For many years, the Western New York Independent Living Family of Agencies (WNYIL) has worked to ensure that people with disabilities have a barrier-free path to voting, whether it be absentee or in-person.  We were one of the most vocal supporters of the Help America Vote Act, which led to all voting districts in the Empire State being equipped with a disability-accessible Ballot marking device, such as the ES&S AutoMark in Erie County and the Dominion Voting Systems ImageCast in Niagara and most other counties.

With the conclusion of the Coronavirus Pandemic State of Emergency, relaxation of procedures about mailing in or delivering ballots have been ended, and we are curious about how the experiences of voters with disabilities may have become more challenging or perhaps easier in the recently concluded voting day, Systems Advocate Ericka Miller invites any voters with disabilities from Erie or Niagara Counties to share their challenges and/or positive experiences at their polling place. Were there curb cuts and accessible paths of travel to the polls? Were the machines easy or difficult to use? Were the volunteers knowledgeable and helpful?

Ericka invites those who wish to pass along their voting stories to her by email at emiller@wnyil.org or by phone at 716-284-4131, extension 221

The Western New York Independent Living, Inc. family of agencies offers an expanding array of services to aid individuals with disabilities to take control of their own lives.

Registration deadline for the General Election – 10/8/2021 is the last day to postmark an application to register to vote and to register in person. Registration forms are on our website https://www.co.genesee.ny.us/departments/elections/index.php. Mail registration forms must be received at Board of Elections by 10/13/2021 to be eligible to vote. Registration forms can also be found at many public offices, or by calling 585 815-7804 and requesting a registration form be mailed.

Absentee for the General Election – 10/18/2021 is the last day to postmark, email, online portal https://absenteeballot.elections.ny.gov/ or fax application for a General Election ballot. 11/1/2021 is the last day to apply in person for a General Election ballot. 11/2/2021 is the last day to postmark the ballot and Board of Elections must receive it no later than 11/9/2021.

There will be an accessible Ballot Marking Device set up for the disabled at the County Board of Elections, 15 Main St., Batavia, NY 14020 for anyone who wishes to vote absentee from our office. Please call 585 815-7804 to make an appointment.

Early Voting – Early Voting is available for every eligible voter in Genesee County. The Early Voting location is The ARC Community Center, 38 Woodrow Rd., Batavia, NY 14020.

Saturday, Oct. 23        12:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Sunday, Oct. 24          12:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Monday, Oct. 25           9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday, Oct. 26        12:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Wednesday, Oct. 27   12:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Thursday, Oct. 28         9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday, Oct. 29              9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday, Oct. 30        12:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Sunday, Oct. 31          12:00 PM – 5:00 PM            

Independence Express, the transportation branch of Western New York Independent Living Inc., will provide free van rides to people with disabilities living in Erie, Niagara, Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties who need a ride to vote on Election Day (Tuesday, Nov. 3^rd).

Or, if you would prefer to cast your vote prior to Election Day, you can get a ride to a designated early voting site in your county during its limited hours of operation between Oct. 24^th and Nov. 1^st.

In addition, Independence Express will also deliver ballots for anyone, with or without disabilities, to their respective Board of Elections in our five-county service area.

Independence Express has wheelchair-accessible vehicles for those with mobility challenges, if needed. While we can’t help anyone up or down stairs, we can take people to their voting place and then back home or to work, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 8:30 p.m.

If you are a person with a disability and would like the free service offered by Independence Express, please email transportation@wnyil.org with “Election Day” in the subject, and providing this information:

• The rider’s name;
• Address;
• Phone number;
• If rider uses a wheelchair or if rider is ambulatory;
• The name and address of the polling place;
• If anyone is going with the rider, such as a Personal Care Attendant (PCA);
• And lastly, the rider's first choice of the time to go to the polls.

Alternately, one may call Christian at (716) 836-0822, ext. 108, to set up a ride. If there is high demand at times, requests will be honored on a "first-come, first-served" basis. Please give at least two days’ notice to ensure your ride.

Voting is your right – and we can help you exercise it!

The Western New York Independent Living Inc. Family of Agencies offer an expanding array of services to aid individuals with disabilities to take control of their own lives.

One of the greatest privileges we have as American citizens is to vote for the elected leaders that we choose – but for many individuals with disabilities who wish to do so in person, getting to their polling place may be a challenge.

In Erie, Niagara, Genesee, Orleans or Wyoming counties, Western New York Independent Living (WNYIL) can help!

Independence Express, the transportation branch of WNYIL, will provide van rides, free of charge, to people with disabilities who need one to vote on Election Day (Tuesday, Nov. 5^th).

Independence Express has wheelchair-accessible vehicles for those with mobility challenges, and ambulatory people can get transportation, too. While we can’t help anyone up or down stairs, and they must rely on friends or relatives for that, we can take people to their voting place and then back home or to work, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 8:30 p.m., (except during drivers' lunch from 12 to 1 p.m.).  

