MS Resourcefulness
One woman finds the resources to keep her independence
by Laurie Long
Emily Popkin considers herself the “luckiest unlucky person in the world”. At 25 she was diagnosed with primary progressive MS. Today she is a quadriplegic needing 24-hour care, but she has not let this dictate her life. She lives in her own house, runs all her own affairs, and sells her artwork through the Internet from her website Freehand. Emily used to work in the non-profit sector and was previously the Board Chair of the MS Hub. Today she provides peer support assistance through the National MS Society. |
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“I’ve been to the top of Mt. Rainier and the bottom of the Grand Canyon,” she states. “I’ve traveled overseas, have a college education and the resources and support to make a comfortable life for myself.”
Emily is a great believer in enabling yourself by collecting and accessing as many useful resources as possible. With just partial use of her right hand, she manipulates the laptop next to her bed to display her ever-expanding lists of online resources. She also shows me her FLASH card, a discount card for people with disabilities. This card from the City of Seattle Mayor’s Office offers discounts for businesses, restaurants, theaters, professional services, pet licenses, Amtrak, reduced fees at Seattle Parks and Recreation Department facilities (including swimming pools and public golf courses), free tickets to the Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle Aquarium, special events and more. Emily also points out other resources that she feels are under recognized and under utilized, such as reductions in property tax for the disabled (from 20 - 70% if you qualify). Whenever Emily deals with businesses and contractors she checks to see if they offer discounts for seniors and, if so, whether they also offer discounts for the disabled. Emily explains, “If you don’t ask, you don’t get.”
Emily wants others who are disabled to be an active part of their world. “When you’re first disabled,” Emily explains, “no one hands you a guide on being disabled – you’re basically stranded. The resources [for disabled] aren’t advertised and therefore you don’t take advantage of them.” She continues, “a lot of people call me and tell me what they are looking for and I either already have it, or I find it for them. I like finding ways to benefit others and empowering people to feel as fortunate as I do.”
Emily believes that “you are only limited by your imagination.” Her philosophy appears under her picture on her website along with the suggestion: “Challenge or burden? You choose.”
See below for lists of resources in the Seattle area and on the Internet.
Buy a calendar from Emily's website and help the MSA!
Resources to Help You Live Independently
This information is provided as a community service and may be reproduced and shared freely. Any resource contained herein is for informational purposes only and is not necessarily supported or endorsed by the MSA.
General Information & Help Lines
Community Info Line |
206-461-3200 |
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King County Library Answer Line |
425-462-9600 |
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Seattle Public Library Quick Answer |
206-386-4636 |
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Senior Information & Assistance |
888-435-3377 |
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Mayor’s Office for Senior Citizens & Disabled |
206-684-0500 |
Housing
Disability Remodeling:
Will build wheelchair ramps and do grab-bar installations free. |
206-448-9277 |
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Hold Rampathon - Spring charity event to build ramps for 3 needy individuals |
425-451-7920 |
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Thru Master Builder’s Assoc. |
206-622-7766 |
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Independent Living Specialist |
206-633-6623 |
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City of Seattle |
HomeWise Program - Rehabilitation Loans & Home Weatherization |
206-684-0244 |
Housing Accessibility Loans & Discount Programs:
Loans for Accessibility changes - must be low income. |
206-296-7640 |
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Seattle Human Rights Dept. |
Fair housing svcs. for low income & seniors. Columbia Legal Svcs: |
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Utility Discounts (disabilities) |
Seattle Dept of Housing and Human Services Senior and Disabled |
206-684-0268 |
Energy Assistance Programs |
206-328-2356 800-348-7144 |
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How to hire a contractor: |
800-647-0982 |
Home Help
Grocery Shopping:
Online |
www.spud.com |
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Online |
albertsons.wra.com |
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Online |
shop.safeway.com |
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Home delivered meals for disabled |
206-957-1686 |
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Home delivered meals for disabled |
206-448-5767 |
House Cleaning, Errands & Personal Services:
Judy Kimmerer |
206-551-5556 |
Chore Services and Home Care:
DSHS - King County COPES |
Central number to initiate state-contracted home care services for King County |
206-341-7750 |
King County – Must find a volunteer to match the request. May take some time. |
425-284-2240 888-649-6850 |
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Caregiver Info & Assist Program |
206-461-3210 x626 |
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Senior Information & Assistance - Seattle |
888-435-3377 |
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Volunteer Chore Services for Issaquah area |
425-391-2817 |
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Chores & personal services |
206-634-3605 |
Equipment
Donor Closets:
Canes, Walkers, Wheelchairs, etc. |
425-828-1435 |
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All medical equipment – charges per item fee |
206-712-1807 |
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Wheelchair Library |
Covers 13 Counties – free pick-up and delivery. |
360-479-4535 |
Therapeutic Equipment Program |
800-532-7667 x102 |
Sales & Repair:
Wheelchairs NW |
1600 124 th Ave NE Suite A, Bellevue. |
425-646-4601 |
(Rents equipment) Kirkland |
800-248-7828 |
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Allcare Medical |
1034 116 th NE, Bellevue (some scooters) |
425-455-8330 |
4135 Stone Way N, Some scooters |
206-547-2200 |
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14739 Aurora Ave. N., Shoreline |
206-364-3318 |
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Edmonds – sell Scooters and power wheelchairs |
425-771-4659 |
Cooling Products (Vests, neck wraps, etc.):
800-597-0618 |
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| Akemi | 800-209-2665 |
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888-783-3538 |
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Therapeutic Equipment Program |
800-532-7667 x102 |
Transportation
Public Transportation:
Paratransit program for Registration: |
206-263-3113 206-205-5000 |
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North Seattle |
206-860-8000 |
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Seattle area - paratransit |
206-461-4630 x237 |
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DART – Snohomish |
Dial-A-Ride Transit for Snohomish Co. |
425-347-5912 |
Wheelchair Accessible Van Rentals |
888-376-1500 |
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Senior Services: Must be 60+, able to self-transfer |
206-448-5740 |
Van Conversions and New & Used Vans for Disabled:
CHEF’s Mobility Conversion |
Ballard |
206-783-2700 |
Sumner |
253-863-4744 866-626-8267 |
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Edmonds |
425-771-4659 |
Insurance
Plan through WA Health Care Authority |
800-660-9840 |
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Insurance Consumer Advocate Hotline Complaints & inquiries; I&R |
800-562-6900 |
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(Available state wide in any county where individual policies not being sold) |
800-877-5187 |
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State Health Insurance Benefits Advisors |
800-562-6900 |
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The Multiple Sclerosis Association of King County
753 North 35th St., Suite 208, Seattle, WA 98103
Phone: 206-633-2606 Fax: 206-633-2920
Email: info@msakc.org