have done for him.
To the Center for Independent (.,ivinl!.
I continually seek words that can express my deep felt appreciation for the multitude of
aids you have provided, and continue to provide me that I may continue my recovery and
daily living here at home.
I can honestly say, without your help I doubt I could have achieved it.
With so many obstacles and 'nay sayers' it has been a real blessing to find people with
determination equal to my own with respect to my independent living in my own home.
The electric scooter you provided has changed my life quality enormously. With a twenty
mile range I am able to do all my own shopping, as well as visit friends and family.
I'm even able to carry out light landscaping around my yard It's just been wonderful.
I hope and pray you will be able to continue your work far into the future for hundreds
perhaps thousands of others here in the Keys who can benefit from your organization.
Sincerely, James McDermott, Is/amorada
Tears of grief are on the page as we try to say good"bye to one of the dearest people we
have had the pleasure to know in a long time. We know that anyone who had the
opportunity to come in contact with Jim will miss him. We're consoled in our belief that
he is with his mother ,whom he loved dearly, and the fact that he maintained his dignity
and zest for independence to the end.
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Send To: center for independent living
Subject: thank you
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dear freda and associates,
just recently your organization completed work a tour residence..742 Largo
Road. It was truly a God send including ramp revision and plumbing facilities
which now allows us to exit and enter our d welling with safety and smooth steps.
We were a the end of hope when you came and nelped us. I mean my health was
affected by stress with the wheelchair. The extrordinary professional work
was like a miracle before our eyes. They worked a workable plan for seniors.
We are truly grateful and in future endeavors we may be of assistance to you.
Enough can not be said for our appreciation and our families too say thank you.
May the near future be success and continued community service.
God Bless, the :;: B~ ~ ~
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ATTENTION!
INDIVIDUALS WITH A DISABILITY
The Center for Independent Living of South Florida assesses the needs of
the disability community every few years to help us decide how our
available resources can be used more effectively. Your opinions are very
important to us. You can help us make better decisions by telling us what.
kinds of help you need. Here are some'suggestions. Please check all
those that are of interest to you. If you have needs that are not on this list,
please add them.
_information on disabilities.
_information on community resources.
_information about centers for independent living (Clls) in Florida.
_help with Social Security.
_help managing money or writing checks.
_learn how to hire and fire a personal attendant or homemaker.
_advice on Special Education issues.
_shop or prepare meals.
_learn to live on my own.
_seek and find employment
_learn to advocate for myself.
_find accessible housing.
_find disability-related legal services.
_find social or recreational activities.
_make friends.
_find a day program for a child or an adult with a disability.
_find someone with a disability I can talk with about my life.
_find a support group for individuals with a disability like mine.
_find a group of individuals without disabilities to join.
_file a discrimination complaint.
_find reader services.
_find an ASl interpreter.
_find personal attendant or homemaker.
_arrange transportation services.
_learn how to use public transportation.
_register or learn how to vote.
_obtain adaptive equipment
_find an appropriate educational program after high school.
Add your own needs if you donlt see them listed above: