Heartland Spreads Christmas Cheer

To help spread Christmas cheer, Heartland Independent Living Center (HILC) staff selected six consumers to receive a gift basket for the holidays. The cartful of goodies included a turkey and all the fixings for Christmas dinner, plus supplies to store the leftovers and put the house back in order after the holiday festivities.

HILC staff filled six shopping carts with food and household items, packed each of the baskets, and delivered the Christmas gifts to consumers in Belle, Bland, Linn, Owensville, St. Clair, and Vienna.

Upon seeing the consumers’ reactions to the gifts, Heartland staff members experienced the true meaning of the old phrase, “It’s more blessed to give than to receive.”

All of us at Heartland Independent Living Center wish all our consumers a wonderful holiday - - and a prosperous new year filled with hope. 

Heartland staff filled six shopping carts with food and household items.

Heartland's Valerie Thomas visits with Bob and Melanie Garris in Owensville.

Belle octogenarian Nettie Doss and her aide Linda Plummer (right) enjoy a visit from Heartland's Maggie Brooks.

Heartland's Maggie Brooks delivers Christmas cheer to Ray Vermillion and his loyal companion, Lady, in Vienna.

Scholarships Awarded to Two Heartland Sponsored Students

Two of the three $1,000 scholarships recently awarded by the Missouri Statewide Independent Living Council in Jefferson City (MOSILC) were awarded to students 

sponsored by Heartland Independent Living Center (HILC).   The scholarship was open to any high school senior or college student with a certified disability.

Eighteen applications were received from throughout Missouri.  Three students were chosen to receive the scholarship to be used at the Missouri school of their choice.

St. Francis Borgia 2013 graduate Ian Yenzer was one of the $1,000 scholarship recipients.  He is currently attending Maryville University majoring in Psychology with an emphasis on rehabilitation counseling.

Fatima High School senior Megan Wieberg of Westphalia also received a $1,000 scholarship.  Among other extracurricular activities, Megan is the historian of the school’s National Honor Society.  She has not yet chosen a college. 

“It gives me great pleasure that Heartland Independent Living Center was able to sponsor two of the three statewide scholars selected for the MOSILC scholarships,” stated HILC Executive Director Pat Chambers.  “We are delighted to lend these students a helping hand in their pursuit of higher education.” 

The independent living philosophy supports the rights of individuals with disabilities to have the same opportunities as those without disabilities; the right of choice, control, freedom, and equality.  Centers for Independent Living offer services to assist individuals with disabilities to make decisions about their own life, achieve or maintain independence, and participate in their community.

One of the 22 nonprofit centers in Missouri, Heartland Independent Living Center (HILC) provides services to individuals with disabilities in east central Missouri.  Among the free services HILC provides are advocacy, information and referral, independent living skills training, ramps and home modifications, nursing home transition, adaptive medical equipment, and dental services.  HILC holds the Better Business Bureau Charity Seal.

For more information on available services, contact HILC toll-free at 866-322-3224, or visit their website at www.heartlandilc.org.

Heartland Receives $250,000 Community Development Block Grant

Thanks to receiving a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) in the amount of $250,000, Heartland Independent Living Center (HILC) will be able to expand its services to the community. The grant, awarded by The Missouri Department of Economic Development, is offered to small communities to improve local facilities. HILC will use the CDBG funds to renovate its main office building in Owensville which will result in a greater capacity for growth.

“As the grant sponsor for Heartland, I would like to congratulate them on a job well-done,” states Owensville City Administrator John Tracy.   “For over ten years now they have been consistent in providing services for our disabled and elderly,” continued Tracy, “and we are proud to back them in this expansion endeavor.”

The construction process, which will occur in three continual phases, is anticipated to begin in early 2014.  CDBG funding will provide approximately one third the resources required for the entire renovation.  HILC administration will be consulting lending institutions to secure financing needed complete the venture. 

