A   QUARTERLY   NEWSLETTER   FOR   THE   DISABILITY   COMMUNITY

New Horizons Un-Limited Inc. (NHU) is a non-profit organization based in Milwaukee with a mission to make information and life experiences accessible to people with life-long disabilities, their families and caregivers. To learn more about our mission and activities, please visit the New Horizons Un-Limited website at www.new-horizons.org or e-mail horizons@new-horizons.org.

2005 Flower Bulb Fundraiser

New Horizons Un-Limited is once again offering up a beautiful selection of spring blooming flower bulbs during our 2005 Flower Bulb Fundraiser. As in years past, our fundraiser features quality, affordably priced, spring-blooming bulbs from Van Bourgondien, a trusted name in the gardening industry for over 100 years. Beauty abounds in the selection of Tulips, Daffodils, Hyacinths, Irises, Lilies and more!

Via the Van Bourgondien Fundraising with Flowers program we keep 50% of all sales! Please, help us make this year's sale a success. Ask your friends and family if they have a spot or two in their gardens for flowers that will not only bring beauty for years to come, but will also support a very worthwhile endeavor to serve our disability community.

Contact us today at (414) 299-0124 to request your full color brochure. The brochure and order form will also be available for download from the NHU website in mid-July. Visit www.new-horizons.org/05bulb.html to view the selection of bulbs and to download the order form.

National News

DiversityInc.com releases Top 10 Companies for People With Disabilities

DiversityInc Media, a company dedicated to providing education and clarity on the business benefits of diversity, recently released its annual Top 50 Companies for Diversity List, which highlights those companies that work to diversify their workforce and consumer base. This year, for the first time, they have added a new specialty list, which highlights companies that hire, promote, market to and do business with people with disabilities.

Following are the top ten companies that, according to Diversity Inc. are leaders when it comes to actively pursuing, serving and employing the disability community.

#1 Merrill Lynch & Co. - New York, NY
Merrill Lynch found its place at number 1 thanks to their dedication to serving people with disabilities and their family members. Via their Disability Awareness Professional Network and special-needs financial-services, they assist families plan for the long-term financial future of their family members with disabilities.

#2 Procter & Gamble - Cincinnati, OH
Proctor and Gamble is on the list largely due to their People With Disabilities Task Force, whose mission is "to enable hiring, on-boarding, retention, advancement and contributions to people with disabilities."

#3 Hewlett-Packard - Palo Alto, CA
Hewlett Packard has earned its place in the top 10 thanks to their employee-resource group for workers with disabilities and their Accessibility Program Office, which works to improve accessibility to technology and information. Beyond that, the company also offers a variety of resources for people with disabilities on their website.

#4 JPMorgan Chase - New York, NY
This financial-services company has workplace initiatives that specifically target people with disabilities as potential employees. In addition to making this list, they were also named a "top company for people with disabilities" by Enable magazine.

#5 Verizon Communications - New York, NY
A long-time Top 50 winner, Verizon has a Disabilities Issues Awareness Leaders (DIAL) employee-resource group. They also specifically include companies owned by people with disabilities in their supplier diversity efforts.

#6 SSM Health Care - St. Louis, MO
This health-care company actively recruits people with disabilities and supply companies owned by people with disabilities.

#7 General Motors - Detroit, MI
General Motors, via their GM Mobility program, has recognized the importance of people with disabilities as a consumer group.

#8 Sodexho U.S.A. - Gaithersburg, MD
This hospitality-services company makes a strong effort to utilize disability-owned supply companies and also actively seeks partnerships with disability organizations.

#9 Merck & Co - Whitehouse Station, NJ
Merck is a national leader in recruiting and promoting the abilities of people with disabilities.

# 10: Prudential Financial - Newark, NJ
Prudential works to recruit people with disabilities via their Abled and Disabled Associates Partnering Together (ADAPT) employee-resource group. It also offers specialized services and long-term financial-planning products for people with disabilities.

Medicare Policy needs a second look

Millions of Americans who are elderly and/or have disabilities depend on Medicare coverage to pay for essential medical supplies and equipment, including mobility devices such as wheelchairs and scooters. You would think that Medicare would cover such equipment with no hesitation. This is not the case. Medicare will only cover the cost of a mobility device if you are "bed or chair confined" and need a wheelchair for use only "in-your-home." If you want to leave your home to go to say your pharmacy, grocery store, bank, place of worship, or even your physician's office, you're out of luck. The rationale behind this policy is unclear, though one thing is for certain; this outdated policy is only fueling the perception that less-than-perfect people should not participate in life outside their homes.

In an effort to reverse Medicare's in-the-home policy, the United Spinal Association, a national disability rights organization, launched a website Rightwheelchair.org. This website serves as a vehicle to make your story known. It also offers an easy way to contact your Congressmen to let them know how this policy has impacted you or someone you know. To learn more about this campaign, visit http://rightwheelchair.org.

Websites of Interest

Wired on Wheels (WOW!)
WOW! is a not-for-profit Internet organization dedicated to accessibility. Their mission is to empower people with disabilities so we can all make better decisions about the places we visit. Restaurants are their first priority. Whether you're a person with a disability or just someone who cares, they ask you to participate as they rate America for accessibility. WOW! provides an open forum where you can read restaurant accessibility reviews and contribute reviews of your own. To participate, visit WOW! online at www.wiredonwheels.com.

Audio Books for Free
Audiobooksforfree.com is a website that offers hundreds of audio books available for download to your personal computer. They offer everything from classic novels to fairy tails. The online library is organized by category with book titles listed in alphabetical order. A standard audio file can be downloaded for free while higher quality files can be downloaded for a minimal charge. To check out the selection of audio books, visit them online at www.audiobooksforfree.com.

Wisconsin News and Resources

Festa Italiana continues 25-year tradition with VIP Day for people with disabilities

For the 25th consecutive year, Festa Italiana will set aside its grounds for part of opening day, Thursday, July 21st, for VIP Day, a day in which the grounds are open for the exclusive use of people with disabilities and their caregivers from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Festa's VIP Day guests can enjoy free fresh fruit and soft drinks and discounted food from the various food vendors on the grounds.

To attend VIP Day, all that a person with a disability needs to do is request a free advance admission ticket. Each ticket admits one VIP and one guest. Requests should be sent in a stamped, self-addressed envelope to: VIP Day, c/o Festa Italiana, 631 E. Chicago Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202-5916.

The request should include the names of the disabled party and the caregiver who will be attending; the type(s) of disability; whether a wheelchair will be needed, which Festa will provide at no charge; and a telephone number at which the requester can be reached.

Plans for Wisconsin's 6th fully accessible cabin underway

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Friends of Kohler-Andrae State Park are working to build a fully accessible cabin for people with disabilities in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.

The cabin, which would be Wisconsin's 6th fully accessible cabin for people with disabilities and their families, will be built within the family campground of Kohler-Andrae State Park in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Kohler-Andrae State Park "is one of the last natural preserves along the Lake Michigan shore and is the home of majestic sand dunes, miles of golden beach, shimmering blue water, whispering pines, an abundance of wildlife, and recreational activities for everyone." The park, which already features a specially designed campsite, rest room and shower facility for campers with physical disabilities, is an ideal location for an accessible cabin.

The project is currently in the fundraising stage and hopes to raise the necessary funds over the next two years. To find out how you can make this cabin a reality, please contact Fran Grandlic, President of Friends of Kohler-Andrae State Park at (920) 451-4080.

Visit SHARE - save up to 50% on your monthly meal expenses

Wisconsin Self Help And Resource Exchange (SHARE) is a non-profit organization that offers quality, low-cost food to Wisconsin residents. A Traditional SHARE Package, which costs $18, includes a generous assortment of meats, fresh fruits and vegetables and other meal items. This package can feed up to four over one week.

The SHARE program is open to anyone, with no income limitations. While there is no charge to join, SHARE members are encouraged to volunteer in their local communities. To learn more, visit SHARE online at www.sharewi.org or call (800) 548-2124.

Self-Advocates sought for Consumer Caucus

People Can't Wait - Milwaukee is working to organize a cross-disability advocacy movement in which people with disabilities, their family members, and advocates, become and remain a powerful voice for a system of public and community support. You can join this movement! People Can't Wait has organized a Consumer Caucus during which you can discuss the issues that impact you and your peers with disabilities. You will also learn ways in which you can make a difference in the lives of every person with a disability.

The Caucus will be held on Thursday evenings from 6:00-7:30 p.m. on July 7, Aug. 4, Sept. 8, Oct. 6, Nov. 3 and Dec.8 at the ARC Milwaukee Office, 7203 W. Center Street in Wauwatosa. For more information or to sign up, call Andrea or Julie at (414) 774-6255.