If this is appealing, please email transportation@wnyil.org with “Election Day” in the subject, and provide this information:

• The rider’s name;
• Address;
• Phone number;
• If rider uses a wheelchair (or write "WC"), or if rider is ambulatory ("AMB");
• The name and address of the polling place (i.e., Ascension Parish, 15 Sumner St., Batavia, NY 14020);
• If anyone is going with them, such as a Personal Care Attendant (PCA).
• [If more than one extra person or PCA, give the number of PCAs -- we can only take up to three people at one time];
• The rider's first choice of the time to go to the polls.

Alternately, one may call Christian at 716-836-0822, ext. 108, to set up a ride. If there is high demand at times, requests will be honored on a "first-come, first-served" basis.  

Voting is your right – and we can help you exercise it!

The Western New York Independent Living Inc. family of agencies offer an expanding array of services to aid individuals with disabilities to take control of their own lives.

Judy Essig and her two daughters, Jenna and Nicole, were texting away in front of St. James Episcopal Church yesterday.

St. James is in the running for a Pepsi Refresh grant -- the same grant that Robert Morris and Byron-Bergen elementary schools won for the construction of new playgrounds earlier this year -- $50,000 each.

If the St. James community wins the grant, they will use the money for the restoration of the church's bell tower, a project that is still in its early phases.

Laurie Oltramari, president of the Landmark Society of Genesee County, said that the church is getting ready to choose a contractor, and that the Pepsi Refresh grant will fund masonry repairs, architectural and engineering fees, and promotion of the overall project.

Oltramari applied for the grant on behalf of the church out of a desire to preserve one of Batavia's most impressive landmarks. Built by Robert North in 1908, it is based on the Gothic architecture of churches North studied while living in England.

Unfortunately, the tower has been slowly deteriorating over the last 10 years due to water infiltration and very hard mortar in its structure. As you can see in pictures below, parts of the stonework have actually fallen off.

According to Marcia Gann, a member of St. James who is also on the committee for the tower's restoration, "the church has pledges of $350,000 directed toward the repair of the bell tower" as a result of the 2010 campaign.

These pledges have been earned through campaigning and fundraisers, as well as a $40,000 grant commitment from the New York Landmarks Conservancy.

As far as the project's current phase goes, "I'd say we're going to need about $250,000 just in order to have a safe environment (for people to work in for repairs)," Essig said. 

Right now, they are still working on removing those parts of the tower that need to be removed just in order to "get it up to code," as Oltramari put it.

Starting Monday at 10 a.m., volunteers will man a free Pepsi stand in front of the church -- at 405 E. Main St. in Batavia -- and hand out voting instructions. People can drop off Pepsi bottle caps any time in a designated barrel at the church.

Voting for the project will continue through July 31. To place your vote:

1) Go to refresheverything.com/savethetower, or

2) Text 107740 at 73774.

You will notice a "Power Vote" option on the Pepsi Refresh site. This allows you to vote up to 10 times a day, according to Oltramari.

If you click on this option -- which is right above the normal voting tab -- you will be asked to enter the code on your specially marked Pepsi product cap.

At the moment, the church's rank is 69 out of 250 runners-up. So get online and start voting to hear those church bells ring!

SUPPLEMENTAL PHOTOS

Kids enjoy what the new playground has to offer at Robert Morris Elementary School -- also funded by the Pepsi Refresh grant.

Great American Charity Car Giveaway

Tops Friendly Markets has launched a Great American Charity Car Giveaway. Online voters will choose one local charity to receive a brand new vehicle valued at $20,000.  

Once all of the nominations are in, the public will vote to determine the top 10 deserving charities. A final round of voting will then take place and the charity with the most votes will win a new car courtesy of TOPS. The winning charity may choose to accept the $20,000 cash value of the car. All you need to do is vote online at:

http://www.topsmarkets.com/ or www.Facebook.com/TopsFriendlyMarkets

SEARCH FOR GENESEE ARC in the listing.

 You may vote once a day through July 7, 2011.  We are competing against 86 other organizations across the region.  Your vote is VERY IMPORTANT! The 10 charities that receive the most votes will go on to a second round of voting. A final round of voting will then take place and the charity with the most votes will win a new car courtesy of TOPS! The Winner will be announced on or around July 27, 2011. Please share this information with your family and friends!

Remember: 

VOTE ONCE A DAY

through July 7, 2011

http://www.topsmarkets.com

or

www.Facebook.com/TopsFriendlyMarkets

It is located at 1145 Main Road in Corfu.

(Note: this date was changed from the previously scheduled date of Wednesday, July 28 in Pembroke. The Genesee County Board of Elections apologizes for any inconvenience.)

It will still take place in Pembroke Town Hall, but the date has been changed to Thursday, July 29 instead. Hours are the same, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.

The Pembroke Town Hall is located at 1145 Main Road in Corfu.

The Genesee County Board of Elections apologizes for any inconvenience.