Information and Referral
Answers To Your Questions
Information and Referral Department Staff
Angie Hiser – Director of Information and Referral
Barb Manning – Database Coordinator/Social Media Specialist
Jim Etzel – Information and Referral Specialist
The Information and Referral Department is the nerve center of the organization. About 70% of what we do as an agency involves the sharing of information.
The Information and Referral Department maintains the InfoLink database with over 4,100 disability-related local, state, and national resources. If you have a disability-related question, or need help with a particular issue, please contact the center and speak with anyone of the staff listed above. Below are some of the programs of the Information and Referral Department.
Equipment Loan
The Ability Center provides an equipment loan program. Should you be wanting to borrow a piece of equipment, please visit our Equipment Loan page.
Adult Independent Living Skills Training
As part of our service to people living with disabilities, the Ability Center provides Skills Training. For information, visit our Independent Living Skills Training page.
Prescription Assistance Programs
1.2 million Americans experience difficulty with purchasing medicine. If you are facing high pharmacy costs that are not being adequately covered by your insurance, the following websites and resources may be helpful:
needymeds.org This website provides INFORMATION ONLY on patient assistance programs and applications.
rxoutreach.com/vih/ This website offers generic medications to those living in poverty situations. It is based on the number of financial dependent people in the home.
accesstobenefits.org This website helps people find programs to save money on prescriptions.
ohiobestrx.org This website provides a drug discount program for those with no insurance and under 300% of poverty or age 60 plus.
http://www.scbn.org This website provides information on Patient Assistance Programs to access free or discounted drugs.
www.goldenbuckeye.com The Golden Buckeye Card offers prescription discounts to seniors over the age of 60 and people living with disabilities.
pfizerhelpfulanswers.com This is an assistance program to help those taking Pfizer Prescriptions with no insurance.
Medicare Part D
Medicare provides a new Prescription Drug Benefit program called Medicare Part D, meant to ensure everyone with Medicare, regardless of income, health status, or prescription drugs used, can get prescription drug coverage. Below is a link to their website and applications. Should you need assistance with the process, The Ability Center has Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program (OSHIIP)-trained counselors to answer your questions.
Also, for further assistance, here is the link to Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program (OSHIIP)
The Ohio Benefit Bank (OBB)
The Ohio Benefit Bank is a web-based computer program meant to connect low and moderate-income Ohioans with access to work support benefits such as tax credits, health care coverage, home energy assistance, child care subsidies, food stamps and public benefits. Once connected, OBB counselors can check your potential eligibility for these and other work support benefits either at the Benefit Bank site or online. If you would like additional information about OBB please call us for information.
Independent Living Assistance Program
The intention of this program is to provide a small emergency assistance fund to eligible consumers for use toward the purchase of Durable Medical Equipment i.e., shower chair, grab bars, a wheelchair. To determine eligibility an application must be completed. Please call the Information and Referral Department or email one of the specialists above for an application.
