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as posted to the mgh pd webforum and newvoicenews newsletter ----------------------------------------- as snail mailed to the ontario disability support program: ----------------------------------------- Dear ODSP: I am requesting an internal review of your decision to deny my application for a Community Start-Up Benefit (CSUB) because it "requires prior approval", per my letter of 23 January 2002 and your letter of 14 February 2002. (The referenced move took place on 31 May 2001, from Mill Street to Country Street, both in Almonte). I disagree with your decision for the following reasons: 1. A precedent was set in my previous CSUB in re my apartment rental effective 01 April 1999 at Mill Street, wherein my first ever CSUB request was approved by ODSP after the fact, that is, on 15 June 1999. 2. A move to accessible and subsidised accommodation was strongly recommended to me in January 2001, by the property manager, and the coordinator of the local community support corporation, due to their concerns re my safety, as well as rental costs, at the Mill Street location. 3. Physical access to that apartment (via two flights of exterior metal stairs) became more difficult and potentially dangerous for me during the 22 months I lived there (01 April 1999 to 01 June 2001). 4. In contrast, the Country Street building provides elevator service to my third floor apartment. The entire building is designed for wheelchair access: a need of mine in the near future. My mobility problems have been flagged with the building management and the local fire department, so my safety is much less of a concern than at the Mill Street location. 5. While living at Mill Street, I had also been struggling financially: the move from Mill Street (rent $500) to Country Street (rent $59) meant that my basic living allowance increased to $486 ($645 gross pension less $159 shelter costs) from $380 ($930 gross pension less $550 shelter costs). 6. Due to the average waiting period for subsidised housing being reduced unexpectedly (from an estimate of 15 months to 2 months), and also due to my deteriorating physical and emotional condition, I was unable to obtain three competitive estimates of packing and moving costs in a timely manner, as suggested to me over the telephone by ODSP staff. I therefore contacted (and negotiated costs with) the same moving company who had been approved in my prior move, since they had performed their work admirably and efficiently then. (I was not disappointed with the second move, and would not hesitate to recommend them again) My condition (Parkinson's disease - a combination of movement and mood disorder) is incurable and progressive. Doing anything at any speed becomes more problematic for me as time passes; thus, please accept my apologies for the delay in submitting this request to you. Best regards Janet Paterson 375 Country Street Almonte, Ontario K0A 1A0 (Tel: 613-256-8340) JMP/sf janet paterson: an akinetic rigid subtype, albeit primarily perky, parky pd: 55-41-37 cd: 55-44-43 tel: 613-256-8340 email: [log in to unmask] smail: 301-375 Country Street, Almonte, Ontario, Canada, K0A 1A0 a new voice website: http://www.geocities.com/janet313/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn