[Faith-talk] clarification--about independent living centers

[Sandra]

Hi, all,

I’ve been meaning to get this out for the past few days, but for a reason I can’t fathom, I’ve been getting a weird message when I click on the link, and it won’t allow me to send that way. So, when all else fails, do it the old-fashioned way. BTW, any techies who can get me out of this jam? I warn you in advance, I am a technophobe, so it might take a while for me to implement any ideas, since I have to ration my brain power and inclination, ha, ha!

So, i hope what I’m about to say may enable Jenny to tap into more resources.

Independent living centers are not rehab centers—though staff may work with someone in the home to help with skills. They arose out of the de-institutionalization movement and disability rights movement of the 70s. they are usually nonprofits, and only connected with any state insomuch as they may get some state funding. They are cross-disability, and consumer-based, so tied less to the red-tape and personnel issues that the typical state disability agency is hamstrung by. They are hugely into advocacy, whether self-advocacy or systems advocacy (contesting things when the system of disability services is broken, or when there are barriers to full access in society). There’s a huge emphasis on consumer choice. Services an ILC may offer include: training in disability skills (not usually center-based), connection to funding streams for adaptive tech and/or community services; they are often aware of services most don’t know about, too; help finding employment; providing disability-related in-services for community groups; provision of equipment (not just funding, but they often know of affordable local avenues for actually obtaining such). I was on the board of the nearest ILC to me, Disabilities Network of Eastern CT, for several years, and also worked for it as blindness consultant back in the 90s. It might be worth some more digging—they’re often able to help where most conventional disabilities agencies don’t. 
Sandra

One can never consent to creep, when one feels an impulse to soar.
(Helen Keller)


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