Wil-O-Way Rec Program offers summer fun

Summer is the time to get out and enjoy life. The Wil-o-Way Recreation Program can help you do just that. Via their summer program, they are offering a range of activities every day of the week for children, teens and adults with disabilities. Whether you like to bowl, camp, cook, dance, draw, drum, golf, paint, play bocce ball, sail, or, socialize, they have an activity for you. Activities are scheduled at three locations in the Greater Milwaukee area including Holler Park Recreation Center in Milwaukee, Grant Recreation Center in South Milwaukee and Underwood Recreation Center in Wauwatosa. Participants must be Key Card members. The 2005 Mid-year Key Card membership costs just $10. For more information, call (414) 571-5566, ext. 424.

NHU Seeking Volunteers in Greater Milwaukee Area

We have a few special volunteer activities planned for the month of July and hope that you can join us.

Computer Cleaning and Refurbishing Party
Monday, July 11, 2005, 4 - 7 p.m.
We will be gathering at our downtown office, 811 East Wisconsin Avenue, to organize computers for distribution to our Computer Redistribution Program applicants. We will be cleaning and setting up computer work stations, and will also be testing and salvaging computer parts. Pizza or subs and refreshments will be served.

Festa Italiana Face Painting
Thursday, July 21, 2005, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
We are once again offering free face painting to Festa Italiana VIP Day participants. We are seeking both greeters and face painters to join us on opening day of Festa Italiana. Volunteers will receive free admission into Festa.

Please contact us at (414) 299-0124 if you are interested in either of these volunteer activities. Transportation and parking expenses will be reimbursed up to $5 per day.

2nd Annual Benefit Golf Outing a Great Success

On June 15, 2005, more than 80 golfers joined New Horizons Un-Limited for our 2nd Annual Benefit Golf Outing at Silver Spring Country Club in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. Though the air was a bit chilly and slightly damp, a good time was had by all.

Thanks to the support of our golfers and our many sponsors and donors, this year's event surpassed the success of last year's outing and continues to be our largest fundraising event of the year!

This success is testament to all those who offered everything from their time to sponsorships to golfer gifts and silent auction items.

We must however acknowledge a few star contributors including LLD Electric Co., who immediately stepped forward as our event's Eagle Sponsor. We simply cannot express how thrilled we are with LLD's show of support. Of course, we must also extend a huge thanks to Miller Engineering, our corporate sponsor, who worked diligently to secure golfers, sponsors and prize donors.

There are many others however that contributed to the success of this event. Following is a complete list of our sponsors and donors. We thank you all!

Eagle Sponsor
LLD ELECTRIC CO.

Corporate Sponsor
MILLER ENGINEERING INC.

Hors d'oeuvres Sponsors
MGE UPS SYSTEMS
WELDY/LAMONT ASSOCIATES, INC.

Beverage Cart Sponsor
UIHLEIN ELECTRIC

Lunch Sponsor
FABCO POWER SYSTEMS

Tee Sponsors
Aerico Inc., Manufacturer Sales Rep of APC, Electrical Energy Experts, The Good Electric Company, Nu-Art Dental Lab, RW Baird and Co., Staff Electric, Toepfer Security, US Bank

Prize Donors
Baskets on Broadway, CDP, Inc. / Liebert Corporation, Elliott's Ace Hardware, Franklin Covey (Mayfair), Galiher, M., Golf Galaxy, Hampton Inn Brookfield, Harley Davidson, Illuminations (Mayfair), Johnson's Bank, Klement's Sausage, Lamplight Farms, M&I Bank, Metavante, Miller Engineering, Milwaukee Brewers, Milwaukee Brewers Fan Zone, Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office, Milwaukee Grill, Olive Garden, Paint Ball Daves, Pampered Chef (Rebecca Fisher), Plunkett Raysich Architects, Prime Quarter, Printing Possibilities, Quick, P., Rosatti's Pizza, Sprecher Brewing Co., Target Corp., Town and Country Electric, Travel Advantage Network / Sunquest Vacations, US Bank Championship

Golfer Gift Donors
Aerico, Inc., MGE UPS Systems, Weldy/Lamont Associates, Inc.

Printing Sponsors
City Press, Printing Possibilities

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