Services For Independent Living

TO EMPOWER PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES TO LEAD INCLUSIVE LIVES THROUGH ADVOCACY, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND SELF-DIRECTED SERVICES.

ILST/PEER SUPPORT - THESE TWO CORE SERVICES OFTEN GO HAND-IN-HAND WITH EACH OTHER. INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS TRAINING (ILST) HELPS INDIVIDUALS DEVELOP SKILLS NEEDED TO LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY OF CHOICE AND/OR BECOME MORE INDEPENDENT. EXAMPLES OF TOPICS COVERED UNDER ILST INCLUDE BUDGETING, USING THE COMPUTER/INTERNET, INTERNET SAFETY, BULLYING, SELF-ADVOCACY, COOKING, LAUNDRY, WASHING DISHES, SAFETY IN THE HOME AND COMMUNITY, DEVELOPING PERSONAL EMERGENCY PLANS AND MANAGING A PERSONAL CARE ATTENDANT. PEER SUPPORT SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO INDIVIDUALS BY SOMEONE WHO HAS A DISABILITY, EITHER STAFF OR TRAINED VOLUNTEERS. THE SUPPORT PERSON IS ABLE TO HELP WITH THE PERSON RECEIVING SERVICES FROM A PLACE OF PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. ISSUES COVERED IN PEER SUPPORTS MAY INCLUDE: SUPPORTED DECISION MAKING, PROBLEM SOLVING, ACCEPTING DISABILITY, IDENTIFYING ACCOMMODATIONS, SETTING AND ACHIEVING LIFE GOALS, AND GENERAL SHARING OF EXPERIENCES TO ENSURE THE PERSON INVOLVED DOES NOT FEEL ALONE.

PERSONAL CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM: OPPORTUNITIES FOR OHIOANS WITH DISABILITIES, OHIO'S REHABILITATION SERVICES AGENCY, CONTRACTS WITH SIL TO PROVIDE ADMINISTRATIVE AND PROGRAMMATIC SUPPORT TO 62 INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES ACROSS THE MAJORITY OF NORTHERN OHIO COUNTIES. THIS PROGRAM ASSISTS INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE WORKING, LOOKING FOR WORK OR ARE PURSUING POST- SECONDARY EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES WITH FUNDING TO HIRE PERSONAL ASSISTANTS. THIS PROGRAM WAS OHIO'S FIRST PUBLICLY FUNDED CONSUMER- DIRECTED PERSONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. THE ROLE OF SIL STAFF IS TO PROMOTE THE PROGRAM TO THE COMMUNITY, PROVIDE OPTIONS COUNSELING TO POTENTIAL PARTICIPANTS, ORIENT NEW PARTICIPANTS TO THE PROGRAM, PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ON PERSONAL ASSISTANCE MANAGEMENT ISSUES, TROUBLESHOOT ANY OTHER ISSUES THAT ARISE, AND ENTER BILLINGS INTO THE STATE DATABASE FOR PROCESSING.

ADVOCACY/ACCESSIBILITY: SIL ADVOCATES ON BEHALF OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES TO INCREASE ACCESS TO COMMUNITY AND CONTROL OVER THEIR LIVES. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE PARTICIPATION ON LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL COALITIONS,COMMITTEES AND TASK FORCES.

