More Independence for JT

JT Meredith is handsome young man with bright eyes.  In November of 2007 he was walking home from school with friends when a car hit him. As a result of the accident JT has a traumatic brain injury, which has limited his motion and speech.  He has a shunt in his head, a metal plate in his pelvis and steel rods in his right leg. He is working hard at the BOCES Carmen Road school on his speaking skills and is taking physical therapy to improve motor control of his left hand and left leg. Several months after the accident, JT’s father passed away from a heart attack.

Involved in athletics, JT played on the football team and wrestling team at the W. T. Clark High School.  High school has raised funds with a demonstration benefit basketball game and the wrestling team is ready to volunteer and help out.

He and his mother, Karen live in a 1950’s Levitt house on Long Island.  JT is now sleeping and living in the only room where the doorway is just wide enough for his wheelchair.  His mother must give him sponge baths since there is only a powder room with a washer/dryer on the first floor.  Since the house is built on a slab, options for new plumbing are costly.  Volunteer architect Jerry Cicciari, AIA is designing a larger accessible bathroom and creating a private bedroom for JT.

VOLUNTEER FAIR BIG HIT!

Our table at the Volunteer Fair at SUNY Farmingdale on October 22^nd, was a big hit and we gave away all of our brochures.  We spoke to college and high school students, as well as many school counselors.   Many agreed to volunteer. Thank you to our spokesperson, Patti Locurcio, for yet another great job!

Universal Design in Europe – video

More than one in ten, that is, at least 50m citizens throughout the EU, must deal with a disability and are confronted daily with physical barriers.  For examples of  initiatives in universal design, watch this short video on EUtube – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U86PW0VdxeA

Founder’s Party FUN

Our third annual Founder’s Party was a lot of fun, with good friends and terrific food.  Thank you to all of our  supporters for their generous donations. Special thanks to chef Antoinette Hasson and all the many volunteers who made the evening wonderful.

Here are the pictures, thanks to photographers Terri Hovanec and Rick Box.

Members Meeting – September 20th on WebEx

For the first time our  Members Meeting was avalalbe on WebEx – thanks to Fatih Legendre and a generous donation from WebEx. We can meet with you in your own office/home or beach chair!

Exceptional Parent Magazine

We are most pleased to report that Amy Alexander wrote an excellent article about HomeFreeHome in July issue of Exceptional Parent Magazine.

Breaking Through Barriers  By Amy Elizabeth Alexander - Jul 7, 2009

Whether the space of a palace or the size of a shoebox, a person’s home should be a sanctuary-a place they can exhale and are free to be themselves with no barriers or boundaries. For most people, making their home their haven is created with paint and pictures, with flowers and furniture. If you’re an individual living with a disability, however, your first concern very well may be as basic as how do you get into your home?

Enter Home Free Home. Home Free Home (HFH) is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to providing architectural design services to people who need home modifications to accommodate a physical disability…

Please see EP website to read full article http://www.eparent.com/resources_organization_links/Breaking_Through_Barriers.asp

ADA Celebration

The Independence Long Island event was a celebration of the 19^th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The 1990 ADA is the civil rights legislation for people living with disabilities and seen as Disability Independence Day.Suffolk Independent Living Organization (SILO) and other organizations that work with the disabled community organized this event. Our display table, brochures and flyers were well received, thanks to Amelia Box, Mark Wittenberg, Jake Caramico and Patti Locurcio. Our amazing volunteers came out and were enthusiastic, in spite of the sun and heat!

Independence Expo

INDEPENDENCE EXPO

We had great success with our Exhibit Booth at the first ever Long Island Independence Expo on June 27^th and 28^th.  We talked to many people who were very interested in our services. We also met many new enthusiastic volunteer members.  Laura Montllor gave lecture on “Beyond the ADA, Universal Design for Your Home”

Thanks to our HFH members Elena Box, Margaret DeSiervo, Mark Wittenberg, Jerry Cicciari, Mary Snyder, Robin Lillyreed, Jake Caramico and Patti Locurcio for manning the booth. The Expo was presented by United Spinal Association and we give them our sincerest thanks for helping us reach out to the disabled community.

HomeFreeHome on the air !

Tune in to WFUV – 90.7 FM on Saturday, August 1st     and again September 25th.

WFUV is the  public radio station of Fordham University. They are going to run a Public Service Announcement , 30 second PSA, for HomeFreeHome.  This is part of their “Strike  a Chord” campaign to increase awareness charities providing public services. WFUV has over 400 thousand listeners per week in the New York Metropolitan area.

New Bathroom for Danny

Danny Conway

Danny C. is a 21 year old, who has brain damage as the result of an accident.  He has some use of his arms and hands and is working hard at physical therapy to gain more control. When he gets the accessible bathroom, he will be able to roll into the shower and have some privacy.

His mother Elaine, contacted HomeFreeHome , when she had to have plans of her house drafted to meet government code regulations.

Architect Jerry Cicciari,AIA met with building department officials from the Town of Hempstead.  Researched the house records and coordinated the plans.

In June our HFH volunteers from CJ Construction started the demolition.

Volunteer from CJ Construction - Thank You!