MILWAUKEE COMMUNITY AGENCY RESEARCH:

INDEPENDENCE FIRST

BY: REBECCA CLEVELANDKAY KNAUSTJULIA KROLLJULIE TUTAS

Independence First

VISION: INDEPENDENCE FIRST HAS A VISION FOR FULL INCLUSION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN EVERY ASPECT OF OUR COMMUNITY AND COMMITS ITSELF

TOWARD THIS END.

THE INDEPENDENT LIVING PHILOSOPHY HOLDS THAT INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES HAVE THE RIGHT TO LIVE WITH DIGNITY AND WITH APPROPRIATE SUPPORT IN THEIR OWN HOMES, FULLY PARTICIPATE IN THEIR

COMMUNITIES, AND TO CONTROL AND MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR LIVES.

CONSUMER CHOICE , AUTONOMY AND CONTROL DEFINE INDEPENDENT LIVING.

Independence FirstVALUES AND VISION

Independence First:

Community Based Located in: Milwaukee, WI (Also Waukesha, West Bend) Non-residential Independent Living Center (CIL) Facilitates & Empowers Individuals with Disabilities Through: Education Advocacy Independent Living Services Coalition Building Promotes Diversity and Multiple Participation in its Operations and Services

INDEPENDENCE

FIRST

A

RESOURCE

FOR

PEOPLE

WITH

DISABILITIES

Who do they help?

Disabled People of All Ages (including children) Family Members of Disabled People Businesses – Partners and Employers

General Community Members

INDEPENDENCE

FIRST

A

RESOURCE

FOR

PEOPLE

WITH

DISABILITIES

What services do they offer?

Skill Building Classes Employment Accessible Housing Basic Needs Recreation Opportunities Accessible Transportation Care-giving & care-giver training Creating Accessible Homes & Businesses Information & Referral Services Other Resources

INDEPENDENCE

FIRST

A

RESOURCE

FOR

PEOPLE

WITH

DISABILITIES

How do they accommodate diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds?

Staff diversity – training & hiring Cultures they address:

Hispanic Hmong Russian African American

Culturally specific inservices Culturally specific resources Wide variety of resources accommodates a wide variety of socioeconomic statuses (i.e. middle class family with child with extreme medical costs)

INDEPENDENCE

FIRST

A

RESOURCE

FOR

PEOPLE

WITH

DISABILITIES

B U I L D I N G D E SI G N - A E ST H E T I C A L LY B E A U T I F U L & C O M P L ET ELY A C C E SS I B L E WA R M A N D W E L C O M I N G A L L O N O N E L EV EL – “S T E P- F R E E” E N V I R O N M E N T R U G S W I T H D A R K C E N T E R L I N E S T O H E L P W / I M PA I R ED V I S I O N C O L O R S :

calming in some areas energizing in others avoids colors or patterns that would distract, aggravate, or over-

stimulate persons with seizure or other disorders like ADHD A RT W O R K O N E A C H WA L L – A L L A RT I S T S W / D I S A B I L I T I E S A D J U S TA B L E D ES K S, S H E LV E S, E T C F O R S TA F F Q U I E T R O O M / L I B R A RY & W O R KO U T FA C I L I T Y S EE A C C E SSI B I L I T Y H A N D O U T

Independence First – Facility

Independence First – Virtual Tour

•L E A D BY E XA M P L E•I N SP I R I N G D I V E R S I T Y•EM P L O Y E E S F LU E N T I N E N G L I S H , S PA N I S H , R U SS I A N A N D H M O N G•F O U R H E A R I N G I M PA I R E D E M P L O Y E ES S O M O ST T H E R E C A N S I G N•T R U LY I N VO LV ED W I T H T H E I R C O N S U M E R S :

• Brewers and Wave games• Skiing• Dinners• Blog with their consumers

•1 6 0 0 O F F S I T E E M P L O Y EE S T O H E L P T R A I N B U S I N E SS E S, C O N S U M E R S A N D T H E I R C A R ETA K E R S O N L O C AT I O N

Independence First – StaffDo on to others…

Independence First

STAFF

OVER HALF OF THE ON SITE EMPLOYEES HAVE DISABILITES!!

