PAG

E 7

MAY 2

014- A

BLE N

EW

SPAPER

MAY 2014

ABLE NEWSPAPER’s

PRODUCT & SERVICE GUIDETHE NEWSPAPER POSTIVELY

FOR, BY & ABOUT THE DISABLED

AbleAbleAbleAbleAble

ABLE N

EW

SPAPER -

MAY 2

104 P

AG

E 8

2A product & service guide

Able, an award-winning newspaper that is published for,by and about people with disabilities, has been keepingthe focus on the “Able” for 23 years.

"Able covers the issues that affect the lives of people with dis-abilities-everything from the day-to-day pragmatic events to thecontroversial," said Angela Miele Melledy, publisher.

Copies of the paper are read by disabled individuals, their fami-lies, involved professionals, volunteers and other interested par-ties. It is also distributed at key locations that disabled people fre-quent, such as rehabilitation centers, independent living centersand libraries. The paper is printed in large type and is also avail-able online.

Able covers a variety of issues, ranging from legislative de-velopments, health care, special education, technology, legal mat-ters, employment, sports, the arts and advocacy. Throughout theyear, special sections are presented, such as this Product & Ser-vice Guide.

Monthly features include columns written by various experts, aclassified section, a calendar of events and the personals page. (Thepaper boasts two weddings!)

Staffed by a group of dedicated, hard-working individuals, Ableis available monthly.

All three editions of Able - Long Island, New York and NewJersey are available to be read free on Able’s websitewww.ablenews.com.

ABLE NEWSPAPER

The Newspaper PositivelyFor, By and About the Disabled

P.O. Box 395, Old Bethpage, N.Y. 11804516 939-2253

INDEPENDENCE CARE SYSTEM

212 584-2500 • www.icsny.org

WHERE IT’S AT

If you use a wheelchair, youknow how important it is tohave your equipment in

tiptop shape. That’s why ICS cre-ated the only comprehensive,community-based wheelchairevaluation, repair and mainte-nance program in NYC.

Our Program, which oper-ates in both our Bronx andBrooklyn offices, featuresevaluations by occupationaland physical therapists, skilledtechnicians, vans that deliverrepair services to our members’homes, and, in each location, adedicated repair shop, wheel-chair “car wash” and weeklywheelchair maintenance work-shop for our members.

Because we know how im-portant proper maintenanceis, on March 11, the ICS wheel-chair service team headed forMorrisania Diagnostic &Treatment Center in theBronx to hold a tune-up eventfor the public, in Spanish andEnglish. All attendees re-ceived an ICS WheelchairMaintenance Tip Sheet.

ICS Wheelchair TechnicianEllsworth Mitchell urged at-tendees to be sure that “yourupholstery and arm pads are inthe proper place and secure,your tires are not worn, yourbrakes work smoothly, station-ary leg rests are securely inplace and moving leg restsswing out fully.”

Regarding power chairs andwet weather, ViannetteOquendo, ICS Manager forWheelchair Repairs, advisedcovering up. “Take a shoppingbag from any drugstore or su-permarket and cover the placeson your chair where electron-ics can get wet and you’re goodto go,” she said. “Some peoplehave tilt systems in the backand cover those.” But big down-pours are another matter. Hercommon sense advice: “Avoidbig puddles.”

The next community educa-tion program hosted by ICSand Morrisania, on June 5, willspotlight Medicaid ManagedLong-Term Care.

ATTORNEYSaundra M. Gumerove, ESQ...................................................6A

INDEPENDENT LIVINGCenter for Independence of the Disabled, New York......6A

LONG TERM CAREIndependence Care System..................................................2A

MOBILITY EQUIPMENTPatriot Mobility............................................................................8A

RAMPS AND LIFTSAbby Lifts......................................................................................3AAlpha Care Supply....................................................................4ASurehands Lift and Care Systems...........................................5A

VAN CONVERSIONAbilities Unliimited.......................................................................3ABussani Mobility Team...............................................................4A

WHEELCHAIRS & SCOOTERSWheelchair Wizards, Inc...........................................................7A

AbleAbleAbleAbleAble

AccountingMargaret Wenzel

PublisherAngela Miele Melledy

THE NEWSPAPER POSITIVELYFOR, BY AND ABOUT

THE DISABLED

P.O. BOX 395, OLD BETHPAGE, N.Y. 11804516 939-2253

FAX 516 939-0540 • WEBSITE - WWW.ABLENEWS.COM

Production DirectorDebbie Simko

Technical AssistanceLouis Melledy

Art & ProductionAnn Imbrogno

Jennifer Patterson

Office ManagerFannie Miele

Keeps Wheelchair Users on the Move

PAG

E 9

MAY 2

014- A

BLE N

EW

SPAPER

product & service guide 3A

Abby Lifts, Inc. is a fam-ily- owned and-operatedbusiness that has been

serving the entire state of NewJersey and Eastern Pennsylva-nia since 2002. We specialize inthe sales, installation and ser-vice of stair lifts (indoor and out-door, curved or straight), verti-cal platform lifts and modularramp systems.

Our Lifts and Ramps get youout easily for school and recre-ation programs and are alsoavailable to be installed inlearning institutions and allpublic buildings.

We also offer the option torent our stair lifts and modularramp systems for short termuse after surgery, injury or forany other non-permanent need.Our rental agreements are for6 months, paid up front andthen billed monthly thereafterfor as long as you need it. Thereis no time limit on the rentalafter the initial 6 months and

Making You More Mobilewe offer a buy out at the end ofthe agreement or anytimethereafter.

Our product line also in-cludes bath tub lifts, aluminumportable folding ramps, scooterlifts for vehicles, portable show-ers.

We are vendors for the Stateof New Jersey, which includesGO, JACC and CAP programs,plus all county programs,Veteran’s Administration,DDD, DVR, insurance compa-nies, Real Life Choices, MS So-ciety, MDA, and more.

Most straight stair lifts canbe installed within a week, inless than 2 hours. The time onour modular ramps is about 1week from contract, installed ina few hours.

Modular ramp systems arenot permanently attached tothe home and can be removedwhen no longer needed, leavingno evidence that the ramp wasthere.

www.abbylifts.com • 732 240-0446Toll Free in NJ 888 845-LIFT (5438)

ABBY LIFTS

ABILITIES UNLIMITED OF NY INCProviding Mobiltiy for Your Independence

Serving the NY Metro area since 1984

90 East Jefryn Blvd., Deer Park, N.Y. 11729631 254-4031 www.abilitiesny.com

You buy a car from a cardealership. Abilities Un-limited is not a car deal-

ership, we design and modifyvehicles to meet our clients spe-cific needs and desires. It may bea lowered floor minivan, or a fullsized van with a seat next to thewheelchair for a caregiver that

is necessary. Sometimes ascooter lift, a tranfer seat in aSUV will work perfectly.

Sometimes you have to think“outside the box” to give a per-son their independence. That ishow this industry came to be.That is what Abilities Unlimitedis all about.

ABLE N

EW

SPAPER -

MAY 2

104 P

AG

E 1

0

4A product & service guide

ALPHA CARE SUPPLY, LLC

For all your access needs,Alpha Care Supply is theplace to go. Alpha Care

Supply has been a family ownedand operated company for 22years. Don Walker, founder andpresident of Alpha Care Supply,explained that “my major impe-tus was to have a business for mysons.” It was the impairment of oneson that took Walker into the busi-ness of mobility with power chairsand scooters. “This opened up themarket for the access business,” hesaid. “Powered mobility changedand we found the access niche.”

Now, Walker and his three sonsserve the metropolitan area, in-cluding the five boroughs,Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester andRockland counties, specializing inramps, stairlifts, vertical platformwheelchair lifts and other accesssolutions. Alpha, a contracted ven-dor for several agencies, has avail-able inventory in stock. “Our prod-ucts are available quickly. We canbe very responsive in the metro-politan area,” said Walker. “Babyboomers really need this equip-ment,” he continued. “There is apush to keep people in their own

homes, as opposed to an assisted-living facility or nursing home.”

But more than accessibility,Walker stressed Alpha’s concernfor customers’ safety and qualityof life. “Safety is our number onepriority. If there is a fire, they needto be able to get out. We providesafe, useable ramps.”

Walker said that their productscan be installed in a stationary po-sition for either long or short termuse. Alpha also rents their accessequipment for temporary needs.The access products are not onlyfor private homes. Licensed andinsured, Alpha has outfittedchurches, hospitals, synagogues,schools, etc. and has worked for fed-eral, state and local facilities. And,in today’s economy, Alpha is“very conscious of the costs ofthese items and provides themost cost-effective product. Wedo the right job for the rightprice,” said Walker. They willthoroughly evaluate your needsat no obligation. Visit their ac-cessible showroom at 21Stringham Ave., Valley Stream.

866 291-7039 • www.alphacaresupply.com

Solutions For Access

BUSSANI MOBILITY TEAM

This year marks the 40thAnniversary of JohnBussani’s start in the mo-

bility business.Bussani had no idea when

he started installing hand-con-trols for people with disabilitiesout of the trunk of his car thathis business would grow to whatit is today.

