Host:  Welcome to Independent Perspective, a public affairs presentation of Western New York Independent Living (WNYIL). Our guest today is Amanda Pinter, the NY Connects Regional Coordinator with WNYIL and your host is yours truly Ernie Churchwell. Welcome to the program, Amanda.

Guest:  Thank you. It's great to be here.

Host:  And we're pleased to have you. I'm willing to bet that there are probably one or two people listening today that are not familiar with what all the NY Connects program does and whom it serves and that's the immediate question, who is the program set up to assist?

Guest:  So, anyone who needs information regarding long term supports and services, or any assistance with accessing these supports may call NY Connects. So, this could include older adults, adults with disabilities, children with a disability, caregivers, or friends or neighbors who are just looking for information to pass along to their family member.

Host:  Well, it sounds like there's a whole range of individuals with disabilities that could benefit from talking to NY Connects and people connected they’re to. What are the sorts of things that they would find once they talk to you, what specific types of services?

Guest:  So, any long term or support or services to help somebody to stay independent and healthy in their home. So, we get calls regarding home delivered meals, transportation, respite care, home care, insurance information or options counseling regarding a multiple of situations that are going on,

Host:  That does embrace a lot of things. Since you're in the context of being part of WNYIL, then there's probably an opportunity to help people link up with other people who have specialties or programs that could additionally assist them. Does that happen upon occasion?

Guest:  That does, so when somebody calls in, we provide unbiased information so we can give them information for multiple agencies, ours included, and it tends to happen where, you know they are already kind of comfortable with us and with what we're doing that they're comfortable with working within another program in our agency

Host:  And do occasionally connect with outside agencies that embrace the independent living philosophy of the consumers will comes first?

Guest:  We do. We often actually partner with our local Office for the Aging as well. They are dealing with the aging population, whereas we are the experts with individuals with disabilities. So, we're in the process of kind of teaching each other, the ins and outs of our system so we can better fill in the gaps between each agency.

Host:  Well that is exciting, and just curious, are most of the NY Connects outlets in localities around the state connected with independent living or are people in Western New York just particularly fortunate?

Guest:  No so we are actually statewide. There are six different regions, all with an ILC region coordinator. So, each county has an Office for the Aging, as well as an independent living center staff member that can assist with any questions.

Host:  Well Amanda it sounds like whoever set up NY Connects really thought carefully about the best way to serve consumers with disabilities in their area. To put more of a face on the program could you give us an example of a success story without naming names of course?

Guest:  I can. We had a client call in, and we ended up linking him with our Medicaid Application Assistance Program along with home delivered meals that he gets regularly now.

Host:  All right, and we've got a little time left, but I believe you have two contact phone numbers to give our listeners, so that they can get more information as I'm sure you've raised a lot of questions in people's minds. Could you provide that contact information?

Guest:  Of course, our statewide phone number is 1-800-342-9871, and our local number will count for Erie County, Niagara, Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming is 1-888-564-5171.

Host:  And those are during regular business hours?

Guest:  Yes.

Host:  Thanks so much for being with us, Amanda.

Guest:  Thank you.

Host:  You've been listening to Independent Perspective, a public affairs presentation of WNYIL. Our guest today was Amanda Pinter, NY Connects Region 1 Coordinator, located at WNYIL, and your host was yours truly, Ernie Churchwell.