By Mike Bodine
Register Staff
9-16-2008

Through perseverance, hard work and generosity, the ever-growing program that helps developmentally disabled adults has just received funds to expand its efforts and education even more.
The Inyo-Mono Association for the Handicapped, or IMAH, was awarded a grant by the Verizon foundation for $20,021. The check was presented Wednesday at the IMAH office and Thrift Mall in Bishop. IMAH is a private, not-for-profit agency.
The money will go directly toward IMAH’s Adaptive Learning Program to provide training in basic life skills to its clientele of handicapped adults.
This grant by Verizon follows a grant awarded last year to IMAH by the Union Bank of California Foundation for $6,323 that went toward the purchase of four new computers, and an award of $7,000 by the Sunset Foundation two moths ago to buy math literacy software.
“This is a dream come true,” IMAH Executive Director Beth Himelhoch said Wednesday.

It was the diligent efforts of Himelhoch and IMAH staff that made the Verizon grant possible. She explained that she first applied for the Verizon grant two years ago, but the funds weren’t available. Verizon, however, told her to stick with it and be prepared to reapply at “a moment’s notice.”

That critical moment came in April 2008, when Himelhoch got a call from Verizon asking if she could submit her application in 24 hours. Himelhoch said she and Jenny Park, IMAH’s workshop director, scrambled and made the deadline.
The Verizon grant is part of the “Check Into Literacy” program, a unique initiative that allows Verizon land-line phone customers in California to make a monthly, $1, tax-deductible donation to literacy programs when paying their bills. In 2007, Verizon collected more than $87,000 and awarded only six grants, with IMAH receiving about one-quarter of that total.
Presenting the check along with Verizon Bishop representative Myles McMullen was Director of Government and External Affairs for Verizon Michael Page. Page said Wednesday, “IMAH is a solid program and making a difference. Literacy is the key.”
Bishop Police Chief Kathleen Sheehan was in attendance at the check presentation and had nothing but praise for Verizon and IMAH. “IMAH and the thrift store help a lot of people in the community and I am personally grateful for Verizon’s generosity.”
“Without the thrift store, we’d have to close our doors,” Himelhoch added.
The thrift store is truly the life blood of IMAH. The store, established in 1977, gives all of IMAH’s clients an opportunity to work in various capacities, gaining valuable skills and receive a salary for their efforts. Proceeds from the store go to support various projects, such as fuel costs on recreational Thursdays or admission to Keough’s Hot Springs, that otherwise would not get funding. The store has seen a 150 percent increase in sales since 2000 and annual customer traffic rose from around 200 to 1,300 in the same time period.
Located in the old Sierra Villa nursing home located on Warren Street, the thrift store is also IMAH’s offices and classrooms. IMAH is the only adult day program for adults with developmental disabilities in all of Inyo and Mono counties. Daily transportation can exceed 350 miles per day picking up and dropping off clients via IMAH’s network of eight wheelchair-accessible vehicles.
The day program provides a large variety of training and skills to the wide-ranging clientele in this sparsely populated community, from the severely disabled to the high-functioning.
Himelhoch explained that through the new learning program and its software and reading materials, IMAH will be able to better suit the education to client ability.
The education curriculum is very much like a traditional curriculum of reading, writing and arithmetic, but at IMAH the education is focused on life skills. A favorite among many, Himelhoch said, was the math class, geared toward the individual’s skill level, and “menu math” where clients learn to find specific items on a menu, write down and add the numbers together while also practicing how to make change. A money management class teaches adults how to balance a checkbook, make a budget and shop within their means.
Reading and comprehension are taught and so is sign language for the many non-verbal clients. Signing gives clients an opportunity to communicate and express themselves and to learn what their peers and friends are expressing.
Himelhoch added that part of the grant money will be used to replace outdated independent living and life-skills videos. She explained her current library of videos is more than 10 years old and the grant money will go to buy new $3,000 videos. “People Smarts” and “Circles” are video curriculum offering right and wrong scenarios mirroring real-life situations and teach the importance of boundaries. Clients and staff role-play different scenes to make sure all clients know how to handle uncomfortable or potentially dangerous situations.
Himelhoch recalled an instance when one of the clients woke up in her home in the middle of the night smelling smoke. Because of the “People Smarts” videos, she had learned to dial 911, and it was the repetitive nature of this class that got her out of bed to call 911.
IMAH’s independent living skills and training extend outside the facility with IMAH’s Work Opportunities program, started in July 2005. The program provides job preparation, development, placement and follow-up retention. Clients work in the community at places like Bishop Nursery, Eastside Books, Rite Aid and Century 21, from 2-40 hours a week.
Himelhoch said IMAH’s philosophy is that work is an integral part of living and being part of the community, but IMAH and its clients play just as hard as they work.
Every Thursday is set aside for recreation. Clients vote on where they want to go and what they want to do, like swimming at Keough’s Hot Springs, bowling  or hiking around Mammoth. When summer days allow for longer trips, staff and clients visit Yosemite or the Feline Conservation Center in Rosamond.
IMAH extends its warm helping hand even further, offering respite care to clients’ families or those caring for disabled adults. The newly indoctrinated Respite Program provides developmentally disabled adults care and housing while their primary caregiver can take what is usually a much needed break, Himelhoch explained. She said one of her families had not taken a vacation in more than 45 years, but the Respite Program finally made it possible for the family to get in some rest and relaxation. According to Himelhoch, a goal is to have a five- to six-bedroom residential facility; now the staff makes due with two bedrooms within IMAH’s facility.
IMAH has grown from an organization that in 1972 had a net worth of $451.87, to the annual budget for 2008 now reaching $880,000 with 17 clients. And, IMAH has more visions for the future including a Supported Living service that would help clients who want to live independently. Another program would serve those who want to attend a two-year college course that teaches independent living skills. Upon graduation from this course, adults would be able to live and work independently in their community. Plans for an on-site greenhouse are in the works as well, Himelhoch said, explaining that gardening is both therapeutic and educational. Clients will sell produce and flowers at the thrift store and farmers market with excess to be donated to the senior meal program.
The thrift store is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday. Donations are accepted during any business hour, on Sundays from noon-3 p.m., or pick-up is available for large donations by calling 873-8691. Those wishing to make donations are encouraged not to drop off their wares after hours, as theft of those donations is a problem, Himelhoch explained.
For more information about IMAH, the programs and services offered, or how to volunteer, call 873-8668.