Meet Brian…The housing policy advocate at Independence First.He is very funny, his wife and him own an adorable dog who helps them make tea and he is hearing impaired. His computer has been programmed so that he can video phone. There are also many employees that know how to sign so they can communicate with him and others at Independence First that are hearing impaired.

This is Tiffany…She is an abuse victim advocate at Independence First. Her cubical is so colorful with pictures from those she has helped. She has MS and is confined to her wheelchair. Her cubical has been designed specifically with her needs in mind.

BUSINESS TRAINING D I S A B I L I T Y AWA R E N E S S & S E N S I T I V I T Y T R A I N I N G – I N D P E N D E N C E F I R S T S TA F F W I T H D I S A B I L I T I E S D I S C U S S H O W T O P O S I T I V E LY I N T E R A C T W I T H I N D I V I D U A L S W I T H D I S A B I L I T I E S , W H AT I T ’ S L I K E T O H AV E A D I S A B I L I T Y & L I V E I N T H E C O M M U N I T Y, A D D R E S S P R E J U D I C E , D I S C R I M I N A T I O N & N E G AT I V E AT T I T U D E S , D I S A B I L I T Y E T I Q U E T T E

A C C E S S I B I L I T Y C O N S U LTAT I O N – E VA L U AT I O N O F E X I S T I N G FA C I L I T I E S , B LU E P R I N T R E N O VAT I O N S , C O N S T R U C T I O N P L A N S F O R F U N C T I O N A L A C C E S S I B I L I T Y F O R A L L U S E R S

W O R K F O R C E A C C O M M O D AT I O N S – T R A I N I N G I N R E S P O N S I B I L I T I E S A N D / O R H O W T O A C C O M M O D AT E W O R K E R S W H O H AV E A D I S A B I L I T Y

Independence First – Training

TRAINING

Consumer TrainingThese programs are offered to all consumers

Independent Living Training – money, home & time management, communication skills, building self Esteem, goal setting, good decision making, stress management, assertiveness, etc… Computer Training - basic computer, email & internet skills with or without assistive technology devices/software Employment skills - including interviewing techniques, positively presenting oneself, how to write a resume, identification of job leads & what questions an employer can ask on an application and during an interview as it relates to disabilityHousing 101 - includes housing resources, laws, assistance & more Rent Smart - training in tenant's legal rights, rental applications, leases & developing good relationships with landlords Benefits Counseling & Work Incentives Planning and Assistance – assistance in making informed choices about working and how employment can/will effect continued eligibility and benefit amountsPeer Support – A person with a disability provides support, serves as a role model & provides information for another person with a disability

Personal Assistance Services

Independence First’s mission is consumer choice and consumer independence. The PAS program is supported by an advisory committee made up of people with disabilities who utilize PAS services. The consumer’s choose who they want to care for them and send them in to apply.

Every caregiver applicant fills out an application, has an interview, participates in skills assessment based on the care plan of the consumer they are hired for to make sure they can competently perform all the activities of daily living written in the consumers care plan and given the proper training.

All training is a requirement of Medicaid regulations. Caregivers are overseen by IF’s Registered Nurses.

Personal Assistance Services offers two types of training: Individually to personal caregivers when they are hired Monthly in-services for all caregivers on a range of topics

– topics are typically chosen based on what caregivers would like to hear about to help them do better in the field. Examples are safety, elder care, stress management as a caregiver, hospice, specific disabilities, safety

Every caregiver receives a day of orientation at Independence First about Personal Care worker policies and procedures, belonging to an Independent Living Center, OSHA training, filling out weekly timesheets, quality assurance, etc…

TRAINING

TEACHERS CAN USE INDEPENDENCE FIRST AS A HELPFUL RESOURCE FOR STUDENTS

FROM BIRTH THROUGH ADOLESCENCE

Independence First – School Age Children

Services for children with disabilities

Independence First is a great starting point to obtain resources for parents of children of all ages with disabilities Birth - ??? Child who was born with a disability Child who has been injured or disabled