During his recent Flapjack Tour,  State Senator Mike Kehoe stopped by Heartland Independent Living Center to congratulate the Center on their receipt of a 2013 Community Development Block Grant. HILC  Executive Director Pat Chambers points out proposed renovations to the unfinished portion of the HILC facility during the Senator’s  tour of the building.

The HILC facility was originally a lumber yard, adapted into office space in 2003.  The south portion of the building is predominantly unfinished.  According to Executive Director Pat Chambers, multiple problems have surfaced due to structural issues.  Chambers cites plumbing and drainage inadequacies, a poor electrical system, heating and cooling deficiencies, and roof leakages which have resulted in mold accumulation. Additionally, current finished office space is at its capacity for staff.  Renovation will allow expansion of staff and services with proper utilization of the entire building.

Chambers and his staff are excited to see the realization of this long-anticipated project.  In addition to increased office space, plans call for the addition of a display room for adaptive equipment, a low-vision center, an interactive display area for adaptive telephones and Internet software, a construction workshop, and a multi-purpose room.  The large multi-purpose room will allow HILC to provide numerous programs in partnership with community human and social services partners.  The HILC Community Resource Center is slated to provide services supporting better health and life skills, empowering area residents and enabling true independent living. 

Considered to be an extremely competitive grant, 14 applications for community facilities were received by the Missouri Department of Economic Development in 2013.  HILC is one of only five recipients.  The HILC application was compiled by Resource Development Coordinator Tiffany Reid, with collaboration from Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) Project Development Manager Kelly Sink-Blair. 

“We would like to thank Kelly Sink-Blair for her efforts,” says Chambers.  “We are fortunate to have an agency as reputable and knowledgeable as MRPC in our area.”  MRPC will also administer the grant.

“Obviously we are very pleased with the outcome of this grant application,” said Sink-Blair.  “We look forward to working with Heartland through the administration of the grant, and to seeing the benefit it will bring to their clientele and community.” 

HILC is also grateful to Senator Mike Kehoe, Representative Dave Schatz, Gasconade County Health Department Administrator Sara Michie, and Franklin County Hunger Task Force Representative Loetta Blair who provided letters of support to the Missouri Department of Economic Development.

Heartland Independent Living Center (HILC) is a nonprofit, nonresidential, community based organization serving individuals with disabilities in east central Missouri.  HILC holds the Better Business Bureau’s Charity Seal.  HILC offers free services to assist people to live independently in their own homes, including advocacy, information & referral, independent living skills training, ramps and home modifications, nursing home transition, adaptive equipment, and dental services.  For more information on available services, contact HILC toll-free at 866-322-3224. 

Disaster Recovery Group Reviews Disability Procedures

In the case of emergency evacuation and temporary shelter, what is the most efficient and safest procedure to assist a blind individual and their service dog?  Or a paraplegic who uses a wheelchair for mobilization?  The Franklin County Emergency Management Agency (FCEMA) recently enlisted the expertise of Heartland Independent Living Center (HILC) to address these concerns. 

In a blind simulation exercise, HILC’s Executive Director 

Pat Chambers  verbally leads FCEMA’s Director Abe 

Cook 

through an obstacle course.  Looking on are 

Stephanie 

Hulsey, FCEMA Administrator (left,) and Dian 

Becker, 

Communications Supervisor for the Pacific Police 

Department.

“Rather than fumble around losing precious time and possibly making the situation worse, we want to know ahead of time the safest and quickest way to help remove a disabled individual from harm’s way in a disaster,” says FCEMA Director Abraham Cook.  “Since HILC is well-versed in services for the disabled, we asked them for a crash course.”

Two HILC representatives with disabilities demonstrated firsthand accounts of what their individual needs might be in case of evacuation or temporary shelter.  Mark Hulsey, HILC Board of Directors President, is a paraplegic.  He demonstrated how the electronic wheelchair operates, under what circumstances to use auto vs. manual controls, and how best to transfer an individual with paralysis to and from a wheelchair or a bed.  He also pointed out that body positioning is important as pressure points can cause major problems within 30 minutes.

