Don't let tax sharks take a bite out of your refund! Free, confidential income tax assitance at CIL.

Free, confidential taxes done at CIL! Come join us.

http://www.cilberkeley.org/news/2012/1/31/vita-tax-get-free-help-preparing-taxes.html

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) volunteers provide FREE Income Tax Preparation Assistance to low-Income, elderly, disabled and limited English speaking people. 

CIl's tax site has preparing people's taxes! Be part of those who don’t let tax sharks take a bite out of their refund!

The Power of Community: Olmstead, the ADA and You. Friday May 11 2012

The Power of Community: Olmstead, the ADA and You is happening:

Friday, May 11, 2012 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Ed Roberts Campus in Berkeley.

Topics for discussion:

• Families and Independent Living,
• Accessible Transportation,
• Affordable Housing. 
• Plus food, fun and more. 
for more information, please contact Annalee Cobbett, acobbett@cilberkeley.org

Mark your calendar!

Disability as an Asset: New Percpectives Offered in UC Berkeley Class

Click here to read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/05/jobs/disabilities-can-be-workplace-assets.html?_r=2

Schedule of Meetings & Hearings Impacting People with Disabilities

California Budget Crisis:

SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS & HEARINGS IMPACTING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS, THE BLIND, SENIORS & LOW INCOME FAMILIES

• Feb 09 – Healthy Families Program Transition to Medi-Cal Meeting
• Feb 23 – Autism Task Force on SB 946 Health Insurance Implementation
• Feb 23 – Senate Budget Info Hearing on Governor’s Managed Care Proposals
• Mar 07 – Assembly Info Hearing on Long Term Care & Managed Care Proposals

SACRAMENTO, CA (CDCAN)  [Last updated 02/06/2012 06:30 PM] – The following is the latest update on scheduled public legislative hearings and meetings by various state agencies that have some impact on people with disabilities, mental health needs, the blind, seniors or low income families.  CDCAN will issue an updated schedule every Monday on these statewide meetings. 

New Special On-Going CDCAN Regional Reports, Telemeetings and Meetings

CDCAN will also issue a special regional report covering Monterey, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties every Friday covering various local updates – including schedule of local meetings and hearings impacting people with developmental and other disabilities, mental health needs and others, along with a complete schedule of CDCAN regional telemeetings and physical meetings that will be held in those counties to provide updates, hear and resolve local issues and problems.  These special regional reports, telemeetings and meetings are made possible by a grant through Area Board 7 on Developmental Disabilities. The first regional telemeeting for the Monterey, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties will be held February 10^th, Friday morning from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM.  Details will be provided in the February 7^th (Tuesday) special CDCAN Regional Report covering those counties. 

That first report was meant to come out last Friday (Feb 3^rd) but will instead come out Tuesday, due to technical email problems (now resolved).

Similar on-going regional reports (and schedule of CDCAN regional telemeetings and physical meetings to provide updates, hear and resolve local issues and problems) covering Sacramento, Alpine, Colusa, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Sierra, Sutter, Yolo & Yuba counties will also be issued, made possible by a grant from Area Board 3 on Developmental Disabilities.

The CDCAN list of statewide meetings and hearings will be incorporated in the regional reports listing of important local meetings and hearings by local government and local agencies...more

IRS Provides Assistance for People with Disabilities

Individuals who are blind or visually impaired can download hundreds of the most popular federal tax forms and publications from IRS.gov. These products range from accessible PDFs to e-Braille formats and are accessible using screen reading software and refreshable Braille displays. Visit the IRS Accessibility page to download these forms and publications. Also, view a video that highlights IRS products and services available for people with disabilities

Free Tax Return preparation help is also available           

People who are unable to complete their tax return because of a disability may get assistance from a local IRS Tax Assistance Center or through a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance or Tax Counseling for the Elderly site (VITA or TCE). To find a Tax Assistance Center near you, click on contact IRS, on IRS.gov and then select contact your local IRS office. You can also find a nearby VITA or TCE location by calling 1-800-906-9887 or at http://irs.treasury.gov/freetaxprep for VITA and www.aarp.org/money/taxes/aarp_taxaide for TCE. The IRS sponsors VITA and TCE. Publication 907, Tax Highlights for Persons with Disabilities, explains the tax implications of certain disability benefits and other issues, and is available at IRS.gov.

Please post the attached article on your websites and/or use in other communication vehicles to let your customers know how they can find a FREE tax preparation site near them.

Visit www.www.IRS.gov and enter “accessibility” in the Search box for more information.