The Bussani Mobility Teamnow has three locations –Bethpage, Mamaroneck andSmithtown – and has assistedthousands of people with dis-abilities get mobile.

“When a person is livingwith a physical disability, ev-eryday life has extra chal-lenges and the simple act ofgetting from place to place isone of them,” said DanielBussani, vice president atBussani Mobility Team.“That’s why I’m proud of myDad’s accomplishments of 40

years and plan to have ourwheelchair accessible vans en-able people to get mobileagain…and get their freedomback for many years to come.”

Many of Bussani MobilityTeam’s customers become life-time friends, according toBussani. And the companycame up with this list of the topten reasons to become part ofthe Bussani customer family:

1. If you can dream it, we canget you there! That’s our motto,and we live by it every day.

2. Our full-service, one-stopcertified service departmenthandles everything from tune-ups to auto body work – and pro-vides emergency services.

3. Our experienced stafftruly understands your spe-cialized mobility needs.

4. You choose from top-of-the-line wheelchair accessible vansfrom trusted manufacturers.

40 Years and Going Strong

$150.00 offany purchaseover $1600

STAIRLIFTSRAMPS of every type, for every application

www.AlphaCareSupply.com

The All NEW, Open-Mesh,

Maintenance Free, ALUMINUM System :

also:

vertical porch

wheelchair lifts

Father & Sons doing it rightin the metro NYC region for over two decades

1992 2013NYC 1283874 - Nassau Cty. H18E5140000 - Suffolk Cty. 40927-H

21 Stringham Ave., Valley Stream, NY 11580

21Years

ALPHA CARE SUPPLY, LLC

1-866-291-7039 fax: 516-256-3442

PAG

E 1

1 M

AY 2

014- A

BLE N

EW

SPAPER

product & service guide 5A

800 724-5305www.surehands.com

SURE HANDS® LIFT AND CARE SYSTEMSSafe Patient Handling

SUREHANDS® Lift & CareSystems has been provid-ing the New York and

New Jersey areas with solutionsto overcome transferring chal-lenges for more than 25 years.For both professional and homeenvironments, patients andcaregivers have a variety of liftsystems and accessories fromwhich to choose in order to maxi-mize function and abilities.

Recognizing the specializedneeds of the disabled and wher-ever there is a necessity for apractical and innovative ap-proach to safe patient care or selfcare, SUREHANDS has the answer.Problem solving is the key totheir success and their goal is toprovide each customer with ex-pert advice in designing a liftsystem to precisely meet theirneeds.

Overhead ceiling systemswith multi-directional track op-

tions, wall lifts and floor-basedmobile units as well as pool liftsare available allowing consum-ers to completely overcomephysical and architectural bar-riers. The SUREHANDS Body Sup-port and a full range of Handi-Slings are adaptable to all theirlift systems and deliver the nec-essary safety and security to us-ers and caregivers while accom-plishing normal activities ofdaily living.

SUREHANDS continuallystrives to introduce cutting edgeproducts to improve the qualityof life, comfort and well-being ofthe user while reducing the riskof injury to caregivers.

The versatility of SUREHANDSalways places the users’ needsand safety first while offering thebest long term transferring so-lutions.

Call today for a catalog or torequest a free demonstration.

888 621-2984 • bussanimobility.com

5. We offer attractive fi-nancing options with low inter-est rates and payments.

6. We support third-partyfunding sources including gov-ernment assistance, veteran’sadministration support, socialservices, and ACCES-VR.

7. We help you find the bestinsurance for your needs.

8. The free Bussani mobileapp keeps you connected 24/7

from your Smartphone or iPad.9. You can rent an accessible

van.10. Our educational commu-

nity events (monthly New YorkMobility Club and annual Inde-pendence & Mobility Fair) giveyou opportunities to learn moreabout the latest mobilitysolutions…while you enjoy so-cializing with a great group ofpeople.

ABLE N

EW

SPAPER -

MAY 2

104 P

AG

E 1

2

6A product & service guide

Two major issues faceparents of individualswith disabilities: Who

will take care of my child whenI am gone? and How can I in-sure quality of life for my lovedone? The answer is planningfor the future.

A plan encompasses provi-sions for who will care for aloved one (i.e. by establishingguardianship, if appropriate),how the parents’ assets will bedivided among surviving fam-ily members by establishing anestate plan, and how to main-tain quality of life for the indi-vidual with disabilitiesthrough the use of trusts, par-ticularly supplemental or spe-cial needs trusts.