Marcie Wallace, who works as the Braille transcriptionist for HILC, has been blind since birth.  Her service dog, Porter, is always at her side acting as her eyes.  Wallace’s first concern was for her loyal companion, Porter.  She explained that although in an emergency things might tend to get hectic, addressing her and Porter in a calm, clear and concise manner would keep them both focused.  She also explained that when a service dog is in harness, he is the leader.  When evacuating, address the dog by his name followed by “heel” and lead him by the leash so he will follow, but make sure to retrieve the harness as well.

HILC’s Disability Awareness Education program was developed to help children understand and respect individuals with disabilities.  Studies have shown that the more children know about disabilities, the more likely they are to accept the individual, and the less likely they are to bully them. The program is presented to elementary school students throughout HILC’s east central Missouri service area.  HILC has recently expanded the program for adult consumers as well such as emergency or first responders. 

From left: Stephanie Hulsey, FCEMA Administrator;  Laura Willhite, HILC Administrative Assistant;  Dian Becker, Pacific Police Department Communications Supervisor;  Pat Chambers, HILC Executive Director; Mark Hulsey, HILC Board of Director’s President;  Maggie Brooks, HILC CDS Specialist;  Abraham Cook, FCEMA Director;  and Marcie Wallace, HILC Braille Transcriptionist with service dog Porter.

Belle Elementary Students Experience Disabilities

Have you ever tried to open a piece of candy while wearing oven mitts?  Or navigate from one place to another with your eyes closed?  Belle Elementary School students discovered that for an individual with some type of disability, seemingly simple tasks may not be so easy when students experienced “walking in someone else’s shoes” for a short while.

Belle 4^th grade students experience the sensation of blindness 

at a Disability Awareness Education program presented by Heartland 

Independent Living Center.  Isaac Wells acts as Cassielyn 

Freeman’s eyes as he leads her through the school gym. 

Through their Disability Awareness Education program, Heartland Independent Living Center (HILC) is promoting an important message to children.  Individuals with disabilities are not to be scorned or bullied, but instead respected for their ability to overcome whatever barriers they may have.

HILC representatives demonstrated what disabilities are and how individuals might overcome them to remain independent.  Marcie Wallace, who works for HILC, has been blind since birth.  Her guide dog, Porter, serves as her eyes when walking.  Students had the opportunity to question Marcie first-hand to see how she adapts to perform the daily living tasks most of us take for granted. 

HILC also used disability dolls designed to demonstrate various types of physical disabilities and therapy options available to reinforce the concept that all children are special and unique.  The disability dolls were purchased through a grant from The Clorox Company Foundation via Kingsford Manufacturing Company earlier this year to support HILC’s Disability Awareness Education program.

Belle 3^rd and 4^th grade students examine dolls designed

to demonstrate various types of physical disabilities 

and therapy options available.  The dolls were purchased 

through a grant from Kingsford Manufacturing Company 

earlier this year to support HILC’s Disability Awareness 

Education program. 

To schedule a Disability Awareness Education program, contact Laura Willhite at 877-553-5215.  For additional information on Heartland Independent Living Center, please check the website at www.heartlandilc.org.

Heartland Independent Living Center is a nonprofit, non-residential, community based organization that serves individuals with disabilities in east central Missouri.  HILC holds the Better Business Bureau’s Charity Seal.  HILC offers a number of free programs and services to assist people to live independently in their own homes.  Programs include, but are not limited to, advocacy, information & referral, independent living skills training, ramps and home modifications, nursing home transition, adaptive equipment, and dental services.

Win a Wishing Well

Pay it forward this holiday season.  The generosity of one Heartland Independent Living Center (HILC) staff member will be passed on to help others in need of emergency assistance.  Dean Todaro, HILC’s Ramp and Home Modifications Specialist, donated his expertise in designing and building a wooden wishing well for a fundraising project.

