All are welcome to attend the upcoming Bagels & Blood Pressure event slated for Thursday, April 13 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Old Forge Volunteer Ambulance Corps building located at 2964 State Route 28 (and Spring Street). Bagels & Blood Pressure is a new, monthly food and health event sponsored by Old Forge Volunteer Ambulance Corps, The Old Forge Library, LivingADK, Herkimer County Public Health, and Living Independently is For Everyone at Resource Center for Independent Living [LIFE at RCIL.] Representatives from each organization will be on hand to chat about community health initiatives. The event is free and open to all, and no reservations are required.

The menu will include bagels and spreads, fruit, beverages, granola bars and other brunch-like snacks. Old Forge Volunteer Ambulance Corps volunteers will be on hand to give attendees a blood pressure reading, and nurses from Herkimer County Public Health will attend with information about vaccination programs, nutrition and other Herkimer County health initiatives
and programs.

A representative from LIFE at RCIL will be in attendance from 10 a.m. to noon with information about their programs including an Educational Advocate, Lisa Sanisveri, who specializes in
advocating for students along with their parents in receiving the best education for their child. Lisa brings with her over 20 years in the educational field both professional and personally. Currently she advocates for students in Herkimer and Oneida County. Along with advocating for students in the educational setting, Lisa will help parents navigate through the educational setting such as
accompany parents to CSE Meetings, explain the Special Education Laws, and understanding their child’s IEP.

 Some of the services Lisa is prepared to talk about include:
 OPWDD Eligibility & Application Assistance: Aid with the OPWDD Eligibility Process, supporting families throughout the entire process, ensuring that they have all necessary information and a full understanding of the steps involved including the development and submission of an eligibility packet.

 Educational Advocacy: Works with families and school districts to foster better communication and develop the most appropriate special education plans possible for students with disabilities.

 Academic Scholarships: Provides reimbursement for up to $2,000 for families to hire a NYS certified teacher/teacher assistant to provide tutorial services to OPWDD eligible students.

 Adventure Challenge/Urban Safari: A week-long summer program that explores local recreational and educational attractions. There is a writing component for all participants. Free for OPWDD eligible children (fee for those without eligibility).

 Family Reimbursement: Provides funding for certain goods and services to families of OPWDD eligible individuals who live at home.

 Individualized Support Services (ISS): Provides OPWDD eligible individuals a rental subsidy which can include ongoing rent subsidy and transition stipends (household items and security deposits). The maximum amount for transition stipends is $3,000.

 Main Street Program: Provides services to OPWDD eligible youth, up to age 22, who are at-risk of involvement in the juvenile system, homelessness, or in need of support for disruptive behaviors.

 Respite Care: Provides funding to families of OPWDD eligible individuals to hire and supervise respite worker(s) of their choosing.

LIFE at RCIL’s mission is to ensure a fully accessible, integrated society that enables full participation by people with disabilities.

The Old Forge Library and LivingADK will also attend with a friendly local presence and information about other services residents might like to learn about. There are no formal presentations or lectures. This is an invite to drop in on your own schedule and get a bite to eat, get a blood pressure reading and have a chat with the region’s health advocates.

Following this initial Bagels & Blood Pressure event, similar events are planned for the second Thursday of both May and June, with participation from Mohawk Valley Health System and other organizations who have health resources for area residents.

For more information, please contact:
Linda Weal, Old Forge Library, lweal@midyork.org or (315) 369-6008
Robin Hill, LivingADK, rhill@livingadk.org or (315) 369-3353

Photo at top: Bagels & Blood Pressure event in Old Forge. Photo provided by Linda Weal, Old Forge Library Director.