Independence is Priceless... We Help Make It Affordable!
Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Find us on Pinterest View our videos on YouTube
In This Issue
 
Penny Pincher cartoon with a lightbulb above her head

Financial Tips from Penny Pincher 

Staying On Top of Your Credit Cards 

Here at PATF we speak with a lot of people about their personal financial situations. We want to make sure that people are aware of their broader financial picture so that they can make informed choices regarding applying for a loan or credit card.

 

Here are a few pointers that can help keep your credit usage in check:   

 

Keep balances below 30% on credit cards or any  

Remember, it's always best to pay your credit card balance in full. If you cannot, pay as much as you are able.  

 

If you have credit card balances here is a helpful link to a calculator that will tell you how long it will take to pay off those balances.

 

In the News :
PA House Approves Bill Helping Young People with Disabilities to get Jobs
From PA Disability News
 

HB 400 Opens Door for Federal $$$, Summer, Part-Time Work Experience

The Pennsylvania House yesterday took a major step forward to help young people with disabilities get the part-time and summer jobs they need to prepare for life when they finish school.

The vote is a significant victory for the #IWantToWork campaign, a social media and advocacy effort led and managed by young people with disabilities. #IWantToWork is part of the Campaign for What Works.

The unanimous House vote approves legislation enabling the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) to begin helping high school students with disabilities get summer and part-time jobs much earlier than it currently does. The legislation will set in place new processes and enable the Commonwealth to seek needed federal matching funds to support helping these students.

 

Upcoming Events
 
May 5, 2015
Where to Turn Resource Fair
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in downtown Pittsburgh 

May 7-8, 2015
PHFA Commonwealth Housing Forum
At the Hilton Harrisburg on Market Square in Harrisburg 
Come hear our Executive Director, Susan Tachau, speak about PATF and home modifications. 

May 22, 2015
Senior and Disability Resource Expo sponsored by Senator Randy Vulakovich
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM at Pittsburgh Mills Mall in Tarentum


June 2, 2015

PATF Press Conference
1:00 PM at the Capital Rotunda in Harrisburg
We'll be rolling out our newest Annual Report. Various speakers including past borrowers and legislators will briefly talk about PATF.


Handcycling Allows for New Freedom

 

Rich on his handcycle by a stream in the mountains
"I can travel to places I couldn't usually access with a manual wheelchair." - Rich

There's nothing quite like speeding along a country road, wind in your face, feeling your muscles working, listening to the air rushing in and out of your lungs. As an avid handcyclist, Rich Beardsley is no stranger to this feeling.

Previously a carpenter by trade, Rich has always enjoyed leading an active life. After falling from a tree a few years back, he sustained a permanent spinal cord injury. The accident could have discouraged him from his active lifestyle for good. Instead, someone suggested he check out the Pennsylvania Center for Adapted Sports (PCAS). They lent him a handcycle, coached him how to use it, and provided group rides every weekend. Before long, Rich was training to participate in the 2011 Philadelphia Marathon. He finished in 2 hours and 22 minutes.

These days Rich uses his handcycle less for competition than for exercise and recreation. "I like speeding along, exercising, appreciating the sights and companionship along the way." Rich gives a lot of credit to the support he received from PCAS and suggests to anyone who may feel nervous about trying handcycling, "With all the help at PCAS, there is no reason not to try it! With each ride you get a little stronger."

See our article below for a list of Pennsylvania resources that can help you get started with a new activity or sport.

 

AdaptiveEquipmentAccessible Fitness Using Adaptive Equipment

As the weather gets warmer we're all getting the itch to get outside. And with so many studies touting the importance of exercise, there's no time like the present to get out and get fit!

Several new studies suggest an ideal of 150 minutes of physical exercise per week, and 20-30 of those minutes should be vigorous. With higher rates of obesity and obesity-related diseases among those with disabilities, the need is greater than ever to get out and get active.

Some forms of exercise can seem inaccessible or even intimidating for those with disabilities. Adaptive sports equipment is a type of assistive technology that helps people with disabilities access the sports and activities they love. From adaptive golf carts to modified kayak paddles, there are endless ways to get active using assistive technology. Here are some resources to help you get started on the road to fitness:
Know someone who might benefit from one of our loans, whether for adaptive sports equipment or other assistive technology? Or maybe there's an organization that should know about us for referrals... Pass it on!


 

 

Meet a Board Member

 

Tom Giamoni
Tom Giamoni, Vice President of the Board

Tom Giamoni

Tom Giamoni has been in banking for over 39 years and has been with the Bryn Mawr Trust Company (BMTC) for the past 21 years. Mr. Giamoni is the Group Vice President of Small Business Lending and is also the Fair Lending Officer for the Bank.

 

Besides his duties at BMTC, Mr. Giamoni is a member of the Board of Trustees at Harcum College where he is currently the vice-chair and head of two committees. Mr. Giamoni is also the long-standing President of the Consumer Lending Society of Philadelphia.

 

Mr. Giamoni's interests include golf, travel, reading, gourmet cooking, and he's an avid fan of the Phillies and Eagles.

 

 

Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation
www.patf.us - 1004 West 9th Avenue, King of Prussia, PA 19406 - 888.744.1938

 

Our mission at Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation (PATF) is to provide education and financing opportunities for older Pennsylvanians and people with disabilities, helping them to acquire assistive technology devices and services that improve the quality of their lives.  

 

Assistive technology is any device that helps a person with a disability achieve a more independent and productive life. Devices may include such items as: adapted vehicles, iPads, accessible home modifications (including ramps, roll-in showers, lowered counter tops, and stairglides), computers with special software and/or hardware, hearing aids, flashing doorbells, scooters and wheelchairs, seat lift chairs.