The wishing well stands 6 feet tall and is made from 100% treated lumber to withstand the weather.  In the center is a planter box, along with a wooden dowel at the top for hanging plants. 

 You too can pay it forward by purchasing a raffle ticket to win the wishing well.  Funds will be used for HILC’s Consumer Emergency Assistance program.  Tickets are $5 each or six for $25 and may be purchased at HILC’s main office in Owensville or at the Christopher Manhart office in Union.

Dean Todaro donated his time and expertise to build this 6-foot 

wishing well to raise funds for consumer emergency assistance.  

Also pictured are Goldie Parrett, HILC’s Service Manager (left), 

and Ann Cassidy, CDS Specialist in the HILC’s Christopher 

Manhart office in Union.  Raffle tickets are $5 each or 6 tickets 

for $25. They are available until the drawing on December 13^th. 

Todaro built the wishing well in one weekend using leftover lumber from previously constructed ramps.  In the construction business for over 30 years, Todaro’s work ethics are to not waste costly building materials.  “Once we accumulated enough leftovers, I spent a weekend building the wishing well,” says Todaro.  “I designed it myself. I have built several others for area benefits.”  During this past year with HILC, Todaro counts approximately 35 ramp projects HILC has provided for consumers.  All the ramps are custom designed to fit the individual’s needs and built to ADA specs.   

HILC’s emergency assistance program helps consumers who face an unexpected crisis, such as medical prescriptions and utility bills.  Funds are limited and reserved for qualifying individuals with disabilities to help them maintain their independence.  Funds raised at HILC’s recent Autumn Fest were contributed to the emergency assistance fund.

Raffle tickets may be purchased at HILC’s Owensville office at 1010 Hwy 28 West, or it’s Union office at 104 South McKinley, Suite A.  The raffle drawing is December 13^th, just in time to make a great Christmas gift. 

Students Learn to Adapt to Disabilities

Heartland Independent Living Center (HILC) 

representatives address Nike Elementary School class 

regarding Disability Awareness Education.  Pictured 

from left are HILC’s Laura Willhite, Mark Hulsey, 

Maggie Brooks, and Marcie Wallace with her guide 

dog Porter.      

Heartland Independent Living Center (HILC) recently introduced students at the Nike Elementary School in Catawissa to Marcie Wallace, her service dog Porter, and Mark Hulsey.  Wallace and Hulsey are individuals with disabilities, Marcie is blind and Mark is a paraplegic.  Both agree that their disability doesn’t make them invalids, just different from other people.  Both navigated the winding halls of Nike Elementary, Mark with his electric wheelchair, and Marcie with Porter, who acts as her eyes.  Both have learned to adapt to their disability in order to live independent lifestyles.

HILC is endeavoring to get an important message across to children.  Disabled individuals are not to be scorned or bullied, but respected for their ability to overcome whatever obstacles they may have.  “They 

have a heart, a brain, and feelings just like you and I do,” explains HILC’s Laura Willhite. “Their disability doesn’t make them any less of a person.” 

To increase awareness of people with disabilities, HILC has developed a Disability

As a demonstration of how one would function without the use of your right hand,

Nike Elementary School students try to unwrap a piece of 

candy with an oven mitt on one hand. Pictured from left 

are Malia Gall, Blake Gammill, Natalie Adams, MacKenzie 

Collins, Shelby Kelemen, and Dasia Smith.

Awareness Education program, which makes presentations to area school children. Research shows that understanding a disability can help a child identify and empathize with others, and help prevent bullying and harassment in schools. Disability awareness can also empower children with disabilities so they are more likely to finish school, find a job, 
and contribute to their community.

