April 2000
Dick A. Greco, Mayor
Tampa, Florida

PROTECT YOUR
MEDICAL RECORDS.

Keeping your records from unauthorized snooping is not easy. But there are ways to limit the risk, according to the Health Privacy Project at Georgetown University. Start by requesting copies of your medical records. Contact the Medical information Bureau (MIB) to see if they have a file on you. The MIB is an association of some 600 life insurance companies that send in reports on applicants with health problems that could effect longevity. A copy of your file will cost about $8.50 and can be gotten by writing to MIB, Inc. P.O. Box 105, Essex Station, Boston, MA 02112.

SPORTS DAY FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES.

The third annual "No Limits" Sports Day will be held at Shriners Hospital for Children Friday, April 21 from 9am to 4pm. It is open to all youth ages five and up who use orthosis, prosthesis or wheelchair and there in no charge to participate. If you know any children who may be interested in attending, registration can be completed over the phone by calling Debbi e Cold at (813) 975-7139.

FREE BOOKLET AVAILABLE ON ELDERLY BLINDNESS.

Masular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness among older people. There is no cure for the most common form of the disease, but research is being done and information is available. The American Health Assistance Foundation has produced a booklet on the disease with a collection of facts and places to go for help and information. To get a copy of the booklet write to the foundation at 15825 Shady Grove Road, Suite 140, Rockville MD 20850 or call 1-800-437-2423.

FREE WORKSHOP ON TRAUMATIC
BRAIN INJURY.

The Department of Children and Families (DCF) and the Brain Injury Association of Florida (BIAF) will hold a free four-hour workshop dealing with traumatic brain injury. The workshops will be presented by a training and education specialist from BIAF. The Tampa workshop will be held at the W. T. Edwards Building in Tampa on April 11th.

The St. Petersburg workshop will be held at the DCF District Office Building in Largo on May 16. For more information call Diana Lincoln (DCF at 850-488-4877, ext. 147.

YMCA OFFERS PROGRAM FOR PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED.

The Bob Sierra Family YMCA continues to offer a year round program for the physically challenged. This program is open to all age groups. For more information on this program call the Y at 962-3220.

FREE EYE EXAM
AND PRESCRIPTION EYEGLASSES.

The City of Tampa is accepting applications for its vision program, which offers free eye exams and a pair of prescription glasses to qualified residents. Applications are available at the Office of Human Rights/Community Services, 102 E. Seventh Avenue between 8am and 5pm Mondays and Thursdays only. For more information call 274-5835.

MAYOR'S ALLIANCE BOARD MEETS
2nd WEDNESDAY
EVERY MONTH, 2pm.

Freedman Tennis Complex
59 Columbus Dr. Davis Island.

EVERYBODY WELCOME.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR FLORIDA YOUTH LEADERSHIP FORUM.

The Able Trust (Florida Governor's Alliance for the Employment of Disabled Citizens) is seeking people with disabilities with an interest in youth to serve as volunteers for the Florida Youth Leadership Forum. The YLF, which will take place July 20-23 in Tallahassee, is a leadership conference of high school juniors and seniors with disabilities. For more information contact Kristen Knapp at 888-838-2253.

ADA INFORMATION AND COMPLAINT LINE.

The Department of Justice operates a toll-free ADA Information Line to provide information and publications to the public about the requirements of the ADA. Specialists are available Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. and Thursday from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Spanish language service is also available. To obtain general ADA information, get answers to technical questions, order free ADA materials, or ask about filing a complaint, call: 800-514-0301 (voice), 800-514-0383 (TDD).

COUNTY CITIZENS ACTION CENTER
NEW TDD NUMBER

The Hillsborough County Citizens Action Center has a new dedicated phone line for TDD users. The new number is 813-301-7173.

ACCESSIBILITY COMMITTEE
MEETING.

The Accessibility committee meets the 3rd Wednesday of the month at the Sandy Freedman Tennis Complex, 59 Columbus Dr., Davis Island. Everybody is welcome to attend, for more information call Norm Mallory at 988-4985 or Ben Ritter at 935 6540.

DATES TO REMEMBER

2ND. MON. OF THE MONTH, 7pm, THE MAYOR'S HOUR, live cable telecast on CH-15 Time-Warner in Tampa and Hillsborough County and CH-17 on Adelphia cable. Your chance to ask Mayor Greco a question or express your concern, live in the studio or by phone. To call in a question to the Mayor call 274-8328. To be part of the studio audience call Mindy Snyder at 274-7033. Program repeats on Sundays pm, Mondays at 7pm and Fridays at 3pm.

1ST. MON. EVERY MONTH, 3pm, EMPLOYMENT & JOB FAIR COMMITTEE MEETING, Promus Hotel Reservation Center, 7920 Woodland Center Blvd. for more info call Cindy Stephens at 251-2407 or Kathy McGlone at 243-7522.

3RD WED. EVERY MONTH, 2:00pm, ACCESSIBILITY COMMITTEE MEETING, Sandy Freedman Tennis Complex 59 Columbus Drive, Davis Island.

3RD TUES. EVERY MONTH, 7pm, FLORIDA COUNCIL FOR THE BLIND, GREATER TAMPA CHAPTER. USF Westside Conference Ctn. Section B.

3RD TUES. EVERY MONTH, 6:30pm, Tampa Self Help for Hard of Hearing People (SHHH) Group, Jefferson High School.

1ST THUR. EVERY MONTH, THERAPEUTIC FOCUS GROUP, All Peoples Life Center, call 744-5978 for more information.

4TH WED. EVERY MONTH, 2pm, COUNTY ALLIANCE MEETING, Tampa Lighthouse for The Blind, 1106 W. Platt St. For more information call Elizabeth Mueller at 273-3611 or Debra Guest at 871-7878.

3RD TUES. EVERY OTHER MONTH, 2pm, HARTLINE'S PARATRANSIT ADVISORY COUNCIL, Tampa Lighthouse for the Blind, 1106 W. Platt St. For more information contact Vasti Amaro-Dallas at HARTLINE 623-5835, ext.1171.

SUPPORT GROUPS

Hillsborough County Information Line 272-5900;

Self Reliance Cross Disability Support Group,
975-6560, Bill Renje;

VA Spinal Cord
972-2000 ext 6388 Heather Mahoney;

Brain and Head Injury Support,
288-0225 Jenny Paloumpis or Lisa Lowe; Multiple Sclerosis Self Help Group 287-2939 or 800-922-0170;

Statewide Advocacy Network on Disabilities, Inc. (STAND)
offering education and resource services to persons with disabilities. 258-5700 Patricia Miller

Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology (FAAST)
learn about assistive technology 251-7591;

Amputees Together,
870-3323;

Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA),
935-6540 Ben Ritter; All People's Life Center 6105 East Sligh Avenue (east of 56th St.) fully accessible recreation center.Call Al Orr at 903-2248 for more information.

OFFICERS AND
COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS

Chairperson: Norman Mallory, (813) 988-4985
  Treasurer: Connie Hayden-McPeak, (813) 276-5555
  Secretary: Kelly Hickman, (813) 974-8927
  Past Chairperson: Chuck Porter, (813) 276-2029 ext 7659
  Advocacy and Accessibility Co-chairpersons: Norman Mallory, (813) 988-4985
  Bob Ellis, (813) 974-2002
  Employment Committee Chairperson: Cindy Stephens (813) 984-6840
  Awareness Committee Chairperson: Chuck Porter (813) 276-2029 ext 7659
  Mayor's Representative: Herb Gold, (813) 254-1111

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