On June 16, 2021 Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown introduced historic legislation to update the long neglected Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, and the time to make your voice heard is now!
Imagine being told you could only have $2,000 across your entire asset portfolio.
For over 30 years, there has been an asset limit that states people who get SSI can only have $2,000 in assets. The last time the limit was updated to this level was in 1989. Assets include money across bank accounts, retirement accounts, and savings. These asset limits mean that people cannot save money and force people with disabilities to remain in poverty. If they make or have over $2,000, it disqualifies them from their benefits, affecting their ability to receive EP!C services.
For EP!C these limits can look like our staff or guardians trying to find ways to help individuals spend their money, whether they want to or not, so they remain eligible. It could be going on a vacation, having an experience, or purchasing something for themselves. This all sounds nice, but if the individual doesn’t want to spend their money, they shouldn’t have to. The same goes for someone saving for something larger; they could never exceed $2,000 of their full assets. There is no “saving for a rainy day” with the current penalties.
Urge your U.S Senators to support people with disabilities and their families by co-sponsoring the bipartisan SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act (S.4102) which would raise these asset limits.
It takes less than a minute to send emails to Leaders. Visit our website above and fill out a simple form that automates everything for you.
*It’s important to note, SSI benefits have never been large enough to raise an individual’s income past the federal poverty line. SSI’s maximum is $841/mo. where the poverty line is $1,133/mo.
Thank you on behalf of EP!C Individuals and Staff.
– Kim Cornwell, EP!C CEO
Join us for a heroic night of baseball on Saturday, August 20 starting at 5:35 PM at Dozer Park!
PJ Dance Academy is a highly regarded dance group that hosted a unique, colorful, visual interpretation of The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling in June.
Over the span of only six months, their troupe developed, planned, crafted, and performed their version of the beloved children’s story. Dozens of volunteers and over 80 dancers spent hundreds of hours creating and practicing to put on a magical performance. They transported the audience to another land, convincing us we were in the jungles of India among the many animals that reside there. EP!C was lucky enough to be chosen as this year’s charity partner. If you attended Bon Appétit this year you experienced an energetic performance from PJ Dance Academy. Owner Prasanna Jeer had a childhood friend with cerebral palsy who has inspired him ever since.
Thank you to the sponsors and audiences who helped make this event possible.
We are proud to announce that we have once again achieved Person-Centered Excellence Accreditation from CQL | The Council on Quality and Leadership.
Person-Centered Excellence Accreditation is a four-year accreditation term for human service providers that transform person-centered philosophies into everyday practices and utilize data to assess the effectiveness of the supports that people receive.
The specific accreditation EP!C received focuses on: Health, safety, & human security. Supporting personal quality of life. Implementation and commitment to shared values including Personal Outcome Measures ®, and continuous improvement toward person-centered excellence. The accreditation process included: Organizational self-assessment, Off-site meetings, Stakeholder focus groups, Basic Assurances ®, and Shared Values validation, Personal Outcome Measures focus, Plan development, and Next step discussions.
Doris Hayes, EP!C Chief Operations Officer stated “We chose to put in the work to become accredited in 2014 and are thrilled to receive this achievement for the third time. Partnering with CQL is one way we can continue to push ourselves to be a leading service provider. It’s our culture of innovation and accountability that drives us to voluntarily apply for this process. In many of the communities we support, we don’t have a strong 70-year history like we do in the Peoria area so having this accreditation behind our name is quite meaningful.”
August 17th is National Nonprofit Day.
Show your support for your favorite NP by encouraging others to learn more and donate to our mission. Click the link below to create your own fundraiser and share it with your facebook friends.
We recently shared on our social media an empowering story about Andy.
When we first met Andy, he was not comfortable in most social situations. His sister was his favorite person and he preferred to save his interactions for her. When faced with a group activity, Andy could often be found sitting apart from the crowd listening to rock music or watching movies by himself.
With his sister’s and EP!C’s constant support and encouragement, Andy has developed the ability to open up to others and even decided he wanted to attend a rock concert. Thanks to his team he was able to attend an event at the Civic Center in May.
It’s reached over 22,000 people and got the attention of the local Peoria rock station 105.7 The X. They were inspired by his story and invited him out for a studio tour where he met his favorite hosts, got some swag, chose songs for their 5 O’clock Freak Out segment AND was able to introduce one of his favorite tunes.
From a shy, quiet guy who preferred spending his time alone to an outgoing, adventurous person rocking out to metal music in a venue that holds well over 11,000 people and talking on the radio – this is truly incredible!
See the two posts about his radio visit on our social media.
May Employee of the Month
As our Activity Coordinator, Angie Frailey organizes many of the activities the individuals participate in here at EP!C and is known for going above and beyond to support the people we serve and her peers. You can almost always find her representing our organization in EP!C apparel.
Her nominator said, “Angie is simply amazing. She constantly goes above and beyond to ensure a safe environment for both staff and individuals. For example, during the winter she initiated shoveling the entrances to our Townline office to ensure a safe entrance for both staff and individuals. She also regularly takes many of the individuals out on outings and to volunteer in the community.”
June Employee of the Month
Kayshaun Springer is a Direct Support Professional at our Townline facility. She is no stranger to this honor as she was also named the July EOM in 2018.
Her nominator said, “If there was one word to describe Kayshaun, it would be ‘All-Star.’ She helps enhance the quality of life of each person we serve by engaging and listening to everyone. She also leads by example by stepping up and helping her team in their classrooms without being asked.”
We are so thankful to have staff like Kayshaun on our team!
Save the Dates!
Our EP!Cycling bike club meets bi-weekly on Tuesdays starting at 9 AM. Anyone with a bicycle is welcome to join!
2022 SCHEDULE
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