A Robertsville native, Mark attended 

grade school in Lonedell.  At St. Clair 

High School, he became a basketball celebrity lettering all four years at the 

varsity level.  Some years later, a fall resulted in a broken neck leaving him with partial paralysis.  Mark didn’t let that stop him.  He sought assistance from Vocational Rehabilitation and HILC and learned how to adapt his lifestyle to accommodate his disability.  Mark continued to pursue his ambitions graduating from East Central College and Missouri Baptist University.  With adaptive equipment, he is able to use his computer and telephone to communicate, and his electric wheelchair to get around.  He also drives his own van, equipped with adaptive operating controls. Mark currently sits as President of the Board of Heartland Independent Living Center.

Heartland Independent Living Center representatives Mark Hulsey and

Marcie Wallace, along with her guide dog Porter, talk with Nike Elementary 

School students about disability awareness.Pictured from left are Guidance 

Counselor Melinda Maylee, Julia Thomas, Principal Lisa Weirich, Dalton 

Roth, Trevor Hill, and Tristin Herrin.

Although blind since birth, Marcie is also no couch potato. A graduate of the Missouri School for the Blind in St. Louis, Marcie continued her education at St. Louis College of Business and Vanderschmitt School of Business in St. Louis. Her loyal companion and service dog, Porter, guides her through daily living activities.  Marcie and Porter come to work daily at HILC where, along with other office duties, she translates written materials into Braille.  When asked if there’s anything that she can’t do, Marcie replies, “It’s a nuisance not to be able to drive a car, but I don’t let that stand in the way of my life’s goals.”

Home is Where the Heart Is

After 14 months of rehab in a nursing home following amputation of her left leg, 74-year old Pat Thomas is back in her own home.  Thomas was born, raised, and has lived most of her life in the circa 1823 family farmhouse in Bland and is not about to leave now.  “This is my home,” says Thomas, “and there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”

While recuperating from surgery and rehabilitation at the nursing home, Thomas began making plans to return to her home.  She was not willing to let her physical predicament strip her of her independence.   After all, her 12-year old dog Jack was waiting for her return. 

One of the requirements for Thomas to return home was wheelchair access.  She needed a ramp to navigate her wheelchair to the front door.  Keeping up with the local news, Thomas spotted a newspaper article in which Legends Bank had donated funds to Heartland Independent Living Center to support its Home Modification program.  Inspired by the story, Thomas contacted Heartland and the road home began.

Thomas returned home in January 2013 with a 16-foot ramp ready and waiting.  Also waiting was Janet Ocheskey, a Registered Nurse from HILC In-Home Care, who visits Thomas weekly.  Under Heartland’s In-Home Care program, Thomas also receives weekly visits from an aide who helps with activities of daily living.

The next hurdle Thomas faced was access to her bathroom.  Again, Heartland came to the rescue with a shower seat, grab bars, accessible toilet stool, and door threshold making Thomas’ bathroom fully accessible to her needs.

Thomas’ final step to independence was the Guardian Alert communications device that Heartland provided her.  “It’s a matter of security for me,” says Thomas.  “I wear it around my neck every night when going to bed.  I’d hate to get up in the middle of the night and blunder around and fall and break a bone.”  Thomas says she wears the Guardian Alert in the daytime also when she is home alone.  “But I’m seldom alone as family, friends and neighbors are constantly visiting and checking on me,” continues Thomas.  “Everyone has been so helpful and considerate since I’ve returned home.”

When Thomas returned home in January, her HILC In-Home Care Aide visited 5 days a week to assist with daily living chores.  Thomas is now doing so well she elected to cut her aide’s visits to one day a week.  Thomas boasts that she even went grocery shopping recently.  “I called ahead to Mace’s grocery store and an employee met me at the car.  She took my grocery list, filled it, loaded it into the car and I was off.”  

HILC In-Home Care’s RN continues to make weekly visits to ensure that Thomas remains in good health.  “With my diabetes, I feel much more confident knowing a medical professional is monitoring my condition,” explains Thomas.  “I can’t say enough about the people at Heartland.  They have helped me tremendously and I would not have been able to maintain my independence and live at home without their help.”

“With sheer determination, Ms. Thomas has been able to stay in her own home,” states HILC RN Ocheskey.  “She has adapted her living skills since the amputation, and compensated for things she can no longer do.  I could only hope to be as independent as Ms. Thomas when I’m 74.”

Three Rivers Foundation Backs Heartland for Guardian Alerts

Three Rivers Helping Hands Community Foundation recently awarded Heartland Independent Living Center a $3,000 Change for Life grant. The funds will be used to purchase Guardian Alert 911 communication devices for Heartland consumers. This is the fourth year that Three Rivers has supported Heartland’s quest to help the community’s disabled individuals. 

“It is through the generosity of local business leaders such as Three Rivers that we are able to enhance our services to the disabled in our communities,” states Heartland Executive Director Pat Chambers. “We appreciate Three Rivers for remaining a steady support in promoting our efforts to allow people to remain independent in their own homes.” 

The Guardian Alert 911 is a two-way communication device that allows an individual to call for immediate help at the touch of a button. It is a personal security emergency response system that can provide a life-saving means of support for anyone who cannot help themselves in the event of a fall or sudden illness. Heartland has already distributed many Guardian Alerts but demand overpowers supply creating a waiting list for qualified consumers. 

Three Rivers Electric Cooperative, located in Linn, MO, serves portions of seven counties and more than 21,000 residential, business, commercial, farm and industrial accounts. One of the missions of its Helping Hands Community Foundation Change for Life program is to assist community service providers in their efforts to improve the quality of life in their neighborhood and community. “Guardian Alerts certainly meet that mission,” states Foundation Coordinator Vicki Lange. “They provide safety, security and peace of mind to disabled individuals living at home,” Lange continues, “and we are proud to support Heartland in getting them to the right people.” The Change for Life program is funded by Three Rivers Electric Coop members who voluntarily allow their bills to be rounded up to the next dollar. 

HILC Helps Five Year-Old Gain Independence

Look out Villa Ridge, there’s a new driver in town. Five year-old Marissa Smith is the proud owner of a power wheelchair.

Marissa was born with Cerebral Palsy, a disorder of movement, muscle tone or posture that is caused by injury or abnormal development in the immature brain, most often before birth.

Heartland Independent Living Center (HILC) was first introduced to her in November 2012 when Franklin County Developmental Services contacted HILC staff to see if they could help Marissa’s family obtain adaptive equipment. The first item required was a feeding chair. HILC located one from another Center for Independent Living in Kansas City, driving 215 miles to pick it up, and delivering it to her home in Villa Ridge. 




HILC staff discovered the family’s difficulty with Marissa’s entry into her home. Missy, 
Marissa’s grandmother, inquired if it was possible to obtain a ramp for their front door. 
Marissa’s preschool had loaned them a manual wheelchair, but access to the home was limited by the front steps. “I would carry Marissa up and down the steps to the school bus,” says Missy, “but it really tore up my back. I was off work for a month.” 

HILC went to work in designing and building a ramp to Marissa’s front door. With labor 
donated by the Chris Bohl Foundation of Rosebud, a 20-foot ramp was built and ready to use by mid-February. 

The next determent to Marissa’s independence was that the manual wheelchair required a “driver” as Marissa could not operate it herself. Again, HILC was able to locate a used power wheelchair from another Center for Independent Living in Jefferson City that was just the right size for Marissa. The wheelchair was picked up in Westphalia, refurbished and delivered to her home. 

Although turning in circles and lying backwards are currently her favorite options, Marissa is learning the ins and outs of using the power chair to its full capacity. In addition, her 
grandmother says Marissa can now “ride bikes” with her siblings and neighborhood friends. 

Both Marissa and her grandmother Missy are grateful for HILC’s help. “With Marissa getting taller and heavier, she also got harder to carry,” explained Missy. With the power chair and ramp, Marissa is now much more independent. “Independence suits her just fine,” says Missy. “Marissa is a real trooper.”