Parents can seek guardian-ship of their child if he/she isunable to make decisions suchas healthcare decisions and/or

SAUNDRA M. GUMEROVE, ESQ.

financial decisions for them-selves. A guardian acts muchthe same way as parents in de-cision-making, particularlyhealthcare and financial deci-sions.

To insure that a loved one isfinancially secure, the plan willprovide for the division of as-sets through a will. Assets foran individual with disabilitiescan be placed in a supplemen-tal or special needs trusts, al-lowing a family to insure thatan individual with disabilitieswill maintain his/her eligibilityfor government benefits such asSSI and/or Medicaid, while hav-ing sufficient additional fundsto have a good quality of life.Assets in a supplemental orspecial needs trust are notcounted as resources for pur-poses of qualifying for SSI orMedicaid.

516 822-3397• www.smgesq.com42 Marian Lane, Jericho, N.Y.

Fundamental Issues Facing ParentsOf Individuals With Disabilities

CTR. FOR INDEPENDENCE OF DISABLED, NY

hours a day at the computerwriting letters of appeal.” Thedispute dragged on for sevenmonths before it was resolvedthrough the intervention of theState Department of FinancialServices. Claudia was lucky –she got the intervention sheneeded, but many New Yorkershave lost homes and savingsbecause of these surprise out-of-network providers.

“People shouldn’t end upnear bankruptcy because theydid not know that some of theirservice providers were out ofnetwork. It’s hard enough tofight for your health withoutworrying about losing yourhome,” said Heidi Siegfried,NYFAHC’s Project Director.“This is a common-sense solu-tion to a problem that createsundue hardship for people whocan least afford it.”

If you would like more infor-mation on how this legislationcan help you, contact HeidiSiegfried at hsiegfried@cidny.org. You can also take a look atwww.fairhealthconsumer.org thathelps consumers learn the fun-damentals of insurance, plantheir health expenses, decidewhether to seek care that is out-of-network or will not be coveredby insurance, negotiate withproviders and/or support insur-ance appeals.

By Heidi Siegfried, Director ofHealth Policy, CIDNY

New Yorkers for Acces-sible Health Coverage(NYFAHC), an indepen-

dent program of CIDNY’s, hasbeen a leader in urginglegisation that protects consum-ers from surprise medical billsfor over three years. This year the bill was passedby the State legislature. Begin-ning next year, the legislationholds consumers harmless forsurprise bills for out-of-networkcharges outside of their control;sets a fair process for providersand insurers to negotiate cover-age disputes; and improvestransparency to prevent sur-prises.

Many people have receivedthese onerous “surpises” afterhaving a medical procedure.One New Yorker, ClaudiaKnafo, a concert pianist, re-ceived a surprise medical bill for$101,000 for neck surgery, forwhich her health plan offered topay only $3,500. She could notpay the $97,000 balance andwas forced to consider declaringbankruptcy. “I could no longertake this stress,” Claudia toldlegislators, “Ironically my post-operative instructions had beento cancel all concerts, and tokeep my neck in a neutral posi-tion for 2 months. I never hada chance, as I had to spend

www.cidny.org

Stopping Surprise Medical Bills

Saundra M. Gumerove, Esq.

516-822-3397www.smgesq.com

42 Marian Lane, Jericho, NY 11753smg@smgesq.com

Attorney at Law

Serving theSpecial Needs Community

ONE OF OUR PRIMARY GOALS IS TO ENABLE PEOPLE TO

CONTROL THEIR OWN LIVES BY GETTING THE GOVERNMENT’S

MONEY SENT TO US INSTEAD OF AGENCIES

INNERSIGHT means FREEDOMAdvocates for the Disabled

Contact usINNERSIGHT, INC, Islip, NY 11751(631) 224-3090

Email - innersight@pmpmail.com (not attachments please)Visit our website www.innersight.info

Hear us on Blogtalkradio www.blogtalkradio.com/innersightinfo.Live call in (213) 816-1650 also on WRB

Watch us on television, by checking our websitewww.innersight.info/ Call (631) 224-3090 to find our local listingOn Manhattan Neighborhood Network www.mnn.org Channel 3

MNN broadcasts TWC Channel 57,RCN Channel 84 and Verizon FIOS Channel 35

PAG

E 1

3 M

AY 2

014- A

BLE N

EW

SPAPER

product & service guide

Wheelchair Wizards,Inc.is second to none in itsprofessionalism and in

providing good old-fashioned per-sonalized service. The happy,friendly attitude of our staff makesit a pleasure to be the WheelchairWizards’ customer. The single-mindedness by Wheelchair Wiz-ards to build a lifelong relation-ship with its clients puts theWheelchair Wizards in a leagueof their own.

