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NYSILC Receives Public Policy Award from the Brain Injury Association

On June 9th, at the Marriott Hotel, NYSILC was awarded a Public Policy Award at a meeting sponsored by the Brain Injury Association of NYS. This award is given to champions of legislation, regulations and other policies which promote equal access to services, community re-entry, inclusion and acceptance of persons with brain injury and their families.

The award was presented as part of BIANYS Annual Awards Luncheon in conjunction with the Associations 24th Annual conference. Ralph Shields, a long time BIANY’s volunteer and former NYSILC council member, gave the award. Shields cited NYSILC’s tireless advocacy for equal access to the voting booth and polling place as one of the reasons why NYSILC received the award.

Melvyn Tanzman, Chair of the NYSILC, accepted the award. “We must never allow ourselves to be bound by the narrow attitudes of many, including doctors, nurses and bureaucrats, that define us by what we cannot do rather then what we can do,” stated Tanzman.

This is the second award NYSILC or a NYSILC staff member has received from BIANYS.

Save The Dates: October 30th-November 1st 2006 NYAIL’s 2006 Annual Conference and Disability Caucus “Taking Action for Independence: Changing Systems and Changing Lives” Desmond Hotel and Conference Center Albany, NY. Go to www.ilny.org/ calendar/index.html for more information

Financial Reference Guide Workshops a Success

As part of NYSILC’s IL Training Academy, NYSILC, VESID and NYAIL sponsored the development of a Financial Reference Guide for New York State Independent Living Centers. This reference guide was intended to direct Independent Living Centers to relevant resources as well as improve compliance with state financial requirements. It was also designed as a tool to strengthen financial practices to promote the growth on the ILC overall. The reference guide was developed by Ronald Calhoun, a consultant knowledgeable in fiscal guidelines within the field of Vocational Rehabilitation. In order to launch this new reference guide four regional “Financial Reference Guide workshops” were held across the state throughout the month of June. They were held in Newburgh, Utica, Rochester and White Plains. Over 20 ILC’s sent representatives. Participants reported that both the reference guide and the workshop were very useful.

Financial Reference Guides are available to CIL Executive Directors, financial personnel and to Board Presidents and Treasurers. Contact Susan Cohen of NYSILC at 518-427-1060 for more information. NYSILC would like to thank the IL Centers that agreed to host these workshops.

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