COMMUNITY EDUCATION: SIL STAFF ARE OFTEN CALLED UPON TO PRESENT AT LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL TRAINING VENUES ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS INCLUDING: DIRECT CARE WORKFORCE CRISIS, DISABILITY BASICS, ADDRESSING BARRIERS TO COMMUNITY LIVING, PERSON-CENTERED-PLANNING, SOCIAL SECURITY AND WORK INCENTIVES, MANAGING YOUR PERSONAL ASSISTANT, AND THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITY ACT. SIL TRAINED OVER 1,500 COMMUNITY MEMBERS, ON ADDRESSING BARRIERS TO COMMUNITY LIVING. SIL ALSO MAINTAINS AN ACTIVE FACEBOOK SITE AND CONTINUES TO INCREASE THEIR PRESENCE ON TWITTER. YOUTH ABILITIES AND PRE-EMPLOYMENT TRANSITION SERVICES: A YOUTH TRANSITION PROGRAM PROVIDES SUPPORTS TO YOUTHS WITH DISABILITIES. THE PROGRAM CURRENTLY SERVES 85 YOUTHS AND FOCUSES ON SKILL BUILDING SELF-ADVOCACY, PRE-EMPLOYMENT AND OTHER INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS. YOUTHS ARE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN SCHOOL AND INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE LEFT SECONDARY EDUCATION VIA GRADUATION OR WITHDRAWAL. OHIO DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAID HOME CHOICE PROGRAM - SIL'S INVOLVEMENT IS AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS THREE-STEP PROCESS. SIL CONDUCTS COMMUNITY LIVING INTERVIEWS TO GAUGE INTEREST FROM INDIVIDUALS IF THEY ARE GOING TO TRANSITION IN THE FUTURE. IF SO, RESOURCES ARE GIVEN TO THE INDIVIDUAL REGARDING HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION, OR ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL FUNDING THEY ASK FOR. SIL CONDUCTED 21 INTERVIEWS THIS YEAR. FOR THE SECOND STEP, SIL CONDUCTS COMMUNITY LIVING ASSESSMENTS IN THE INSTITUTION TO RESIDENTS WHO ARE DEEMED ELIGIBLE TO MOVE, BUT NEED THE ASSESSMENT COMPLETED TO DETERMINE SAFETY IN THE COMMUNITY. THIS STEP MUST BE CONDUCTED BY A STAFF MEMBER WHO IS AN RN, LSW, OR LISW. SIL CONDUCTED 51 ASSESSMENTS IN THE LAST YEAR. EQUIPMENT LOAN PROGRAM: SIL MAINTAINS AN EQUIPMENT LOAN CLOSET THAT ALSO INCLUDES SOFT SUPPLIES SUCH AS ADULT DIAPERS AND PADS. THE PROGRAM IS FREE TO RECIPIENTS AND RELIES UPON EQUIPMENT DONATIONS FROM INDIVIDUALS AND MEDICAL SUPPLY COMPANIES. DURING THIS REPORTING PERIOD, SIL PROVIDED OVER 100 PIECES OF DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES TO 62 INDIVIDUALS. INFORMATION AND REFERRAL: SIL SERVES AS A RESOURCE TO THE COMMUNITY WITH REGARDS TO INFORMATION. IN ADDITION TO HELPING INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES ACCESS SERVICES/SUPPORTS AND INFORMATION, SIL STAFF ANSWERED 1,113 CALLS FROM COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS ON ISSUES RANGING FROM HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, TRANSPORTATION AND BENEFITS TO HOW TO ACCESS WAIVER SUPPORTS OR HELP TO RID THEIR HOME OF BED BUGS. LEADERSHIP ACADEMY: THE PREMISE IS THAT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS AS LAWS AND RULES ARE BEING DEVELOPED IMPACTING THEIR LIVES. THIS 8-WEEK COURSE HELPS PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES GAIN SKILLS TO EFFECTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN LEADERSHIP BOARDS OF DIRECTORS AND COMMUNITY COMMITTEES, COALITIONS AND TASKFORCES. THIS PAST FISCAL YEAR, 17 PEOPLE PARTICIPATED. YOUNG ADULT COUNCIL: THIS IS A STATEWIDE COMMUNITY LED COUNCIL, HANDS- ON/INTERNSHIP APPROACH THAT WILL PROVIDE YOUNG ADULTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN A REALISTIC POLICYMAKING ENVIRONMENT. THIS IS AN INTERACTIVE PROGRAM IN WHICH PARTICIPANTS EXPLORE DIFFERENT ADVOCACY INITIATIVES, NETWORK WITH LEGISLATORS, TRAVEL TO CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS AND MAYOR'S OFFICES, AND VISIT THE OHIO STATE HOUSE. THIS PAST FISCAL YEAR, 6 YOUNG ADULTS PARTICIPATED. OHIO BENEFITS LONG-TERM SERVICES AND SUPPORTS: THE OBLTSS PROGRAM IS AVAILABLE FOR INDIVIDUALS, THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, AND PROFESSIONALS SEEKING INFORMATION ABOUT HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED LONG-TERM SERVICES AND SUPPORTS. INDIVIDUALS CAN SPEAK WITH SOMEONE WHO WILL ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT SERVICES AND CONNECT THEM TO COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES BASED ON THEIR NEEDS. IN THIS REPORTING PERIOD, SIL PROVIDED VALUABLE INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SERVICES TO 506 INDIVIDUALS.