Not only can our customersbuy a wheelchair and be sure thatthe wheelchair they bought is thebest chair the market has to offerfor their individual needs but alsothat there is ongoing mainte-nance, repairs and service for thelife of the wheelchair available tothem.

Our engineers, under the lead-ership of Victor Kanevsky, havemore than 20 years experiencewith all sorts of devices designedto assist people in dealing with adisability and in repairing andmaintaining, customizing and tai-

WHEELCHAIR WIZARDS, INC

loring all and any wheelchairsever built.

Expert advice, individual per-sonalized attention, friendly ser-vice and a lifetime of ongoing sup-port are only some of the offeringsopen to our existing and new cus-tomers.

We carry the best brands suchas Permobile, Pride, Invacare,Sunrise to name just a few.

Unsurpassed knowledge, atten-tion to detail, desire to give our cli-ents a truly unique and pleasantexperience and security of know-ing that the service will continuefor as long as it is required – allthat and more you will find atWheelchair Wizards, Inc.

If you have no insurance cov-erage, but you are in need of apower wheelchair, you can get ithere. Any wheelchair that wouldnormally cost $7K – $40K for only$500 - $5K from our selection ofreconditioned power wheelchairs ofany brand with six months war-ranty.

We are only a phone call away.631 588-8501 • wcwizards@gmail.com

7A

. . .Second To None. . .

Is your health coverage

working for you?

If you have a disability and you

don’t have health insurance or

you need help making your

coverage work for you…

CIDNY can work with you to

coverage under Medicare

Part D.

e

e

eligibility for Medicaid

and Child Health Plus

.

and ask to speak to a benefits

counselor.

Toisanese-speaking counselors

are available.

CID NY

CIDNY

841 Broadway

CIDNY-Queens

www.cidny.org

NJS ELECTRIC LLNJS ELECTRIC LLNJS ELECTRIC LLNJS ELECTRIC LLNJS ELECTRIC LLCCCCC

www.njswiringsolutions.com

New York State Licensed Alarm Contractors

Nassau and Suffolk Licensed Electrical Contractors

516 596-1895

NJS ELECTRIC LLNJS ELECTRIC LLNJS ELECTRIC LLNJS ELECTRIC LLNJS ELECTRIC LLCCCCC

** Specializing in

home monitoring

systems for the safety of

the disabled **

NJS ELECTRIC LLNJS ELECTRIC LLNJS ELECTRIC LLNJS ELECTRIC LLNJS ELECTRIC LLCCCCCNJS ELECTRIC LLNJS ELECTRIC LLNJS ELECTRIC LLNJS ELECTRIC LLNJS ELECTRIC LLCCCCC

“We don’t justKeep intruders out -

We keep loved ones in”

ABLE N

EW

SPAPER -

MAY 2

104 P

AG

E 1

4

PATRIOT MOBILITY

MONTHLY • WEEKLY • DAILY • WEEKEND RENTALS

250-B LARKFIELD ROAD, EAST NORTHPORT • 631 623-6810

HOURSMON-FRI 9-5PM

SATURDAY 9-1PM

Sales • Installation • Rentals • Repairs

• Wheelchair Ramps

• Stair Lifts

• DME

• Pool Lifts

• Patient Lifts

• Lift Chairs

• Porch Lift/VPL

• Scooters

• Wheelchairs

• Lifts for Auto

& More

Sales • Installation • Rentals • Repairs

Come Visit OurNew Showroom

Visit Our New Web Site www.patriotmobilityinc.com

8A product & service guide

Able is the Newspaper for People with Disabilities

And the Place to Get the Word Out About

Your Product, Service or Agency

Planning Ahead

EACH ISSUE OF ABLE PROVIDES ITS USUALINFORMATIVE NEWS SECTION

IN ADDITION TO THE SPECIAL FOCUSES BELOW

HERE’S WHAT UPCOMING ISSUES WILL INCLUDE

JUNE

Empire State Games for the Physically ChallengedAdvertisers in the June and July Issues Will be

Spotlighted in Able’s Product & Service Guide with

FREE Editorial

This Issue will be provided to every athlete at the Games as

well as our usual circulation

JULYA Special Tribute Issue For the 24th Anniversary

ofThe Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Contact Us At 516 939-2253

631 283-0334Call for reservations and details about accessibility

Edgemere Inn

On the littlePeconic Baywith bucolic

views andgorgeous sunsets

A Partially Accessible B&B in Southampton