Resources for Families

Independence First can provide resources to families such as: Finding/applying for financial assistance for disability

services and support Tools for creating better accessibility for the child Youth recreational programs Peer support groups Parent support groups Care giving options Transportation options and support Online or phone referral service:

http://www.independencefirst.org/informationandreferralform.html

Teacher Education

Independence First welcomes teachers looking for more information on: Disability accommodation in the classroom and at

school Finding and providing resources for students and

families Disability awareness and education

Contact Independence First for a tour to enhance your teaching and your ability to assist students and their families when learning about, or adjusting to, a disability.

I N D EP EN D EN C E F I R S T O F F E R S C U R R I C U LU M A N D P R O GR A M MI N G AT L O C A L H I GH S C H O O L S

T O H E L P S T U D E N T S W I T H D I S A B IL I T I ES T R A N S I T IO N F R O M S C H O O L T O “ T H E R EA L

W O R L D ” A N D A D U LT H O O D

T H IS P R O G R A M I S A LWAY S IN D EM A N D – T H ER E I S A R U N N I N G WA I T I N G L IS T

S I G N Y O U R S C H O O L U P A N D G ET T H EM O N I N D EP EN D EN C E F I R S T ’ S Y EA R LY C A L E ND A R !

( O R B O R R O W T H E I R C U R R IC U LU M )

Independence First – Transition to Adulthood

H O W T O U S E T H I S B O O KY O U H AV E T H E R I G H T T O … T H E A B C ’ S O F D I S A B I L I T Y L AW SW H O A R E Y O U ? A L E SS O N O N D I S A B I L I T Y AWA R E N E SSI F E E L G O O D – B U I L D I N G Y O U R S E L F- E S T E E MS P E A K O U T: T H E A R T O F S E L F- A D VO C A C YYA D A , YA D A , YA D A : C O M M U N I C AT I N G W I T H S T Y L ER E V I E W:

In Your Face: Dealing with Conflict & AngerJust in Time: Basic Time Management SkillsCharge it! A Lesson on BudgetingGo Ahead, Make My Day: Personal Safety Tips for Teens w/ DisabilitiesYour Next Chapter (in life): It’s Time to Move Out!Just One More Thing: The Final Step (programming)

Everything you wanted to know about being an adult… but were afraid to ask

① D I V ID E I N T O F O U R G R O U P S & R E V IE W C U R R IC U LU M – “ EV E RY T H I N G Y O U WA NT ED T O K N O W A B O U T B E IN G A N A D U LT … B U T W ER E A F R A I D T O AS K ”

② IN R EV I EW I N G Y O U R S EC T IO N O F T H E C U R R I C U LU M, S EL EC T 2 - 3 T H IN GS F O R Y O U R GR O U P

T O H IG H L IG H T F O R T H E R E S T O F T H E C L A SS

③ H O W D I D Y O U R S EC T IO N O F T H E C U R R I C U LU M A C C O MM O D AT E O R MA K E T H E I N F O R MAT I O N

P E RT IN E N T F O R S T U D E N T S W IT H S P E C I A L N E ED S ?

GR O U P S : 1 - T I ME M A N A GE ME N T 2 – B U D G ET I N G

3 - P E R S O N A L S A F E T Y 4 - M OV I N G O U T

CLASS ACTIVITY

A Sampling of Programs Examples of Diverse Programming

Housing 101 Freedom on Wheels TEPP (telecommunications) Basic Money Management

Workshops Independent

Living/Employment Skills New Directions (topics:

respect, voting, ADA, Romance and Dating, Hobbies, Giving/Receiving Gifts)

Adult Asperger Support Group

Mother/Daughter Support Group (for girls ages 11-18 and mothers of all ages)

Waukesha Women’s Support Group for Women w/ Disabilities

Latino forum celebrating families of children with special needs

RESOURCES/PROGRAMS