Disability Resources - Our Services

10 September, 2007 - Did you know that most adults with chronic and/or severe disabilities live below the poverty level?

Supportive Living Arrangements (SLA)

In this program, qualified Direct Service Trainers teach basic living skills, such as cooking, cleaning, phone skills, transportation, shopping, budgeting, recreation, and much more to people with disabilities. This is done on a one-to-one basis to insure that all of the person's needs are met. Disability Resources is a firm believer in the right of client choice. One-to-one training is one way that we can insure that every person has the opportunity to make those choices that are most important to them. Our goal is to help the people we serve become as independent and self sufficient as possible. Since every person is different, the program is tailored specifically to address and meet the individual's needs. Our trainers assist individuals already living on their own, as well as those residing with family, who need a little help to become more independent.

Job Development & Job Coaching

In our Job Development department, our experienced employment specialists assist people with disabilities in finding, securing and retaining gainful employment. The individuals we work with have a wide range of abilities. Many have extensive technical or computer skills, while others are placed in entry level positions. Like anyone, each of them can be extremely successful when working in an appropriate, positive and supportive environment. There are a lot of supports in place to help both the new employee and the employer. One of these is the possible use of a Job Coach. This is someone who helps provide on-the-job training during the first few days or weeks that the employee is working. The Job Coach helps the employee learn the new job, helps the employer get the most from the new employee, and works to overcome any challenges that either might have during this crucial time.

Respite

Many people with severe disabilities require 24-hour care. Because of the degree of attention required, it is often very difficult for their caregivers to get a break from the constant stress of being with or around that person all of the time. In our Respite Program, we train temporary caregivers how to take care of the person with a disability on a short-term basis, so that their caregivers can get the well-deserved break they need. The Respite Program serves people with disabilities of all ages, allowing us to provide a continuum of services throughout the individual's lifespan.

The short and long term benefits of respite include:

Allowing the family/caregiver to engage in daily activities, thus decreasing feelings of isolation
Providing the family/caregiver rest and relaxation.
Improving the family/caregiver's ability to cope with daily responsibilities.
Maintaining the family/caregiver's stability during crisis situations.
Helping preserve the family unit by lessening the pressures that might lead to divorce, institutionalization, neglect and/or abuse.
Making it possible for individuals with disabilities to establish individual identities and enrich their own growth and development.
When appropriate, Disability Resources' trained respite staff intervenes to help families/caregivers solve behavioral and logistic problems.
Providing an opportunity for parents to spend uninterrupted quality time with the other children in the family.

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